[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37145-37147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15808]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNM004200.L13200000.GA0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment 
(RMPA) and Associated Environmental Assessment Addressing Four Federal 
Coal Lease Applications in Haskell and LeFlore Counties, OK

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Oklahoma 
Field Office intends to prepare an amendment to the 1994 Oklahoma 
Resource Management Plan, as amended, and associated Environmental 
Assessment (EA) in response to four coal lease applications covering 
lands in Haskell and LeFlore Counties, Oklahoma. By this notice, the 
Oklahoma Field Office announces the beginning of the scoping process to 
solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Draft 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment/EA. Comments on issues may be 
submitted in writing until August 8, 2011. The date(s) and location(s) 
of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance 
through local media, newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Oklahoma_Field_Office.html. We will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft RMP amendment/EA.
    Comments: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria 
related to the four Federal coal lease applications in Haskell and 
LeFlore Counties, Oklahoma, RMP amendment/EA by any of the following 
methods:
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (918) 621-4130.
     Mail: RMPA/EA Comments, BLM, Oklahoma Field Office, 7906 E 
33rd Street, Suite 101, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145-1352.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Oklahoma Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact: Laurence Levesque or 
Richard Wymer, Co-Team Leaders, BLM, Oklahoma Field Office, 7906 E 33rd 
Street, Suite 101, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74145-1352, phone (918) 621-4100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: During the period June 2008 to April 2010, 
the BLM received three coal lease modification applications and one 
competitive coal lease application from Farrell-Cooper Mining Company, 
Georges Colliers Inc., and Mining Systems Corporation. These 
applications were for resources located outside the areas that the 
Oklahoma RMP designated as available for coal leasing. The RMP 
amendment will evaluate the four Lease Application Areas to determine 
suitability for further leasing consideration. The RMP amendment will 
be prepared in accordance with guidance provided in BLM Land Use 
Planning Handbook (H-1601-1). The Lease Application Areas total 
approximately 2,500 acres of previously unleased coal and are part of 
the Federal mineral estate, but have not previously undergone land-use 
planning analysis. The Lease Application Areas total 2,500 acres of 
Federal mineral

[[Page 37146]]

estate administered by the BLM, and the surface is privately owned.
    The sizes and locations of these four Lease Application Areas are 
as follows:

Indian Meridian, Oklahoma

T. 8 N., R. 22 E.,
    Sec. 23, N\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, W\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, N\1/
2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, and N\1/
2\N\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 25, NE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\;
T. 8 N., R. 23 E.,
    Sec. 19, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/
2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, 
and S\1/2\N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, N\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and NW\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\;

    The area described contains 290 acres, according to the official 
plat of the survey of the said lands, on file with the BLM.

T. 9 N., R. 26 E.,
    Sec. 21, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 22, S\1/2\, and S\1/2\S\1/2\N\1/2\;
    Sec. 23, SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, 
and S\1/2\S\1/2\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 26, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 27, N\1/2\N\1/2\N\1/2\;

    The area described contains 790 acres, according to the official 
plat of the survey of the said lands, on file with the BLM.

T. 10 N., R. 21 E.,
    Sec. 28, SW\1/4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 33, NW\1/4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\N\1/2\N\1/2\SW\1/4\;

    The area described contains 460 acres, according to the official 
plat of the survey of the said lands, on file with the BLM.

T. 8 N., R. 22 E
    Sec.11, E\1/2\W\1/2\, and E\1/2\;
    Sec. 12, NW\1/4\, W\1/2\NE\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/4\, 
and a tract of land described as follows: Beginning at the southwest 
corner of Section 12, T. 8 N., R., 22 E., thence 111.61 feet N. 
0[deg]1' W., along the west side of said section to point of 
beginning. Thence 5326.57 feet N. 80[deg]45'30'' E., to a point on 
the east line of said section, thence 579.46 feet North along the 
east line of said section, thence 1316.39 feet S. 89[deg]24'44'' W., 
to a point on the west line of the NE quarter of the SE quarter of 
said section, thence 182.04 feet S. 0[deg]4'31'' E., along the west 
line of the NE quarter of the SE quarter of said section to the SW 
corner of the NE quarter of the SE quarter of said section, thence 
1316.13 feet S. 89[deg]33' W., along the north line of the SW 
quarter of the SE quarter to the NW corner of the SW quarter of the 
SE quarter of said section, thence 2625.69 feet S. 89[deg]33' W., 
along the north lines of the SE quarter of the SW quarter and the SW 
quarter of the SW quarter to the NW corner of the SW quarter of the 
SW quarter of said section, thence 1208.39 feet S. 0[deg]1' E., 
along the west line of said section to the point of beginning.
    Sec. 14, a tract of land described as follows: Beginning at the 
northeast corner of Section 14, T. 8 N., R. 22 E., thence 682.72 
feet S. 89[deg]40 W., along the north line of said section to the 
point of beginning. Thence 1946.72 feet S. 89[deg]40' W., along the 
north line of said section to the north quarter corner, thence 
794.04 feet S. 0[deg]1'8'' W., along the west line of the NE quarter 
of said section, thence 2106.95 feet N. 67[deg]31'38'' E., to the 
point of beginning.

    The area described contains 960 acres, according to the official 
plat of the survey of the said lands, on file with the BLM.

    Opportunities for the public to be informed and participate will 
occur throughout the planning process. To ensure local community 
participation and input, public scoping meetings will be held in two 
towns strategically located near the lease application areas. Early 
participation by all interested parties is encouraged and will help 
guide the planning process. A list of attendees at each meeting and a 
summary of their input will be available to the public and participants 
may clarify their input for 30 days. The results of scoping will be 
sent to all parties on the mailing list for this project in a 
newsletter or scoping report.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: 
Access and traffic; public interest/benefits regarding the extraction 
of the coal; identification of resource values on the private lands; 
and water quality. Preliminary management concerns include the 
following: Special status species of plants and animals; maintaining 
government-to-government relationships with tribal governments; 
socioeconomics, potential disproportionate impacts on disadvantaged 
communities resulting from coal lease decisions (Environmental Justice 
Executive Order 12898); potential for spread of noxious weeds; 
protection of designated streams (Clean Water Act, Section 303-d); and 
application of unsuitability criteria. The public is encouraged to help 
identify any additional issues or concerns during the initial scoping 
phase. Industry and other interested parties are asked to provide any 
information that will be useful in applying the Federal Coal Management 
Program defined in 43 CFR 3420 and 43 CFR 3430, including application 
of coal planning criteria outlined in 43 CFR 1600. Information 
resulting from this call for information will be used to determine 
potential for coal development in the application areas and likelihood 
of conflict with other resources.
    The issue of Federal coal leasing and development will include:
    1. Determining if these areas are acceptable for further coal 
leasing consideration with standard stipulations;
    2. Determining if these areas are acceptable for consideration with 
special stipulations; and
    3. Determining if these areas are unacceptable for further coal 
leasing consideration.
    Any individual, business entity, or public body may participate in 
this process by providing coal or other resource information under this 
notice.
    Planning criteria will be developed during the initial public 
scoping to help guide the planning effort. Preliminary planning 
criteria being considered include the following: Recognize valid 
existing rights; comply with existing laws, executive orders, 
regulations, and BLM policy and program guidance; seek public input; 
consider adjoining lands to minimize land-use conflict when making 
decisions; consider planning jurisdictions of other Federal agencies 
and State, local, and tribal governments; develop reasonable and sound 
alternatives; use current scientific data to evaluate appropriate 
strategies; and consider public welfare and safety.
    Written comments should address one or more of the following: (1) 
Issues to be considered; (2) Whether the planning criteria are adequate 
for the issues; (3) Feasible and reasonable alternatives to examine; or 
(4) Relevant coal or other resource information.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project, are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we

[[Page 37147]]

cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7; 43 CFR 1610.2.

Linda S.C. Rundell,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-15808 Filed 6-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4313-AW-P