[Federal Register: January 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 18)] [Notices] [Page 4461-4462] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr28ja99-117] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [UT-930-07-1320-00] Notice of Public Hearing and Call for Public Comment on the Environmental Impact Statement, Proposed Sale and Fair Market Value and Maximum Economic Recovery Consideration for Coal Lease Application UTU- 76195 AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Utah. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces a public hearing on the Environmental Impact [[Page 4462]] Statement, the proposed sale and requests public comment on the fair market value of certain coal resources it proposes to offer for competitive lease sale. The lands included in the delineated Federal coal lease tract (``The Pines'') are located in Sevier County, Utah, approximately 5 miles northwest of Emergy, Utah on public land located in the Manti-LaSal National Forest and are described as follows: T. 20 S., R. 5 E., SLM Section 35, S\1/2\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, S\1/ 2\SW\1/4\SE\1/4\; Section 36, W\1/2\SW\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\. T. 21 S., R. 5E., SLM Section 1, lots 3-4, S\1/2\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\; Section 2, lots 1-4, S\1/2\S\1/2\; Section 3, lots 1-2, S\1/2\SE\1/4\; Section 10, E\1/2\; Sections 11-14, all; Section 15, E\1/2\; Section 22, E\1/2\; Sections 23-24, all; Section 25, N\1/2\, N\1/2\S\1/2\; Section 26, N\1/2\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SE\1/ 4\. T. 21 S., R. 6E., SLM Section 19, lots 3-4 E\1/2\SW\1/4\; Section 30, lots 1-3, E\1/2\NW\1/4\, NE\1/4\SW\1/4\. Containing 7,311.43 acres more or less. The Tract has one potentially minable coal seam, the Upper Hiawatha. The minable portions of the seam in this area are from 6 to 14 feet in thickness and average 10.9 feet. This tract contains an estimated 65-70 million tons of recoverable high-volatile C bituminous coal. The coal quality in the seam on an as received basis is as follows: 11,539 Btu/lb., 8.37 percent moisture, 8.78 percent ash, 36.87 percent volatile matter, 45.98 percent fixed carbon, and 0.5 percent sulfur. The public is invited to the hearing to make public or written comments on the environmental implications of leasing the proposed tract, and also to submit comments on the fair market value (FMV) and the maximum economic recovery (MER) of the tract. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Federal coal management regulations 43 CFR 4322 and 4325, a public hearing shall be held on the proposed sale to allow public comment on and discussion of the potential effects of mining and proposed lease. Not less than 30 days prior to the publication of the notice of sale, the Secretary shall solicit public comments on fair market value appraisal and meximum economic recovery and on factors that may affect 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 Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday. Comments on fair market value and maximum economic recovery should be sent to the Bureau of Land Management 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 specifications 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 of any larger mining unit of which the tract may be a part. 7. Restrictions to mining which may affect coal recovery. 8. The price that the mined coal would 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 area. 14. Any comparable sales data of similar coal lands. Coal quantities and the FMV of the coal developed by BLM 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. DATES: The public hearing will be held in the Salina City Hall located at 90 West Main Street in Salina, Utah, at 7:00 p.m. on March 3, 1999. Entrance to the building and parking is at the rear entrance. Written comments on fair market value and maximum economic recovery must be received at the Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, by March 17, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Max Nielson, 801-539-4038, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, Division of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84145-0155. Copies of an Environmental Impact Statement that considers leasing of this tract may be obtained by contacting Janette Kaiser, Forest Supervisor at the Manti-LaSal National Forest, 599 West Price River Dr. in Price, Utah (801-637- 2817). Dated: January 22, 1999. Douglas M. Koza, DSD, Natural Resources, Utah. [FR Doc. 99-1989 Filed 1-27-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-M