82 FR 35237 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Meeting on a Federal Coal Lease-by-Application in the Decertified Powder River Federal Coal Production Region, Wyoming

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 144 (July 28, 2017)

Page Range		35237-35238
FR Document		2017-15856

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), High Plains District Office announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the potential impacts of leasing a tract of Federal coal. The EIS will be called the West Antelope 3 Coal Lease by Application EIS. Antelope Coal, LLC (Antelope) applied for a coal lease for approximately 3,508.31 acres (containing approximately 441 million tons of in-place coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent to the Antelope Mine in Campbell and Converse Counties, Wyoming.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 144 (Friday, July 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35237-35238]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15856]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYP00000-L51100000-GA0000-LVEMK16CY810 17X; WYW184599]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and 
Notice of Public Meeting on a Federal Coal Lease-by-Application in the 
Decertified Powder River Federal Coal Production Region, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), High Plains 
District Office announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on the potential impacts of leasing a tract of Federal 
coal. The EIS will be called the West Antelope 3 Coal Lease by 
Application EIS. Antelope Coal, LLC (Antelope) applied for a coal lease 
for approximately 3,508.31 acres (containing approximately 441 million 
tons of in-place coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent 
to the Antelope Mine in Campbell and Converse Counties, Wyoming.

DATES: Comments may be submitted in writing until September 26, 2017. 
The BLM will host a public scoping meeting on September 20, 2017, at 7 
p.m. to provide the public with an opportunity to review the proposal 
and gain an understanding of the coal leasing process.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments or concerns to the BLM High 
Plains District Office, Attn: Teresa Johnson, 2987 Prospector Drive, 
Casper, Wyoming 82604.
    Written comments or resource information may also be hand-delivered 
to the BLM High Plains District Office, or sent by facsimile to the 
attention of Teresa Johnson at (307) 261-7587. Comments may be sent 
electronically to [email protected]. Please put ``West 
Antelope 3 Coal EIS Scoping Comment'' in the subject line.
    The September 20 public scoping meeting will be held at the Wright 
Community Center, 201 Wright Blvd., Wright, Wyoming.
    The BLM will announce future public meetings and other 
opportunities to submit comments on this project at least 15 days prior 
to the event through local news media and the BLM Wyoming Coal 
ePlanning Public Interface Site at: http://bit.ly/PRBcoal. Project 
information is available at the West Antelope 3 Web site located at: 
http://bit.ly/WestAntelope3.
    Members of the public may examine documents pertinent to this 
proposal by visiting the BLM High Plains District Office during its 
business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Teresa Johnson or Steve Wright, BLM 
High Plains District Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 
82604. Ms. Johnson or Mr. Wright may also be reached at (307) 261-7600. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877-8339 to contact Ms. 
Johnson or Mr. Wright during normal business hours. The FRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours. You may call either of these numbers to have your name 
added to the project mailing list.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Antelope Coal, LLC submitted an application 
on August 24, 2015, to lease a maintenance tract of Federal coal 
adjacent to the company's Antelope Mine in Campbell and Converse 
Counties, Wyoming. A maintenance tract is a parcel of land containing 
Federal coal reserves that can be leased to maintain production at an 
existing mine. The tract, referred to as the West Antelope 3 Tract, has 
been assigned case number WYW-184599.
    The West Antelope 3 Tract includes approximately 441 million tons 
of in-place Federal coal underlying the following lands in Campbell and 
Converse Counties, Wyoming:

Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming

T. 41 N., R. 71 W.,
    Sec. 8;
    Sec. 9, lots 1 thru 8;
    Sec. 10, lot 5;
    Secs. 17 and 19;
    Sec. 20, lots 1 thru 13;
    Sec. 29, lots 4, 5, 12, and 13;
    Sec. 30, lots 5 thru 16.
    Containing 3,508.31 acres.

    Antelope Coal proposes to mine the tract as a part of the Antelope 
Mine. At the 2015 mining rate of approximately 35.2 million tons per 
year, the coal included in the West Antelope 3 Tract would extend the 
life of the Antelope Mine by as many as 10 years. Lands in the West 
Antelope 3 Tract contain private surface estate overlying the Federal 
coal. The Antelope Mine is operating under approved mining permits from 
the Land Quality and Air Quality Divisions of the Wyoming Department of 
Environmental Quality.
    Consistent with Federal regulations under NEPA and the Mineral 
Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), as amended, the BLM must prepare an 
environmental analysis prior to holding a competitive Federal coal 
lease sale. The Powder River Regional Coal Team recommended that the 
BLM process this coal lease application after they reviewed the West 
Antelope 3 Tract at a public meeting held on January 27, 2016, in 
Casper, Wyoming.
    The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) 
will be a cooperating agency in the preparation of the EIS. If the 
tract is leased to the applicant, the new lease must be incorporated 
into the existing mining and reclamation plans for the adjacent mine. 
Before the Federal coal in the tract can be mined, the Assistant 
Secretary for Land and Minerals Management must approve the revised 
mining plan for the mine in which the tract will be included. The OSMRE 
is the Federal agency that is responsible for recommending approval, 
approval with conditions, or disapproval of the revised mining plan to 
the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. Other 
cooperating agencies may be identified during the scoping process.
    The BLM will provide interested parties the opportunity to submit 
comments relating to the scope of the EIS or relevant information or 
both. This information will help the BLM identify issues to be 
considered in preparing the West Antelope 3 Coal Lease by Application 
EIS. Issues that have been identified in analyzing the impacts of

[[Page 35238]]

previous Federal coal leasing actions in the Wyoming Powder River Basin 
(PRB) include: The need for resolution of conflicts between existing 
and proposed oil and gas development and coal mining on the tracts 
proposed for coal leasing; potential impacts to big-game herds and 
hunting; potential impacts to sage grouse; potential impacts to listed 
threatened and endangered species; potential health impacts related to 
blasting operations conducted by the mines to remove overburden and 
coal; the need to consider the cumulative impacts of coal leasing 
decisions combined with other existing and proposed development in the 
Wyoming PRB; potential impacts to climate change through greenhouse gas 
emissions; and potential site-specific and cumulative impacts on air 
and water quality.
    Public response is important, and will be considered in the EIS 
process. At the scoping meeting, the public is invited to submit 
comments and resource information, and identify issues or concerns to 
be considered in the NEPA analysis for the coal leasing process.
    The BLM can best use public input if written comments and resource 
information are submitted by the end of the 60-day scoping period. 
Please note that comments and information submitted regarding this 
project, including names, electronic mail addresses and street 
addresses of the respondents, will be available for public review and 
disclosure at the BLM High Plains District Office, and may be published 
in the West Antelope 3 Coal Lease by Application EIS.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7 and 1506.6, and 43 CFR 3425.3.

Mary Jo Rugwell,
Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 2017-15856 Filed 7-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices 35237

accepted September 24, 2009, for group ADDRESSES: Please submit written following lands in Campbell and
80 OK; and Township 5 South Range 15 comments or concerns to the BLM High Converse Counties, Wyoming:
West, of the Indian Meridian— Plains District Office, Attn: Teresa
Oklahoma, accepted September 24, Johnson, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming
2009, for Group 82 OK. Both were Wyoming 82604. T. 41 N., R. 71 W.,
officially filed on July 19, 2010. Written comments or resource Sec. 8;
Both plats are hereby suspended to information may also be hand-delivered Sec. 9, lots 1 thru 8;
allow for investigation of the survey Sec. 10, lot 5;
to the BLM High Plains District Office, Secs. 17 and 19;
methodology used to identify the or sent by facsimile to the attention of Sec. 20, lots 1 thru 13;
gradient boundary. Teresa Johnson at (307) 261–7587. Sec. 29, lots 4, 5, 12, and 13;
As explained by the Glossaries of Comments may be sent electronically to Sec. 30, lots 5 thru 16.
BLM Surveying and Mapping Terms blm_wy_west_antelope_3@blm.gov. Containing 3,508.31 acres.
(2nd ed.), the BLM may suspend a plat Please put ‘‘West Antelope 3 Coal EIS
of survey when a question or doubt Antelope Coal proposes to mine the
Scoping Comment’’ in the subject line. tract as a part of the Antelope Mine. At
arises concerning its correctness. Once
The September 20 public scoping the 2015 mining rate of approximately
suspended, the BLM may correct,
meeting will be held at the Wright 35.2 million tons per year, the coal
reinstate, or cancel the survey, either in
Community Center, 201 Wright Blvd., included in the West Antelope 3 Tract
whole or in part; however, the BLM may
not initiate or complete an action based Wright, Wyoming. would extend the life of the Antelope
on the survey while it is suspended. The BLM will announce future public Mine by as many as 10 years. Lands in
meetings and other opportunities to the West Antelope 3 Tract contain
Amy Lueders, submit comments on this project at least private surface estate overlying the
State Director. 15 days prior to the event through local Federal coal. The Antelope Mine is
[FR Doc. 2017–15957 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am] news media and the BLM Wyoming operating under approved mining
BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P Coal ePlanning Public Interface Site at: permits from the Land Quality and Air
http://bit.ly/PRBcoal. Project Quality Divisions of the Wyoming
information is available at the West Department of Environmental Quality.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Antelope 3 Web site located at: http:// Consistent with Federal regulations
bit.ly/WestAntelope3. under NEPA and the Mineral Leasing
Bureau of Land Management Act of 1920 (MLA), as amended, the
Members of the public may examine
[LLWYP00000–L51100000–GA0000– documents pertinent to this proposal by BLM must prepare an environmental
LVEMK16CY810 17X; WYW184599] visiting the BLM High Plains District analysis prior to holding a competitive
Office during its business hours (7:45 Federal coal lease sale. The Powder
Notice of Intent To Prepare an a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through River Regional Coal Team
Environmental Impact Statement and Friday, except Federal holidays. recommended that the BLM process this
Notice of Public Meeting on a Federal coal lease application after they
Coal Lease-by-Application in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Teresa Johnson or Steve Wright, BLM reviewed the West Antelope 3 Tract at
Decertified Powder River Federal Coal a public meeting held on January 27,
Production Region, Wyoming High Plains District Office, 2987
Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 2016, in Casper, Wyoming.
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, The Office of Surface Mining
82604. Ms. Johnson or Mr. Wright may
Interior. Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE)
also be reached at (307) 261–7600.
ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of
will be a cooperating agency in the
Persons who use a telecommunications
public meeting. preparation of the EIS. If the tract is
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
leased to the applicant, the new lease
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800)
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National must be incorporated into the existing
877–8339 to contact Ms. Johnson or Mr.
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 mining and reclamation plans for the
Wright during normal business hours.
(NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of adjacent mine. Before the Federal coal
The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7
Land Management (BLM), High Plains in the tract can be mined, the Assistant
days a week, to leave a message or
District Office announces its intent to Secretary for Land and Minerals
question with the above individuals.
prepare an Environmental Impact Management must approve the revised
You will receive a reply during normal
Statement (EIS) on the potential impacts mining plan for the mine in which the
business hours. You may call either of
of leasing a tract of Federal coal. The tract will be included. The OSMRE is
EIS will be called the West Antelope 3 these numbers to have your name added
the Federal agency that is responsible
Coal Lease by Application EIS. Antelope to the project mailing list.
for recommending approval, approval
Coal, LLC (Antelope) applied for a coal SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Antelope with conditions, or disapproval of the
lease for approximately 3,508.31 acres Coal, LLC submitted an application on revised mining plan to the Assistant
(containing approximately 441 million August 24, 2015, to lease a maintenance Secretary for Land and Minerals
tons of in-place coal) in a maintenance tract of Federal coal adjacent to the Management. Other cooperating
tract of Federal coal adjacent to the company’s Antelope Mine in Campbell agencies may be identified during the
Antelope Mine in Campbell and and Converse Counties, Wyoming. A scoping process.
Converse Counties, Wyoming. maintenance tract is a parcel of land
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

The BLM will provide interested
DATES: Comments may be submitted in containing Federal coal reserves that parties the opportunity to submit
writing until September 26, 2017. The can be leased to maintain production at comments relating to the scope of the
BLM will host a public scoping meeting an existing mine. The tract, referred to EIS or relevant information or both. This
on September 20, 2017, at 7 p.m. to as the West Antelope 3 Tract, has been information will help the BLM identify
provide the public with an opportunity assigned case number WYW–184599. issues to be considered in preparing the
to review the proposal and gain an The West Antelope 3 Tract includes West Antelope 3 Coal Lease by
understanding of the coal leasing approximately 441 million tons of in- Application EIS. Issues that have been
process. place Federal coal underlying the identified in analyzing the impacts of

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35238 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 144 / Friday, July 28, 2017 / Notices

previous Federal coal leasing actions in INTERNATIONAL TRADE industry in the United States within a
the Wyoming Powder River Basin (PRB) COMMISSION reasonably foreseeable time.
include: The need for resolution of Background
conflicts between existing and proposed [USITC SE–17–032]
oil and gas development and coal Government in the Sunshine Act The Commission, pursuant to section
mining on the tracts proposed for coal Meeting Notice 751(c) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)),
leasing; potential impacts to big-game instituted this review on January 3, 2017
herds and hunting; potential impacts to AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United (82 FR 137) and determined on April 10,
sage grouse; potential impacts to listed States International Trade Commission. 2017 that it would conduct an expedited
threatened and endangered species; DATE AND TIME: August 4, 2017 at 11:00
review (82 FR 21406, May 8, 2017).
potential health impacts related to a.m. The Commission made this
blasting operations conducted by the PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW.,
determination pursuant to section
mines to remove overburden and coal; Washington, DC 20436, Telephone: 751(c) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)). It
the need to consider the cumulative (202) 205–2000. completed and filed its determination in
impacts of coal leasing decisions this review on July 25, 2017. The views
STATUS: Open to the public.
combined with other existing and of the Commission are contained in
proposed development in the Wyoming Matters To Be Considered USITC Publication 4707 (July 2017),
PRB; potential impacts to climate entitled Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe
1. Agendas for future meetings: None
change through greenhouse gas and Tube from Taiwan: Investigation
2. Minutes
emissions; and potential site-specific No. 701–TA 410 (Fourth Review).
3. Ratification List
and cumulative impacts on air and 4. Vote in Inv. Nos. 701–TA–582 and By order of the Commission.
water quality. 731–TA–1377 (Preliminary) (Ripe Issued: July 25, 2017.
Public response is important, and will Olives from Spain). The Lisa R. Barton,
be considered in the EIS process. At the Commission is currently scheduled Secretary to the Commission.
scoping meeting, the public is invited to to complete and file its [FR Doc. 2017–15936 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am]
determinations on August 7, 2017;
submit comments and resource BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
views of the Commission are
information, and identify issues or
currently scheduled to be
concerns to be considered in the NEPA
completed and filed on August 14, INTERNATIONAL TRADE
analysis for the coal leasing process. 2017 COMMISSION
The BLM can best use public input if 5. Outstanding action jackets: None
written comments and resource In accordance with Commission [USITC SE–17–031]
information are submitted by the end of policy, subject matter listed above, not
the 60-day scoping period. Please note disposed of at the scheduled meeting, Government in the Sunshine Act
that comments and information may be carried over to the agenda of the Meeting Notice
submitted regarding this project, following meeting.
including names, electronic mail By order of the Commission. AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United
addresses and street addresses of the Issued: July 25, 2017.
States International Trade Commission.
respondents, will be available for public DATE AND TIME: August 3, 2017 at 9:30
William R. Bishop,
review and disclosure at the BLM High a.m.
Supervisory Hearings and Information
Plains District Office, and may be Officer.
published in the West Antelope 3 Coal PLACE: 500 E Street SW., Room 101,
[FR Doc. 2017–16031 Filed 7–26–17; 11:15 am] Washington, DC 20436, Telephone:
Lease by Application EIS.
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P (202) 205–2000.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other STATUS: Open to the public.
personal identifying information in your INTERNATIONAL TRADE Matters To Be Considered
comment, you should be aware that COMMISSION
your entire comment—including your 1. Agendas for future meetings: None
[Investigation No. 731–TA–410 (Fourth
personal identifying information—may 2. Minutes
Review)]
be made publicly available at any time. 3. Ratification List
While you can ask us in your comment Light-Walled Rectangular Pipe and 4. Vote in Inv. Nos. 731–TA–1334–1337
to withhold your personal identifying Tube From Taiwan; Determination (Final)(Emulsion Styrene-Butadiene
information from public review, we Rubber from Brazil, Korea, Mexico,
cannot guarantee that we will be able to On the basis of the record 1 developed
in the subject five-year review, the and Poland). The Commission is
do so. currently scheduled to complete
United States International Trade
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1506.6, and Commission (‘‘Commission’’) and file its determinations and
43 CFR 3425.3. determines, pursuant to the Tariff Act of views of the Commission by August
23, 2017.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

Mary Jo Rugwell,
1930 (‘‘the Act’’), that revocation of the
antidumping duty order on light-walled 5. Outstanding action jackets: None
Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land
rectangular pipe and tube from Taiwan In accordance with Commission
Management.
would be likely to lead to continuation policy, subject matter listed above, not
[FR Doc. 2017–15856 Filed 7–27–17; 8:45 am]
or recurrence of material injury to an disposed of at the scheduled meeting,
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
may be carried over to the agenda of the
1 The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the
following meeting.
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19
CFR 207.2(f)). By order of the Commission.

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Document Created: 2017-07-28 03:10:06
Document Modified: 2017-07-28 03:10:06

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of intent and notice of public meeting.
Dates		Comments may be submitted in writing until September 26, 2017. The BLM will host a public scoping meeting on September 20, 2017, at 7 p.m. to provide the public with an opportunity to review the proposal and gain an understanding of the coal leasing process.
Contact		Teresa Johnson or Steve Wright, BLM High Plains District Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 82604. Ms. Johnson or Mr. Wright may also be reached at (307) 261-7600. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877-8339 to contact Ms. Johnson or Mr. Wright during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. You may call either of these numbers to have your name added to the project mailing list.
FR Citation		82 FR 35237

82 FR 35237 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Public Meeting on a Federal Coal Lease-by-Application in the Decertified Powder River Federal Coal Production Region, Wyoming

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 144 (July 28, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management