[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 203 (Friday, October 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61304-61305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21040]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO-923-1430-ET; COC-28810]


Public Land Order No. 7647; Revocation of 2 Secretarial Orders 
and 15 Executive Orders; Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public land order.

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SUMMARY: This order revokes 2 Secretarial Orders and 15 Executive 
Orders insofar as they affect approximately 1,189,600 acres of public 
lands, National Forest System lands, and patented lands with federally-
reserved mineral interests which were withdrawn for coal 
classifications in Colorado. These lands are no longer needed for the 
purpose for which they were withdrawn. This order will open the public 
lands to surface entry and nonmetalliferous mining, the National Forest 
System lands to such forms of disposition as may by law be authorized 
on National Forest System lands and to nonmetalliferous mining, and the 
federally-reserved mineral interests to nonmetalliferous mining.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 21, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doris E. Chelius, BLM Colorado State 
Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215, 303-230-3706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: These withdrawals were made to protect the 
coal reserves for the United States. Coal was declared a leasable 
mineral by the Mineral Leasing Act and the protection from these 
withdrawals is no longer needed.

Order

    By virtue of the authority vested in the Secretary of the Interior 
by section 204(a) of the Federal Land Policy and

[[Page 61305]]

Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714 (2000), it is ordered as 
follows:
    1. The Secretarial Orders of July 26, 1906, and February 11, 1910, 
as amended, which withdrew public lands, National Forest System lands, 
and private lands with federally-reserved mineral interests in Colorado 
to protect the coal reserves, are hereby revoked in their entireties.
    2. The Executive Orders of October 10, 1906, July 7, 1910 (Colorado 
No. 1), September 2, 1910 (Colorado No. 2), September 14, 1910 
(Colorado No. 4), January 14, 1911 (Colorado No. 6), January 28, 1911 
(Colorado No. 7), December 16, 1911 (Colorado No. 8), December 16, 1911 
(Colorado No. 9), May 28, 1912 (Colorado No. 10), March 17, 1913 
(Colorado No. 11), January 24, 1914 (Colorado No. 12), October 14, 1915 
(Colorado No. 13), and July 16, 1918 (No. 2915), as amended, which 
withdrew public lands, National Forest System lands, and private lands 
with federally-reserved mineral interests to protect the coal reserves, 
are hereby revoked in their entireties.
    3. The Executive Orders of October 12, 1910 (Colorado No. 5) and 
October 13, 1910 (Colorado No. 4), which withdrew public lands, 
National Forest System lands, and private lands with federally-reserved 
mineral interests to protect coal reserves, are hereby revoked only 
insofar as they affect lands in Colorado.
    The lands referenced in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 aggregate 
approximately 1,189,600 acres in Adams, Arapahoe, Archuleta, Boulder, 
Chaffee, Costilla, Delta, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, El Paso, Freemont, 
Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, La Plata, 
Larimer, Lincoln, Los Animas, Mesa, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, 
Morgan, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Routt, Saguache, 
Summit, and Weld Counties, and in the Grand Mesa, Gunnison, Routt, 
White River, and Uncompahgre National Forests. Copies of the withdrawal 
orders are available in the Colorado State Office at the address shown 
above.
    4. At 9 a.m. on November 21, 2005, the public lands and interest in 
lands identified in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 will be opened to the 
operation of the public land laws generally, subject to valid existing 
rights, the provisions of existing withdrawals, other segregations of 
record, and the requirements of applicable law. All valid applications 
received at or after 9 a.m. on November 21, 2005, shall be considered 
as simultaneously filed at that time. Those received thereafter shall 
be considered in the order of filing.
    5. At 9 a.m. on November 21, 2005, the National Forest System 
lands, the public lands, and the lands with federally-reserved mineral 
interests referenced in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 will be opened to 
nonmetalliferous location and entry under the United States mining 
laws, subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of existing 
withdrawals, other segregations of record, and the requirements of 
applicable law. Appropriation of any of the lands described in this 
order under the general mining laws prior to the date and time of 
restoration is unauthorized. Any such attempted appropriation, 
including attempted adverse possession under 30 U.S.C. 38 (2000), shall 
vest no rights against the United States. Acts required to establish a 
location and to initiate a right of possession are governed by State 
law where not in conflict with Federal law. The Bureau of Land 
Management will not intervene in disputes between rival locators over 
possessory rights since Congress has provided for such determination in 
local courts.
    6. At 9 a.m. on November 21, 2005, the National Forest System lands 
identified in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 shall be opened to such forms of 
disposition as may by law be authorized on National Forest System 
lands, subject to valid existing rights, the provisions of existing 
withdrawals, other segregations of record, and the requirements of 
applicable law.

    Dated: September 29, 2005.
Rebecca W. Watson,
Assistant Secretary--Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 05-21040 Filed 10-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P