BLM, USDA Forest Service seek input for settlement-directed environmental analysis of potential coal mine expansion in Utah

PRICE, Utah – Pursuant to a court settlement agreement, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USFS) are seeking public input to help inform an environmental analysis of a potential expansion to Skyline Mine. The modification would include additional coal from public lands in Emery and Sanpete counties. 

The court settlement—agreed to in March 2023 by the BLM, USFS, the State of Utah, Canyon Fuel Company LLC, Grand Canyon Trust, and WildEarth Guardians—resulted in Canyon Fuel relinquishing coal leases in Utah containing 17 million tons of coal and a commitment by the BLM and USFS to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the potential expansion of Skyline Mine. The settlement also stipulates that the environmental analysis will fully consider the potential social costs due to climate change from the expansion.  

The Bureaus will analyze the potential impacts of issuing a lease for the Little Eccles Federal Coal Lease Tract (120 acres) and approving a modification of the Flat Canyon Lease Tract (640 acres). The two tracts include a combined total of approximately 10.8 million tons of recoverable coal.     

A Notice of Intent will publish in Monday’s Federal Register to open a 45-day comment period. Comments will be accepted until May 30, 2024. Comments may be submitted through the “Participate Now” feature at the BLM National NEPA Register or delivered to:  

Bureau of Land Management 

Attn: Skyline Mine Little Eccles Lease and Flat Canyon Lease Modification EIS   

125 South 600 West  

Price, UT 84501  

 The public is invited to participate in two in-person meetings and one virtual meeting during the public comment period. The specific dates and locations of the scoping meeting will be announced in advance through the BLM ePlanning page and the BLM website. 

-BLM and USFS- 

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.   

The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages the 193 million acres of National Forest System land, provides stewardship assistance to non-federal forest landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.  

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