[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 12836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6579]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-920-07-1320-00]


Powder River Regional Coal Team Activities; Schedule of Public 
Meeting

AGENCY: Department of the Interior, Wyoming.

ACTION: Notice of schedule of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Powder River Regional Coal Team (RCT) announces that it 
has scheduled its annual public meeting for April 23, 1997 for the 
following purposes: (1) review current and proposed activities in the 
Powder River Coal Region, (2) review new and pending coal lease 
applications (LBA), and (3) make recommendations on new coal lease 
applications.

DATES: The RCT meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. M.D.T. on Wednesday, 
April 23, 1997, at the Wyoming Conservation Commission Meeting Room, 
777 West 1st Street, Casper, Wyoming. The meeting is open to the 
public.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Wyoming Conservation 
Commission's Meeting Room, 777 1st Street, Casper, Wyoming. Attendees 
may wish to make their room reservations before until April 11, 1997. A 
block of rooms has been reserved for team members and guests at the 
Casper Hilton Inn through April 11, 1997. For room reservations call 1-
307-266-6000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Pam Hernandez or Eugene Jonart, Wyoming State Office, Attn. (922), P.O. 
Box 1828, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003: telephone (307) 775-6270 or 775-
6257.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Primary purpose of the meeting is to discuss 
pending and new coal lease applications (LBA) from Evergreen 
Enterprises, (WYW138975), filed on May 13, 1996, for an estimated 675 
million tons and 7,841 acres, and the Antelope Coal Company 
(WYW141435), filed February 14, 1997, for an estimated 177 million tons 
and 1,470 acres. This is the initial public notification of the pending 
applications listed above, in accordance with the Powder River 
Operational Guidelines (1991). Generally, a coal lease application 
filed under the LBA portion of BLM regulations (43 CFR 3425) takes two 
to four years to be processed to the competitive sale stage, depending 
on informational and environmental study requirements. The RCT may 
generate recommendation(s) for any or all of the new and pending LBAs.
    The meeting will serve as a forum for public discussion on Federal 
coal management issues of concern in the Powder River Basin region. Any 
party interested in providing comments or data related to the above 
pending applications may either do so in writing to the State Director 
(925), Wyoming State Office, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 1828, 
Cheyenne, WY. 82003 no later than April 14, 1997, or by addressing the 
RCT with his/her concerns at the meeting on April 23, 1997.
    The proposed agenda for the meeting follows:
    1. Introduction of RCT Members and guests.
    2. Approval of the Minutes of the April 23, 1996, Regional Coal 
Team meeting held in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
    3. Regional Coal Activity Status:

a. Current Production and Trend
b. Activity Since Last RCT Meeting:
c. Status of pending LBAs previously reviewed by RCT:

--North Rochelle LBA--WYW127221, Zeigler; filed 7/22/92; 140 million 
tons; est. sale date July 1997. Draft EIS was reviewed by public from 
November 8, 1996 thru January 10, 1997. A public hearing was held in 
Gillette, WY, on December 12, 1996.
--Powder River--WYW136142; Peabody; filed 3/23/95, est. 550 million 
tons, 4,020 acres, tentative sale date in March 98
--Jacob's Ranch--WYW136458; (Wyoming), Kerr-McGee; filed 4/14/95, est. 
432 million tons, 4,000 acres, tentative sale date June 98.

d. Status of Coal Exchanges--Belco/Hay Creek; Nance/Brown AVF
e. Pending Coal Lease Modifications (if any):
f. New coal lease applications (LBAs):

    4. Update of Selected Portions of 1996 Executive Summary.
    5. Other Regional Issues:

--Status of Buffalo Resource Area's Management Plan, (Wyoming).
--Encoal Corporation Presentation
--North American Power Group Presentation

    6. Lease Applicant Presentations:

--Evergreen Enterprises
--Antelope Coal Company

    7. RCT Activity Planning Recommendations

--Review and recommendation(s) on pending lease Application(s).

    8. Discussion of the next meeting.
    9. Adjourn.
    Public discussion opportunities will be provided on all agenda 
items.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director, Wyoming.
[FR Doc. 97-6579 Filed 3-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-M