Draft Environmental Assessment, Public Hearing, and Request for Comment on the Draft Environmental Assessment, Maximum Economic Recovery, and Fair Market Value for the Falkirk Mining Company Proposed Emergency Federal Coal Lease-By-Application and Mining Plan for NDM 111489, McLean County, ND

Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

Notice of availability and public hearing.

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 Falkirk Mining Company's emergency Federal coal lease-by-application (LBA) for Falkirk Mine, serial number NDM-111489, and mining plan for the proposed NDM-111489. 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; the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended; and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended.

The draft EA will be available for public comment on June 23, 2025. To receive due consideration, written comments must be received by the BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office no later than July 7, 2025.

A public hearing will be held on July 7, 2025, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

The public hearing will be held at the Underwood City Hall located at 88 Lincoln Avenue in Underwood, ND 58576. Any updates to the public hearing will be provided through the ePlanning project website and a press release.

The draft EA and documents pertinent to this proposal are available for review on the BLM ePlanning project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/​eplanning-ui/​project/​2037729/​510. Please submit your comments to this website.