The BLM’s local Uncompahgre field office has opened up the modifications of lease COC-37210 and COC-61209 north of Paonia in Delta County for public input.

While the BLM manages a portion of the surface and all of the mineral estate for the property under consideration, the agency would offer Bowie the modifications for fair market value if the proposal is approved.

Bowie would then be able to expand the No. 2 complex and recover the federally-held coal.

“If the lease modifications are issued, they would serve as tracts for extended underground development and longwall mining, allowing more efficient recovery of federal coal from the existing leases and added recovery from the tracts,” field office manager Barb Sharrow said.

“The BLM is required by law to consider leasing federal coal for economic recovery.”

Bowie’s proposal must also be reviewed under the National Environmental Policy Act to identify possible environmental impacts that any future action could have. Any and all disturbances to the surface must be submitted as part of the mine’s plan revision.

The BLM said surface disturbance would be temporary and limited to about 10 acres.

The open comment period on the Bowie lease modifications ends November 7.