Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project

Welcome to the homepage of public information and involvement for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The purpose of this website is to provide up-to-date EIS-related information to the public and other interested parties.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is conducting an environmental review of the following proposed actions:

• Power Plant Lease Amendment – Arizona Public Service Company recently executed a lease amendment with the Navajo Nation to extend the life of the Four Corners Power Plant to 2041.
  
  
• Energy Transmission Lines – Existing transmission lines directly connected to the power plant and owned by Arizona Public Service Company and Public Service of New Mexico require rights-of-way renewals.
  
  
• Coal Mine – BHP Navajo Coal Company (BNCC) is proposing to develop a new mine area, referred to as the Pinabete Mine Permit area, within its existing Navajo Mine Lease to supply coal to the power plant for up to 25 years, beginning July 2016. In addition, OSM expects BNCC to submit a renewal application in 2014 for its existing Navajo Mine located on the Navajo Reservation in San Juan County, New Mexico.
  
  

OSM has determined an EIS to be the proper NEPA compliance document for this project. The Draft EIS (to be available on this website) will address potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed actions described above.

NEW January 23, 2013: The Final Scoping Summary Report for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project EIS has been added to the project Document Library.

September 10, 2012: The OSM will extend the EIS scoping comment period until November 1, 2012. All comments received before November 1, 2012 will be considered during the development of the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). OSM expects to publish the notice to extend the EIS scoping comment period in the Federal Register within approximately 30 days.

July 18, 2012: The OSM has published the Notice of Intent (NOI) to initiate public scoping and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project in the Federal Register. The NOI is available for download via the Document Library.