BLM Postpones Coal Lease Sale in Central Utah

Press Release submitted to City Journals

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – A stay petition and appeal filed by four conservation groups to BLM's recent decision to offer federal coal for sale in Sanpete and Sevier Counties has required BLM to postpone the Greens Hollow coal lease sale.

Under BLM’s regulations, when a decision is appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals and a stay is requested, the BLM’s decision is stayed for 45 days unless the IBLA rules first.   

The Greens Hollow coal lease sale was scheduled for September 22 in Salt Lake City. The tract, containing 6,175 acres, is located on land managed by the Manti-La Sal and Fishlake National Forests. An estimated 55.7 million tons of recoverable coal is located in the tract.

On Sept. 12, 2016, WildEarth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust and the Sierra Club filed an appeal and petition for stay with the Interior Board of Land Appeals.  Their appeal is primarily based on concerns regarding sage-grouse habitat conservation, leasing procedural matters, and other items. 

No date has been set for the rescheduled sale. 

The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency.  This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska.  The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation.  The BLM's mission is to manage and conserve the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations under our mandate of multiple-use and sustained yield.  In Fiscal Year 2015, the BLM generated $4.1 billion in receipts from activities occurring on public lands.