About the Project

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is seeking public comments on the environmental assessment (EA) that analyzes potential impacts from mining 866.7 acres of Federal coal within the current permit boundary of the existing Caballo Mine in Campbell County, Wyoming. Peabody proposes to mine 119.8 million tons of coal from the Federal coal lease WYW-172657 extending the life of the mine by approximately 8.9 years from 2042 to 2051. There would be no increase in the annual average production of coal at Caballo Mine as a result of the proposed project.

OSMRE is publishing a Notice of Availability of the EA and unsigned FONSI for a 30-day public comment period. The purpose of the public comment process is to obtain feedback on the environmental analysis OSMRE has conducted for the proposed mining plan modification at the Caballo Mine.

Comments will be accepted through June 16, 2019.

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  • In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations and the Department of the Interior (DOI) procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 43332(2) (C), the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Western Region has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the environmental effects of the proposed mining plan modification for the West Tract at the Caballo Mine. OSMRE is responsible for reviewing plans to conduct coal mining and reclamation operations on lands containing leased Federal coal. Pursuant to 30 CFR 746, OSMRE must prepare and submit to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), a decision document recommending approval, conditional approval, or disapproval of the proposed mining plan modification. ASLM approval of a mining plan modification would authorize mining activities to produce an estimated 119.8 million tons (Mt) of coal at an estimated rate of 13.5 Mt per year from Caballo Federal coal lease WYW172657 and add an additional 866.7 acres of surface disturbance. Peabody Caballo Mining, LLC owns and operates the Caballo Mine, which is located in Campbell County, Wyoming, approximately 10 miles south-southeast of Gillette, Wyoming, east of Wyoming State Highway 59, in central Campbell County, Wyoming.
  • The EA analyzes the potential direct, indirect and cumulative impacts to the environment from the Project. Through the EA process, OSMRE has determined that there are no significant environmental impacts. OSMRE will prepare and submit to the ASLM a mining plan decision document recommending approval, disapproval, or conditional approval of the mining plan modification. The OSMRE Director will make a recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM) on the Federal Mining Plan Modification, and the ASLM will approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the Federal Mining Plan Modification as required under the MLA.

Document Review

The EA and unsigned FONSI are available for review online below.

Printed versions of the EA and unsigned FONSI are also available for review at the following locations: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Western Region
P.O. Box 25065
Lakewood, CO 80225-0065
Between the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday (Closed Saturday and Sunday)

Campbell County Courthouse
500 S. Gillette Ave.
Gillette, WY 82716
Between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday (Closed Saturday and Sunday)

Campbell County Public Library
2101 S 4-J Rd
Gillette, WY 82718
Between the hours of 10:00 AM and 8:00 PM, Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; between the hours of 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Wednesday and Friday; and between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM, Saturday (Closed Sunday)

Document Library

Contact

You are invited to direct your comments on the scope of the EA by mail and email to: ATTN: Caballo West Tract EA
C/O: Logan Sholar
Western Region Office
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
P.O. Box 25065
Lakewood, CO 80225-0065
Email: OSM-NEPA-WY@OSMRE.gov .

All comments must be received or postmarked by June 16, 2019 to be considered. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – will be publicly available. 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. All submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be available for public review to the extent consistent with applicable law.

Additional information regarding this Project may be obtained from Logan Sholar at (303) 236-6038 or lsholar@osmre.gov.

All media inquires should be directed to:

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