[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18209-18210]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9911]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-070-1320-01]


Notice of Intent for a 30-Day Comment Period on the Draft 
(Proposed) Amendment to the Farmington RMP, Invitation for Public 
Involvement and Call for Information on Coal, and Other Minerals and 
Resources; New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Farmington Field Office, 
has prepared a Draft of the Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMP) 
and Environmental Assessment (EA) for BLM-managed Federal Minerals in 
San Juan County, New Mexico. 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 May 19, 1998. This notice is to

[[Page 18210]]

solicit comment on coal resources information and indications of other 
interest and needs pursuant to 43 CFR 3420.1-2, for inclusion in the 
Farmington 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 determination 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: April 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments to be included with the draft document should be 
sent to: Bureau of Land Management, 1235 La Plata Highway, Suite A, 
Farmington, New Mexico 87401. Proprietary data should be identified as 
such to ensure confidentiality.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Moore, Farmington District, 
505-599-6311.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft Farmington RMP amendment will 
include the federal coal lease application located in T. 30 N., R. 14 
W., in San Juan County, about six miles west of Farmington, New Mexico. 
The property proposed to be leased contains approximately 4,480 acres 
and is described as follows:

T. 30 N. R. 14 W., N.M.P.M.
    Sec. 17: All
    Sec. 18: All
    Sec. 19: All
    Sec. 20: All
    Sec. 29: All
    Sec. 30: All
    Sec. 31: N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\, Lots 1 through 4.

    The issue addressed by this draft RMP amendment effort is coal 
leasing and the development within the coal lease. 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 as defined in 43 CFR Part 3420, including a review of the 
applicable coal planning screens. Information resulting from comments 
submitted to the BLM will be utilized in the draft finalization and 
implementation and to determine the potential for coal development and 
conflicts with other resources within the 4,480-acre tract and any 
other tracts that may be determined to have additional interest.
    Lands already considered in the Farmington RMP, adopted in July 
1988, need not be addressed.
    The issue of federal coal leasing and development include:
    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 developmental potential, applicable 
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 consent 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 with a scale 
of not less than \1/2\-inch to the mile.
    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 comment and is subject to change based upon such public comment. 
Comments should be received by Close of Business, May 19, 1998. Public 
involvement is welcome throughout the amendment process. A formal 
public hearing/public meeting will be held on May 6, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. 
at the BLM office at 1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington, New Mexico to 
provide the public an opportunity to participate in this Draft 
Amendment effort.
    Complete records of all phases of the planning process will be 
available for review and comment at the Bureau of Land Management, 
Farmington Office, 1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington, New Mexico.
    The final RMP amendment documents will be available upon request.
John A. Phillips,
Acting Manager.
[FR Doc. 98-9911 Filed 4-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P