PUBLIC MEETING: May 14 for Skyline Mine - Little Eccles Lease and Flat Canyon Lease Modification

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Price Field Office and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service Manti-La Sal National Forest, hereafter jointly referred to as “the lead agencies”, will initiate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the proposed leasing and mining of the Little Eccles Federal Coal Lease Tract and modification of Flat Canyon Lease.

Under the Proposed Action, the BLM would offer for competitive leasing the Little Eccles Federal Coal Lease Tract (UTU-92226; 120 acres) containing an estimated 2.2 million tons of recoverable coal. The BLM would authorize the Applicant’s requested non-competitive lease modification to add 640 acres and an estimated 8.6 million tons of recoverable coal to the Flat Canyon Lease Tract (UTU-77114).

The BLM decisions could include mitigation measures which the BLM determines necessary to minimize potential impacts from mining the target coal to related resource issues. The USDA Forest Service, Manti-La Sal National Forest would consent to leasing both tracts of federal coal. The Forest Service decision could include stipulations for surface-disturbing activities which the Forest Service determines necessary to minimize potential impacts to non-mineral interests.

The public scoping period is open from April 15, 2024 through May 30, 2024. A two-hour virtual scoping meeting will be held May 14, 2024 from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. via Zoom. To register, visit the ePlanning page at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2015277/510