The Bureau of Land Management seeks comment on BNI application, environmental assessment
Organization
DICKINSON, N.D. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting comments on an environmental assessment that analyzes potential impacts from leasing 630-acres of federal coal to BNI Coal, LTD. Additionally, BLM is seeking comments on fair market value and maximum economic recovery of the coal deposits on the lease tracts.
The proposed tracts are adjacent to the existing Center Mine in Oliver County, southwest of Center. The tracts contain an estimated 6.97 million tons of federal coal. The coal lease application is part of BNI’s ongoing mining operation and would not extend the life of the mine. The coal within the project site is owned by the federal government and is within the current mine planning area.
The BLM will also hold a public hearing, in Center, North Dakota, at the Betty Hagel Memorial Civic Center on September 24th starting at 3 p.m. Central Time. Should conditions change to prevent or further restrict an in-person meeting, the public hearing may be moved to a teleconference. Updates will be provided through ePlanning and an updated news release.
More information is available on the BLM e-Planning project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov. Search using the NEPA number: DOI-BLM-MT-C030-2017-0088-EA.
Comments may be mailed or hand-delivered to the BLM North Dakota Field Office at 99 23rd Ave. West, Suite A, Dickinson, ND 58601. In the address line include: “CENTER MINE LBA NDM-105513, Attn: John Zeise.”
Those who intend to provide comments are advised that including an address, phone number, email address or other personal-identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While those commenting can ask in their comments to have personal-identifying information withheld from public review, the agencies cannot guarantee that they will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations, from businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or businesses, will be available for public review.
The comment period will end October 8, 2020.
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.