Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Meetings for a Federal Coal Lease by Application (MTM 105485), Application To Modify Federal Coal Lease (MTM 94378), and Applications To Amend Land Use Permit (MTM 96659), and Land Use Lease (MTM 74913), Big Horn County, MT, 90380-90383 [2016-29969]
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<![CDATA[
90380
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Notices
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Trust and Casino Project’’ as the subject
of your email.
Locations Where the FEIS Is Available
for Review: The FEIS is available for
review during regular business hours at
the BIA Pacific Regional Office and the
Galt and Elk Grove Branches of the
Sacramento Public Library at the
addresses noted above in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice. The FEIS is also
available online at https://
www.wiltoneis.com.
To obtain a compact disc copy of the
FEIS, please provide your name and
address in writing or by voicemail to
Mr. John Rydzik, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, at the address or phone number
above in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this notice.
Individual paper copies of the DEIS will
be provided upon payment of applicable
printing expenses by the requestor for
the number of copies requested.
Public Comment Availability:
Comments, including names and
addresses of respondents, will be
available for public review during
regular business hours at the BIA
mailing address shown in the
ADDRESSES section of this notice. Before
including your address, telephone
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: This notice is published
pursuant to Sections 1503.1 and
1506.6(b) of the Council of
Environmental Quality Regulations (40
CFR parts 1500 through 1508)
implementing the procedural
requirements of the NEPA (42 U.S.C.
4321, et seq.), the Department of the
Interior NEPA Regulations (43 CFR part
46), and is in the exercise of authority
delegated to the Assistant Secretary—
Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8. This notice
is also published in accordance with
Federal general conformity regulations
(40 CFR part 93, subpart B).
Dated: December 8, 2016.
Lawrence S. Roberts,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian
Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2016–29991 Filed 12–13–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MO #4500069731, 14X.LLMTC02000.
L51100000.GA0000.LVEME14CE500]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement and
Notice of Public Meetings for a Federal
Coal Lease by Application (MTM
105485), Application To Modify Federal
Coal Lease (MTM 94378), and
Applications To Amend Land Use
Permit (MTM 96659), and Land Use
Lease (MTM 74913), Big Horn County,
MT
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In accordance with Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) regulations,
the United States Department of the
Interior, BLM Miles City Field Office is
publishing this notice of intent to
prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential
impacts of four proposed actions related
to coal mining at the Spring Creek Mine
in Big Horn County, Montana. The
proposed actions involve the potential
sale of two tracts of Federal coal through
a Lease-By-Application (LBA) and a
lease modification application (LMA).
Both applications cover proposed
additions to an existing Federal coal
lease at the Spring Creak Mine. Related
to these leasing requests, the EIS will
also evaluate proposed amendments to
an existing land use permit to maintain
access to mine monitoring and gauging
stations and an existing land use lease
to provide room for the placement of
overburden and infrastructure. The EIS
will be called the Spring Creek Coal EIS.
This notice initiates the public scoping
process for the Spring Creek Coal EIS.
DATES: Public scoping meetings to
provide the public with an opportunity
to review the proposals and gain
understanding of the coal leasing
process will be held by the BLM. The
dates and locations of any scoping
meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance through local media
outlets and through the Miles City BLM
Web site at: www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/
miles_city_field_office.html. At the
meetings, the public is invited to submit
comments and resource information,
plus identify issues or concerns to be
considered in the environmental
analysis. The BLM can best use public
SUMMARY:
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input if comments and resource
information are submitted in writing by
February 13, 2017. We will provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written
comments or concerns to the BLM Miles
City Field Office, Attn: Irma Nansel, 111
Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301.
Written comments or resource
information may also be hand delivered
to the BLM Miles City Field Office.
Comments may be sent electronically to
BLM_MT_MCFO_SCCEIS@blm.gov. For
electronic submission, please include
‘‘Spring Creek Coal EIS/Irma Nansel’’ in
the subject line. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma
Nansel, Planning and Environmental
Coordinator; telephone 406–233–3653.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–
877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The FRS 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: Spring
Creek Coal LLC (SCC) submitted four
applications to the BLM, Montana State
Office in 2012 and 2013. The four
applications are as follows:
A. On February 15, 2013, SCC
submitted LBA MTM 105485 for the
Spring Creek Northwest and Spring
Creek Southeast tracts. The LBA
encompasses approximately 1,602.57
acres (containing approximately 198.2
million mineable tons of coal) adjacent
to the Spring Creek Mine. Since
decertification of the Powder River
Federal Coal Region as a Federal coal
production region by the Powder River
Regional Coal Team (PRRCT) in 1990,
leasing is permitted to take place under
the existing regulations on an
application basis, in accordance with 43
CFR 3425.1–5. The PRRCT reviewed the
proposed Spring Creek Northwest and
Spring Creek Southeast tracts in the
application and recommended that the
Montana State Office begin processing
the application. This LBA consists of
the following acreage:
E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Notices
90381
Acres
Principal Meridian, Montana
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 8 ..................................................................................
Sec. 9 ..................................................................................
Sec. 17 ................................................................................
Sec. 35 ................................................................................
Township 9 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 1 ..................................................................................
Sec. 2 ..................................................................................
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 6 ..................................................................................
B. On December 20, 2012, SCC
applied for a lease modification to
Federal coal lease MTM 94378, for the
Spring Creek Northeast tract, consisting
of about 170 acres (containing
approximately 7.9 million mineable
S1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ............................................................................
S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
SW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ..................................................................................
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ...................................................................................
S1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4 ..........................................................................
SW1⁄4 SW1⁄4 ...............................................................................
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 ..................................................................................
NE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..................................................................................
NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 .................................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ............................................................................
NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................................
SE1⁄4 ...........................................................................................
20
20
40
40
20
40
40
40
40
20
20
160
160
Lot 1 ...........................................................................................
Lot 2 ...........................................................................................
Lot 3 ...........................................................................................
Lot 4 ...........................................................................................
NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 .................................................................................
SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 .................................................................................
NW1⁄4 ..........................................................................................
E1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
E1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ............................................................................
NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................................
40.20
40.58
40.39
39.92
40
40
160
20
20
160
Lot 5 ...........................................................................................
Lot 6 ...........................................................................................
Lot 7 ...........................................................................................
S1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4 ...........................................................................
NE1⁄4SW1⁄4 .................................................................................
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 ..................................................................................
S1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ............................................................................
NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ........................................................................
S1⁄2NW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
SW1⁄4SE1⁄4 ..................................................................................
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ...................................................................................
37.12
37.16
37.20
20
40
40
20
10
20
40
40
tons of coal) adjacent to the Spring
Creek Mine. On May 9, 2016, the
application was modified to reduce the
tract acreage to 150 acres. The tract
reserve value did not change as a result
of the acreage reduction. If approved,
the acreage covered by the LMA would
be added to the existing lease and is
listed below. Consistent with applicable
statutory authority, the proposed LMA
acreage does not exceed the original
lease acreage of (1,117.70 acres):
Acres
Principal Meridian, Montana
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 13 ................................................................................
Sec. 14 ................................................................................
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NW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ........................................................................
SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ........................................................................
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 .........................................................................
SW1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4 ........................................................................
SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4 .........................................................................
NE1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 ........................................................................
NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 .......................................................................
SE1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4 ........................................................................
NE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4 .........................................................................
NW1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4 ........................................................................
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4 .........................................................................
NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 .........................................................................
SW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 .........................................................................
NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4 .........................................................................
NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..........................................................................
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10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Notices
C. On December 23, 2013, SCC
submitted an application to amend land
use permit (LUP) MTM 96659, adding
175 acres to the permit and removing
320 acres currently included within the
permit that overlap the Spring Creek
Southeast LBA tract. The LUP
amendment would maintain access to
mine monitoring areas and gauging
stations by utilizing existing two-track
roads and trails. The LUP use will not
exceed 3 years, in accordance with 43
CFR 2920.1–1(b), and will not cause
appreciable damage or disturbance to
the public lands, their resources or
improvements in accordance with 43
CFR 2920.2–2(a). The acreage to be
added to LUP MTM 96659 are:
Acres
Principal Meridian, Montana
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 20 ................................................................................
Sec. 22 ................................................................................
Sec. 27 ................................................................................
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 7 ..................................................................................
Sec. 8 ..................................................................................
S1⁄2NE1⁄4 .....................................................................................
SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ........................................................................
S1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...................................................................
NE1⁄4SW1⁄4 .................................................................................
80
10
5
40
S1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..................................................................
S1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...................................................................
S1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...................................................................
S1⁄2SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ....................................................................
S1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4 ..........................................................................
5
5
5
5
20
Acres to be removed from LUP MTM
96659 are:
Acres
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 35 ................................................................................
D. On December 23, 2013, SCC
submitted an application in accordance
with 43 CFR 2920.2–3 to amend
noncompetitive land use lease (LUL)
E1⁄2 ..............................................................................................
MTM 74913, adding 255 acres to the
existing lease and removing
approximately 195 acres that overlap
the Spring Creek Southeast LBA tract. A
320
Notice of Realty Action was published
in the Federal Register in parallel with
this notice. The lands added to LUL
MTM 74913 are as follows:
Acres
Principal Meridian, Montana
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 22 ................................................................................
Township 9 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 1 ..................................................................................
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 7 ..................................................................................
Sec. 8 ..................................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...................................................................
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..........................................................................
W1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
20
5
10
20
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 ..................................................................................
40
⁄ NE1⁄4 .......................................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...................................................................
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ....................................................................
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..................................................................
N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4 ..........................................................................
80
20
20
5
5
5
5
20
12
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Acres to be removed from LUL MTM
74913 are:
Acres
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 35 ................................................................................
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NE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..................................................................................
SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..................................................................................
E1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ...........................................................................
E1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 .................................................................
NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..............................................................
E1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ..................................................................
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40
40
20
5
2.5
5
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Notices
90383
Acres
NE ⁄ SW ⁄ NE ⁄ .........................................................................
NE1⁄4SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 ................................................................
E1⁄2NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ............................................................................
E1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ...................................................................
NE1⁄4SE1⁄4SE1⁄4 ..........................................................................
10
2.5
20
5
10
Lot 5 ...........................................................................................
34.78
14
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 6 ..................................................................................
The Spring Creek Mine operates
under an existing approved surface
mining permit from the State of
Montana. The Montana Department of
Environmental Quality, the Montana
Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation, and the OSMRE will be
cooperating agencies in the preparation
of the Spring Creek Coal EIS. Other
cooperating agencies may be identified
during the scoping process.
The actions announced by this Notice
are consistent with Secretarial Order
(S.O.) 3338, which allows preparatory
work, including National Environmental
Policy Act and other related analyses,
on already-pending applications to
continue while the BLM’s programmatic
review of the Federal coal program is
pending. With respect to the sale of the
coal covered by the leasing requests,
unless it is shown that one of the
exceptions or exclusions to S.O. 3338
applies, the BLM will not make a final
leasing decision on the proposed LBA
until the programmatic review has
concluded. The BLM has confirmed that
the LMA is not subject to S.O. 3338’s
leasing pause because the lease tract is
less than 160 acres. As result, issuane of
the LMA can occur prior to the
finalization of the programmatic review.
If the proposed tracts were to be
leased to the applicant, the new lease
and the modifications to the existing
coal lease, LUP, and LUL, must be
incorporated into the existing approved
mining and reclamation plans for the
mine. Before this can occur, the
Secretary of the Interior must approve
the revised Mineral Leasing Act (MLA)
mining plan for the mine in which the
tracts will be included. The OSMRE is
the Federal agency that is responsible
for recommending approval, approval
with conditions, or disapproval of the
revised MLA mining plan to the
Secretary of the Interior, which is why
it is a cooperator in this EIS.
In order to help facilitate its analysis,
the BLM is providing interested parties
the opportunity to submit comments
and relevant information to help the
BLM identify issues to be considered in
preparing the Spring Creek Coal EIS.
Issues that have been identified in
analyzing the impacts of previous
Federal coal-leasing actions in the
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:45 Dec 13, 2016
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14
14
Montana Powder River Basin (PRB)
include: (1) The need for resolution of
potential conflicts between existing and
proposed oil and gas development and
coal mining on the tracts proposed for
coal leasing; (2) Potential impacts to big
game herds and hunting, Greater SageGrouse, listed threatened and
endangered species, and air quality,
including greenhouse gas emissions; (3)
The need to consider the cumulative
impacts of coal leasing decisions
combined with other existing and
proposed development in the Montana
PRB; and (4) Potential site-specific and
cumulative impacts on air and water
quality.
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 public at any time. While you
may request to 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: 40 CFR 1506.6, 43 CFR 3425.3,
and 3425.4.
Diane M. Friez,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2016–29969 Filed 12–13–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLMTC02200–L14300000–EQ0000; MTM–
74913]
Notice of Realty Action: Proposed
Amendment to Noncompetitive Land
Use Lease MTM 74913, Montana
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has received a
proposal to amend Spring Creek Coal,
LLC’s existing Land Use Lease (LUL)
MTM–74913, pursuant to Section 302 of
the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as
SUMMARY:
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
amended, for not less than the appraised
fair market value.
DATES: Interested parties may submit
comments on or before January 30,
2017.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
the Field Manager, Miles City Field
Office, Bureau of Land Management,
111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT
59301.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth
Klempel, BLM Miles City Field Office,
111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT
59301, telephone 406–233–2800, or
email bklempel@blm.gov. 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 Ms. Klempel
during normal business hours. The FIRS
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week, to leave a message or question for
Ms. Klempel. You will receive a reply
during normal business hours. Normal
business hours are 7:45 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except for
Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
following described lands include the
proposed LUL amendment and have
been determined as suitable for leasing
under Section 302 of FLPMA (43 U.S.C.
1732):
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 8 S., R. 39 E.,
Sec. 22, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, and
SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4.
T. 9 S., R. 39 E.,
Sec. 1, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4.
T. 9 S., R. 40 E.,
Sec. 7, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,
N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4 SW1⁄4NE 1⁄4,
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,
N1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, and
N1⁄2SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4.
Sec. 8, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4.
The areas described aggregate 255 acres.
The BLM is considering amending the
existing LUL, which is 222.12 acres. The
amendment would modify its size to
authorize the surface use of 255
additional acres of public lands for coal
mine layback, establishing a highwall
crest, topsoil and overburden stockpiles,
and transportation and utility corridors
on Spring Creek Coal, LLC’s existing
E:\FR\FM\14DEN1.SGM
14DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 14, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 90380-90383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-29969]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MO #4500069731, 14X.LLMTC02000.L51100000.GA0000.LVEME14CE500]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and
Notice of Public Meetings for a Federal Coal Lease by Application (MTM
105485), Application To Modify Federal Coal Lease (MTM 94378), and
Applications To Amend Land Use Permit (MTM 96659), and Land Use Lease
(MTM 74913), Big Horn County, MT
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
regulations, the United States Department of the Interior, BLM Miles
City Field Office is publishing this notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential impacts
of four proposed actions related to coal mining at the Spring Creek
Mine in Big Horn County, Montana. The proposed actions involve the
potential sale of two tracts of Federal coal through a Lease-By-
Application (LBA) and a lease modification application (LMA). Both
applications cover proposed additions to an existing Federal coal lease
at the Spring Creak Mine. Related to these leasing requests, the EIS
will also evaluate proposed amendments to an existing land use permit
to maintain access to mine monitoring and gauging stations and an
existing land use lease to provide room for the placement of overburden
and infrastructure. The EIS will be called the Spring Creek Coal EIS.
This notice initiates the public scoping process for the Spring Creek
Coal EIS.
DATES: Public scoping meetings to provide the public with an
opportunity to review the proposals and gain understanding of the coal
leasing process will be held by the BLM. The dates and locations of any
scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through
local media outlets and through the Miles City BLM Web site at:
www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/miles_city_field_office.html. At the meetings,
the public is invited to submit comments and resource information, plus
identify issues or concerns to be considered in the environmental
analysis. The BLM can best use public input if comments and resource
information are submitted in writing by February 13, 2017. We will
provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments or concerns to the BLM Miles
City Field Office, Attn: Irma Nansel, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City,
MT 59301. Written comments or resource information may also be hand
delivered to the BLM Miles City Field Office. Comments may be sent
electronically to BLM_MT_MCFO_SCCEIS@blm.gov. For electronic
submission, please include ``Spring Creek Coal EIS/Irma Nansel'' in the
subject line. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma Nansel, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator; telephone 406-233-3653. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS 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: Spring Creek Coal LLC (SCC) submitted four
applications to the BLM, Montana State Office in 2012 and 2013. The
four applications are as follows:
A. On February 15, 2013, SCC submitted LBA MTM 105485 for the
Spring Creek Northwest and Spring Creek Southeast tracts. The LBA
encompasses approximately 1,602.57 acres (containing approximately
198.2 million mineable tons of coal) adjacent to the Spring Creek Mine.
Since decertification of the Powder River Federal Coal Region as a
Federal coal production region by the Powder River Regional Coal Team
(PRRCT) in 1990, leasing is permitted to take place under the existing
regulations on an application basis, in accordance with 43 CFR 3425.1-
5. The PRRCT reviewed the proposed Spring Creek Northwest and Spring
Creek Southeast tracts in the application and recommended that the
Montana State Office begin processing the application. This LBA
consists of the following acreage:
[[Page 90381]]
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Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Meridian, Montana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 8........................ S\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ 20
S\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\ 20
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\...... 40
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\...... 40
Sec. 9........................ S\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\ 20
SW\1/4\ SW\1/4\..... 40
SE\1/4\SW\1/4\...... 40
Sec. 17....................... NE\1/4\NE\1/4\...... 40
NW\1/4\NE\1/4\...... 40
N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ 20
N\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\ 20
Sec. 35....................... NE\1/4\............. 160
SE\1/4\............. 160
Township 9 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 1........................ Lot 1............... 40.20
Lot 2............... 40.58
Lot 3............... 40.39
Lot 4............... 39.92
NW\1/4\NE\1/4\...... 40
SW\1/4\NE\1/4\...... 40
NW\1/4\............. 160
E\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\ 20
E\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\ 20
Sec. 2........................ NE\1/4\............. 160
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 6........................ Lot 5............... 37.12
Lot 6............... 37.16
Lot 7............... 37.20
S\1/2\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\ 20
NE\1/4\SW\1/4\...... 40
SE\1/4\SW\1/4\...... 40
S\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ 20
NW\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/ 10
4\. 20
S\1/2\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\
SW\1/4\SE\1/4\...... 40
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\...... 40
------------------------------------------------------------------------
B. On December 20, 2012, SCC applied for a lease modification to
Federal coal lease MTM 94378, for the Spring Creek Northeast tract,
consisting of about 170 acres (containing approximately 7.9 million
mineable tons of coal) adjacent to the Spring Creek Mine. On May 9,
2016, the application was modified to reduce the tract acreage to 150
acres. The tract reserve value did not change as a result of the
acreage reduction. If approved, the acreage covered by the LMA would be
added to the existing lease and is listed below. Consistent with
applicable statutory authority, the proposed LMA acreage does not
exceed the original lease acreage of (1,117.70 acres):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Meridian, Montana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 13....................... NW\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/ 10
4\. 10
SW\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/ 10
4\.
SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/
4\.
SW\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/ 10
4\. 10
SE\1/4\NE\1/4\NW\1/ 10
4\.
NE\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/
4\.
NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/ 10
4\. 10
SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/ 10
4\.
NE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/
4\.
NW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/ 10
4\. 10
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/ 10
4\.
NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/
4\.
SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/ 10
4\. 10
NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/
4\.
Sec. 14....................... NE\1/4\NE\1/4\NE\1/ 10
4\.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 90382]]
C. On December 23, 2013, SCC submitted an application to amend land
use permit (LUP) MTM 96659, adding 175 acres to the permit and removing
320 acres currently included within the permit that overlap the Spring
Creek Southeast LBA tract. The LUP amendment would maintain access to
mine monitoring areas and gauging stations by utilizing existing two-
track roads and trails. The LUP use will not exceed 3 years, in
accordance with 43 CFR 2920.1-1(b), and will not cause appreciable
damage or disturbance to the public lands, their resources or
improvements in accordance with 43 CFR 2920.2-2(a). The acreage to be
added to LUP MTM 96659 are:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Meridian, Montana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 20....................... S\1/2\NE\1/4\....... 80
Sec. 22....................... SW\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/ 10
4\. 5
S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/
4\NE\1/4\.
Sec. 27....................... NE\1/4\SW\1/4\...... 40
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 7........................ S\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\. 5
S\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/
4\NE\1/4\.
S\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\. 5
S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\.
Sec. 8........................ S\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ 20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres to be removed from LUP MTM 96659 are:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 35....................... E\1/2\.............. 320
------------------------------------------------------------------------
D. On December 23, 2013, SCC submitted an application in accordance
with 43 CFR 2920.2-3 to amend noncompetitive land use lease (LUL) MTM
74913, adding 255 acres to the existing lease and removing
approximately 195 acres that overlap the Spring Creek Southeast LBA
tract. A Notice of Realty Action was published in the Federal Register
in parallel with this notice. The lands added to LUL MTM 74913 are as
follows:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Meridian, Montana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 22....................... N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ 20
N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\.
SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/ 10
4\. 20
W\1/2\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\
Township 9 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 1........................ SE\1/4\SW\1/4\...... 40
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 7........................ \1/2\NE\1/4\........ 80
N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ 20
N\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\ 20
N\1/2\SW\1/4\SE\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\. 5
N\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\NE\1/4\.
N\1/2\SE\1/4\SW\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\. 5
N\1/2\SW\1/4\SW\1/
4\NE\1/4\.
Sec. 8........................ N\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\ 20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres to be removed from LUL MTM 74913 are:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acres
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Township 8 South, Range 39 East:
Sec. 35....................... NE\1/4\NE\1/4\...... 40
SE\1/4\NE\1/4\...... 40
E\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\ 20
E\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\. 2.5
NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/ 5
4\NE\1/4\.
E\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/
4\NE\1/4\.
[[Page 90383]]
NE\1/4\SW\1/4\NE\1/ 10
4\. 2.5
NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/ 20
4\NE\1/4\.
E\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\
E\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/ 5
4\SE\1/4\. 10
NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\.
Township 9 South, Range 40 East:
Sec. 6........................ Lot 5............... 34.78
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Spring Creek Mine operates under an existing approved surface
mining permit from the State of Montana. The Montana Department of
Environmental Quality, the Montana Department of Natural Resources and
Conservation, and the OSMRE will be cooperating agencies in the
preparation of the Spring Creek Coal EIS. Other cooperating agencies
may be identified during the scoping process.
The actions announced by this Notice are consistent with
Secretarial Order (S.O.) 3338, which allows preparatory work, including
National Environmental Policy Act and other related analyses, on
already-pending applications to continue while the BLM's programmatic
review of the Federal coal program is pending. With respect to the sale
of the coal covered by the leasing requests, unless it is shown that
one of the exceptions or exclusions to S.O. 3338 applies, the BLM will
not make a final leasing decision on the proposed LBA until the
programmatic review has concluded. The BLM has confirmed that the LMA
is not subject to S.O. 3338's leasing pause because the lease tract is
less than 160 acres. As result, issuane of the LMA can occur prior to
the finalization of the programmatic review.
If the proposed tracts were to be leased to the applicant, the new
lease and the modifications to the existing coal lease, LUP, and LUL,
must be incorporated into the existing approved mining and reclamation
plans for the mine. Before this can occur, the Secretary of the
Interior must approve the revised Mineral Leasing Act (MLA) mining plan
for the mine in which the tracts will be included. The OSMRE is the
Federal agency that is responsible for recommending approval, approval
with conditions, or disapproval of the revised MLA mining plan to the
Secretary of the Interior, which is why it is a cooperator in this EIS.
In order to help facilitate its analysis, the BLM is providing
interested parties the opportunity to submit comments and relevant
information to help the BLM identify issues to be considered in
preparing the Spring Creek Coal EIS. Issues that have been identified
in analyzing the impacts of previous Federal coal-leasing actions in
the Montana Powder River Basin (PRB) include: (1) The need for
resolution of potential conflicts between existing and proposed oil and
gas development and coal mining on the tracts proposed for coal
leasing; (2) Potential impacts to big game herds and hunting, Greater
Sage-Grouse, listed threatened and endangered species, and air quality,
including greenhouse gas emissions; (3) The need to consider the
cumulative impacts of coal leasing decisions combined with other
existing and proposed development in the Montana PRB; and (4) Potential
site-specific and cumulative impacts on air and water quality.
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 public at any time. While you may request to
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: 40 CFR 1506.6, 43 CFR 3425.3, and 3425.4.
Diane M. Friez,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2016-29969 Filed 12-13-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P
