[Federal Register: October 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 203)] [Notices] [Page 56802] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21oc99-85] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [NM-930-1320-00; NMNM 99144] Request for Public Comment on Fair Market Value and Maximum Economic Recovery; Lease by Application NMNM 99144 October 8, 1999. AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management requests public comment on the fair market value of certain coal resources it proposes to offer for competitive lease sale. The lands included in Coal Lease Application NMNM 99144 are located in San Juan County, New Mexico and are described as follows: T. 30 N., R. 14 W., NMPM Sec. 17, All; Sec. 18, All; Sec. 19, All; Sec. 20, All; Sec. 29, All; Sec. 30, All; Sec. 31, Lot 1-4, N\1/2\N\1/2\S\1/2\; Containing 4,483.88 acres, more or less. The average thickness of the coal under consideration is about 12 feet with an in-place of approximately 90 million tons. The public is invited to submit written comments on the fair market value and the maximum economic recover of the tract. In addition, notice is also given that a public hearing will be held on November 15, 1999, on the fair market value and maximum economic recovery of the proposed lease tract. DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 22, 1999. ADDRESSES: For more complete data on this tract, please contact Powell King or Ida T. Viarreal, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87504. The public hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Farmington Field Office, 1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington, New Mexico. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charlie F. Beecham, Team Lead Solid Minerals, (505) 599-6372. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Federal Coal Management regulations 43 CFR 3422 and 3425, not less than 30 days prior to the publication of the sale notice of sale, the Secretary shall solicit public comments on the fair market value appraisal, and maximum economic recovery and on factors that may effect these two determinations. Proprietary data marked as confidential may be submitted to the Bureau of Land Management 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 fair market value and maximum economic recovery, except those portions identified as proprietary by the author and meeting exemptions stated in the Freedom of Information Act, will be available for public inspection at the above address during regular business hours (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday. Comments should be sent to Bureau of Land Management Farmington Field Office, 1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington, NM 87401 and should address, but not necessarily be limited to, the following Information: 1. The quality and quantity of the coal resource; 2. The mining method or methods, which would achieve maximum economic recovery of the coal, including specification of seams to be mined and the most desirable timing and rate of production. 3. The quantity of coal; 4. If this tract is likely to be mined as part of an existing mine and therefore be evaluated, on a realistic incremental basis, in relation to the existing mine to which it has the greatest value; 5. If this tract should be evaluated as part of a potential larger mining unit and evaluated as a portion of a new potential mine (i.e., a tract which does not in itself form a logical mining unit); 6. The configuration to the mining, which may affect coal recovery; 7. Restrictions to the mining, which may affect coal recovery; 8. The price that the mined coal could bring when sold; 9. Costs, including mining and reclamation, of producing the coal and the time of production. 10. 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; 11. Depreciation and other tax accounting factors: 12. The value of any surface estate where held privately; 13. Documented information on the terms and conditions of recent and similar coal land transactions in the lease sale acres; and 14. Any comparable sales data of similar coal lands. 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. Carsten F. Goff, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 99-27178 Filed 10-20-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M