BLM accepting public comment on coal lease app.

RBC I The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a preliminary Environmental Assessment looking at whether to offer 3,157 acres of federal coal reserves beneath BLM managed lands in Rio Blanco and Moffat counties in a competitive coal lease sale.
Blue Mountain Energy Inc. has submitted a coal lease by application to BLM for this parcel adjacent to its Deserado Mine, which is seven miles northeast of Rangely, Colo., and currently employs 164 people. The area being considered for lease is estimated to contain 21 million tons of saleable coal.
The preliminary EA, which includes a summary of the proposal and map, is available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/ wrfo/index.html.
BLM will accept public comments through Oct. 5, 2012. Written comments can be mailed to Paul Daggett, BLM WRFO, 220 E. Market Street, Meeker, CO 81641, or sent via email to [email protected]. Please note “Coal Lease By Application” in the subject line for all emails. For more information, please contact Paul Daggett at 970-878-3819.
Before including address, phone number, email address or any other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time.
While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
About 90 percent of coal deposits in Colorado occur on public lands. Currently, there are nine producing coal mines (seven underground and two surface operations) encompassing 75,000 acres in the state. In 2011, coal energy production on BLM Colorado’s public lands directly contributed $884 million to the economy.