Otter Creek Data – Version 2006.08.15
Thank you for your interest in the development of the Otter Creek project area. This disk replaces our previous CD (Version 2004.12.09 and -.09a), and all data from the previous CD is included on the new disk. More importantly, this version includes a new evaluation of the Otter Creek property. The Norwest study was completed in July 2006 as a joint effort between the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) and Great Northern Properties LP. The study incorporates existing public data with new drill hole data acquired in 2004 and proprietary data from Great Northern Properties LP. The result is the most definitive presentation to date of the Otter Creek coal resource.
To obtain a copy of the new data disk, please contact Monte Mason and provide a mailing address so we can send the disk to you. Most of the information on the data disk can be downloaded directly below. The exception is in Section 4, which contains well log files and related original coal resource data.
1. Introduction
Governor Schweitzer and Energy
Welcome from Governor Brian Schweitzer (pdf – 128K)
The Schweitzer Energy Policy (pdf – 253K)
In October 2005, Governor Schweitzer called the Montana Energy Symposium in Bozeman to highlight serious concerns about energy policy and to hear ideas from energy experts and Montana citizens…
Potential Coal/mine alternative energy sites (pdf – 2.0M)
Coal to Liquids brochure (pdf – 1.1M)
The State of Montana is taking on a catalytic role to bring together developers,
industry representatives and the federal government, while providing
permitting facilitation and coal feedstock for technology development,
financing, engineering, infrastructure and product offtake…
Otter Slide Presentations
Montana Wyoming coal rail Map (pdf – 309K)
Otter State Coal Map (pdf – 606K)
ETIC presentation – September 2005 (pdf – 991K)
The Otter Creek tracts are the end product of the controversy over the proposed Crown Butte Mine. The Crown Butte mine was to be located near Yellowstone Park, but did not involve state trust land…
MCC presentation –July 2006 (pdf – 5.8M)
State received 7,623 acres of Fed minerals in May 2002 to offset Fed buyout of Crown Butte. This brings State’s total coal ownership to over 9,500 acres…
2. General
Crown Butte Settlement
HR2107_Section 503 Briefing Packet – January 1999 (pdf – 7.3M)
The "Montana Initiative" comprised two elements for consideration as part of the resolution of the land exchange requirements of the Crown Butte Agreement – timber and coal. Development of the "Montana Initiative" was undertaken with the understanding that if the Crown Butte Agreement was to be successful it must satisfy the following six objectives…
Implementing Legislation PL 105 83 (pdf – 334K)
For expenses necessary for protection, use, improvement, development, disposal, cadastral surveying, classification, acquisition of easements and other interests in lands, and performance of other functions, including maintenance of facilities, as authorized by law, in the management of lands and their resources under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management…
GNP Coordination
GNP Coordination Agreement (pdf – 98K)
This agreement sets forth the mutual intentions of the MOntana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Trust Land Management Division, and Great Northern Properties LP to proceed towards cooperative leasing of their respective checkerboard coal land interest in the Otter Creek coal reserve near Ashland, Montana…
Otter Creek Resource Evaluation Agr (pdf – 3.9M)
This Agreement is between the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC), and Great Northern Properties L.P. (GNP), Tax ID No 76-0380610. The parties to this Agreement, in consideration of the mutual convenants and stipulations set out herein, agree as follows…
Land Board Discussion
LBdisc06192006 (pdf – 144K)
Minutes – Regular Meeting of Board of Land Commissioners. June 19, 2006, at 9:00 a.m. Room 303 State Capitol Building; Helena, Montana
LBdisc071706 (pdf – 202K)
Minutes – Regular Meeting of Board of Land Commissioners. July 17, 2006, At 9:00 a.m. Room 303 State Capitol Building; Helena, Montana
MT Coal Leasing Statutes and Rules
Coal Rules (pdf – 45K)
Any person, qualified under the constitution and laws of the state of Montana, except corporations, the majority of the stock of which is controlled by foreign interests, may lease state lands for coal purposes provided that…
Coal Statutes (pdf – 72K)
36.25.303 Who May Lease for Coal — Qualified Lessees – 77-3-301. Coal leases authorized. In response to an application or on its own initiative, the board may lease in a manner that it considers in the best interests of the state any state lands to which the title is vested in the state and in which the coal or coal rights are not reserved by the United States for exploring for, mining, removing, selling, and disposing of the coal, upon the terms and conditions provided in this section and subject to the rules that the board prescribes…
SB409 (pdf – 53K)
77-1-1001. Inventories and assessments. (1) The department may, in consultation with appropriate state agencies and the Northern Cheyenne tribe, conduct resource inventories and assessments of all or parts of the property interests acquired from the federal government in the Crown Butte land exchange to assist in the leasing, promotion, and development of those property interests. Those inventories and assessments include but are not limited to…
Northern Cheyenne Settlement
Northern Cheyenne Tribe Settlement Agreement (pdf – 307K)
Settlment Agreement entered into effective February 19, 2002, by the Montana State Board of Land Commissioners, whose address is P.O. Box 201601, Helena, MT 59620-1601, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, whose address is P.O. Box 128, Lame Deer, MT 59043…
Transfer Documents
BLM Transfer EA (pdf – 1.3M)
A copy of the environmental assessment for he transfer of Federal mineral rights in lands designated as Otter Creek Tracts 1, 2, and 3 to the State of Montana is provided for your review. This EA assess the impacts of the compliance by the Secretary of the Interior with Section 503 of Public Law 105-83 regarding the transfer of mineral assets to the State of Montana…
Otter Creek Transfer Documents (pdf – 176K)
Executive Order Certifying Transfer of Title to Federal Property Interests
3. Evaluations
Ashland-Decker BLM Summary 1982 (pdf – 795K)
Ashland-Decker Tract Profile 1981 (pdf – 1.6M)
BLM Drillhole Status (pdf – 46K)
GNP Overview Info (pdf – 381K)
MMG Bulletin 69 (pdf – 4.0M)
MMG Bulletin 91 (pdf – 474K)
Otter Crk BLM Summary 1982 (pdf – 1.1M)
Otter Tract Profile 1981 (pdf – 1.8M)
USGS Report 77-721-C (pdf – 2.1M)
Norwest Study 2006
NorwestVol1 (pdf – 18.0M)
NorwestVol2 (pdf – 21.4M)
4. Coal Resource Data
To obtain the coal resource data associated with this file, please contact Monte Mason of the Minerals Management Bureau for the data disk.
5. Cultural Resource Data
A Class III Cultural and Paleontological Resource Inventory of the Otter Creek Study Area, Powder River County, Montana (pdf – 23.7M)
Montana Department of Administration and Department of Natural Resources and Conservation contracted with GCM Services, Inc., to conduct an intensive
pedestrian inventory of cultural and paleontological resources on approximately 7,720 acres of State Mineral Estate lands located in Powder River County, Montana…
6. Tongue River Railroad
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Staten STB Finance Docket No. 30186 (Sub–No. 3) Tongue River Railroad Company, Inc. – Construction and Operation –
Western Alignment Tongue River III - Rosebud and Big Horn Counties, Montana(pdf – 3.8M)
This Draft Supplemental to the EIS discusses the potential environmental impacts associated with the application submitted by the Tongue River Railroad Company, Inc. to the Surface Transportation Board for authorization to construct and operate 17.3 miles of rail line known as the proposed Western Alignment, and also referred to as Tongue River III. The proposed Western Alignment would be located in Rosebud and Big Horn counties, MT…
Tongue River RC Map of Rail and OC Tracts (pdf – 97K)
