BLM Coal Lease Sale Set for Oct. 17
Organization
Media Contact:
BILLINGS, Mont. – In keeping with the Trump Administration’s strategy towards American Energy Dominance, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will hold a sealed-bid competitive coal lease sale at the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office on Oct. 17, 2017.
The lease sale furthers the President’s America First Energy Plan, an all-of-the-above strategy. Secretary Zinke is committed to facilitating opportunities for responsible energy development that creates jobs and helps local communities to grow.
The BLM will offer for lease a 320-acre tract in McLean County, North Dakota, that contains an estimated 2.2 million tons of in-place Federal coal resources. The BLM is offering the tract in response to an application filed by the Falkirk Mining Company in November of 2013. Located approximately two miles northeast of Underwood, the tract is within and adjacent to the Falkirk Mine. The mine employs more than 500 workers and produces more than 8 million tons of lignite coal per year. The lease would extend the life of the mine by about seven months. After that, the company will move on to mine other fee, state or federal parcels.
The BLM analyzed the impacts of leasing the coal in an Environmental Assessment and signed a Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record earlier this year. The public was invited to participate in all aspects of this environmental analysis.
Sealed bids for this coal lease sale must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time and must be submitted to the Cashier, BLM Montana State Office, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101. For additional lease sale and bidding procedure details, contact Greg Fesko at 406-896-5080 or gfesko@blm.gov, or Connie Schaff at 406-896-5060 or cschaff@blm.gov.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
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.