Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; New Mexico, 70527-70528 [E6-20528]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 5, 2006 / Notices Members of the public may examine documents pertinent to this proposal by visiting the Miles City Field Office during its business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Also, copies of the EA are available for inspection or provided upon request. Spring Creek Coal Company (SCCC) filed an application to lease Federal coal on the Lease by Application (LBA) which is adjacent to the Spring Creek Mine on March 7, 2005. The Powder River Regional Coal Team reviewed this lease application at a public meeting held on April 27, 2005, in Gillette, Wyoming, and recommended that BLM process it. The application includes approximately 121.4 million tons of recoverable Federal coal with an average coal quality of: 9,350 BTU/lb., 0.34% sulfur, and 3.8% ash. The Federal LBA consists of the coal found underlying the following lands in Big Horn County, Montana: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES T. 8 S., R. 39 E., P.M.M. Sec. 13: SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec. 14: NW1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, N1⁄2S1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec. 15: NW1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec. 22: NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4; Sec. 23: SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2N1⁄2NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4; Sec. 24: N1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4; Sec. 25: SW1⁄4SW1⁄4; Sec. 26: SW1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, W1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4; Sec. 27: SW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, E1/2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4. T. 8 S., R. 40 E., P.M.M. Sec. 30: S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4. Containing 1,207.50 acres more or less. The surface estate of W1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 and SE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 of Section 13, and the NE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 of Section 22 and the SW1⁄4NW1⁄4 of Section 23, T. 8 S., R. 39 E., containing 80.0 acres, more or less, is owned by the Federal government and administered by the BLM. The remainder of the surface estate is privately owned. Approximately 322 acres of the tract are unsuitable for mining due to the presence of no-coal zones and VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:14 Dec 04, 2006 Jkt 211001 structures. These lands are included in the tract to allow recovery of all mineable coal outside of the rail line and to comply with the Federal coal leasing regulations. SCCC proposes to mine the tract as a part of the Spring Creek Mine. The Federal coal included in the LBA Tract would extend the life of the Spring Creek Mine about eight years based upon an average annual production rate of 15 million tons. The Spring Creek Mine is operating under approved mining permits from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EA. If the LBA Tract is leased to the applicant, the new lease must be incorporated into the existing mining and reclamation plan for the adjacent mine and the Secretary of the Interior must approve the revision to the Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) mining plan before the Federal coal in the tract can be mined. OSM is the Federal agency that would be responsible for recommending approval, approval with conditions, or disapproval of the revised MLA mining plan to the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, if this tract is leased. The BLM will provide interested parties the opportunity to submit comments or relevant information or both. The EA consists of an analysis of environmental impacts that could result from leasing Federal coal and the alternatives. Issues that have been raised during processing previous EAs in the Montana PRB include: Potential impacts to cultural resource sites; potential impacts to big game herds; potential impacts to sage grouse and raptors; the need to consider the cumulative impacts of coal leasing decisions combined with other existing and proposed development in the Montana PRB; and potential site specific and cumulative impacts on air and water quality. Comments on the FMV, and MER should address, but are not limited to, the following factors: 1. The method of mining to be employed in order to obtain MER; 2. The method of determining FMV for the coal to be offered; 3. The quality and quantity of the coal resource; 4. If this resource is likely to be mined as part of an existing mine; 5. The price that the mined coal would bring when sold; 6. Costs, including mining and reclamation, of producing the coal and the times of production and impacts the leasehold may have on the area; PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 70527 7. Depreciation and other tax counting factors; 8. The percentage rate at which anticipated income streams should be discounted, either in the absence of inflation or with inflation, in which case the anticipated rate of inflation should be given; 9. Any comparable sales data of similar coal lands; and 10. Restrictions to mining which may affect coal recovery. The values given above may or may not change as a result of comments received from the public and changes in market conditions between now and when final economic evaluations are completed. As provided by 43 CFR 3422.1(a), proprietary data marked as confidential may be provided in response to this solicitation of public comments. Data so marked shall be treated in accordance with the laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of such information. A copy of the comments submitted by the public on FMV and MER, except those portions identified as proprietary and meeting exemptions stated in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), will be available for public inspection at the Bureau of Land Management office noted above. If you wish to withhold your name or address from public review or from disclosure under the FOIA, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by the FOIA. All submissions from organizations, businesses and individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be available for public inspection in its entirety. Stephen J. Van Matre, Acting Branch Chief of Solid Minerals, Montana State Office. [FR Doc. E6–20546 Filed 12–4–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GJ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [NM–120–1430–ET; NMNM 113684] Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; New Mexico Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (U.S. E:\FR\FM\05DEN1.SGM 05DEN1 70528 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 5, 2006 / Notices Forest Service), has filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw from mining 65 acres of National Forest System land in the Water Canyon Recreation Area of the Cibola National Forest. This notice segregates the land from location and entry under the United States mining laws for 2 years, while various studies and analyses are made to support a final decision on the withdrawal application. DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received no later than March 5, 2007. ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Socorro Field Office Manager, BLM, 901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, New Mexico 87801, and to the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE, Suite A., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Williams, Cibola National Forest, at the above address or at (505) 346– 3869. The applicant for the above withdrawal is the U.S. Forest Service at the address stated above. The applicant requests the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to section 204 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714, to withdraw the followingdescribed National Forest System land for a period of 20 years from location and entry under the United States mining laws, subject to valid existing rights: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: New Mexico Principal Meridian ycherry on PROD1PC64 with NOTICES Cibola National Forest T. 3 S., R. 3 W., Sec. 27, S1⁄2N1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, and N1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4. The area described contains 65 acres in Socorro County. The use of a right-of-way, an interagency agreement, or a cooperative agreement would not adequately constrain non-discretionary mining locations and related uses and would not provide adequate protection of the Federal investment in the improvements located on the land. There are no suitable alternative sites which contain the unique cultural and associated natural ecosystem values. No additional water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested withdrawal. The purpose of the proposed withdrawal would be to protect the VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:14 Dec 04, 2006 Jkt 211001 unique recreational and historical interpretive integrity of the Water Canyon Recreation Area within the Cibola National Forest and also to protect a capital investment in the recreation area of approximately $750,000 of Federal funds. For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their views in writing to both the Bureau of Land Management, and the Supervisor of the Cibola National Forest at the addresses stated above. Records relating to the application as well as comments, including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at both the BLM Socorro Field Office Manager and U.S. Forest Service Supervisor’s Office, Cibola National Forest at the above addresses during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to both the BLM Socorro Field Office Manager and the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor, Cibola National Forest, at the addresses stated above within 90 days from the date of publication of this notice. Upon determination by the authorized officer, Bureau of Land Management, that a public meeting will be held, a notice of the time and place will be published in the Federal Register and a newspaper in the vicinity of the above-described land, at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the meeting. The application will be processed in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300. For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated from location and entry PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 under the United Stated mining laws. The segregative effect of publication of this notice shall terminate upon denial or cancellation of the subject application, approval of the application or on December 5, 2008, whichever occurs first. The temporary land uses which may be permitted during this segregative period include licenses, permits, rights-of-ways, and disposal of vegetation resources other than under the mining laws. (Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3–1(b)) John Merino, Field Manager, Socorro Field Office. [FR Doc. E6–20528 Filed 12–4–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [NM–220–1430–ET; NMNM 66022] Notice of Proposed Withdrawal Extension and Opportunity for Public Meeting; New Mexico Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to extend the duration of Public Land Order (PLO) No. 6675 for an additional 20 years. PLO No. 6675 withdrew 264.39 acres of public lands in Taos and Rio Arriba Counties from settlement, sale, location or entry under the general land laws, including the United States mining laws, to protect, preserve, and maintain existing and future recreational values and the Federal investment in improvements located along the ‘‘Pilar’’ section of the Rio Grande. DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received by March 5, 2007. ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the BLM Taos Field Manager, 226 Cruz Alta Road, Taos, New Mexico 87571. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lora Yonemoto, BLM Taos Field Office, address above, or 505–751–4709. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The withdrawal created by PLO No. 6675 (53 FR 16269) will expire on May 5, 2008, unless extended. The BLM has filed an application to extend PLO No. 6675 for an additional 20-year period. The withdrawal was made to protect two sites important for recreational use on the Rio Grande, on public lands described as follows: E:\FR\FM\05DEN1.SGM 05DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 5, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70527-70528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20528]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-120-1430-ET; NMNM 113684]


Notice of Proposed Withdrawal and Opportunity for Public Meeting; 
New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 
(U.S.

[[Page 70528]]

Forest Service), has filed an application with the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) requesting the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw 
from mining 65 acres of National Forest System land in the Water Canyon 
Recreation Area of the Cibola National Forest. This notice segregates 
the land from location and entry under the United States mining laws 
for 2 years, while various studies and analyses are made to support a 
final decision on the withdrawal application.

DATES: Comments and requests for a public meeting must be received no 
later than March 5, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments and meeting requests should be sent to the Socorro 
Field Office Manager, BLM, 901 S. Highway 85, Socorro, New Mexico 
87801, and to the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor, Cibola National 
Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE, Suite A., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Williams, Cibola National Forest, 
at the above address or at (505) 346-3869.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant for the above withdrawal is 
the U.S. Forest Service at the address stated above. The applicant 
requests the Secretary of the Interior, pursuant to section 204 of the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714, to 
withdraw the following-described National Forest System land for a 
period of 20 years from location and entry under the United States 
mining laws, subject to valid existing rights:

New Mexico Principal Meridian

Cibola National Forest

T. 3 S., R. 3 W.,
    Sec. 27, S\1/2\N\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, and N\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/
4\SE\1/4\.

    The area described contains 65 acres in Socorro County.

    The use of a right-of-way, an interagency agreement, or a 
cooperative agreement would not adequately constrain non-discretionary 
mining locations and related uses and would not provide adequate 
protection of the Federal investment in the improvements located on the 
land.
    There are no suitable alternative sites which contain the unique 
cultural and associated natural ecosystem values.
    No additional water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose 
of the requested withdrawal.
    The purpose of the proposed withdrawal would be to protect the 
unique recreational and historical interpretive integrity of the Water 
Canyon Recreation Area within the Cibola National Forest and also to 
protect a capital investment in the recreation area of approximately 
$750,000 of Federal funds.
    For a period of 90 days from the date of publication of this 
notice, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions, or 
objections in connection with the proposed withdrawal may present their 
views in writing to both the Bureau of Land Management, and the 
Supervisor of the Cibola National Forest at the addresses stated above.
    Records relating to the application as well as comments, including 
the names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for 
public review at both the BLM Socorro Field Office Manager and U.S. 
Forest Service Supervisor's Office, Cibola National Forest at the above 
addresses during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or address from 
public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Such 
requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions 
from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.
    Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is 
afforded in connection with the proposed withdrawal. All interested 
persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on 
the proposed withdrawal must submit a written request to both the BLM 
Socorro Field Office Manager and the U.S. Forest Service Supervisor, 
Cibola National Forest, at the addresses stated above within 90 days 
from the date of publication of this notice. Upon determination by the 
authorized officer, Bureau of Land Management, that a public meeting 
will be held, a notice of the time and place will be published in the 
Federal Register and a newspaper in the vicinity of the above-described 
land, at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the meeting.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the 
regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300.
    For a period of 2 years from the date of publication of this notice 
in the Federal Register, the land will be segregated from location and 
entry under the United Stated mining laws. The segregative effect of 
publication of this notice shall terminate upon denial or cancellation 
of the subject application, approval of the application or on December 
5, 2008, whichever occurs first. The temporary land uses which may be 
permitted during this segregative period include licenses, permits, 
rights-of-ways, and disposal of vegetation resources other than under 
the mining laws.

(Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3-1(b))

John Merino,
Field Manager, Socorro Field Office. 1
 [FR Doc. E6-20528 Filed 12-4-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.