BLM competitive coal lease sale in Delta County nets $2.9 million
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Lakewood, Colo. – Today the Bureau of Land Management leased a 1,790-acre tract for $2.9 million to Bowie Resources to develop approximately 8 million tons of recoverable coal adjacent to the Bowie II Mine in Delta County.
In September 2013, the BLM and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests jointly released a final environmental assessment to determine the scope of the coal lease application filed by Bowie Resources, LLC. and addresses the cultural, socioeconomic, environmental and cumulative impacts that would likely result from leasing these coal lands.
A variety of mitigation measures were included in the decision to offer those acres for a coal lease, including protections for: Wild and Scenic Rivers, Threatened and Endangered Species, migratory birds, state priority species, and vegetation and water resources. These protections will help ensure that coal mining in the area continues to be conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner.
Bowie currently operates the Bowie II Mine, which produces roughly 3.5 million tons of coal annually within the Uncompahgre Field Office. Bowie II Mine employs approximately 377 employees, with an annual payroll of approximately $26 million.
The BLM’s open, competitive leasing process awards the lease to the high bidder who successfully meets or exceeds the fair market value of the coal, which is determined by the BLM.
In Colorado, there are currently eight producing coal mines (six underground and two surface) encompassing 66,000 acres. In Fiscal Year 2013, coal energy production on BLM Colorado public lands directly contributed $734 million to the economy, generating royalty revenue of $42 million and accounted for 5,936 direct and indirect jobs in Colorado.
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.