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HELENA- The Montana Land Board will vote on a new coal lease later this week.

Signal Peak Energy, which already runs the Bull Mountain Mine near Roundup, applied for a coal lease on state land in Musselshell County back in April.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation has opened up the tract for bidding and only received one bid.

Signal Peak submitted a bonus bid of $3.5 million, in addition to rental and royalty payments Signal Peak would have to pay.

The five member State Land Board will vote Friday on whether or not to open up the bid for public comment.

The Land Board approved its last major coal lease in March, 2010 with Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock (D) and Superintendent Denise Juneau (D) being the only two members to vote against it.