OCR Text |
Show Petition to Declare Areas Not Fit for Coal Mining Donald Crane, Region Five director for the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), has announced that OSM will consider a petition to declare certain federal lands in the area of Bryce Canyon National Park and Dixie National Forest in Utah as unsuitable for coal mining. The petition was submitted by the Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the earth, the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and several individuals. A Federal Register notice, published on January 17, announced the availability of the petition for public review. The petition alleges that: Lands in question could not be reclaimed in accordance with federal law. Surface coal mining operations could result in significant change to important historic, cultural, scientific and aesthetic values and natural systems to fragile lands. Mining operations could result in a substantial loss or reduction of long-range productivity of water, food or fiber products and damage to aquifers and aquifer recharge areas of renewable resource lands.. Crane decided that petitioners had presented adequate evidence that the area should be studied before OSM approves any mining operations. OSM will analyze the area's suitability for mining and also consider recommendations of the Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service. A public hearing will be held in September, 1980 and a final decision will be made by OSM by November 28 of this year. This date is one year from the date of receipt of the petition as required by law. The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 established that persons with interests which are or may be adversely affected by surface coal mining operations may petition OSM to have an area designated as unsuitable for all or certain types of coal mining. Public comment and relevant information are now being sought on the petition and will be considered in OSM's determination. Copies of the petition are available from the Office of Surface Mining, Region V, Brooks Towers, 1020 15th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80202. The public file on the petition is available for review at OSM's Region V office and at Kanab Resource Area Headquarters, Bureau of Land Management, 320 North First East, Kanab, Utah. Parties seeking additional information may contact Barbara West at the OSM, REGION V address or by telephone at 303 837-5966. |