[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 33 (Friday, February 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 6256]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3545]



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


Notice of Amended Planning Area and Extension of Public Scoping 
Period, Coal Lease Application, MTM 83859, Spring Creek Coal Company

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice of the initial Intent to Plan was published in the 
Federal Register (61FR1394) on Friday, January 19, 1996. This Notice 
amends the planning area and extends the public scoping comment period.
    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\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, W\1/2\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. The planning area has been amended and encompasses the Lease 
Application area and includes portions of the following described 
lands:
T. 8 S., R39 E., P.M.M.
    Sections 11 through 16, 21 through 28, and 34 through 36.
T. 9 S., R. 39 E., P.M.M.
    Sections 1, 2, and 12.
T. 8 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M.
    Sections 19, 20, and 30 through 32.
T. 9 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M.
    Sections 5 through 8.

    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 which began 
January 19, 1996 has been extended and will end March 29, 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 29, 1996. 
The public meeting will be held February 29, 1996, at 7:00 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.

    Dated: February 9, 1996.
Glenn A. Carpenter,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-3545 Filed 2-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P