BLM hosting open house in Hesperus on coal proposal in La Plata County
Organization
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
Dolores, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is hosting an open house Aug. 1 in Hesperus to discuss the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that evaluates GCC Energy, LLC’s (GCCE) proposed Lease-by-Application (LBA) for the King II Coal Mine, approximately 15 miles west of Durango, Colorado. The EA, which is being jointly prepared with the Office of Surface Mining and Enforcement (OSMRE), was released for public review on July 5.
The BLM held a public hearing July 24 in Dolores to discuss the proposal, including fair market value and maximum economic recovery. The open house is being held to accommodate local government officials and individuals who expressed the need for an additional informational session at a location closer to the mine site.
“The BLM supports working landscapes across the West through its various multiple-use programs like coal,” said Tres Rios Field Manager Connie Clementson. “Public participation is vital for making a decision on this proposal and we are committed to being a good neighbor to the communities we serve.”
The Aug. 1 open house will run from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Breen Community Building in Hesperus, 15300 CO-140. Both BLM and OSMRE staff will be available to answer questions and accept written comments.
Coal mines in Colorado generated $35 million in Federal royalties in 2017. This revenue is split with the State of Colorado. Mining coal from BLM Colorado lands and minerals generated $742.5 million in total economic output in 2017. Currently, there are six producing coal mines in the State of Colorado (two are surface mines, the remaining four are subsurface mines) totaling 60,000 acres and with an estimated economic output of $1.2 billion. There are 51 coal leases in Colorado, covering 80,203 acres.
The draft EA, maps and information about how to comment electronically and via mail are available through the BLM ePlanning site, which can be found at https://go.usa.gov/xEKTV. Comments must be received by August 5, 2019.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any other personal identifying information in your comments, please be aware that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request BLM to withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so.
-BLM-
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.