Notice2024-03721
Notice of Realty Action: Proposed Amendment to an Existing Lease, Montana
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 23, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received an application from Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) to amend its existing lease pursuant to section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, and BLM regulations. The proposed lease amendment would allow surface use only, and no mineral extractions would be allowed on the subject lands. The annual rental for this lease is $115.47 per acre, and the lease would expire on April 22, 2032, with the option of renewal. This project is located southeast of Billings, Montana.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13737-13738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03721]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM MT FRN MO#4500173844]
Notice of Realty Action: Proposed Amendment to an Existing Lease,
Montana
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of realty action.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received an application
from Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC) to amend its existing
lease pursuant to section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, and BLM regulations. The proposed
lease amendment would allow surface use only, and no mineral
extractions would be allowed on the subject lands. The annual rental
for this lease is $115.47 per acre, and the lease would expire on April
22, 2032, with the option of renewal. This project is located southeast
of Billings, Montana.
DATES: Interested parties may submit written comments regarding the
proposed amendment on or before. April 8, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be mailed, or hand delivered to BLM
Miles City Field Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301.
Comments may also be submitted electronically at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bbf9f7f6e4f6efe4f6d2d7dec8f8d2cfc2e4fdf4fbd9d7d695dcd4cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="eba9a7a6b4a6bfb4a682878e98a8829f92b4ada4ab898786c58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>. The BLM will not consider comments
received by telephone.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth Klempel, Assistant Field Manager,
BLM Miles City Field Office, 111 Garryowen Road, Miles City, MT 59301,
telephone 406-233-2800, or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2240494e474f52474e62404e4f0c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="01636a6d646c71646d41636d6c2f666e77">[email protected]</span></a>. For information
regarding this case, refer to case file MTM 74913 and/or MTMT
106077659. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind,
hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting
Beth Klempel. Individuals outside the United States should use the
relay services offered within their country to make international calls
to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed lease amendment effects the
following described lands:
Principal Meridian, Montana
T. 8 S., R. 39 E.,
Sec. 13, NE\1/4\SE\1/4\ that portion lying westerly of the west
right-of way boundary of MTM-37463, and NE\1/4\NW\1/4\SE\1/4\.
Sec. 35, W\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\, SW\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\,
W\1/2\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\, and SE\1/4\SE\1/4\SE\1/4\.
The areas described aggregate 67 acres according to the official
plat of the survey of the said lands on file with the BLM, as well
as approximate GIS calculations.
The BLM is considering amending the existing lease, which currently
includes 277.12 acres, to authorize an additional 67 acres, which would
increase the total acreage to 344.12 acres. The additional acreage
would allow for surface layback, establishing a highwall crest, topsoil
and overburden stockpiles, and transportation and utility corridors.
Layback on the area proposed by the lease amendment is a critical
component in coal surface mine recovery to stabilize the wall as mining
on the adjoining land progresses.
The BLM is considering offering the lease amendment
noncompetitively to NTEC because the authorized officer has determined
that: (1) these parcels are surrounded by land owned or controlled by
NTEC; and (2) it is unlikely there would be interest in competitive
bidding on these lands.
If the BLM approves the application to amend the lease, the
reimbursement of costs and annual rental is the responsibility of the
applicant in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR 2920.6 and
2920.8, respectively. The lease amendment, as proposed in the
application, is consistent with the 2015 Miles City Field Office
Resource Management Plan.
Comments on the proposed lease amendment should be specific,
confined to issues pertinent to the proposed action, and should explain
the reason for any recommended revisions. Where possible, comments
should include references with specific sections or paragraphs. The BLM
is not obligated to consider or include comments received after the
close of the comment period or comments delivered to an address other
than the one listed above.
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will
be available for public review at the BLM Miles City Field Office
address listed in ADDRESSES above. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comments, 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, we
[[Page 13738]]
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Any adverse comments regarding the proposed lease amendment will be
reviewed by the BLM Montana State Director or other authorized official
of the Department of the Interior, who may sustain, vacate, or modify
this realty action in whole or in part.
(Authority: 43 CFR 2920.4)
Eric D. Lepisto,
Miles City Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2024-03721 Filed 2-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-20-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 23, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.