[Federal Register: September 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 182)]
[Notices]               
[Page 51138]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21se99-76]                         

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WY-920-1320-00]

 
Powder River Regional Coal Team Activities: Notice of Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Department of Interior, Wyoming.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Powder River Regional Coal Team (RCT) announces that it 
has scheduled a public meeting for October 27, 1999, to review current 
and proposed activities in the Powder River Coal Region and to review 
pending coal lease applications (LBA).

DATES: The RCT meeting will begin at 9 a.m., M.D.T., on Wednesday, 
October 27, 1999. The meeting is open to the public.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn, 2009 S. Douglas 
Highway, Gillette, WY 82718, 307-686-3000. Attendees are responsible 
for making their own reservations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mel Schlagel, Wyoming State Office, 
BLM, P.O. Box 1828 (922), Cheyenne, WY 82003, 307-775-6257.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The primary purpose of the meeting is to 
discuss the North Jacobs Ranch LBA. The Jacobs Ranch Coal Company 
(Kennecott Energy Company), filed an LBA (WYW146744), on October 2, 
1998, for an estimated 519 million tons and 4,821 acres. In accordance 
with the Powder River Operational Guidelines (1991), the initial public 
notification of North Jacobs Ranch pending LBA was made at the February 
23, 1999, RCT meeting in Billings, MT. At this meeting, the RCT 
approved processing for the North Jacobs Ranch LBA. This LBA has 
several conflicts between oil and gas development and coal mining. The 
RCT left open the possibility of another RCT meeting in the fall of 
1999, to further address existing conflicts. Coal and oil and gas 
conflicts need further consideration by the RCT, and are the primary 
topic of discussion for this RCT meeting. Processing time frames 
between the North Jacobs Ranch LBA and the Belle Ayr LBA also need to 
be discussed by the RCT.
    Two possible coal exchanges also need to be discussed by the RCT. 
The Belco exchange involves exchanging coal near Buffalo, WY, for 
Federal coal just north of the Buckskin Mine in Campbell County. The 
Pittsburg & Midway exchange proposal is to exchange Federal coal near 
Sheridan, WY, for private lands located throughout WY. The RCT may 
generate recommendation(s) for any or all of these topics. No new LBA's 
have been filed since the February 23, 1999, RCT meeting.
    Any party interested in providing comments or data related to the 
above pending applications may either do so in writing to the State 
Director (925), Wyoming State Office, BLM, P.O. Box 1828, Cheyenne, WY 
82003, no later than October 15, 1999, or by addressing the RCT with 
his/her concerns at the meeting on October 27, 1999.
    The draft agenda for the meeting follows:
    1. Introduction of RCT Members and guests.
    2. Approval of the Minutes of the February 23, 1999, RCT meeting 
held in Billings MT.
    3. Regional Coal Activity Status:
    a. Activity Since Last RCT Meeting.
    b. Status of pending LBAs previously reviewed by RCT.
    c. Belco Coal Lease Exchange.
    4. Industry Presentations:
--Jacobs Ranch Coal Company
--Belle Ayr Coal Company
--Pittsburg & Midway Exchange
    7. RCT Activity Planning Recommendations--Review and 
recommendation(s) on pending Lease Application(s).
    8. Discussion of the next meeting.
    9. Adjourn.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-24534 Filed 9-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P