Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine and Associated Surface Facilities Including a Railroad Spur Line COC 69290, and Federal Coal Lease by Application COC 70538, in Garfield and Mesa Counties, CO, 2612-2614 [E9-769]

Download as PDF jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES 2612 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 2009 / Notices The non-refundable application processing fee is increased from $2,000 to $4,000 per application based on estimates of costs for processing the previous R, D, and D lease applications and a similar $4,000 processing fee authorized under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–161) for oil and gas activities. Applications submitted for lands within the multi-mineral leasing zone in Colorado must demonstrate the potential capability to extract shale oil, dawsonite, and nahcolite or demonstrate a potential capability to extract shale oil while preserving the other minerals for future recovery. An applicant should prominently note and segregate any information submitted with the application that contains proprietary information or trade secrets, if the disclosure of this information to the public would cause commercial or financial injury to the applicant’s competitive position. The BLM will protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent permitted by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Any FOIA requests for such information will be handled in accordance with the regulations at 43 CFR 2.23. The original R, D, and D leases were issued to generate interest in and to encourage research and development of oil shale resources on Federal lands. As an incentive for performing research and development, additional acreage for a preference lease area was made available to the original R, D, and D lessees. There was significant interest in response to the original R, D, and D lease offerings and this interest in research and development of oil shale on Federal lands continues, which suggests that incentives for R, D, and D beyond those conferred by the R, D, and D lease itself, are not needed. Since offering the original R, D, and D leases, and completing an analysis of oil shale potential and availability on public lands, the Department has determined that an R, D, and D lease of 640 acres is likely to provide reserves sufficient to support a commercial operation. For these reasons, the revised R, D, and D leases do not provide additional preference lease areas over and above the R, D, and D acreage of 640 acres. The maximum acreage of the revised lease is increased from 160 acres to 640 acres, which is sufficient to accommodate an R, D, and D project based on public comments to the initial Federal Register Notice of November 22, 2004 (69 FR 67935). Public comments received at that time indicated that a reasonable acreage size for an R, D, and D lease ranged from 40 to 640 acres. The BLM VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:58 Jan 14, 2009 Jkt 217001 believes that 640 acres is sufficient acreage to support research and development and also to allow for the eventual expansion into commercial operations. To encourage the use of new technologies, the BLM will only consider applications that demonstrate new technologies not currently being tested on the R, D, and D leases issued as a result of the June 9, 2005, call for nominations. See the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this Notice if there are questions on technologies currently being tested on the existing R, D, and D leases. Applications must document field demonstration of the feasibility of the proposed oil shale extraction methodology(ies). Entities that currently hold R, D, and D leases on BLM public lands are excluded from submitting additional applications for leases. The BLM will only accept one application per entity. Henri R. Bisson, Deputy Director, Operations, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. E9–525 Filed 1–14–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO–921; COC–70538; CO–130; COC 69290] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine and Associated Surface Facilities Including a Railroad Spur Line COC 69290, and Federal Coal Lease by Application COC 70538, in Garfield and Mesa Counties, CO AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, hereby gives notice that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), Maximum Economic Recovery (MER) and Fair Market Value (FMV) of Federal coal to be offered. An application for coal lease was filed by CAM-Colorado, LLC (CAM) on September 12, 2006. As a result, the BLM offers for competitive lease 14,466 acres of Federal coal in Garfield County, Colorado. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the BLM has PO 00000 Frm 00105 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 prepared a DEIS for the proposed Red Cliff Mine, located near Loma, Colorado. The DEIS responds to Right-of-Way (ROW) Applications for a railroad spur and associated mine facilities on Federal Lands, and an electrical transmission line. In addition, a Federal Coal Lease by Application (LBA) was submitted by CAM-Colorado, on September 12, 2006. The BLM is providing this notice to announce the availability of the Red Cliff Mine DEIS, the proposed LBA, and the public hearing requesting comments on the DEIS, MER and FMV, pursuant to 40 CFR 1503.1 and 43 CFR 3425.4. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared in cooperation with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Colorado Department of Natural Resources; the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS); the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW); and Garfield and Mesa counties. The EIS analyzes the development of surface facilities for coal mining associated with CAM’s proposed underground Red Cliff Mine, including roads, a water pipeline, electric transmission line, conveyers, coal stockpile and waste disposal areas, a coal preparation plant, the mine portal, other administrative and operations facilities, and a railroad spur line that will connect to the existing Union Pacific Railroad line near Mack, Colorado. The EIS also considers the effects of extracting coal from CAM’s existing Federal coal leases, defined as logical mining unit COC–57198, and issuance of an adjoining Federal coal LBA COC–070538. This notice announces the opening of the public comment period for the DEIS. DATES: Written comments on the DEIS, MER, and FMV will be accepted for 60 calendar days following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a NOA in the Federal Register. The public hearing will be held at a date, time and location to be announced in the local media, displayed on the Web site https:// www.blm.gov/rmp/co/redcliffmine/, or obtained by calling the BLM Grand Junction Field Office at 970–244–3000, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/rmp/ co/redcliffmine/. • E-mail: RedCliffMineEIS@urscorp.com. E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 2009 / Notices jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES • Fax: 303–239–3808. • Mail: Glenn Wallace, BLM, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215. Please note that public comments and information submitted, including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of respondents, will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, please be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can request in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and responses to comments will be published as part of the Final EIS. Copies of the DEIS for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine are available at the Web site https://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/ redcliffmine/. A limited number of printed copies of the DEIS and copies of the DEIS on compact disk are available at the BLM Grand Junction Field Office, located at 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506, and at the Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215. In addition, a printed copy of the DEIS is available for review at the Fruita Branch Library at 325 E. Aspen Avenue, in Fruita, Colorado and at the Mesa County Central Library at 530 Grand Avenue, in Grand Junction, Colorado. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Wallace, 303–239–3736, glenn_wallace@blm.gov, or by mail at 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM, Colorado State Office, Lakewood, Colorado, hereby gives notice of the public hearing at a date, time and location to be announced in the local media, displayed on the Web site https:// www.blm.gov/rmp/co/redcliffmine/, or obtained by calling the BLM Grand Junction Field Office, 970–244–3000, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST). The BLM proposes to offer for competitive lease Federal coal in the lands described as: T. 7 S, R. 101 W., 6th P.M. Colorado Sec. 7, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4, Lot 8 Sec. 8, S1⁄2SW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4 Sec. 16, TR 43, Lots 5 and 6 Sec. 17, All Sec. 18, E1⁄2E1⁄2, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:58 Jan 14, 2009 Jkt 217001 Sec. 19, E1⁄2E1⁄2, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive Sec. 20, All Sec. 21, E1⁄2, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, Lots 1 and 2 Sec. 28, N1⁄2, SW1⁄4, W1⁄2SE1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 Sec. 29, All Sec. 30, TR 44, Lots 5 to 10 inclusive Sec. 31, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive Sec. 32, NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive Sec. 33, NW1⁄4, Lots 3 and 4 T. 8 S., R. 101 W. 6th P.M. Colorado Sec. 4, Lot 8 Sec. 5, S1⁄2, Lots 5 to 20 inclusive Sec. 6, SE1⁄4, Lots 8 to 27 inclusive Sec .7, E1⁄2, E1⁄2W1⁄2, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive Sec. 8, All T. 7 S., R., 102 W., 6th P. M. Colorado Sec. 13, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2SE1⁄4, Lots 2 to 4 inclusive Sec. 14, S1⁄2N1⁄2, S1⁄2 Sec. 23, E1⁄2, NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, Lots 1 and 4 Sec. 24, W1⁄2E1⁄2, W1⁄2, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive Sec. 25, W1⁄2E1⁄2, W1⁄2, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive Sec. 26, All Sec. 35, All Sec. 36, W1⁄2E1⁄2, W1⁄2, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive T. 8 S., R. 102 W., 6th P. M. Colorado Sec. 1, S1⁄2, Lots 5 to 20 inclusive Sec. 12, N1⁄2, SE1⁄4 Containing approximately 14,466 acres in Garfield County, Colorado. The public hearing described above is for the purpose of soliciting public input regarding the MER and FMV of the proposed coal lease. The proposed Red Cliff Mine is located approximately 11 miles north of the towns of Mack and Loma, Colorado, and 1.5 miles east of State Highway (SH) 139. CAM is proposing a new mine portal and associated facilities to extract low-sulfur coal from Federal coal leases C–0125515, C–0125516 and C–0125439 (defined collectively as logical mining unit COC–57198), from LBA COC 070538 filed September 12, 2006, as well as a small amount of private coal. CAM proposes to locate surface facilities on existing and potential new coal leases with the majority of the surface facilities located off-lease on BLM administered public lands within the boundaries of the proposed ROW (approximately 1,140 acres). These facilities will include, but not be limited to, a waste rock pile, railroad loop, unit train loadout, a coal conveyor, storage and equipment yards, sewage treatment plant, water tank, fuel oil storage and various buildings. County Road (CR) X will be upgraded to serve as the mine access road from SH 139. The railroad spur will be located on BLM and private lands, with the railroad connecting to the existing Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) near Mack, Colorado. The proposed railroad will traverse approximately 9.5 miles of BLM administered public land and PO 00000 Frm 00106 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2613 approximately 5 miles of private land. A water diversion will be constructed in Mack Wash and the water pipeline will follow the proposed railroad spur. The railroad spur would serve only the Red Cliff Mine for the purpose of transporting coal to market. CAM will own the railroad spur, but the trains using the spur will be operated by the UPRR or other railroad companies. The draft EIS discusses BLM’s analysis and proposed conclusion that CAM will not operate a common carrier railroad. Electric power will be needed at the mine to run the underground mining machinery, the conveyor system, and other mine support facilities. The local utility, Grand Valley Power (GVP), has applied to BLM for a ROW to supply the necessary electric power. GVP will need to construct a new 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the Uintah Substation to the mine to supply this power. The transmission line will be approximately 14 miles long, with approximately 7 miles on federally managed lands and 7 miles on private land, depending on which alternative route is chosen. This ROW application is analyzed in the EIS as a connected action as is the LBA filed by CAM (COC–070538) for approximately 11,660 acres adjacent to CAM’s existing leases. BLM determined that, if this coal is to be leased, it would be by a competitive bid process. BLM has modified the proposed LBA area to include 14,466 acres. The EIS analysis area includes a total future lease area of about 23,000 acres which corresponds to the estimated life of the mine. CAM proposes to conduct underground mining 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year by room and pillar and longwall mining techniques. CAM’s production from the Red Cliff Mine would be up to 8 million tons per year of clean coal depending on market conditions, with an estimated mine life of 30 years. A mine permit application has been filed for CAM’s existing leases in accordance with the OSM and the CDRMS regulations. This EIS will meet the NEPA requirements for the mine permit for the existing Federal coal leases, and is intended to provide necessary information to facilitate the USACE, Colorado Public Utility Commission, and Garfield and Mesa Counties’ permitting decisions regarding the project. There will be additional opportunities for public involvement as the mine permit application is processed. The DEIS analyzes the potential impacts of the proposed action and connected actions and a No-Action alternative. Alternatives to individual E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1 2614 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 10 / Thursday, January 15, 2009 / Notices project components were considered that were consistent with the purpose and need, which is to mine and transport coal for sale at competitive prices to help supply the energy needs of the United States. Alternatives to project components were included for detailed analysis if they were found to be practical, feasible, reduced environmental impacts, and/or addressed public and agency concerns. A wide range and variety of alternatives were examined, resulting in the following alternative project components that are analyzed in detail: grade separated railroad crossing at Mesa County Road (CR) M.8; noiseless grade crossings at CR M.8 and CR 10; construction of an electric transmission line along CR 16 crossing BLM and private lands north of the Highline Canal; construction of an electric transmission line along CR 16 to the Highline Canal and then along section lines to avoid as many private land parcels as possible; and construction of an electric transmission line along CR 14 to just north of the Highline Canal and then northwesterly and north to join the proposed railroad alignment east of SH 139. Required consultations are in progress or have been completed, including consultations with tribal governments and the State Historic Preservation Officer, as required by the National Historic Preservation Act; consultations with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as required by the Endangered Species Act; and consultations with the USACE as required by the Clean Water Act. Raul Morales, Grand Junction Associate Field Manager. [FR Doc. E9–769 Filed 1–14–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for the general management plan (GMP), Big Thicket National Preserve. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an environmental impact statement for a general management plan for Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas. The VerDate Nov<24>2008 18:58 Jan 14, 2009 Jkt 217001 environmental impact statement will be approved by the Director, Intermountain Region. The general management plan will prescribe the resource conditions and visitor experiences that are to be achieved and maintained in the Preserve over the next 15 to 20 years. The clarification of what must be achieved according to law and policy will be based on review of the Preserve’s purpose, significance, special mandates, and the body of laws and policies directing park management. Based on determinations of desired conditions, the general management plan will outline the kinds of resource management activities, visitor activities, and development that would be appropriate in the future. A range of reasonable management alternatives will be developed through this planning process and will include, at a minimum, a no-action and a preferred alternative. The NPS is required to prepare a GMP for all NPS units. A GNP was completed for Big Thicket National Preserve in 1980. The 1980 GMP does not address lands added to the Preserve since 1993 or current NPS park planning standards or NPS management policies. Issues to be addressed will include but are not limited to the following: The management of lands added to the Preserve since the original GMP in 1980; visitor use and resource management issues; access to and within the Preserve; and changes in land use patterns and their impact on natural and cultural resources in the Preserve. A scoping newsletter will be prepared that describes the issues identified to date. Copies of the newsletter may be obtained in June from Todd Brindle, Superintendent, Big Thicket National Preserve, 6044 FM 420, Kountze, Texas 77625, Phone: 409–951–6802, the park Web site https://www.nps.gov/bith, or on the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/bith. DATES: Any comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the plan should be submitted no later than 180 days after publication of this notice. In addition to the newsletter, public meetings regarding the general management plan will be held during the scoping period. Specific dates, times, and locations will be made available in the local media, on the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site), or by contacting the Superintendent of Big Thicket National Preserve. ADDRESSES: Information will be available for public review and PO 00000 Frm 00107 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 comment online at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/bith, in the office of the Superintendent, Todd Brindle, 6044 FM 420, Kountze, Texas 77625, Phone: 409–951–6802. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd Brindle, Superintendent, 6044 FM 420, Kountze, Texas 77625, Phone: 409– 951–6802 or by e-mail at BITH_Superintendent@nps.gov. Public and agency involvement will be solicited at several key steps in the planning process including initial scoping, alternatives development, and the draft plan. If you wish to comment on any issues associated with the plan, you may submit your comments to the planning team by any one of several methods. You may mail comments to Big Thicket National Preserve, Office of the Superintendent, 6044 FM 420, Kountze, Texas 77625. You may also comment via the Internet at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/bith. Finally, you may hand deliver comments to the preserve headquarters at 6044 FM 420, Kountze, Texas 77625. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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. In personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. In addition, we will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: September 3, 2008. Michael D. Snyder, Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service. Editorial Note: This document was received in the Office of the Federal Register on January 9, 2009. [FR Doc. E9–583 Filed 1–14–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–CB–M E:\FR\FM\15JAN1.SGM 15JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 10 (Thursday, January 15, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2612-2614]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-769]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-921; COC-70538; CO-130; COC 69290]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine and Associated Surface 
Facilities Including a Railroad Spur Line COC 69290, and Federal Coal 
Lease by Application COC 70538, in Garfield and Mesa Counties, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Colorado State Office, 
Lakewood, Colorado, hereby gives notice that a public hearing will be 
held to receive comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS), Maximum Economic Recovery (MER) and Fair Market Value (FMV) of 
Federal coal to be offered. An application for coal lease was filed by 
CAM-Colorado, LLC (CAM) on September 12, 2006. As a result, the BLM 
offers for competitive lease 14,466 acres of Federal coal in Garfield 
County, Colorado.
    In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the BLM 
has prepared a DEIS for the proposed Red Cliff Mine, located near Loma, 
Colorado. The DEIS responds to Right-of-Way (ROW) Applications for a 
railroad spur and associated mine facilities on Federal Lands, and an 
electrical transmission line. In addition, a Federal Coal Lease by 
Application (LBA) was submitted by CAM-Colorado, on September 12, 2006. 
The BLM is providing this notice to announce the availability of the 
Red Cliff Mine DEIS, the proposed LBA, and the public hearing 
requesting comments on the DEIS, MER and FMV, pursuant to 40 CFR 1503.1 
and 43 CFR 3425.4.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being prepared in 
cooperation with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement (OSM); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Colorado 
Department of Natural Resources; the Colorado Division of Reclamation, 
Mining and Safety (CDRMS); the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW); 
and Garfield and Mesa counties.
    The EIS analyzes the development of surface facilities for coal 
mining associated with CAM's proposed underground Red Cliff Mine, 
including roads, a water pipeline, electric transmission line, 
conveyers, coal stockpile and waste disposal areas, a coal preparation 
plant, the mine portal, other administrative and operations facilities, 
and a railroad spur line that will connect to the existing Union 
Pacific Railroad line near Mack, Colorado. The EIS also considers the 
effects of extracting coal from CAM's existing Federal coal leases, 
defined as logical mining unit COC-57198, and issuance of an adjoining 
Federal coal LBA COC-070538. This notice announces the opening of the 
public comment period for the DEIS.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS, MER, and FMV will be accepted for 
60 calendar days following the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes a NOA in the Federal Register. The public hearing will 
be held at a date, time and location to be announced in the local 
media, displayed on the Web site https://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/
redcliffmine/, or obtained by calling the BLM Grand Junction Field 
Office at 970-244-3000, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 
4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST).

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/redcliffmine/.
     E-mail: RedCliffMineEIS@urscorp.com.

[[Page 2613]]

     Fax: 303-239-3808.
     Mail: Glenn Wallace, BLM, 2850 Youngfield Street, 
Lakewood, CO 80215.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted, 
including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of respondents, 
will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address 
during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, 
e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, please be aware that your entire comment, including your 
personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can request in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. Comments and responses to comments will be 
published as part of the Final EIS.
    Copies of the DEIS for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine are 
available at the Web site https://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/redcliffmine/. A 
limited number of printed copies of the DEIS and copies of the DEIS on 
compact disk are available at the BLM Grand Junction Field Office, 
located at 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, Colorado 81506, and at the 
Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 
80215. In addition, a printed copy of the DEIS is available for review 
at the Fruita Branch Library at 325 E. Aspen Avenue, in Fruita, 
Colorado and at the Mesa County Central Library at 530 Grand Avenue, in 
Grand Junction, Colorado.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn Wallace, 303-239-3736, glenn_
wallace@blm.gov, or by mail at 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 
80215.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM, Colorado State Office, Lakewood, 
Colorado, hereby gives notice of the public hearing at a date, time and 
location to be announced in the local media, displayed on the Web site 
https://www.blm.gov/rmp/co/redcliffmine/, or obtained by calling the BLM 
Grand Junction Field Office, 970-244-3000, Monday through Friday 
between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST).
    The BLM proposes to offer for competitive lease Federal coal in the 
lands described as:

T. 7 S, R. 101 W., 6th P.M. Colorado
    Sec. 7, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, Lot 8
    Sec. 8, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\
    Sec. 16, TR 43, Lots 5 and 6
    Sec. 17, All
    Sec. 18, E\1/2\E\1/2\, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive
    Sec. 19, E\1/2\E\1/2\, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive
    Sec. 20, All
    Sec. 21, E\1/2\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, Lots 1 and 2
    Sec. 28, N\1/2\, SW\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\
    Sec. 29, All
    Sec. 30, TR 44, Lots 5 to 10 inclusive
    Sec. 31, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive
    Sec. 32, NE\1/4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive
    Sec. 33, NW\1/4\, Lots 3 and 4

T. 8 S., R. 101 W. 6th P.M. Colorado
    Sec. 4, Lot 8
    Sec. 5, S\1/2\, Lots 5 to 20 inclusive
    Sec. 6, SE\1/4\, Lots 8 to 27 inclusive
    Sec .7, E\1/2\, E\1/2\W\1/2\, Lots 5 to 8 inclusive
    Sec. 8, All

T. 7 S., R., 102 W., 6th P. M. Colorado
    Sec. 13, S\1/2\NW\1/4\, SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, W\1/2\SE\1/4\, 
Lots 2 to 4 inclusive
    Sec. 14, S\1/2\N\1/2\, S\1/2\
    Sec. 23, E\1/2\, NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/4\, Lots 1 and 4
    Sec. 24, W\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive
    Sec. 25, W\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive
    Sec. 26, All
    Sec. 35, All
    Sec. 36, W\1/2\E\1/2\, W\1/2\, Lots 1 to 4 inclusive

T. 8 S., R. 102 W., 6th P. M. Colorado
    Sec. 1, S\1/2\, Lots 5 to 20 inclusive
    Sec. 12, N\1/2\, SE\1/4\

    Containing approximately 14,466 acres in Garfield County, Colorado. 
The public hearing described above is for the purpose of soliciting 
public input regarding the MER and FMV of the proposed coal lease.
    The proposed Red Cliff Mine is located approximately 11 miles north 
of the towns of Mack and Loma, Colorado, and 1.5 miles east of State 
Highway (SH) 139. CAM is proposing a new mine portal and associated 
facilities to extract low-sulfur coal from Federal coal leases C-
0125515, C-0125516 and C-0125439 (defined collectively as logical 
mining unit COC-57198), from LBA COC 070538 filed September 12, 2006, 
as well as a small amount of private coal.
    CAM proposes to locate surface facilities on existing and potential 
new coal leases with the majority of the surface facilities located 
off-lease on BLM administered public lands within the boundaries of the 
proposed ROW (approximately 1,140 acres). These facilities will 
include, but not be limited to, a waste rock pile, railroad loop, unit 
train loadout, a coal conveyor, storage and equipment yards, sewage 
treatment plant, water tank, fuel oil storage and various buildings. 
County Road (CR) X will be upgraded to serve as the mine access road 
from SH 139. The railroad spur will be located on BLM and private 
lands, with the railroad connecting to the existing Union Pacific 
Railroad (UPRR) near Mack, Colorado. The proposed railroad will 
traverse approximately 9.5 miles of BLM administered public land and 
approximately 5 miles of private land. A water diversion will be 
constructed in Mack Wash and the water pipeline will follow the 
proposed railroad spur. The railroad spur would serve only the Red 
Cliff Mine for the purpose of transporting coal to market. CAM will own 
the railroad spur, but the trains using the spur will be operated by 
the UPRR or other railroad companies. The draft EIS discusses BLM's 
analysis and proposed conclusion that CAM will not operate a common 
carrier railroad.
    Electric power will be needed at the mine to run the underground 
mining machinery, the conveyor system, and other mine support 
facilities. The local utility, Grand Valley Power (GVP), has applied to 
BLM for a ROW to supply the necessary electric power. GVP will need to 
construct a new 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the Uintah 
Substation to the mine to supply this power. The transmission line will 
be approximately 14 miles long, with approximately 7 miles on federally 
managed lands and 7 miles on private land, depending on which 
alternative route is chosen. This ROW application is analyzed in the 
EIS as a connected action as is the LBA filed by CAM (COC-070538) for 
approximately 11,660 acres adjacent to CAM's existing leases. BLM 
determined that, if this coal is to be leased, it would be by a 
competitive bid process. BLM has modified the proposed LBA area to 
include 14,466 acres. The EIS analysis area includes a total future 
lease area of about 23,000 acres which corresponds to the estimated 
life of the mine.
    CAM proposes to conduct underground mining 24 hours per day, 7 days 
per week, and 365 days per year by room and pillar and longwall mining 
techniques. CAM's production from the Red Cliff Mine would be up to 8 
million tons per year of clean coal depending on market conditions, 
with an estimated mine life of 30 years.
    A mine permit application has been filed for CAM's existing leases 
in accordance with the OSM and the CDRMS regulations. This EIS will 
meet the NEPA requirements for the mine permit for the existing Federal 
coal leases, and is intended to provide necessary information to 
facilitate the USACE, Colorado Public Utility Commission, and Garfield 
and Mesa Counties' permitting decisions regarding the project. There 
will be additional opportunities for public involvement as the mine 
permit application is processed.
    The DEIS analyzes the potential impacts of the proposed action and 
connected actions and a No-Action alternative. Alternatives to 
individual

[[Page 2614]]

project components were considered that were consistent with the 
purpose and need, which is to mine and transport coal for sale at 
competitive prices to help supply the energy needs of the United 
States. Alternatives to project components were included for detailed 
analysis if they were found to be practical, feasible, reduced 
environmental impacts, and/or addressed public and agency concerns. A 
wide range and variety of alternatives were examined, resulting in the 
following alternative project components that are analyzed in detail: 
grade separated railroad crossing at Mesa County Road (CR) M.8; 
noiseless grade crossings at CR M.8 and CR 10; construction of an 
electric transmission line along CR 16 crossing BLM and private lands 
north of the Highline Canal; construction of an electric transmission 
line along CR 16 to the Highline Canal and then along section lines to 
avoid as many private land parcels as possible; and construction of an 
electric transmission line along CR 14 to just north of the Highline 
Canal and then northwesterly and north to join the proposed railroad 
alignment east of SH 139.
    Required consultations are in progress or have been completed, 
including consultations with tribal governments and the State Historic 
Preservation Officer, as required by the National Historic Preservation 
Act; consultations with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as required by 
the Endangered Species Act; and consultations with the USACE as 
required by the Clean Water Act.

Raul Morales,
Grand Junction Associate Field Manager.
 [FR Doc. E9-769 Filed 1-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
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