[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 89 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25602-25603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-10439]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-030-1320-EL, NDM 91535]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
To Lease a Coal Tract in North Dakota

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement to lease a coal tract in Mercer Co., North Dakota.

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SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
implementing regulations and other applicable statutes and regulations, 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) that has been prepared for 
coal resources administered by the BLM. The BLM is considering leasing 
approximately 5,600 acres of Federal coal adjacent to the Freedom Mine, 
Mercer County, North Dakota. The public is invited to review and 
comment on proposed alternatives and associated environmental impacts.

DATES: The comment period will end 60 days after the Environmental 
Protection Agency's Notice of Availability (NOA) is published in the 
Federal Register announcing release of this DEIS.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Coal Team, Bureau of 
Land Management, North Dakota Field Office, 2933 3rd Ave W, Dickinson, 
ND 58601; or via telefax to (701) 227-8510. Review copies will be 
available at the following locations:
BLM North Dakota Field Office (701) 227-7700;
Bismarck Veterans Memorial Public Library (701) 222-6410;
Beulah Public Library (701) 873-2884;
Dickinson Public Library (701) 456-7700;
Hazen Public Library (701) 748-2977;
Mandan Public Library (701) 667-3255;
Fort Berthold Cultural Preservation Office (701) 627-4399;
Standing Rock Cultural Preservation Office (701) 854-2120;
Fort Peck Cultural Preservation Office (406) 768-5478.
    The DEIS may also be viewed online at the North Dakota Field Office 
Web site: http://www.mt.blm.gov/ndfo.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Jefferis, Project Manager, at 
(701) 227-7713, or Doug Burger, Field Manager, at (701) 227-7703.
    Public Comment Procuedures: Comments must be received on or before 
the end of the comment period at the address or fax number listed 
above. For comments to be most helpful, they should relate to specific 
concerns or conflicts within the legal responsibility of the BLM. 
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the North Dakota Field Office during 
regular business hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays. Responses to the comments will be published as part of 
the Final Environmental Impact Statement. If you wish to withhold your 
name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the 
extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
available for public inspection in their entirety.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coteau Properties Company applied to lease 
5,571 acres of Federal coal beneath private surface in Mercer County, 
west-central North Dakota. The DEIS analyzes the environmental 
consequences of three alternatives, including a No-Action (No Leasing) 
Alternative, which were developed with public involvement during the 
scoping process. Potential concerns include impacts to cultural 
resources, air quality, water resources, soils, land use, vegetation, 
wildlife, environmental justice, and socio-economics.
    The Freedom Mine, which is adjacent to the proposed expansion area, 
is approved to remove 15-16 million tons of coal per year. Addition of 
Federal coal would extend the life of Freedom Mine by about 6 years.
    Public meetings will be held as folows:

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June 1, 2004.......................  Public Meeting........  4 Bears Casino & Lodge, 202  6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
                                                              Frontage Road, New Town,
                                                              ND, 6:30 p.m.--8 p.m.,
                                                              Mandan and Hidatsa Rooms.
June 2, 2004.......................  Public Meeting........  Civic Center, 120 7 Av NE.,  6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
                                                              Beulah, ND.

[[Page 25603]]

 
June 3, 2004.......................  Public Meeting........  Prairie Knights Casino &     6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
                                                              Lodge, 7932 Highway 24,
                                                              Fort Yates, ND, Room 801
                                                              (main floor).
June 23, 2004......................  Hearing on DEIS/        State Capital Grounds,       7 p.m.-10 p.m.
                                      Maximum Economic        Heritage Center, 612 East
                                      Recovery/Fair Market    Boulevard Avenue,
                                      Value.                  Bismarck, ND.
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    Meetings and the Hearing will also be announced through public 
notices, media news releases, and on the North Dakota Web site at 
http://www.mt.blm.gov/ndfo.
    After comments are reviewed and relevant adjustments made, a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared and is expected to be 
available in late 2004.

    Dated: March 31, 2004.
Douglas J. Burger,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 04-10439 Filed 5-6-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P