Notice of Competitive Coal Lease Sale, North Dakota, 47825-47826 [E6-13608]
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 160 / Friday, August 18, 2006 / Notices
species. The coastal salt marsh and
upland areas within the Sweetwater
Marsh Unit support 6 federally listed
species, including 3 listed birds that
nest within the Unit, 1 State-listed
endangered species, and 26 species of
birds identified by the Service as Birds
of Conservation Concern.
The South San Diego Bay Unit was
established in 1999 as a unit of the San
Diego National Wildlife Refuge for the
purpose of protecting, managing, and
restoring habitats for federally listed
endangered and threatened species and
migratory birds. The Service currently
manages approximately 2,300 acres of
the 3,940 acres included within the
Unit’s approved acquisition boundary.
The majority of this management area is
leased to the Service by the California
State Lands Commission. Included
within this Unit is the largest remaining
expanse of intertidal mudflats in San
Diego Bay. This and other habitats
within the Unit support 5 federally
listed endangered and threatened
species, 1 State-listed endangered
species, and 19 species of birds
identified by the Service as Birds of
Conservation Concern. Open water is
the dominant habitat, followed by
intertidal mudflats, disturbed uplands,
salt marsh, and freshwater wetlands.
The Unit includes an active commercial
solar salt operation that is managed
under a Special Use Permit. The salt
pond levees provide important nesting
habitat for a variety of colonial nesting
seabirds, and the brine invertebrates
present in some ponds provide foraging
habitat for various migratory birds,
including phalaropes and eared grebes.
The proposed action is to adopt and
implement a CCP that best achieves the
purposes for which the Refuge was
established, furthers its vision and
goals, contributes to the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System,
addresses significant issues and
applicable mandates, and is consistent
with the principles of sound fish and
wildlife management. Implementing the
CCP will enable the Refuge to fulfill its
role in the conservation and
management of fish and wildlife
resources within the Pacific Flyway,
including the conservation of important
coastal wetlands, and to provide refuge
visitors with opportunities to enjoy the
Refuge’s resources through high-quality
opportunities for wildlife observation,
environmental education, and
environmental interpretation. A
Predator Management Plan, prepared
pursuant to the Service’s endangered
species management responsibilities, is
also included in the CCP/EIS as a stepdown plan. The predator management
plan, which benefits the Federally listed
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18:35 Aug 17, 2006
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endangered California least tern and
light-footed clapper rail and the
threatened western snowy plover, has
been developed as a comprehensive
wildlife damage control program that
addresses a range of management
actions from vegetation control and
nesting habitat enhancement to nonlethal and lethal control of both
mammalian and avian predators. Under
this plan, the most effective, selective,
and humane techniques available to
deter or remove individual predators or
species would be implemented.
This CCP will also satisfy a condition
of the Public Agency Lease between the
California State Lands Commission and
the Service, requiring management and
public access plans for the South San
Diego Bay Unit, as well as fulfill the
Service’s obligation described in a
Cooperative Agreement between the
Service and the Unified Port of San
Diego to prepare ‘‘a holistic habitat
restoration plan’’ for a 1,035-acre
portion of the existing salt ponds within
the South San Diego Bay Unit.
The Service analyzed various
alternatives for future management of
the Refuge, including three alternatives
for the Sweetwater Marsh Unit and four
alternatives for the South San Diego Bay
Unit. Sweetwater Marsh Unit,
Alternative C, and South San Diego Bay
Unit, Alternative D, have been
identified as the Service’s preferred
alternatives.
Alternative C for the Sweetwater
Marsh Unit would improve habitat
quality and restore intertidal and
upland habitats to support six Federally
listed species, along with the Refuge’s
other plant and animal resources. The
existing trail system on Gunpowder
Point would be redesigned and new
interpretive elements would be
provided to better complement the
existing environmental education
programs supported by the Refuge.
Alternative D for the South San Diego
Bay Unit would enhance nesting
opportunities in and around the salt
ponds for the California least tern,
western snowy plover, and various
other colonial seabirds; restore to native
coastal habitats up to 410 acres of
previous agricultural land in the Otay
River floodplain; restore 650 acres of
commercial solar salt ponds to tidal
influence to support intertidal mudflat
and coastal salt marsh habitats; and
manage the water and salinity levels in
an additional 275 acres of salt ponds.
Opportunities for wildlife observation,
photography, and environmental
interpretation would be expanded; a
pedestrian pathway would be
constructed along the southern end of
the Refuge to improve wildlife
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47825
observation opportunities for Refuge
visitors; and the other public uses (i.e.,
fishing, environmental education, and
boating) currently provided on the
Refuge would be maintained.
The following substantive changes
were made between the Draft and Final
CCP/EIS:
1. We revised Appendix D (CCP
Implementation) to clarify the phasing
plan for restoration of the salt ponds
under scenario 2 and to more clearly
describe the step-down planning
process for future restoration and
enhancement proposals on the South
San Diego Bay Unit.
2. We expanded the biological
resources information provided in
Chapter 3, Affected Environment, to
address comments received during
public review.
Public comments were requested,
considered, and incorporated
throughout the planning process. Public
outreach included public meetings and
workshops, planning update mailings,
and Federal Register notices. Three
previous notices were published in the
Federal Register concerning the
development of this CCP (65 FR 39172,
June 23, 2000; 67 FR 19583, April 22,
2002; 70 FR 42359, July 22, 2005).
During the public review and comment
period for the Draft CCP/EIS, which
occurred from July 22 to September 19,
2005, the Service received 38 written
comments and four verbal comments.
All substantive issues raised in these
comments have been addressed through
changes incorporated in the Final CCP/
EIS and/or through responses to the
comments, which are included in
Appendix P, Responses to Comments, of
the Final CCP/EIS.
Dated: August 11, 2006.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada
Operations, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E6–13556 Filed 8–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT–030–1320–EL, NDM 95104]
Notice of Competitive Coal Lease Sale,
North Dakota
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of competitive coal lease
sale, lease application NDM 95104.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
the United States Department of Interior
(DOI), Bureau of Land Management
(BLM), Montana State Office, will offer
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47826
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 160 / Friday, August 18, 2006 / Notices
coal reserves in the lands described
below in Oliver County, North Dakota,
hereinafter described as Federal coal
lease application (LBA) NDM 95104 for
competitive lease by sealed bid in
accordance with the provisions for
competitive lease sales in 43 CFR
22.2(a), and the Mineral Leasing Act of
1920, as amended and supplemented
(30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.).
DATES: The lease sale will be held at 11
a.m., Tuesday, September 12, 2006.
Sealed bids must be sent by certified
mail, return receipt requested, or be
hand delivered to the address indicated
below, and must be received on or
before 10 a.m., September 12, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The lease sale will be held
in the BLM Montana State Office, 920
Conference Room, 5001 Southgate
Drive, Billings, Montana 59101–4669.
Sealed bids clearly marked ‘‘Sealed Bid
for NDM 95104 Coal Sale-Not to be
opened before 11 a.m., Tuesday,
September 12, 2006’’ must be submitted
to the Cashier, BLM Montana State
Office, at the address given above. The
cashier will issue a receipt for each
hand delivered sealed bid.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Connie Schaff, Land Law Examiner, or
Rebecca Spurgin, Coal Coordinator, at
406–896–5060 or 406–896–5080,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This sale
is being held in response to a LBA filed
by The BNI Coal, Ltd on September 29,
2005. All coal LBAs submitted to BLM
for processing prior to November 7,
2005 are not subject to cost recovery on
a case-by-case basis (See 43 CFR
3000.10(d)(1), 70 FR 58872, October 7,
2005). The Federal coal resource to be
offered consists of all recoverable
reserves in the following described
lands:
estimate of fair market value (FMV). No
bid that is less than $100 per acre, or
fraction thereof, will be considered. The
DOI has established a minimum bid of
$100 per acre or fraction thereof for
Federal coal tracts. The minimum bid is
not intended to represent FMV. The
FMV will be determined by the
Authorized Officer after the sale. In the
event identical high sealed bids are
received, the tying high bidders will be
requested to submit follow-up bids until
a high bid is received. All tie-breaking
sealed-bids must be submitted within 15
minutes following the Sale Official’s
announcement at the sale that identical
high bids have been received.
A lease issued as a result of this
offering will provide for payment of an
annual rental of $3 per acre, or fraction
thereof; and a royalty payable to the
United States of 12.5 percent of the
value of coal mined by surface methods
and 8.0 percent of the value of coal
mined by underground methods. The
value of the coal will be determined in
accordance with 30 CFR 206.250.
Bidding instructions for the tracts
offered and the terms and conditions of
the proposed coal lease are included in
the Detailed Statement of Lease Sale.
Copies of the Detailed Statement and
the proposed coal lease are available at
the Montana State Office at the address
given above. Casefile NDM 95104 is
available for inspection at the Montana
State Office during normal business
hours at the address above.
Dated: July 12, 2006.
Glenwood F. Kerestes,
Acting Chief, Branch of Solid Minerals.
[FR Doc. E6–13608 Filed 8–17–06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
T. 142 N., R. 84 W., 5th P. M.
Sec. 28: W1⁄2.
Bureau of Land Management
Containing approximately 320 acres in
Oliver County, North Dakota.
[WY–920–1320–EL, WYW172929]
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
The LBA’s total recoverable coal
reserves are estimated to be 8.3 million
tons (averaging 15.3 feet in thickness)
and the average overburden depth is 100
feet.
The estimated coal quality on an asreceived basis is as follows:
BTU ......................................
Volatile Matter ....................
Fixed Carbon .......................
Moisture ..............................
Sulfur Content .....................
Ash Content ........................
6,765 BTU/lb.
25.73 %
28.72 %
38.46 %
0.91 %
7.09 %
The tracts will be leased to the
qualified bidder of the highest cash
amount, provided that the high bid
meets or exceeds the BLM’s pre-sale
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Notice of Invitation for Coal
Exploration License Application,
Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Invitation for Coal
Exploration License Application, Jacobs
Ranch Coal Company, WYW172929,
Wyoming.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 2(b) of the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as
amended by section 4 of the Federal
Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976,
90 Stat. 1083, 30 U.S.C. 201(b), and to
the regulations adopted as 43 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) 3410, all
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interested qualified parties, as provided
in 43 CFR 3472.1, are hereby invited to
participate with Jacobs Ranch Coal
Company on a pro rata cost sharing
basis in a program for the exploration of
coal deposits owned by the United
States of America in the followingdescribed lands in Campbell County,
Wyoming:
T. 44 N., R. 70 W., 6th P.M., Wyoming,
Sec. 21: Lots 1 through 16;
T. 43 N., R. 71 W., 6th P.M., Wyoming,
Sec. 3: Lots 2, 5 through 19;
Sec. 4: Lots 5 through 20;
Sec. 5: Lots 5 through 20;
Sec. 6: Lots 8, 15, 16, 23;
T. 44 N., R. 71 W., 6th P.M., Wyoming,
Sec. 15: Lots 9 through 16;
Sec. 20: Lots 9, 10, 14, 15;
Sec. 21: Lots 1 through 16;
Sec. 22: Lots 1 through 16;
Sec. 27: Lots 1 through 16;
Sec. 28: Lots 1 through 16;
Sec. 29: Lots 1 through 15, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4,
Sec. 30: Lots 5, 12, 13, 20;
Sec. 31: Lots 5, 12, 13, 20;
Sec. 32: Lots 1 through 15, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 33: Lots 1 through 15, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 34: Lots 1 through 16;
Containing 9,260.58 acres, more or less.
Any party electing to participate
in this exploration program must send
written notice to both the Bureau of
Land Management and Jacobs Ranch
Coal Company, as provided in the
ADDRESSES section below, no later than
thirty days after publication of this
invitation in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the exploration
plan are available for review during
normal business hours in the following
offices (serialized under number
WYW172929): Bureau of Land
Management, Wyoming State Office,
5353 Yellowstone Road, P.O. Box 1828,
Cheyenne, WY 82003; and, Bureau of
Land Management, Casper Field Office,
2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY
82604. The written notice should be
sent to the following addresses: Jacobs
Ranch Coal Company, c/o Rio Tinto
Energy America, Attn: Tom Suchomel,
Caller Box 3009, Gillette, WY 82717,
and the Bureau of Land Management,
Wyoming State Office, Branch of Solid
Minerals, Attn: Mavis Love, P.O. Box
1828, Cheyenne, WY 82003.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All of the
coal in the above-described land
consists of unleased Federal coal within
the Powder River Basin Known Coal
Leasing Area. The purpose of the
exploration program is to obtain
supplemental geotechnical data from
two previous drilling programs and to
assist with the planning of future
expansions to the Jacobs Ranch Mine.
This notice of invitation will be
published in The News-Record of
Gillette, WY, once each week for two
DATES:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 160 (Friday, August 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47825-47826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13608]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-030-1320-EL, NDM 95104]
Notice of Competitive Coal Lease Sale, North Dakota
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of competitive coal lease sale, lease application NDM
95104.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the United States Department of
Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Montana State Office,
will offer
[[Page 47826]]
coal reserves in the lands described below in Oliver County, North
Dakota, hereinafter described as Federal coal lease application (LBA)
NDM 95104 for competitive lease by sealed bid in accordance with the
provisions for competitive lease sales in 43 CFR 22.2(a), and the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 U.S.C. 181
et seq.).
DATES: The lease sale will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 12,
2006. Sealed bids must be sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, or be hand delivered to the address indicated below, and
must be received on or before 10 a.m., September 12, 2006.
ADDRESSES: The lease sale will be held in the BLM Montana State Office,
920 Conference Room, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana 59101-
4669. Sealed bids clearly marked ``Sealed Bid for NDM 95104 Coal Sale-
Not to be opened before 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 12, 2006'' must be
submitted to the Cashier, BLM Montana State Office, at the address
given above. The cashier will issue a receipt for each hand delivered
sealed bid.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Connie Schaff, Land Law Examiner, or
Rebecca Spurgin, Coal Coordinator, at 406-896-5060 or 406-896-5080,
respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This sale is being held in response to a LBA
filed by The BNI Coal, Ltd on September 29, 2005. All coal LBAs
submitted to BLM for processing prior to November 7, 2005 are not
subject to cost recovery on a case-by-case basis (See 43 CFR
3000.10(d)(1), 70 FR 58872, October 7, 2005). The Federal coal resource
to be offered consists of all recoverable reserves in the following
described lands:
T. 142 N., R. 84 W., 5th P. M.
Sec. 28: W\1/2\.
Containing approximately 320 acres in Oliver County, North
Dakota.
The LBA's total recoverable coal reserves are estimated to be 8.3
million tons (averaging 15.3 feet in thickness) and the average
overburden depth is 100 feet.
The estimated coal quality on an as-received basis is as follows:
BTU..................................... 6,765 BTU/lb.
Volatile Matter......................... 25.73 %
Fixed Carbon............................ 28.72 %
Moisture................................ 38.46 %
Sulfur Content.......................... 0.91 %
Ash Content............................. 7.09 %
The tracts will be leased to the qualified bidder of the highest
cash amount, provided that the high bid meets or exceeds the BLM's pre-
sale estimate of fair market value (FMV). No bid that is less than $100
per acre, or fraction thereof, will be considered. The DOI has
established a minimum bid of $100 per acre or fraction thereof for
Federal coal tracts. The minimum bid is not intended to represent FMV.
The FMV will be determined by the Authorized Officer after the sale. In
the event identical high sealed bids are received, the tying high
bidders will be requested to submit follow-up bids until a high bid is
received. All tie-breaking sealed-bids must be submitted within 15
minutes following the Sale Official's announcement at the sale that
identical high bids have been received.
A lease issued as a result of this offering will provide for
payment of an annual rental of $3 per acre, or fraction thereof; and a
royalty payable to the United States of 12.5 percent of the value of
coal mined by surface methods and 8.0 percent of the value of coal
mined by underground methods. The value of the coal will be determined
in accordance with 30 CFR 206.250.
Bidding instructions for the tracts offered and the terms and
conditions of the proposed coal lease are included in the Detailed
Statement of Lease Sale. Copies of the Detailed Statement and the
proposed coal lease are available at the Montana State Office at the
address given above. Casefile NDM 95104 is available for inspection at
the Montana State Office during normal business hours at the address
above.
Dated: July 12, 2006.
Glenwood F. Kerestes,
Acting Chief, Branch of Solid Minerals.
[FR Doc. E6-13608 Filed 8-17-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P
