[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 81 (Wednesday, April 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 24499]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10273]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-932-1320-05; NMNM 99144]


Notice of Coal Lease Offering

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of competitive coal lease sale.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that certain coal resources in the 
tract described below in San Juan County, New Mexico, will be offered 
for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the provisions 
of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.)

DATES: The lease sale will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 12, 2000. 
Sealed bids must be submitted on or before 9:00 a.m., on May 12, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The lease sale will be held in the BLM Conference Room, 
located at 1474 Rodeo Road, Sante Fe, NM 97505. Sealed bids must be 
submitted on or before 9:00 a.m. on May 12, 2000, to: Cashier, New 
Mexico State Office, P.O. Box 27115, Santa Fe, NM 87502-0115.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ida T. Viarreal at (505) 438-7603.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The tract will be leased to the qualified 
bidder(s) submitting the highest cash offer provided that the high bids 
meet or exceed the fair market value of the tracts as determined by the 
authorized officer after the sale. Each bid should be clearly 
identified by tract number or serial number on the outside of the 
envelope containing the bid(s). No bid that is less than $100.00 per 
acre, or fraction thereof, will be considered. This $100.00 per acre is 
a regulatory minimum, and is not intended to reflect the fair market 
value of the tract.
    Sealed bids clearly marked ``Sealed Bid for NMNM 99144 Coal Sale--
Not to be opened before 10 a.m. Friday, May 12, 2000.'' must be 
received on or before 9 a.m., Friday, May 12, 2000. Bids should be sent 
by certified mail, return receipt requested, or should be hand 
delivered. The cashier will issue a receipt for each hand delivered 
sealed bid. Bids received after 9 a.m., on May 12, 2000, will not be 
considered. The minimum bid is not intended to represent fair market 
value. The fair market value of the tract will be determined by the 
Authorized Officer after the sale. If identical high sealed bids are 
received, the tying bidders will be requested to submit follow-up 
sealed bids until a high bid is received. All tie-breaking sealed bids 
must be within 15 minutes following the sale official's announcement at 
the sale that identical sealed bids have been received.

Coal Tract To Be Offered

    The coal resources to be offered consist of all recoverable 
reserves in the following described lands located in San Juan County, 
New Mexico and are described as follows:

T. 30 N., R. 14 W., NMPM
    Sec. 17, ALL;
    Sec. 18, ALL;
    Sec. 19, ALL;
    Sec. 20, ALL;
    Sec. 29, ALL;
    Sec. 30, ALL;
    Sec. 31, Lots 1-4, N\1/2\N\1/2\S\1/2\.

    Containing 4,483.99 acres, more or less.

    The tract is covered with existing oil and gas leases. There are 
several oil and/or gas wells on the tract. The estimate of the bonus 
value of the coal will include consideration of future oil and gas 
production from these wells, as well as the value of undeveloped 
reserves. An economic analysis of this future income stream will 
determine whether a well, or reserves, is purchased by the coal 
operator prior to mining. Other costs considered will include moving 
and removing roads, pipelines, power lines and surface facilities.

Rental and Royalty

    The lease issued as a result of this lease offering will require 
payment of an annual rental of $3.00 per acre or a fraction thereof, 
and a royalty payable to the United States of 12\1/2\ percent of the 
value of the coal removed by surface method and 8 percent of the value 
of the coal removed by underground methods. The value of the coal will 
be determined in accordance with 30 CFR Sec. 206.250.

Notice of Availability

    Bidding instructions for the offered tract is included in the 
Detailed Statement of Coal Lease Sale. Copies of the Statement and the 
proposed coal lease are available upon request in person or by mail 
from the BLM New Mexico State Office at the address shown above. The 
case files are available for inspection during normal business hours 
only at the Santa Fe, New Mexico location.

    Dated: April 19, 2000.
Stephen D. Salzman,
Acting, State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-10273 Filed 4-25-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-M