NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-Eastern States-0020-2012-0039-EA
Project Name: ALES- 55199 LBA Best Coal Inc.

Project Information 

  • NEPA Number
    DOI-BLM-Eastern States-0020-2012-0039-EA
  • Project Name
    ALES- 55199 LBA Best Coal Inc.
  • Project Type
    EA
  • NEPA Status
    Completed - Closed
  • Lead Office
    Jackson FO
  • Last Updated


Project Description

What's New

ALES-55199 LBA Best Coal Inc.
Township 15S, Range 4W, Section 24, SWNW; N2SW; SESW
Jefferson County, Alabama
Introduction

The Narley Mine No. 3 Coal Lease Resource Management Plan Amendment, Land Use Analysis
and Environmental Assessment (RMPA-LUA-EA) presents an analysis of the environmental,
social, and economic effects of the Proposed Action (PA), which is to offer the coal mineral
rights of approximately 160 acres of property for leasing by the U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The No Action Alternative is to take no further action to
evaluate or offer the 160 acres of coal mineral rights for leasing.

The Narley Mine RMPA-LUA-EA is tied to the analyses presented in the following
programmatic document: Alabama and Mississippi Proposed RMP and Final Environmental
Impact Statement, May 2008. A surface mining amendment is being prepared specifically for
the proposed Narley Mine RMPA-LUA-EA leasing action.

The BLM, under the Secretary of the Interior, is the federal agency responsible for leasing
federally-administered coal, and the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act (FLPMA) of 1976
requires that coal leases be issued in conformance with a comprehensive land use plan. The
2008 Alabama and Mississippi Resource Management Plan (RMP) included management
direction for federal mineral resources in Alabama, including Jefferson County, Alabama.
However, the RMP did not include the surface mining of coal. Therefore, the BLM is proposing
to amend the 2008 Alabama and Mississippi RMP, to include the Narley Mine No. 3 competitive
coal lease application. This RMPA would incorporate the 160 acres, more or less, of previously
unleased coal for surface mining, into the RMP.

The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSMRE) is a cooperating agency. Best Coal, Inc. contracted PERC Engineering Co., Inc.,
(PERC) and McGehee Engineering Corp (MEC) to prepare this analysis under the review of
BLM.

This analysis can be used as a basis for making a decision on the PA as it relates to the suitability
for leasing and the subsequent mining of the federal coal contained in the subject property. The
analysis in no way guarantees that the subject federal coal will be leased.

Proposed Action

The PA is for BLM to offer the approximately 160 acres of federal coal for competitive leasing
in response to the Best Coal, Inc. application for leasing under the Lease-by-Application (LBA)
process contained in title 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 3425. The subject
property would be offered with BLM’s standard terms and conditions and special coal lease
stipulations identified by the BLM and any stipulations accepted by BLM from other federal and
not-federal groups for the protection of natural resources consistent with applicable laws, BLM
policies, and the Alabama and Mississippi Proposed RMP and Final Environmental Impact
Statement.  

 
For any question in regards to this EA please contact Planning and Environmental Coordiantor Alison McCartney at (601)977-5400.

Project Location

City State/Territory Zip Code County(ies)
Demopolis Alabama 36732

Application Information

  • Program
    Mining
  • Sub-Program
    Coal


Project Dates

  • End Date
    8/29/2018
  • FONSI Date
    6/24/2018


Project Office Information

  • Lead Office
    Jackson FO
  • Offices
    Southeastern States DO


Contacts