[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6653-6654]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3830]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-040-1320-01]

Notice of Intent for a 30-Day Comment Period on the Draft 
Amendment to the Oklahoma RMP, Invitation for Public Involvement, 
Notice of Public Hearing and Call for Information on Coal, and Other 
Minerals and Resources
February 14, 1996.
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Tulsa District, has 
prepared a Draft of the Resource 

[[Page 6654]]
Management Plan Amendment (RMP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for 
BLM-managed Federal minerals in Le Flore County, Oklahoma. The Code of 
Federal Regulations, Title 43, Subpart 1600 (43 CFR 1600) will be 
followed in the preparation of this plan amendment.
    The public is invited to participate in this land use plan 
amendment effort. Written comments or suggested additional issues will 
be accepted through March 22, 1996. The BLM will hold a public hearing 
at which time oral comments and suggestions will be accepted. This 
notice is to solicit comment on coal resource information and 
indications of other interest and needs pursuant to 43 CFR 3420.1-2, 
for inclusion in the Oklahoma RMP Amendment. Coal companies, other 
mineral extraction companies, state and local governments, and the 
general public are encouraged to submit information to the BLM to 
assist in the review of the draft determinations of coal development 
potential and possible conflicts with other resources. If this 
information is determined to indicate development potential, further 
consideration for leasing will be given.

DATES: Comments relating to the Draft Resource Management Plan 
Amendment and the identification of additional issues, and responses to 
this call for coal resource information will be accepted through March 
22, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments to be included with the draft document should be 
sent to: Bureau Land Management, 221 North Service Road, Moore, 
Oklahoma 73160. Proprietary data should be identified as such to ensure 
confidentiality.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Catherine Wolff-White, Tulsa District, BLM, (405) 790-1010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft Oklahoma RMP amendment will 
include the Federal coal lease application located in Section 3, T9N, 
R24E in Le Flore County, about 8 miles northwest of Spiro, Oklahoma. 
The property proposed to be leased, containing approximately 100 acres, 
is described as follows:

LOT 1 ALIQ NESW, SWSW, NWSESW

    The issue addressed by this draft RMP amendment effort is coal 
leasing and development within the coal lease application area and an 
adjacent 100 acre tract. The development of this coal resource is the 
issue addressed in the draft RMP amendment. Industry and other 
interested parties are asked to provide any information that will be 
useful in meeting the requirements of the Federal Coal Management 
Program defined in 43 CFR 3420, including review of application of the 
coal planning screens and possibly future activity planning such as 
tract delineation. Information resulting from this hearing and any 
comments submitted to the BLM will be utilized in the draft 
finalization and implementation to determine potential for coal 
development and conflict with other resources within this 100-acre 
tract and any other tracts that may be determined to have additional 
interest.
    LANDS ALREADY CONSIDERED IN THE OKLAHOMA RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN, 
ADOPTED IN JANUARY 1994, NEED NOT BE ADDRESSED.
    The issue of Federal coal leasing and developing includes:
    1. Determining areas acceptable for further coal leasing 
consideration with standard stipulations;
    2. Determining areas acceptable for consideration with special 
stipulations;
    3. Determining areas unacceptable for further coal leasing 
consideration.
    The BLM will apply the coal development potential, unsuitability 
criteria, multiple use conflict and consultation screens in order to 
make these determinations.
    The type of information needed includes, but is not limited to, the 
following:
    1. Location:
    a. Federal coal tracts desired by mining companies should include a 
narrative description with areas delineated on a map with a scale of 
not less than \1/2\ inch to the mile.
    b. Descriptions of both public and private industry coal users in 
the general region.
    2. Quantity needs (tonnage, dates) for both public and private 
industry coal users and coal developers.
    3. Quality needs (by type and grade) for end users of the coal.
    4. Coal reserve drilling data which may pertain to the planning 
area.
    5. Information relating to surface and mineral ownership:
    a. Surface owner consents previously granted, whether consent is 
transferrable, surface owner leases with coal companies.
    b. Non-federal, or fee coal ownership adjacent to Federal tracts 
currently leased or mined.
    6. Other resource values occurring within the planning area which 
may conflict with coal development:
    a. Describe the resource value, and locate it on a map at least \1/
2\ inch delineation.
    b. State the reasons the particular resource would conflict with 
coal development.
    Any individual, business entity, or public body may participate in 
this process by providing coal or other resource information under this 
call. This planning issue is presented for public hearing and is 
subject to change based upon such public hearing. Comments should be 
received by CLOSE OF BUSINESS March 22, 1996. The planning team will 
seek public involvement throughout the planning amendment process. A 
formal public hearing/open house will be held to provide the public an 
opportunity to participate in this Draft Amendment effort.
    Notice is hereby given that the public hearing will start at 7:00 
p.m. and is scheduled for: March 19, 1996 at the High School, Poteau, 
OK.
    Complete records of all phases of the planning process will be 
available for public review and comment at the Bureau of Land 
Management, Moore office, 221 North Service Road, Moore, Oklahoma.
    The final RMP amendment documents will be available upon request.

    Dated: February 14, 1996.
Jim Sims,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-3830 Filed 2-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FB-M