[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 194 (Friday, October 4, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 52055] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-25448] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [MT-921-06-1320-01-P; NDM 85537] Notice of Coal Lease Application--NDM 85537 Acquired--The Coteau Properties Company AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This is Notice of The Coteau Properties Company's Coal Lease Application NDM 85537 Acquired for certain coal resources within the Fort Union Coal Region. The land included in Coal Lease Application NDM 85537 Acquired is located in Mercer County, North Dakota, and is described as follows: T. 146 N., R. 87 W., 5th P.M. Sec. 31: NE\1/4\ The 160.00-acre tract contains an estimated 1 million tons of recoverable coal reserves. Pursuant to Public Law 760 of September 6, 1950 (7 U.S.C. 1033- 1039), all mineral interests owned by the United States which were reserved or acquired under programs administered by the Governmental agencies mentioned therein, and which were not disposed of by the Secretary of Agriculture, were transferred to the Department of the Interior, after September 6, 1957, for administration under the mineral laws. A quitclaim deed, identified as FFM-ND-1145, dated September 6, 1957, was received from the Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation, transferring 50 percent mineral interests in the aforementioned lands. The application will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of 1947, (61 Stat. 913, 30 U.S.C. 351-359), and the implementing regulations at 43 CFR 3400. A decision to allow leasing of the coal resources in said tract will result in a competitive lease sale to be held at a time and place to be announced through publication pursuant to 43 CFR 3422. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coteau Properties Company is the lessee and operator of Coal Lease NDM 071813 at the Freedom Mine. The entire area included within this lease application lies within the Freedom Mine NACT 9501 permit area. On November 3, 1994, The Coteau Properties Company received Federal Coal Exploration License NDM 83357 from the BLM to conduct drilling on lands contained within the Coteau Properties coal lease application tract. The area applied for would be mined as an extension of the Freedom Mine and would utilize the same methods as those currently being used. The lease being applied for can extend the life of the mine by about 1 month and enable recovery of coal that might never be mined if not mined as a logical extension of current pits. NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: The application is available for review between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Bureau of Land Management, Montana State Office, 222 North 32nd Street, Billings, Montana 59101, and at the Bureau of Land Management, Dakotas District Office, whose address is 2033 Third Avenue West, Dickinson, North Dakota 58601-2619, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Hughes telephone 406-255-2830, Bureau of Land Management, Montana State Office, 222 North 32nd Street, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107-6800. Dated: September 24, 1996. Francis R. Cherry, Jr., Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 96-25448 Filed 10-3-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P