OCR Text |
Show Interior Department adopts leasing target Interior Secretary Cecil I). Andrus Tuesday announced the adbption of a leasing target of :22 million tons of inplace federal coal for the Uinta-Southweslcrn Utah federal coal production region, one of the three regions scheduled for competitive lease sales in - 1!)KI under the department's federal coal management program which was adopted last June. "This target will help the department direct its effort to satisfy coal demand in the region between 1985 and l!H)tr and will assure that federal coal plays a major role in meeting our country's energy needs. President Carter has called for increased in-creased coal production and we in the department are using a sound program lo be responsible to that call," said Andrus. The target was established after analyzing potential production from coal mines in the region, extensive public hearings, and consultation con-sultation with slate and local officials and the Departments Depart-ments of Knergy and Justice. The approval of the Inlermounlain Power Project and the proposed exchange of coal preference right lease applications held by Utah Power and Light Company were key factors nol counted in the tentative target of 109 million tons announced by Secretary Andrus last June, and which caused the department lo reevaluate that tentative leasing target. The .122 million ton target was recommended by a regional coal team com- I prised of Bureau of l,and i ; Management ' (BLM ) rstafC" ; directors : j - wfio :Nhaifc4 , jurisdiction in the region, 1 affected stale governors or their representatives, the 1 team chairman who is ap- I pointed by the BLM national I director, a and persons from I other governmental agen- I cies. I The secretary of the Interior In-terior . will use the regional K1S to make a decision on the tracts .to be offered for sale and the schedule lo be adopted for the conduct of possible sales starting in - July, 1981, in the Uinta Region. |