[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 12 (Friday, January 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3243-3244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-00884]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCON03000-L51100000-GA0000; COC-70538]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Notice of Public Meeting for the Book Cliffs Coal Lease by Application 
in Garfield County, Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado, 
Grand Junction Field Office, announces its intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the Book Cliffs lease 
by application (LBA) for approximately 14,160 acres of Federal coal 
reserves in Garfield County, Colorado. The Book Cliffs application 
tract has been assigned case number COC-70538.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Book 
Cliffs LBA EIS. Comments may be submitted in writing until February 18, 
2014. 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/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html. All 
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping 
period or 15 days after the last public meeting (whichever is later) to 
be included in the Draft EIS. The BLM will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments on the Book Cliffs LBA EIS 
by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (970) 244-3085.
     Mail: BLM, Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand 
Junction, CO 81506, Attn, Christina Stark.
    Please include ``Books Cliffs LBA EIS'' in the subject line. 
Documents pertinent to this application may be examined at the Grand 
Junction Field Office at the address above during its business hours 
(7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Christina Stark, Project 
Manager, at (970) 244-3022; see address above; or by email at 
[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, seven days a week, to 
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application to lease Federal coal near 
the Town of Fruita, Colorado was filed with the BLM on September 12, 
2006, by CAM-Colorado, LLC. This application was previously analyzed in 
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) that was released 
for public comment in January 2009. Based on the public comments, the 
BLM determined that additional environmental review was needed. This 
notice serves to announce the beginning of that additional review and 
analysis.
    TheBook Cliffs LBA Tract includes approximately 78 million tons of 
in-place Federal coal underlying the following lands in Garfield 
County, Colorado.

Sixth Principal Meridian

T. 7 S., R. 101 W.,
    Sec. 7, lot 8, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 8, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 16, lots 5 and 6, and that part of Tract 43 lying in the 
W\1/2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 17;

[[Page 3244]]

    Sec. 18;
    Sec. 19;
    Sec. 20;
    Sec. 21;
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, N\1/2\SE\1/4\, and SW\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 29;
    Sec. 30;
    Sec. 31;
    Sec. 32;
    Sec. 33, lots 3 and 4, and NW\1/4\.
T. 7 S., R. 102 W.,
    Sec. 13, lots 2, 3, and 4, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/
4\, and W\1/2\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 14, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/
4\;
    Sec. 23, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24;
    Sec. 25;
    Sec. 26, NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 35;
    Sec. 36.
T. 8 S., R.101 W.,
    Sec. 4, lot 8;
    Sec. 5;
    Sec. 6;
    Sec. 7;
    Sec. 8;
T. 8 S., R. 102 W.,
    Sec. 1;
    Sec. 12, N\1/2\, and SE\1/4\.

    Containing approximately 14,160 acres.

    If the BLM decides to approve the Book Cliffs LBA, the successful 
bidder would be responsible for securing and maintaining any local, 
state or Federal permits and approvals as applicable and required by 
law for future mining operations of the lease tract. Mining activities 
may subsequently be permitted by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, 
Mining and Safety or the Western Region of the Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM).
    At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary 
issues: Air quality; water quality, supply and rights; wildlife and 
wildlife habitat; soils; recreation and visual resources; socio-
economics; oil and gas development; paleontology; cultural resources; 
riparian habitat; livestock grazing; and transportation.
    The BLM will use NEPA to satisfy the public involvement 
requirements under Sec 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The 
information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the Book Cliffs LBA will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of 
both NEPA and Sec. 106 of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, state, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
Book Cliffs LBA may also request to participate in the development of 
the EIS as a cooperating agency. Currently, OSM, the Colorado 
Department of Natural Resources, and Garfield County are cooperating 
agencies. Other cooperating agencies may be identified during the 
scoping process.
    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 3425.

John Mehlhoff,
BLM Colorado Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-00884 Filed 1-16-14; 8:45 am]
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