Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison County, CO, 2438-2439 [2015-00458]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 2438 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Titan Uranium USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan Uranium Inc., submitted a 43 CFR 3809 Plan of Operations (Plan) to the BLM Lander Field Office (LFO) for the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project (Project) in Fremont County, Wyoming, on June 16, 2011. On February 29, 2012, Energy Fuels Inc. merged with Titan Uranium Inc. and all of its subsidiaries are now wholly-owned subsidiaries of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (Energy Fuels). Energy Fuels will continue as the owner and operator of the Sheep Mountain Project. Energy Fuels submitted revised Plans to the BLM on July 16, 2012, August 29, 2013, and January 14, 2014. The 2014 revision consisted of a revision to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality— Land Quality Division (WDEQ–LQD) Mine Permit 381C and a final update to the Plan for which the EIS is based. The Project is located 8 road miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming, in south-central Fremont County, in the Crooks Gap-Green Mountain District which was extensively mined starting in the 1950s. This area lies 62 road miles southeast of Riverton, Wyoming and 105 road miles west of Casper, Wyoming. The Project is within an active State of Wyoming Permit to Mine (No.381C) administered by the WDEQ–LQD. Revisions to the WDEQ–LQD permit have been submitted by Energy Fuels. Energy Fuels is currently considering applying for a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Source Materials License for the proposed heap leach and processing facility. Energy Fuels proposes to explore for and develop uranium reserves to produce approximately 1.0 million to 2.0 million pounds of uranium per year over an anticipated project life of 20 years. Uranium would be extracted using conventional open-pit and underground mining methods. Ore processing into yellowcake (U3O8) would occur either on-site using a heap leach and solvent extraction/ion exchange or offsite utilizing the existing conventional Sweetwater Uranium Mill approximately 30 miles to the south (NRC License SUA–1350). The boundary of the Sheep Mountain Project Area (Project Area) is within the active WDEQ–LQD 381C Mine Permit Area, encompassing approximately 3,611 acres (5.6 square miles) of which approximately 929 acres would be disturbed under the Proposed Action VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Jan 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 Alternative. Approximately 62 percent (572.5 acres) of the surface within the Proposed Action disturbance area historically was disturbed by previous mining and exploration activities. The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the Proposed Action and two alternatives including the No Action Alternative and the BLM Mitigation Alternative. The No Action Alternative, as required by NEPA, describes conditions that would occur if the proposed project were denied. This includes existing reclamation efforts on 227 acres of existing disturbance within the Project Area as required by the financial guarantee held for Mine Permit 381C. This reclamation includes a portion of the McIntosh pit and the existing underground mines, roads and facilities. Reclamation of the entire McIntosh Pit would be completed by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality— Abandoned Mine Lands program (WDEQ–AML) in coordination with Energy Fuels. The Proposed Action Alternative is the project as proposed by Energy Fuels in their Plan, as amended, and the revised WDEQ–LQD Mine Permit 381C. The BLM Mitigation Alternative would utilize the same conventional mining techniques over the same period as under the Proposed Action, but modifications to the proposed reclamation plan and development of a transportation plan would be required. In addition, the BLM Mitigation Alternative would identify opportunities to apply hierarchical mitigation strategies for on-site, regional and compensatory mitigation strategies and identify areas appropriate to apply landscape-level conservation and management actions to achieve regional mitigation objectives. The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2011 (76 FR 52688). Key issues identified during scoping were related to the development of additional alternatives, cumulative impacts, mitigation and monitoring and potential impacts to range, water, recreation, and wildlife resources. The public is encouraged to comment on any of these alternatives. The BLM asks that those submitting comments make them as specific as possible with reference to chapters, page numbers and paragraphs in the Draft EIS document. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response; however, they will be considered and included as part of the BLM decision-making process. The most useful comments will include new technical or scientific information, PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 identification of data gaps in the impact analysis, or technical or scientific rationale for opinions or preference. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Donald A. Simpson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2015–00453 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCOS05000.L13100000.EJ0000.241A] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison County, CO AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan (MDP) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. SUMMARY: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Bull Mountain MDP Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases and/or mailings. DATES: E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices You may submit comments related to the Bull Mountain MDP Draft EIS by any of the following methods: • Email: bullmtneis@blm.gov. • Fax: 970–240–5368. • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Uncompahgre Field Office, Attn: Jerry Jones, 2465 South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401. Copies of the Bull Mountain MDP Draft EIS are available for download on the project Web site (www.blm.gov/co/ st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/ufo/Bull_ Mountain_EIS.html) and on CD from the Uncompahgre Field Office at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Jones, Bull Mountain MDP Project Manager, at 970–240–5300, j2jones@ blm.gov, or at the address above. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office received a proposed MDP for natural gas exploration and development from SG Interests I, Ltd. (SGI) for the Bull Mountain Unit. An MDP provides information common to multiple planned wells, including drilling plans, Surface Use Plans of Operations, and plans for future production. The Bull Mountain Unit MDP Draft EIS describes the exploration and development of up to 146 natural gas wells, four water disposal wells and associated infrastructure on Federal and private mineral leases within a federally unitized area known as the Bull Mountain Unit. SGI decided to develop the unit after their exploration wells demonstrated the potential for economically viable reserves of natural gas. The Bull Mountain Unit is located within the Colorado River basin, approximately 30 miles northeast of the Town of Paonia and is bisected by State Highway 133. The boundaries of the unit encompass approximately 19,670 acres, Federal and private oil, and gas mineral estate in Gunnison County, Colorado. The unit consists of 440 acres of BLM Federal surface and subsurface land; 12,900 acres of split-estate lands consisting of private surface and Federal subsurface minerals administered by the BLM; and 6,330 acres of fee land consisting of private surface and private subsurface minerals. asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Jan 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 The BLM is considering three alternatives in the Draft EIS: The No Action alternative, the MDP as submitted, and a third alternative developed by the BLM to help evaluate the effects of various modification and mitigation possibilities. Work on the MDP began with a preliminary Environmental Assessment in 2009. The BLM determined that an EIS was necessary due to potential significant impacts to air quality in nearby Class 1 air sheds, water, socioeconomics and wildlife. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Ruth Welch, BLM Colorado State Director. [FR Doc. 2015–00458 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCON00000 L10200000 DF0000.LXSS080C0000] Notice of Public Meetings, Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council Meeting Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northwest Colorado Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Northwest Colorado RAC has scheduled meetings February 19, June 4, August 20 and December 3, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with public SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2439 comment periods regarding matters on the agenda at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. A specific agenda for each meeting will be available prior to the meetings at https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_ Resources/racs/nwrac.html. The February 19 meeting will be held in the BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652; the June 4 meeting will be held at the Allington Inn of Kremmling, 215 West Central Avenue, Kremmling, CO 80459; the August 20 meeting will be held at the Rio Blanco Fairgrounds, 779 Sulphur Creek Road, Meeker, CO 81641; and the December 3 meeting will be held at the Springhill Suites, 236 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO 81501. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Joyner, Public Affairs Specialist, Grand Junction Field Office, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506. Phone: (970) 244–3097. Email: cbjoyner@ blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. The Northwest Colorado RAC advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of public land issues in northwestern Colorado. Topics of discussion during Northwest Colorado RAC meetings may include management of the Greater Sage-Grouse, working group reports, recreation, fire management, land use planning, invasive species management, energy and minerals management, travel management, wilderness, wild horse herd management, land exchange proposals, cultural resource management, and other issues as appropriate. Subcommittees under this RAC may meet this year regarding travel management in the White River Field Office. Active subcommittees report to the Northwest Colorado RAC at each council meeting. RAC and subcommittee meetings are open to the public. More information is available at https://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_ Resources/racs/nwrac.html. The public may present written comments to the RACs. Each formal RAC meeting will also have time, as identified above, allocated for hearing public comments. Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and time available, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2438-2439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00458]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOS05000.L13100000.EJ0000.241A]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison 
County, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master 
Development Plan (MDP) and by this notice is announcing the opening of 
the comment period.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Bull Mountain MDP Draft EIS within 45 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its 
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce 
future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities 
at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases and/
or mailings.

[[Page 2439]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bull Mountain MDP 
Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
     Email: bullmtneis@blm.gov.
     Fax: 970-240-5368.
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Uncompahgre Field Office, 
Attn: Jerry Jones, 2465 South Townsend Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401.
    Copies of the Bull Mountain MDP Draft EIS are available for 
download on the project Web site (www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/ufo/Bull_Mountain_EIS.html) and on CD from the Uncompahgre Field 
Office at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Jones, Bull Mountain MDP Project 
Manager, at 970-240-5300, j2jones@blm.gov, or at the address above. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office received a 
proposed MDP for natural gas exploration and development from SG 
Interests I, Ltd. (SGI) for the Bull Mountain Unit. An MDP provides 
information common to multiple planned wells, including drilling plans, 
Surface Use Plans of Operations, and plans for future production.
    The Bull Mountain Unit MDP Draft EIS describes the exploration and 
development of up to 146 natural gas wells, four water disposal wells 
and associated infrastructure on Federal and private mineral leases 
within a federally unitized area known as the Bull Mountain Unit. SGI 
decided to develop the unit after their exploration wells demonstrated 
the potential for economically viable reserves of natural gas.
    The Bull Mountain Unit is located within the Colorado River basin, 
approximately 30 miles northeast of the Town of Paonia and is bisected 
by State Highway 133. The boundaries of the unit encompass 
approximately 19,670 acres, Federal and private oil, and gas mineral 
estate in Gunnison County, Colorado. The unit consists of 440 acres of 
BLM Federal surface and subsurface land; 12,900 acres of split-estate 
lands consisting of private surface and Federal subsurface minerals 
administered by the BLM; and 6,330 acres of fee land consisting of 
private surface and private subsurface minerals.
    The BLM is considering three alternatives in the Draft EIS: The No 
Action alternative, the MDP as submitted, and a third alternative 
developed by the BLM to help evaluate the effects of various 
modification and mitigation possibilities.
    Work on the MDP began with a preliminary Environmental Assessment 
in 2009. The BLM determined that an EIS was necessary due to potential 
significant impacts to air quality in nearby Class 1 air sheds, water, 
socioeconomics and wildlife.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-00458 Filed 1-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.