[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 1394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-609]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[MT-027-1320-00, MTM 83859]


Notice of Intent to Plan; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana, Miles City District, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct scoping and prepare an 
environmental analysis on the proposed lease tracts.

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SUMMARY: On November 9, 1995, Spring Creek Coal Company filed an 
amended lease application, MTM 83859, for federal coal resources within 
the Powder River Coal Region. The land included in the application is 
located in Big Horn County, Montana and is described as follows:

T. 8 S., R. 39 E., P.M.M.
    Sec. 22: E\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 25: SW\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26: S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\N\1/
2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/
4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\N\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 27: N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\S\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\;
T. 8 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M.
    Sec. 30: S\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
SW\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    The 320.00 acre tract contains an estimated 37.8 million tons of 
recoverable coal reserves.

    An environmental analysis will be prepared to analyze the proposed 
lease of the federal coal resource and the reasonably foreseeable 
consequences of this action as well as the impacts of development of 
the coal.
    This document will amend the Powder River Resource Area Resource 
Management Plan. It will be based on the existing statutory 
requirements and will meet the requirements of the Federal Land Policy 
Management Act of 1976.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All interested parties including federal, 
state and local agencies are invited to participate in the 
environmental analysis scoping process. The scoping period will begin 
immediately and will end March 15, 1996.
    The following issues and concerns have been identified:
--Possible impacts to the hydrologic resources;
--Potential for social and economic impacts to the area;
--Potential redesignation of crucial winter range for deer and antelope 
from unsuitable for mining to suitable for mining with stipulations;
--Cultural resources and traditional lifeway values;
--The level of environmental documentation necessary (EA or EIS).

    The public is encouraged to present their ideas and views on these 
and other issues and concerns. All issues and concerns will be 
considered in the preparation of the environmental analysis.
    The scoping process used to collect issues and concerns will 
involve one public meeting and a written comment period. The written 
comment period will begin immediately and will close on March 15, 1996. 
The public meeting will be held February 29, 1996, at 7 p.m. at the 
Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library, 335 West Alger Street, Sheridan, 
Wyoming 82801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All comments and requests for further 
information should be addressed to Todd Christensen, Area Manager, 
Bureau of Land Management, Powder River Resource Area, 111 Garryowen 
Road, Miles City, Montana 59301, telephone number (406) 232-4331.
Glenn A. Carpenter,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-609 Filed 1-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-M