[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23482-23483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10873]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT 050-1610-DO-012J]


Call for Coal Resource and Other Resource Information for Public 
Lands in Garfield, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne Counties, Utah

AGENCY: Richfield Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Richfield, 
UT

ACTION: Call for coal resource and other resource information.

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SUMMARY: A Notice of intent to prepare a Resource Management Plan for 
public lands and resources in Garfield, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and 
Wayne counties, Utah was published in the Federal Register, volume 66, 
no. 212, Thursday,

[[Page 23483]]

November 1, 2001. This supplements that notice with a call for coal 
resource and other resource information, as required in 43 CFR 3420.1.

DATES: The comment period will commence with the publication of this 
notice in the Federal Register and end 30 days after its publication.

ADDRESSES: Non-proprietary written comments should be sent to Coal 
Comments, Bureau of Land Management, Richfield Field Office, 150 East 
900 North, Richfield, UT 84701; Fax 435-896-1550. Comments, including 
names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public 
review at the Richfield Field Office during regular business hours, 8 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays and may be 
published as part of the Environmental Impact Statement. Proprietary 
data marked as confidential may be submitted in response to this call, 
however, all such proprietary data should be submitted only to James 
Kohler, Chief, Branch of Solid Minerals, Utah State Office, Bureau of 
Land Management, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0155. Data 
marked as confidential shall be treated in accordance with the laws and 
regulations governing confidentiality of such information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Jackson, geologist, BLM 
Richfield Field Office, 150 East 900 North, Richfield, UT 84701, phone: 
435-896-1500, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this call for coal 
information is to obtain any available coal resource data and any other 
resource information pertinent to applying the coal unsuitability 
criteria, and to identify any areas of interest for possible Federal 
coal leasing. The Resource Management Plan will identify areas 
acceptable for further consideration for leasing and estimate the 
amount of recoverable coal. Only those areas that have development 
potential may be identified as acceptable for further consideration for 
leasing. Coal companies, State and local governments and the general 
public are encouraged to submit information on coal geology, economic 
data and other development potential considerations. Where such 
information is determined to indicate developmental potential for an 
area, the area may be included in the land use planning evaluation for 
coal leasing. The BLM will use the unsuitability criteria and 
procedures outlined in 43 CFR part 3461 to assess where there areas 
unsuitable for all or certain stipulated methods of mining. 
Additionally, multiple use decisions that are not included in the 
unsuitability criteria may eliminate certain coal deposits from further 
consideration for leasing to protect other resource values and land 
uses that are locally, regionally or nationally important or unique. In 
making these multiple use decisions BLM will place particular emphasis 
on protecting the following: Air and water quality, wetlands, riparian 
areas and sole-source aquifers; the Federal lands, which leased, would 
adversely impact units of the National Park System, National Wildlife 
Refuge System, the National System of Trails, and the National Wild and 
Scenic Rivers System. Before adopting the resource management plan that 
makes an assessment of lands acceptable for further consideration for 
leasing, the BLM will consult with the state Governor and the state 
agency charged with the responsibility for maintaining the state's coal 
unsuitability program. Where tribal governments administer areas within 
or near the boundaries of the land use plan, the bureau shall consult 
with the appropriate tribal government.

    Dated: April 1, 2003.
Sally Wisely,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 03-10873 Filed 5-1-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P