Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and Notice of Public Hearing

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This Notice announces the Availability of a DEIS pursuant to 40 CFR 1500-1508 for the North Rochelle Coal Lease Application (WYW127221) in the Wyoming Powder River Basin, and announces the scheduled date and place for a public hearing pursuant to 43 CFR 3425.4. The purpose of the hearing is to receive comments on the DEIS, and on the fair market value, the maximum economic recovery, and the proposed competitive sale of coal from the North Rochelle tract (originally called the North Roundup tract). The tract is being considered for sale as a result of a maintenance coal lease application filed by Bluegrass Coal Development Company (formerly SMC Mining Company) for Federal coal located adjacent to the North Rochelle Mine in Campbell County, Wyoming. The DEIS evaluates the impacts of holding a competitive coal lease sale and issuing a lease if there is a successful bidder. The North Rochelle Mine is a producing coal mine; however, there are currently no mining facilities at the mine, which is located approximately 50 miles south of Gillette, Wyoming.