Draft Environmental Assessment, Public Hearing, and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment, Maximum Economic Recovery, and Fair Market Value for the Freedom Mine Company Proposed Emergency Federal Coal Lease-by-Application and Mining Plan Modification for NDM 111186 and Mining Plan Modification for NDM 091535, Mercer County, ND

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announce that a draft environmental assessment (EA) is available for public review and comment for the Coteau Property Company's emergency Federal coal lease- by-application (LBA) for Freedom Mine, serial number NDM-111186, and mining plan modifications for NDM-091535 and the proposed NDM-111186. The BLM and OSMRE also announce that a public hearing will be held to receive comments on the draft EA, Fair Market Value (FMV), Maximum Economic Recovery (MER), and on factors that may affect the FMV and MER determinations of the coal resources contained in the proposed LBA lease tracts. The BLM and OSMRE take these actions in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended.