[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45265-45266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17977]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLES002000.L1320.DU0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Amendment 
and Associated Environmental Assessment for Coal Lease by Application 
ALES-55199, AL

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is preparing a Resource 
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment and Associated Environmental Assessment 
(EA) to consider leasing Federal coal in response to lease application 
ALES-55199 for Jefferson County, Alabama. Coal industry 
representatives, State and local governments, and the general public 
are encouraged to submit information to assist in determining coal 
development potential and possible environmental consequences, as well 
as development conflicts with other resources.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Draft 
RMP Amendment and associated EA for the lease application. Comments on 
issues may be submitted in writing until August 26, 2013.

[[Page 45266]]


ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Southeastern States Field Office, 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, 
Jackson, MS 39206 or via email: [email protected] or via fax: 918-621-
4130.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Taylor or Randall Mills, 
Southeastern States Field Office at 601-977-5400 or by email at 
[email protected] or [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The coal lease application, filed by Best 
Coal, Inc., is located in Jefferson County, Alabama. The lease 
application area is approximately 5 miles north of Mt. Olive, Alabama, 
on Glovers Bend Road. The proposed lease area, totaling 160 acres, is 
described as follows:
Township 15 South, Range 4 West, Huntsville Meridian
    Section 24, SW1/4NW1/4, N1/2SW1/4, SE1/2SW1/4.
The applicant proposes to mine the Federal coal in the lease 
application area by surface methods. The surface estate overlying the 
lease application area is privately owned. The BLM has the 
responsibility to address coal lease applications on Federal mineral 
estate under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended. The Office of 
Surface Mining, in coordination with the State of Alabama, has 
responsibility to issue Mine Permits under the Surface Mining Control 
and Reclamation Act.
    An interdisciplinary team will prepare the RMP Amendment and 
associated EA for the lease application. Preliminary issues, subject to 
change as a result of public input, are (1) Potential impacts of coal 
development on the surface and subsurface resources; and (2) 
Consideration of restrictions on lease rights to protect surface 
resources.
    Preliminary planning criteria developed to guide the preparation of 
the planning analysis, subject to change as a result of public input, 
are as follows:
    1. Land use planning and environmental analysis will be conducted 
in accordance with laws, regulations, executive orders and manuals. 
Planning will be conducted for the Federal coal mineral estate (Federal 
leasable mineral estates such as coal are under the administration of 
the BLM).
    2. A mine plan scenario will be prepared for the Federal coal 
resource as an analytical tool to inform the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) analysis.
    3. Resource data needed to evaluate the impacts of coal mining will 
be collected.
    4. The planning team will work cooperatively with (a) Federal, 
State, county, and local governments and agencies; (b) Tribal 
governments; (c) Groups and organizations; and (d) Individuals. 
Comments relating to the preliminary issues and planning criteria 
should be submitted in writing to the address provided above.
    An individual, business entity, or public body may participate in 
this process by providing information regarding coal or other resource 
information to assist in determining conflicts that may result from 
issuance of the coal lease. For other resource information, 
participants are asked to identify the particular resource value, to 
provide the reason that the resource would conflict with coal 
development and provide a map (minimal scale 1:24,000) showing the 
location of the resource.
    The information available to the interdisciplinary team will be 
considered in addressing the specific resources and uses identified in 
the 20 Unsuitability Criteria listed at 43 CFR subpart 3461. Screening 
of the Federal coal lands in the application area through the 
Unsuitable Criteria will result in a determination as to which lands 
are (1) Acceptable for further leasing consideration with standard 
stipulations; (2) Acceptable for further leasing consideration with 
special stipulations; or (3) Unacceptable for further consideration for 
leasing.
    Written comments should address one or more of the following: (1) 
Issues to be considered; (2) Whether the preliminary 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 were 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 cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2(c).

John Lyon,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-17977 Filed 7-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P