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Project Backiround:
<br />GCCE's LBA proposes to lease coal underlying the following lands:
<br />New Mexico Principle Meridian
<br />Township 35 North, Range 11 West
<br />Section 18: lots 2 thru 5, 8, 9, 10, SE '/ NW '/, and NE '/ SW V4.
<br />Section 19: lots 1, 2, 6, and 7, NE'/ NW'/, and N'/z SE'/ NW'/.
<br />Township 35 North, Range 12 West
<br />Section 13: S 1/2 NE '/, SE 1/ NW '@ S 'h SW 1/, NE '/ SE 1/, and S '/2 SE '/;
<br />Section 14: S '/2 NE '/ SW 1/, S 1/2 NW '/ SW 1/, S 1/2 SW '/, S '/i NW '/ SE '/, and S '/z SE 1/;
<br />Section 15: SE '/ SW 1/, and S 1/Z SE '/;
<br />Section 22: N ''/z NE '/, N 'h SW % NE '/, SE 1/ SW '/ NE 1/, SE '/ NE 1/, E''/z
<br />NE '/ NW 1/, NE 1/ SE '/ NW '/, and E '/z NW '/ SE '/;
<br />Section 23: N 1/2 NE %, SE '/ NE '@ N '/z NW '/ SE 1/ SW '/, and SE '/; Section 24: N'h, SW '/,
<br />and NW '/ SE 1/;
<br />Section 26: N '/z NE 1/ NE '/a, SW 1/a NE '/a NE 1/a, NW '/a NE '/a, N '/2 NW '/a, N1/z SW '/a NW '/a,
<br />SE 1/ SW 1/ NW '/, and SE 1/ NW 1/;
<br />Section 27: NE '/ NE '/, and SE 1/ NW '/ NE 1/
<br />Containing 2,462.07 acres more or less.
<br />The proposed project area consists mostly of split -estate federally owned coal, with a mixture of surface
<br />estate owners, including the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Devil's Canyon Trust, C & C Livestock, Shirard
<br />Colorado LTD Partnership and BLM in an area collectively referred to as the "Dunn Ranch" area.
<br />Leasing these lands would result in a continuation of underground coal mining operations at the King II Coal
<br />Mine into the newly -leased lands. It would extend the life of the mine by approximately 22 years. The
<br />proposed action would cause approximately 20 acres of surface disturbance, primarily associated with the
<br />construction of a "low cover crossing"—an engineered, below -grade, steel -lined haulage way that would
<br />connect the existing mine to the LBA area. This "low cover crossing" would allow underground mining
<br />equipment to pass beneath East Alkali Gulch without coming to the surface. The low cover crossing would
<br />be constructed at the southwest end of the existing mine workings. Surface facilities, operations and haulage
<br />at the existing King II Coal Mine would not change. Up to approximately 800,000 tons per year could be
<br />mined, though present production rates are closer to 600,000 tons per year. All coal is shipped from the mine
<br />by truck, with a maximum daily average of 120 trucks per day. At present mining rates roughly two thirds of
<br />coal is delivered for use at cement manufacturing plants owned by GCCE in the USA and Mexico, with the
<br />remainder being sold for use on local scenic railways, home heating and the spot market. Coal bound for
<br />Mexico and some spot market buyers is trucked to a railroad hub in Gallup, New Mexico.
<br />How to Comment:
<br />Submit your substantive comments and information related to this proposal in writing to the BLM by
<br />March 11, 2019. Your name and address must be included for your submission to be considered. All
<br />submissions received will be forwarded to OSMRE. OSMRE may hold informational meetings, at which
<br />time additional comments would be accepted.
<br />Email: coalcommenttresrios@blm.gov
<br />BLM Website: https://fzo.usa.gov/xEKTV
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