Barr completed an environmental assessment on 120 acres of land for Bronco Utah Operations’ Emery Mine expansion in Emery County, Utah. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has authority to issue rights-of-way and initiate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) actions under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
The first phase of the expansion involved obtaining federal NEPA approvals as well as a state mining permit from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining (DOGM) for a right-of-way through a BLM coal body to access state and private coal reserves.
Barr worked closely with the BLM field and state offices to coordinate initial public involvement and scoping for the NEPA environmental assessment (EA). Ultimately, several resources were identified and assessed, including air quality, cultural resources, endangered species, fish habitat, soils, vegetation, geology, water quality, wildlife, and rangeland and grazing. We organized and facilitated the BLM’s inter-disciplinary review and completed the draft EA for publication in December 2018.
In the project’s second phase, Barr led the team conducting the EA for the 3,114-acre “leased by application” BLM surface land and coal reserves to extend the mine’s life by 20 years. Our team completed all baseline studies and compiled a draft EA that underwent several reviews by the BLM. Before posting the EA for public notice, however, the BLM discontinued its review because the federal land tract involved was slated to be transferred to Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) via the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019.
Between 2019 and 2025—when the U.S. Department of the Interior and the state of Utah issued approvals and the transfer was signed into law—land parcels were identified, appraisals and valuations were made, NEPA clearances were obtained (particularly on coal and mineral parcels), and public-notice and objection periods occurred.
Barr is now assisting Bronco in coordinating with SITLA to determine the Walker Flat lease boundaries and exclusion areas. We’re also assisting with technical and permitting support for its planned mine expansion into the SITLA-owned Walker Flat tract. Work includes developing subsidence prediction calculations to assess potential ground impacts, as well as preparing detailed maps, figures, and other required documentation for submittal to DOGM.
