SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The purpose and need for the BLM's Federal action is to respond to Navajo Transitional Energy Company's LMA and LBA to lease Federal coal resources at the Spring Creek Mine in Montana. The Federal tracts associated with the LBA and LMA contain approximately 177 million tons of minable coal over ( printed page 39417) approximately 1,412 acres which could be mined through 2034. The purpose of OSMRE's Federal action is to conduct an analysis of the potential environmental effects of the proposed mining plan for the proposed MTM 1105485-01 lease. OSMRE will use this analysis to inform its recommendation to the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, who may approve, disapprove, or approve with conditions the proposed Federal mining plan. Three alternatives are analyzed in the draft EA.

Comments on the FMV and MER received from the public will be considered and incorporated as appropriate into the final written report.

The tracts for the proposed MTM 110693 lease modification and MTM 105485-01 lease underlie Federal and private surface and are described as follows:

Principal Meridian, Montana

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 8 S., R. 39 E.,

Sec. 13, W 1/2 SW 1/4 NE 1/4 , SE 1/4 SW 1/4 NE 1/4 , S 1/2 NE 1/4 NW 1/4 , N 1/2 NW 1/4 NW 1/4 , SE 1/4 NW 1/4 NW 1/4 , N 1/2 SE 1/4 NW 1/4 , SE 1/4 SE 1/4 NW 1/4 , W 1/2 NE 1/4 SE 1/4 , and NE 1/4 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 ;

Sec. 14, NE 1/4 NE 1/4 NE 1/4 ;

Sec. 35, E 1/2 .

T. 9 S., R. 39 E.,

Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4, W 1/2 NE 1/4 , NW 1/4 , E 1/2 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 , and E 1/2 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 ;

Sec. 2, NE 1/4 .

T. 9 S., R. 40 E.,

Sec. 6, lots 5 thru 7, S 1/2 SE 1/4 NW 1/4 , E 1/2 SW 1/4 , S 1/2 NE 1/4 SE 1/4 , NW 1/4 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 , S 1/2 NW 1/4 SE 1/4 , and S 1/2 SE 1/4 .

The areas described aggregate 1,412.57 acres, according to the surveys of the said land, on file with the BLM.

Through this notice, the BLM is inviting the public to provide comments regarding any factors that may affect the determinations of the FMV and MER.

Any proprietary information or data that you submit to the BLM must be marked as confidential and mailed directly to the BLM Montana-Dakotas State Office, Attention: Tessa Wallace (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ) to assure the data will be treated in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations governing the confidentiality of such information or data. A copy of the comments submitted by the public on the FMV and MER for the tracts, except those portions identified as proprietary and that meet one of the exemptions in the Freedom of Information Act, will be available for public inspection at the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ), during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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, the BLM cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

(Authority: 43 CFR 3425.3 and 3425.4)

90 FR 39416