[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 151 (Thursday, August 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 42059]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20961]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[MT-921-08-1320-01; MTM 88405]


Notice of Coal Lease Application--MTM 88405--Spring Creek Coal 
Company

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This is notice of Spring Creek Coal Company's coal lease 
application MTM 88405 for certain coal resources within the Powder 
River Coal Region.
    The lands included in Coal Lease Application MTM 88405 are located 
in Big Horn County, Montana, and are described as follows:
T. 8 S., R. 39 E., P.M.M.
    Sec. 13: SW\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\, SW\1/4\SE\1/4\SW\1/4\SW\1/4\
    Sec. 14: S\1/2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/
4\, NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, NW\1/4\SE\1/
4\SE\1/4\
    Sec. 23: NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, N\1/
2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, E\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\
    Sec. 24: NW\1/4\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, N\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/
4\, N\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\
150.00 acres

    Spring Creek Coal Company is the surface owner of all of the lands 
applied for.
    The 150.00-acre tract contains an estimated 15.4 million tons of 
recoverable coal reserves. The area is bordered by the Spring Creek 
Mine to the South.
    The application will be processed in accordance with the provisions 
of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 181, 35 
seq.), and the implementing regulations at 43 CFR 3400. A decision to 
allow leasing of the coal resources in said tract will result in a 
competitive lease sale to be held at a time and place to be announced 
through publication pursuant to 43 CFR 3422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Spring Creek Coal Company is the lessee and 
operator of Coal Lease MTM 069782 at the Spring Creek Mine. The 
proposed lease area adjoins the current lease to the North and contains 
approximately 105 acres within the approved mine permit area.
    On June 1, 1998, Spring Creek Coal Company received Federal Coal 
Exploration License MTM 87910 from the BLM to conduct drilling on lands 
contained within the Spring Creek coal lease application tract. Data 
from the completed drilling program conducted under MTM 87910, and 
preceding drilling programs, will be or has been forwarded to the BLM, 
as required by the terms of the exploration licenses.
    Due to its coal reserve base and configuration, the Spring Creek 
lease application tract is a logical step to extend the life of the 
Spring Creek Mine. With the current permitted reserves of coal, the 
current level of production at the Spring Creek Mine can be maintained 
for approximately 19 additional years.
    The area applied for would be mined as an extension of the Spring 
Creek Mine and would utilize the same methods as those currently being 
used. The lease being applied for can extend the life of the mine by 
about 2 years and enable recovery of coal that might never be mined if 
not mined as a logical extension of current pits at the Spring Creek 
Mine.
    Notice of Availability: The application is available for review 
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Bureau of Land 
Management, Montana State Office, 222 North 32nd Street, Billings, 
Montana 59101, and at the Bureau of Land Management, Miles City Field 
Office, whose address is Garryowen Road, Miles City, Montana 59103, 
between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Good, Coal Coordinator, at 
telephone (406) 255-2828, Bureau of Land Management, Montana State 
Office, 222 North 32nd Street, P.O. Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107-
6800.

    Dated: July 27, 1998.
Janet Singer,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-20961 Filed 8-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-P