[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 241 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66990-66991]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29980]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-933-00-1320-01; COC 71978]


Notice of Public Hearing and Request for Comments on 
Environmental Assessment, Geologic Engineering Report, and Maximum 
Economic Recovery for COC-71978; Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public hearing.

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SUMMARY: Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Office, Lakewood, 
Colorado, hereby gives notice that a public hearing will be held to 
receive comments on the environmental assessment, geologic engineering 
report, and maximum economic recovery of Federal coal to be offered. An 
application for coal lease was filed by New Elk Coal Company, LLC, 
requesting the Bureau of Land Management offer for competitive lease 
1,279.62 acres of Federal coal in Las Animas County, Colorado.

DATES: The public hearing will be held at 6 p.m., March 25, 2010. 
Written comments should be received no later than March 05, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing will be held at La Quinta Inn, 2833 
Toupal Drive, Trinidad, Colorado 81082. Written comments should be 
addressed to the Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Melissa Smeins, 3028 
E. Main St, Canon City, Colorado 81212. You may also send a fax to 719-
269-8599 or e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Smeins, at the address above, 
or by telephone at 719-269-8523.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State 
Office, Lakewood, Colorado, hereby gives notice that a public hearing 
will be held on 6 p.m., March 25, 2010, at the La Quinta Inn at the 
address given above.
    An application for coal lease was filed by New Elk Coal Company, 
LLC. requesting the Bureau of Land Management offer for competitive 
lease Federal coal in the lands outside established coal production 
regions described as:

T. 33 S., R. 67 W., 6th P.M.
    Sec. 6, lots 2 to 7, inclusive, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 7, lot 2;
    Sec. 17, E\1/2\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 18, lots 2 to 4, inclusive, and E\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 19, lot 1, inclusive, and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\;
T. 33 S., R. 68 W., 6th P.M.
    Sec. 1, lots 1 & 2, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 12, E\1/2\NE\1/4\;
    Sec. 13, NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\.

    Containing approximately 1,279.62 acres more or less.

    The coal resource to be offered is limited to coal recoverable by 
underground mining methods.
    The purpose of the hearing is to obtain public comments on the 
environmental assessment and on the following items:
    1. The method of mining to be employed to obtain maximum economic 
recovery of the coal,
    2. The impact that mining the coal in the proposed leasehold may 
have on the area, and
    3. The methods of determining the fair market value of the coal to 
be offered.
    Written requests to testify orally at the March 25, 2010, public 
hearing should be received at the Bureau of Land Management Office in 
Canon City by 12 p.m., March 25, 2010. Those who indicate they wish to 
testify when they register at the hearing may have an opportunity if 
time is available.
    In addition, the public is invited to submit written comments 
concerning the fair market value and maximum economic recovery of the 
coal resource. Public comments will be utilized in establishing fair 
market value for the coal resource in the described lands. Comments 
should address specific factors related to fair market value including, 
but not limited to:
    1. The quality and quantity of the coal resource.
    2. The price that the mined coal would bring in the market place.
    3. The cost of producing the coal.
    4. The interest rate at which anticipated income streams would be 
discounted.
    5. Depreciation and other accounting factors.
    6. The mining method or methods which would achieve maximum 
economic recovery of the coal.
    7. Documented information on the terms and conditions of recent and 
similar coal land transactions in the lease area, and
    8. Any comparable sales data of similar coal lands.
    Should any information submitted as comments be considered 
proprietary by the commenter, the information should be labeled as such 
and stated in the first page of the submission. Written comments on the 
environmental assessment, maximum economic recovery, and fair market 
value should be sent to Melissa Smeins at the above address prior to 
close of business on March 05, 2010. Substantive comments, whether 
written or oral, will receive equal consideration prior to any lease 
offering.
    The environmental assessment, maximum economic recovery report, and 
comments submitted by the public will be available from the Bureau of 
Land Management Field Office in Canon City (see above) upon request.
    A copy of the environmental assessment, the maximum economic 
recovery report, the case file, and the comments submitted by the 
public, except those portions identified as proprietary by the 
commenter and

[[Page 66991]]

meeting exemptions stated in the Freedom of Information Act, will be 
available for public inspection at the Colorado State Office, 2850 
Youngfield, Lakewood, Colorado 80215.

    Dated: December 9, 2009.
Kurt M. Barton,
Land Law Examiner, Solid Minerals.
[FR Doc. E9-29980 Filed 12-16-09; 8:45 am]
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