Bull Mountains Mine No. 1 is located in Musselshell and Yellowstone Counties, Montana. Bull Mountains Mine No. 1 is an underground, longwall type mine. The mining plan modification permit area itself covers approximately 1,725 acres.

• Environmental Assessment

  The OSMRE, Western Region Office, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Bull Mountain Mine No. 1 mining plan modification for federal coal lease MTM 97988 (the Project).

  Details:

  On March 9, 2020, the Court identified a deficiency in OSMRE’s 2018 NEPA analysis, vacated and set aside the 2018 EA, and remanded the matter back to OSMRE for further action (see 350 Montana v. Bernhardt, Case 9:19-cv-00012-DWM, 2020 WL 1139674 (D. Mont. Mar. 9, 2020)). This EA was prepared to address the March 9, 2020 Court, ruling and satisfy OSMRE’s responsibilities under NEPA by analyzing the potential train derailments that may occur along the rail transportation route. In complying with those responsibilities, OSMRE did not reevaluate potential impacts previously analyzed as part of the 2018 EA. Rather, this EA specifically addresses the potential for train derailment along the rail transportation route, as ordered in the 2020 Court ruling. Because the 2018 EA thoroughly described the affected environment and potential impacts to the various resources, it is incorporated by reference in this EA.

  As part of the National Environmental Policy Act, OSMRE, as the lead agency, is preparing a draft Environmental Assessment (EA). OSMRE is soliciting public comments on the EA and unsigned FONSI. You are invited to direct these comments by mail to: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Attn.: Gretchen Pinkham, Bull Mountain Mine No. 1, PO Box 25065, Lakewood, CO 80225-0065, or by Email: osm-nepa-mt@osmre.gov.

  Comments should be received or postmarked no later than July 27, 2020 in order to be considered during the preparation of the EA. Comments received, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project and will be available for public inspection. By including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personally identifying information, may be made publically available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

• Relevant Documents

  • Stakeholder Outreach Letter (Dated 06/26/2020)
  • Example Tribal Outreach Letter (Dated 06/26/2020)
  • Public Notice (Dated 06/26/2020)
  • Environmental Assessment (Dated 06/26/2020)
  • Unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (Dated 06/26/2020)
  • Final Environmental Assessment (Dated 10/2020)
  • Signed Finding of No Significant Impact (Dated 10/15/2020)
  • Federal Lands Mining Plan Approval (Dated 11/18/2020)

• Contacts

  For more information contact the OSMRE Project Manager:
  

  Marcelo Calle
  U.S. Department of the Interior
  Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
  mcalle@osmre.gov
  Telephone: (303) 236-2929

  All media inquires should be directed to:

  Chris Holmes
  Public Affairs Specialist
  U.S. Department of the Interior
  Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
  cholmes@osmre.gov
  Telephone: (202) 208-7941