GENERAL39413

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Name: Dec Document for Federal Lease COC-56447
• Permit Index Doc Type: Other Permits
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Following completion of the E4 for competitive coal lease application
COG-56447, the Montrose District Office of BLY would forward the
competitive lease application, the F11, maximum economic recovery report
(MER), Decision Record (DR), Finding of ~:o Significant Impact (FONSI),
proposed lease terms and conditions, and pre Liminary recommendations to the
BIH State Director in Denver. The Colorado State Director would make a
determination on the leasing action, the proposed lease terms and
conditions and bonding requirements, and the adequacy of the FONSI or the
need for an environmental impact statet:ent. The State Director then
prepares newspaper and Federal Register notices of the sale and posts a
notice of Che proposed sale in the Public Room. The notice of the proposed
sale is then distributed'to the public and advice of sale is sent to the
Attorney General. A sales panel consisting of the Deputy State Director
for Mineral Resources, a BLM mining engineer, a BLH geologist, and a BLM
mineral economist is then designated,
Once the sale has been held, qualified bidders are evaluated and
ranked by the sale panel which would then make recommendations of
acceptance to the State Director. The successful bidder is then notified
of additional requirements and requested to submit data and information
necessary for a review by the Attorney General. I~hen the Attorney General
has completed his review, the lease documents are then transmitted to the
successful bidder for signature and submission of the bond. The State
Director then makes the decision approving the bond and issuing the lease.
Copies of the decision are then distributed to the BLM District Office, the
Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and the Minerals Management Service (MMS).
Office of Surface Hining and the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology
SMCRA gives OSM primary responsibility to administer programs that
regulate surface coal mining operat'_or.s on federal lands and the surface
effects of underground coal ^ining operations on federal lands. Pursuant
to Section 503 of SMCRA, the Coioraco ~~:•:sion of Minerals and Geology
(CDHG) developed, and the Secretary of the Interior approved, a permanent
program authorizing CDMG to regulate s~~rface coal mining operations and
surface effects of underground coal mining on non-federal lands within the
State of Colorado. In September 1982,. pursuant to Section 523(c) of SMCRA,
CDMG entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the
Interior authorizing CDMG to regulate surface coal mining operations and
surface effects of underground wining on federal lands within the state.
Pursuant co the cooperative ag_ee=ent, federal coal lease holders !n
Colorado must submit permit application. packages to OSM and CDMG for
proposed mining and reclamation operations on federal lands in the State.
The CDMG reviews the packages co ensure chat the permit application
complies with the permitting reeuirements and that the coal mining
operation will meet the approved permanent program's performance standards;
if iC does comply, CDMG issues the _essee a permit to conduct coal mining
operations. The OSM, USFS, 3LY, and other federal agencies review the
permit application package co ensure tzar it complies with [h^ teems of the
coal lease; the requirements of the Mineral Leasing Act of 19_0; Che
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and other federal lays and their
• attendant regulations. The OSM recommends approval, approval with
conditions, or disapproval of [he mining plan [o the AssisCant Secretary -