2013-01-18_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1996083

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U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office 2465 South Townsend Avenue Montrose, Colorado 81401 In Reply Refer to: 3425, COC -75916 Dear Interested Party, JAN 16, 2013 Division of Reclamation, Mining & Safety The Bureau of Land Management, Uncompahgre Field Office (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service (FS or Forest Service), Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests (GMUG), are seeking comments on a proposed coal lease on National Forest System (NFS) and Public Lands. The BLM notified the GMUG National Forests that Bowie Resources, LLC (Bowie) applied for a federal competitive coal lease -by- application (LBA), COC -75916 Spruce Stomp (containing approximately 1,813 acres), immediately adjacent to existing coal leases held by Bowie. The proposed lease covers approximately 1,359.9 acres of NFS land, 87.5 acres of BLM land and 365.6 acres of private surface with federal minerals. All of the coal mineral estate is administered by the BLM. The application area contains an estimated 9 million tons of recoverable coal. The BLM is required by law to consider leasing federal coal for economic recovery. The BLM and FS have determined that this action must be evaluated under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to identify potential environmental impacts related to the proposed action. It is anticipated that the environmental analysis will be documented in an Environmental Assessment (EA). As provided for by 40 CFR 1501.5, the BLM and FS will be joint lead agencies for completion of an EA for the proposed lease. With respect to NFS lands, the FS is considering whether or not to give the BLM consent to lease coal reserves underlying these lands and what stipulations are necessary for the protection of non - mineral surface resources and values. If FS consent is given, the BLM, after considering the application, the competitive nature of the proposed lease tract, and if additional stipulations are necessary, will decide whether or not to hold a competitive lease sale for the LBA. The coal lease area is described as: Township 12 South, Range 91 West, 6 P. M Section 31: Lots 11 through 26 inclusive Section 32: Lots 10 through 15 inclusive Township 12 South, Range 92 West, 6 P.M. Section 36: S2 Township 13 South, Range 92 West, 6 P.M. Section 1: Lots 1 through 4 inclusive USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Forest Service Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests 2250 Highway 50 Delta, Colorado 81416 REGE JAN 18 2013