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Deadline for scoping comments on BLM proposed RMP amendments to enable coal mining in Powder River Basin
Deadline for scoping comments on BLM proposed RMP amendments to enable coal mining in Powder River Basin.
Link to federal register notice:
https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-12672.pdf
Earth Justice objects to this amendment & has a pre-fab comment letter on this project on their action alerts web page.
Quotes from Notice:
” The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Director intends to prepare a resource management plan (RMP) amendment with an associated environmental assessment (EA) for the Buffalo Field Office. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments, identify issues, provide the planning criteria for public review, and solicit coal resource and development potential data.
You may submit comments on issues, coal data, and planning criteria related to the Buffalo Field Office RMP amendment and associated EA by any of the following methods:
• Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039033/510
• Mail: Buffalo Field Office 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834
This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 07/08/2025 and available online at https://federalregister.gov/d/2025-12672, and on https://govinfo.gov
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039033/510 and at the Buffalo Field Office.”
“FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Bills, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, telephone: (307) 684-1133; email: tbills@blm.gov; address: 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834. Contact Mr. Bills to have your name added to our mailing list.”
“Purpose and Need
The purpose and need of this RMP amendment and EA is to evaluate coal allocations in the planning area and to determine the availability of lands acceptable for further consideration for coal leasing in accordance with Executive Order (“E.O.”) 14154, “Unleashing American Energy” (90 FR 8353, Jan. 29, 2025); E.O. 14156, “Declaring a National Energy Emergency” (90 FR 8433, Jan. 29, 2025); E.O. 14148, “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” (90 FR 8237, Jan. 28, 2025); and Secretary’s Order 3418, which implements E.O. 14154.
Preliminary Alternatives
The RMP amendment/EA will include two alternatives varying the amount of BLM-administered Federal coal authorized to be available for leasing. The preliminary alternatives are the coal allocation decisions from: (1) The 2024 approved RMP amendment/record of decision making zero acres of BLM-administered Federal coal within the planning area available for further consideration for coal leasing (No Action/current decision); and (2) The 2019 approved RMP amendment/record of decision making 481,000 acres of BLM-administered Federal coal within the planning area available for further consideration of leasing (Proposed Action). The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for additional alternatives”