High Plains District Office
| Contacts: | Lesley A. Collins | |||
| 307-261-7600 |
Wright Area Final EIS Available
The Wright Area Coal Lease Applications Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is available for review from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming High Plains District Office.
BLM received the following applications to lease six maintenance tracts of federal coal in Campbell County, Wyo.:
· North and South Hilight Field Tracts
On Oct. 7, 2005, Ark Land Company applied for federal coal reserves in two maintenance tracts encompassing approximately 4,590.19 acres and 588.2 million tons of coal. The coal tracts would potentially extend the Black Thunder Mine’s life by as many as four years.
· West Hilight Field Tract
On Jan. 17, 2006, Ark Land Company applied for federal coal reserves in a maintenance tract containing approximately 2,370.52 acres and approximately 428 million tons of coal. The coal tract would potentially extend the Black Thunder Mine’s life by as many as three years.
· West Jacobs Ranch Tract
On March 24, 2006, Jacobs Ranch Coal Company applied for federal coal reserves in a maintenance tract containing approximately 5,944.37 acres and approximately 956 million tons of coal. The coal tract would potentially extend the Jacobs Ranch Mine’s life by as many as 17 years.
· North and South Porcupine Tracts
On Sept. 29, 2006, BTU Western Resources, Inc. applied for federal coal reserves in two maintenance tracts encompassing approximately 5,116.65 acres and approximately 598 million tons of coal. The company subsequently filed a modification request with BLM to increase the lease area and coal volume to approximately 8,981.74 acres and 1,179.1 million tons of coal as estimated by the applicant. The coal tracts would potentially extend the North Antelope Rochelle Mine’s life by as many as 10 years.
The FEIS is not a decision document. Its purpose is to inform the public of impacts associated with issuing a federal coal lease in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin. A record of decision (ROD) will be prepared after the close of the 30-day review period. Comments received on the FEIS will be considered during preparation of the ROD.
BLM will accept public comments on the FEIS through Aug. 30, 2010. Please address questions, comments or concerns to the Casper Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Sarah Bucklin, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyo., 82604; by fax to 307-261-7587; or send e-mail comments to the attention of Sarah Bucklin at Wright_WY@blm.gov . Please include “Wright Area Coal FEIS—Attn: Sarah Bucklin” in the subject line.
Copies of the FEIS are available for public inspection online at http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/content/wy/en/info/NEPA/documents/hpd/Wright-Coal.html or at the following BLM offices:
| Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office 5353 Yellowstone Road Cheyenne, WY 82009 | Bureau of Land Management Casper Field Office 2987 Prospector Drive Casper, Wyoming 82604 |
For more information, contact Sarah Bucklin or Mike Karbs at 307-261-7600.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
High Plains District Office 2987 Prospector Drive Casper, WY 82604