The agency released a notice this week that it would conduct an informal open house event in Grants on July 26 at 3pm with more information about the area. The information will include a draft environmental assessment detailing environmental impacts.

The McKinley County mineral estate is overseen by the BLM but the surface is privately owned.

It is formally known as Section 34, Township 17 North, Range 9 West.

The BLM confirmed it was responsible for approval or denial of the Peabody’s LBA. It also will take into consideration in the final EA any written comments received at the public hearing.

Should a lease sale be held, Peabody will submit a mine plan to the US Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and provide additional required documentation.

The El Segundo mine in northwest New Mexico, opened in 2008, neighbors the producer’s Lee Ranch mine.

The 230-worker complex shipped 6.6 million tons of coal in 2010, and owns or controls about182 million tons of coal reserves.