[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58084-58085]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28876]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-020-1320-00, MTM 057934A, MTM 061685]


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 May 6, 1996, Decker Coal Company applied for Modification 
to Leases MTM 057934A and MTM 061685, 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:

MTM 057934A

T. 8 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M.
    Sec 34: NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/
4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\
T. 9 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M.
    Sec. 3: W\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\

MTM 061685

T. 8 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M.
    Sec. 34: W\1/2\W\1/2\

    Decker Coal Company has also expressed an interest in an additional 
80 acres in T. 9 S., R. 40 E., Sec. 3, for ``future leasing and 
modification to lease MTM 057934A''.
    The 320-acre lease application contains an estimated 8.3 million 
tons of coal to be added to the two leases.
    An Environmental Analysis (EA) 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 scope of this EA will be expanded to 
include the additional 80 acres Decker Coal Mine has expressed interest 
in for future leasing.
    This EA will comply with all applicable provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and all subsequent applicable 
regulations implementing this law (Council on Environmental Quality 
(CEQ) regulations, 40 CFR, Part 1500-1508) and Department of Interior 
requirements listed in the Departmental Manual 516 `Environmental 
Quality'. It will also comply with the guidance listed in the BLM's 
Environmental Handbook, H-1790-1, 10/88.

DATES: Any issues, concerns or comments regarding this proposal

[[Page 58085]]

should be submitted on or before December 20, 1996.

ADDRESSES: All submissions should be sent to the following address: 
Bureau of Land Management, Todd Christensen, Powder River Resource Area 
Manager, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, Montana 59301, telephone (406) 
232-4331.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the 
project contact Dan Benoit, Team Leader, Powder River Resource Area, 
111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, Montana, 59301, telephone (406) 232-
4331.

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 December 20, 1996.
    The following issues and concerns have been identified:
    Potential for social and economic impacts to the area;
    Possible impacts to soils, vegetation, and agriculture;
    Possible impacts to hydrologic resources;
    Potential impacts to visual resource;
    Cultural resources and traditional lifeway values.
    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 two public meetings, one scheduled December 10, 1996 at 1:00 
p.m. at the Dull Knife Memorial College, Studio Room, Lame Deer, 
Montana 59043, and one scheduled on December 11, 1996, at 1:00 p.m. at 
the Sheridan County Fulmer Public Library, Inner Circle Room, 335 West 
Alger Street, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801.
Todd S. Christensen,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-28876 Filed 11-8-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P