[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 131 (Monday, July 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35560-35561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16780]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[MT-921-05-1320-01; MTM 80697]
Coal Lease Offering
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of coal lease offering by sealed bid; MTM 80697--Western
Energy Company.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the coal resources in the lands
described below in Rosebud County, Montana, will be offered for
competitive lease by sealed bid. This offering is being made as a
result of an application filed by Western Energy Company, in accordance
with the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (41 Stat. 437;
30 U.S.C. 181-287), as amended.
An Environmental Assessment of the proposed coal development and
related requirements for consultation, public involvement, and hearing
have been completed in accordance with 43 CFR 3425. Concerns and issues
expressed by the public during the public scoping process centered on
social, economic, and cultural impacts to the Northern Cheyenne and
Crow Tribes, hydrologic impacts to the area, and the need to do an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as the appropriate level of
environmental documentation for the development of the coal resources.
Three alternatives (Preferred, No Action, and Cultural Resource
Avoidance) were developed to analyze impacts and to address issues
relating to the proposed action. The Preferred Alternative, including
special stipulations and mitigation measures, was chosen because it
will maximize the beneficial use of the subject coal resource and will
mitigate impacts to one historic site and two sites which have high
values as traditional cultural properties.
The tract will be leased to the qualified bidder of the highest
cash amount provided that the high bid meets the fair market value of
the coal resource. The minimum bid for the tract is $100 per acre, or
fraction thereof. No bid that is less than $100 per acre, or fraction
thereof, will be considered. The minimum bid is not intended to
represent fair market value. The fair market value will be determined
by the authorized officer after the sale.
Coal Offered
The coal resource to be offered consists of all recoverable
reserves in the following described lands located approximately 10
miles west of the town of Colstrip:
T. 1 N., R. 39 E., P.M.M.,
Sec. 2: S\1/2\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
T. 1 N., R. 40 E., P.M.M.,
Sec. 6: Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, S\1/2\N\1/2\, S\1/2\;
Sec. 8: E\1/2\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\;
Sec. 14: S\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\.
T. 2 N., R. 40 E., P.M.M,
Sec. 32: All.
Containing 2,061 acres, Rosebud County, Montana.
[[Page 35561]]
The Rosebud seam, averaging 22.3 feet in thickness, is the only
economically minable coal seam within the tract. The tract contains
an estimated 35.6 million tons of recoverable reserves. Coal
quality, as received, averages 8,360 BTU/lb, 25.52 percent moisture,
10.03 percent ash, and 0.97 percent sulfur. This coal bed is being
mined in adjoining tracts by Western Energy Company.
Rental and Royalty
A lease issued as a result of this offering will provide for
payment of an annual rental of $3 per acre, or fraction thereof; and a
royalty payable to the United States of 12.5 percent of the value of
coal mined by surface methods and 8.0 percent of the value of coal
mined by underground methods. The value of the coal shall be determined
in accordance with 43 CFR 3485.2.
DATES: Lease Sale--The lease sale will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday,
August 9, 1995, in the Conference Room on the Sixth Floor of the
Granite Tower Building, Bureau of Land Management, 222 North 32nd
Street, Billings, Montana 59107.
Bids--Sealed bids must be submitted on or before 10 a.m.,
Wednesday, August 9, 1995, to the cashier, Bureau of Land Management,
Montana State Office, Second Floor, Granite Tower Building, 222 North
32nd Street, Post Office Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107-6800. The
bids should be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or be
hand-delivered. The cashier will issue a receipt for each hand-
delivered bid. Bids received after that time will not be considered.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bidding instructions for the offered tract
are included in the Detailed Statement of Lease Sale. Copies of the
statement and the proposed coal lease are available at the Montana
State Office. Casefile documents are also available for public
inspection at the Montana State Office.
Dated: June 29, 1995.
Randy D. Heuscher,
Acting Chief, Branch of Solid Minerals.
[FR Doc. 95-16780 Filed 7-7-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P