BLM releases Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Alton Coal tract
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KANAB, Utah—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Alton Coal Tract Lease by Application for federal coal resources on lands near Alton, Utah. The proposed project supports Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke’s priorities of energy independence and being a good neighbor to local communities.
“This is great news for Kane and Garfield Counties,” said Congressman Chris Stewart. “Alton Coal is an economic engine that provides good paying jobs that benefit the entire region. I’m grateful for Secretary Zinke’s leadership and vision for making domestic energy production a priority again.”
The Lease by Application covers a total of 3,581 acres of Federal mineral estate, of which 2,305 acres of the surface are BLM-administered and 1,276 acres are in private surface ownership by eight private landowners). The Lease by Application area contains 44.9 million tons of recoverable coal. Based on analysis, the preferred alternative would provide approximately 30.8 million tons for lease.
“Kane County is excited about the potential growth and certainty of a long term future for Alton Coal,” stated Kane County Commissioner Dirk Clayson. “We appreciate the review process of the BLM office to study and effectively determine responsible and safe mining operations to sustainably expanded into federal lands. In our experience, Alton has done a good job with operations and reclamation activities and is a super good example of managing responsible operations.”
“Over many years of work, our Kanab Field Office staff cooperated closely with the state and local communities to ensure responsible access to these coal resources,” said BLM Color Country District Manager Ahmed Mohsen. “If selected, the preferred alternative in the Final EIS would have a positive impact on employment and the economies of the region.”
The Final EIS shows that leasing under the preferred alternative would provide approximately 30.8 million tons of coal, and based on an estimated two million tons of production annually, could directly create over 100 new jobs at the mine and indirectly increase employment by 240 to 480 jobs, including fuel providers, and positions in maintenance, grocery stores, and retail stores.
Commissioner Clayson also added: “Alton Coal provides family sustaining wage jobs that are needed in our county and has provided some 30 jobs to date with the ability to expand as well as the additional indirect trucking jobs. This plays a vital role in our economy. Their expansion onto federal lands will also directly benefit Kane County through providing mineral lease royalties to the Community Impact Board that offers Kane County the opportunity to apply for project funding from these sources.”
The BLM is not issuing any decisions by releasing the Final EIS for this project. A decision will follow in no less than 30 days from the Environmental Protection Agency’s notice of availability, which is scheduled to occur on July 20, 2018.. The Final EIS is available online at https://go.usa.gov/xNmE2 or at the Kanab Field Office, 669 South Highway 89A, Kanab, Utah 84741.
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.