Tonto National Forest; Gila County, AZ; Pinto Valley Mine Environmental Impact Statement, 15322-15324 [2017-06020]
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sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 28, 2017 / Notices
and must be treated in accordance with
the regulations.
As part of its swine health protection
program, APHIS conducts a
pseudorabies (PRV) eradication program
in cooperation with State governments,
swine producers, swine shippers, herd
owners, and accredited veterinarians.
The program identifies PRV-affected
swine, provides herd management
techniques, and has eliminated PRV in
commercial production herds. However,
APHIS periodically finds infected swine
when swine are exposed to feral swine
or other swine that have had exposure
to feral swine.
The regulations in 9 CFR parts 71 and
85 facilitate the PRV eradication
program and general swine health by
providing requirements for moving
swine interstate within a swine
production system. (A production
system consists of separate farms that
each specialize in a different phase of
swine production such as sow herds,
nursery herds, and finishing herds.
These separate farms, all members of the
same production system, may be located
in more than one State.)
The regulations for the feeding of
garbage to swine and for the PRV
eradication program require the use of a
number of information collection
activities, including the creation of food
waste reports; the completion of
applications to operate garbage
treatment facilities and
acknowledgement of the Act and
regulations; garbage treatment facility
inspection; cancellation of license by
State animal health officials; request for
a hearing; cancellation of license by
licensee; notification by licensee of sick
or dead animals; notification by licensee
of changes to name, address, or
management; swine health protection
program inspection summary; permit to
move restricted animals; owner-shipper
statement; certificate of veterinary
inspection; accredited veterinarian’s
statement; embryo and semen
shipments; identification for swine
moving interstate; swine production
system health plan; interstate movement
report and notification; cancellation or
withdrawal of a swine production
system health plan; appeal of
cancellation of a swine production
system health plan; shipment to
slaughter seal; appraisal and indemnity
claim form; report of net salvage
proceeds; herd management plans; and
recordkeeping.
The information collection
requirements above are currently
approved by the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) under OMB control
numbers 0579–0137 (Swine Health
Protection) and 0579–0065 (Swine
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Health Protection). After OMB approves
this combined information collection
package (0579–0065), APHIS will retire
OMB control number 0579–0137.
We are asking OMB to approve our
use of these information collection
activities, as described, for an additional
3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit
comments from the public (as well as
affected agencies) concerning our
information collection. These comments
will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our
estimate of the burden of the collection
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, through use, as
appropriate, of automated, electronic,
mechanical, and other collection
technologies; e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Estimate of burden: The public
reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated to average 1.89
hours per response.
Respondents: Owners/operators
(licensees) of garbage treatment
facilities, herd owners, food
establishments, accredited
veterinarians, and State animal health
authorities.
Estimated annual number of
respondents: 27,050.
Estimated annual number of
responses per respondent: 31.55.
Estimated annual number of
responses: 853,318.
Estimated total annual burden on
respondents: 1,614,460 hours. (Due to
averaging, the total annual burden hours
may not equal the product of the annual
number of responses multiplied by the
reporting burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be
summarized and included in the request
for OMB approval. All comments will
also become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 23rd day of
March 2017.
Jere L. Dick,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–06217 Filed 3–27–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–34–P
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Tonto National Forest; Gila County,
AZ; Pinto Valley Mine Environmental
Impact Statement
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement for
approval of a mining plan of operations
for the Pinto Valley Mine, notice of
public scoping, and request for scoping
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Tonto National Forest
(TNF) is preparing an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate and
disclose the potential environmental
effects from approval of the Mining Plan
of Operations (MPO) submitted by Pinto
Valley Mining Corp. (PVMC), for
operations on National Forest System
(NFS) land associated with expansion of
an existing open pit copper and
molybdenum mine, the Pinto Valley
Mine. An amendment to the Tonto
National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan (Forest Plan, 1985, as
amended) may be required.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope
of the analysis must be received no later
than April 27, 2017. Public scoping
meetings will be held on April 18 at
Superior Junior/Senior High School, 100
Mary Drive, Superior, Arizona and April
20 at Miami Junior/Senior High School,
4739 S. Ragus Rd., Miami, Arizona from
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Pinto Valley Mine EIS Comments, 2324
E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Comments may also be sent via email to
Comment@pintovalleymineeis.us, or via
facsimile to (602) 225–5302, ATTN:
Pinto Valley Mine EIS Comments.
Written and oral comments may also be
submitted during scoping meetings that
will be held by the U.S. Forest Service
(Forest Service) on April 18 and 20.
Additional details may be found at the
Pinto Valley Mine EIS Web site at
https://www.pintovalleymineeis.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judd
Sampson, Interim Project Manager, at
602–225–5272 or juddsampson@
fs.fed.us during normal business hours.
Individuals who use telecommunication
devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 between 8
a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday
through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PVMC
submitted the proposed MPO for
approval by the Forest Service in May
2016. The proposed MPO was submitted
in accordance with Forest Service
SUMMARY:
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mining operations that occur on private
land. However, the EIS will consider
and disclose environmental effects
associated with the MPO. Connected
actions related to the MPO and potential
amendment of the forest plan, if
required, would be analyzed in the EIS.
Impacts from past, present, and
reasonably foreseeable future actions
will be considered in combination with
impacts of the proposed project to
estimate potential cumulative impacts.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this project is to
analyze the proposed action as required
by the regulations at 36 CFR 228.5(a).
Approval of the proposed MPO would
be a major federal action subject to
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA). Accordingly, the Forest
Service must prepare an EIS to identify
the scope of issues associated with the
MPO, identify and assess reasonable
alternatives to the MPO in order to
avoid or minimize adverse effects of
MPO actions and evaluate and disclose
the potential environmental effects. An
amendment to the Tonto National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan
(Forest Plan, 1985, as amended) may be
required.
The need for this project is to comply
with the regulations of the Forest
Service, Department of Agriculture, that
govern the use of surface resources in
conjunction with mining operations on
NFS lands as set forth under 36 CFR
part 228. These regulations require that
the Forest Service respond to parties
who submit proposed mining plans for
approval to conduct mining operations
on or otherwise use NFS lands in
conjunction with mining for part or all
of their planned actions. In accordance
with regulations at 36 CFR 228.5, the
submittal of the proposed MPO by
PVMC requires the Forest Service to
consider whether to approve the
proposed MPO or to require changes or
additions deemed necessary to meet the
purpose of the regulations for locatable
mineral operations at 36 CFR part 228,
subpart A. Forest Service cannot
categorically prohibit mining operations
that are reasonably incident to mining of
locatable minerals on NFS lands in the
area of the proposed action.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
regulations for locatable minerals set
forth at Title 36 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), part 228 (36 CFR part
228), subpart A, Locatable Minerals.
The proposed action would
consolidate prior permitted activities
reasonably incident to extraction,
transportation, and processing of copper
and molybdenum on NFS lands and
expand existing mining operations from
private lands on to NFS lands primarily
for tailings disposal and pit expansion.
Existing and Proposed Mining
Operations
Pinto Valley Mine is an existing open
pit copper and molybdenum mine with
adjacent milling and processing
operations, tailings disposal areas, and
waste rock disposal, all operated by
PVMC. The majority of Pinto Valley
Mine is located on PVMC property.
However, certain facilities and
operations are located on TNF, and were
authorized by the Forest Service or the
U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) through
Rights-of-Way, Plans of Operations,
Special Use Permits, and a Letter
Agreement. The authorizations date
from as early as the 1940s, and have
been amended, updated, and reauthorized over the years.
Existing surface disturbance
associated with the Pinto Valley Mine
currently encompasses an estimated
3,845 acres, of which 3,389 acres are on
private and 456 acres are on NFS lands.
The proposed disturbance acreage
would be an additional 1,011 acres of
surface disturbance (766 acres on
private land, 245 acres on NFS lands)
for a total estimated surface disturbance
of 4,856 acres (4,155 on private land,
701 acres on NFS lands).
Each of the past, present, and
proposed future uses of NFS lands is
addressed in the MPO. Existing or
proposed mining use of NFS lands
includes portions of the Open Pit, 19
Dump, portions of three tailings storage
facilities, transportation on Forest Roads
and temporary access roads, use of
existing powerlines and water pipelines,
existing water supply, stormwater
management facilities, and a sign.
In summary, at the end of the current
planned life of the mine, PVMC would
use approximately 701 acres of NFS
lands and 42.45 miles of Forest Roads
and temporary access roads to access
mine facilities and/or as alignments for
linear utility infrastructure.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to approve the
MPO as submitted by PVMC. Pinto
Valley Mine expansion would affect
federal lands administered by TNF and
private lands owned by PVMC. The
proposed action by the Forest Service
would only approve mining operations
on NFS lands, since the Forest Service
does not have jurisdiction to regulate
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Possible Alternatives
The Pinto Valley Mine EIS will
analyze the No Action Alternative,
which would not approve of the
proposed MPO. For the No Action
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15323
Alternative, mining operations,
reclamation, and closure would
continue under current authorizations.
The responsible official does not have
discretion to select the No Action
alternative, because it would not be
consistent with requirements of 36 CFR
228.5.
The EIS may evaluate additional
alternatives that could include
application of design features and other
measures that address issues identified
during scoping, that would meet the
purpose and need for the project, and
are reasonable and practicable. These
alternatives may require changes to the
proposed MPO, which are necessary to
meet Forest Service regulations for
locatable minerals set forth at 36 CFR
part 228, subpart A.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service will be the lead
agency preparing the EIS. Cooperating
agencies have not yet been confirmed,
but may include agencies within the
Department of the Interior, as well as
other state and Federal agencies with
regulatory and/or enforcement
jurisdiction over the project.
Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor of the TNF will
be the responsible official who prepares
the Record of Decision (ROD) and
approves the MPO.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
TNF Forest Supervisor will consider
beneficial and adverse impacts of each
alternative analyzed in the EIS. TNF
Forest Supervisor has discretion to
determine whether changes in the
proposed MPO will be required prior to
approval.
Plan of Operations
Using the analysis in the EIS and
supporting documentation, the TNF
Forest Supervisor will make the
following decisions regarding the
proposed MPO:
1. Decide whether to approve the
proposed MPO submitted by PVMC, or
require changes in, or additions to, the
proposed MPO to meet the purpose of
the regulations, including those for
environmental protection and
reclamation set forth at 36 CFR part 228,
subpart A before approving a final MPO.
The alternative that is selected for
approval in the final MPO must
minimize adverse impacts on NFS
surface resources where feasible.
2. If Forest Service determines that
any amendment(s) is (are) required to
the Forest Plan, then decide whether to
approve amendments to the Forest Plan,
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 58 / Tuesday, March 28, 2017 / Notices
which would be necessary to approve
the final MPO.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Final EIS and Record of Decision
The Forest Supervisor plans to release
a draft ROD in conjunction with the
final EIS. The draft ROD would address
the decision on approval of the MPO.
The decision would be subject to 36
CFR part 218, Project-Level Predecisional Administrative Review
Process. If forest plan amendments are
required, then the draft decision may
also be subject to 36 CFR part 219,
subpart B, Pre-decisional Administrative
Review Process.
Following resolution of objections to
the draft ROD, a final ROD would be
issued. PVMC would have an
opportunity to appeal the decision as set
forth at 36 CFR part 214, Postdecisional
Administrative Review Process for
Occupancy or Use of National Forest
System Lands and Resources.
Prior to approval of the MPO, PVMC
may be required to modify the proposed
MPO to align it with the description of
the selected alternative in the final ROD.
In addition, the TNF Forest Supervisor
would require PVMC to submit a
reclamation bond or other acceptable
financial assurance to ensure that NFS
lands and resources involved with the
mining operation are reclaimed in
accordance with the approved MPO and
Forest Service requirements for
environmental protection (36 CFR 228.8
and 228.13). After the Forest Service has
determined that the MPO conforms to
the ROD and that the reclamation bond
is acceptable, the TNF Forest Supervisor
would approve the MPO.
Implementation of mining operations
that affect NFS lands and resources may
not commence until the MPO is
approved and the reclamation bond or
other financial assurance is in place.
Preliminary Issues
Issues to be analyzed in the EIS will
be developed during the scoping
process. Preliminary issues expected to
be analyzed include potential impacts
to: Groundwater and surface water
quantity and quality; riparian and
aquatic areas and springs; biological
resources, including threatened and
endangered species and Forest Service
sensitive species; historical and cultural
resources; air quality; socioeconomics;
transportation and traffic; noise; visual
resources; and recreation. This list is
subject to change based on comments
received from the public and resource
agencies.
Permits or Licenses Required
The following is a list of permits for
Pinto Valley Mine: Permits associated
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with groundwater withdrawal and dam
safety permits (Arizona Department of
Water Resources); air quality Class II
synthetic minor permit (Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality),
Arizona Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System process and stormwater permits,
Aquifer Protection Permit, and public
water supply permit (Arizona
Department of Environmental Quality);
Mined Land Reclamation Plan (Arizona
State Mine Inspector); letter agreement
for a commercial vehicle staging area
(Arizona Department of Transportation);
and other required permits. Because the
Pinto Valley Mine is an operating mine,
PVMC already holds required permits.
PVMC would update and amend
permits for additional activities
proposed in the MPO, as required.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the Pinto Valley Mine
EIS. Public comments may be submitted
to TNF in a variety of ways, including:
By email, via the project Web site, by
mail, and by facsimile. In addition, TNF
will conduct two open houses during
the scoping process through which
members of the public can learn about
the proposed action and the NEPA
review process, and submit comments.
Comments sought by TNF include
specific comments related to the
proposed action, appropriate
information that could be pertinent to
the description of baseline resource
conditions and analysis of
environmental effects, identification of
significant issues, identification of
reasonably foreseeable actions that
should be considered in the cumulative
analysis, and identification of potential
design features and alternatives.
Written comments may be sent to:
Pinto Valley Mine EIS Comments, 2324
E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006.
Comments may also be sent by email to:
Comment@pintovalleymineeis.us, or
sent by facsimile to (602) 225–5302.
It is important that reviewers provide
comments at such times and in such
manner that they are useful to the
agency’s preparation of the
environmental impact statement.
Therefore, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the
comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer’s concerns and
contentions and specific
recommendations wherever possible.
When submitting comments, please
keep them specific to this proposal only.
Comments which are not specific to the
project and project area will be deemed
outside the scope of the analysis and
will not be considered. If you are
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including references, citations, or
additional information to be considered
for this project, please provide a copy
and specify exactly how the material
relates to the project. Also indicate
exactly what part of the material you
would like us to consider (such as page
or figure number). Comments received
in response to this solicitation,
including names and addresses of those
who comment, will be part of the public
record for this proposed action.
Comments submitted anonymously will
be accepted and considered; however,
anonymous comments will not provide
the agency with the ability to provide
the respondent with subsequent
environmental documents.
Dated: March 21, 2017.
Jeanne M. Higgins,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest
System.
[FR Doc. 2017–06020 Filed 3–27–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Rural Utilities Service
Information Collection Activity;
Comment Request
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.
Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
United States Department of
Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service
(RUS) invites comments on this
information collection for which
approval from the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) will be requested.
DATES: Comments on this notice must be
received by May 30, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Thomas P. Dickson, Acting Director,
Program Development and Regulatory
Analysis, Rural Utilities Service, 1400
Independence Avenue SW., STOP 1522,
Room 5164 South Building,
Washington, DC 20250–1522.
Telephone: (202) 690–4492. Email:
thomas.dickson@wdc.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Office
of Management and Budget’s (OMB)
regulation (5 CFR part 1320)
implementing provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub.
L. 104–13) requires that interested
members of the public and affected
agencies have an opportunity to
comment on information collection and
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8(d)). This notice identifies an
information collection that RUS is
submitting to OMB for approval.
SUMMARY:
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15322-15324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06020]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Tonto National Forest; Gila County, AZ; Pinto Valley Mine
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
for approval of a mining plan of operations for the Pinto Valley Mine,
notice of public scoping, and request for scoping comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Tonto National Forest (TNF) is preparing an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate and disclose the potential
environmental effects from approval of the Mining Plan of Operations
(MPO) submitted by Pinto Valley Mining Corp. (PVMC), for operations on
National Forest System (NFS) land associated with expansion of an
existing open pit copper and molybdenum mine, the Pinto Valley Mine. An
amendment to the Tonto National Forest Land and Resource Management
Plan (Forest Plan, 1985, as amended) may be required.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
no later than April 27, 2017. Public scoping meetings will be held on
April 18 at Superior Junior/Senior High School, 100 Mary Drive,
Superior, Arizona and April 20 at Miami Junior/Senior High School, 4739
S. Ragus Rd., Miami, Arizona from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Pinto Valley Mine EIS Comments,
2324 E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006. Comments may also be sent via
email to Comment@pintovalleymineeis.us, or via facsimile to (602) 225-
5302, ATTN: Pinto Valley Mine EIS Comments. Written and oral comments
may also be submitted during scoping meetings that will be held by the
U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) on April 18 and 20. Additional
details may be found at the Pinto Valley Mine EIS Web site at https://www.pintovalleymineeis.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judd Sampson, Interim Project Manager,
at 602-225-5272 or juddsampson@fs.fed.us during normal business hours.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PVMC submitted the proposed MPO for approval
by the Forest Service in May 2016. The proposed MPO was submitted in
accordance with Forest Service
[[Page 15323]]
regulations for locatable minerals set forth at Title 36 of the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR), part 228 (36 CFR part 228), subpart A,
Locatable Minerals.
The proposed action would consolidate prior permitted activities
reasonably incident to extraction, transportation, and processing of
copper and molybdenum on NFS lands and expand existing mining
operations from private lands on to NFS lands primarily for tailings
disposal and pit expansion.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of this project is to analyze the proposed action as
required by the regulations at 36 CFR 228.5(a). Approval of the
proposed MPO would be a major federal action subject to National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Accordingly, the Forest
Service must prepare an EIS to identify the scope of issues associated
with the MPO, identify and assess reasonable alternatives to the MPO in
order to avoid or minimize adverse effects of MPO actions and evaluate
and disclose the potential environmental effects. An amendment to the
Tonto National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan,
1985, as amended) may be required.
The need for this project is to comply with the regulations of the
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, that govern the use of
surface resources in conjunction with mining operations on NFS lands as
set forth under 36 CFR part 228. These regulations require that the
Forest Service respond to parties who submit proposed mining plans for
approval to conduct mining operations on or otherwise use NFS lands in
conjunction with mining for part or all of their planned actions. In
accordance with regulations at 36 CFR 228.5, the submittal of the
proposed MPO by PVMC requires the Forest Service to consider whether to
approve the proposed MPO or to require changes or additions deemed
necessary to meet the purpose of the regulations for locatable mineral
operations at 36 CFR part 228, subpart A. Forest Service cannot
categorically prohibit mining operations that are reasonably incident
to mining of locatable minerals on NFS lands in the area of the
proposed action.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to approve the MPO as submitted by PVMC.
Pinto Valley Mine expansion would affect federal lands administered by
TNF and private lands owned by PVMC. The proposed action by the Forest
Service would only approve mining operations on NFS lands, since the
Forest Service does not have jurisdiction to regulate mining operations
that occur on private land. However, the EIS will consider and disclose
environmental effects associated with the MPO. Connected actions
related to the MPO and potential amendment of the forest plan, if
required, would be analyzed in the EIS. Impacts from past, present, and
reasonably foreseeable future actions will be considered in combination
with impacts of the proposed project to estimate potential cumulative
impacts.
Existing and Proposed Mining Operations
Pinto Valley Mine is an existing open pit copper and molybdenum
mine with adjacent milling and processing operations, tailings disposal
areas, and waste rock disposal, all operated by PVMC. The majority of
Pinto Valley Mine is located on PVMC property. However, certain
facilities and operations are located on TNF, and were authorized by
the Forest Service or the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) through Rights-of-Way, Plans of Operations, Special
Use Permits, and a Letter Agreement. The authorizations date from as
early as the 1940s, and have been amended, updated, and re-authorized
over the years.
Existing surface disturbance associated with the Pinto Valley Mine
currently encompasses an estimated 3,845 acres, of which 3,389 acres
are on private and 456 acres are on NFS lands. The proposed disturbance
acreage would be an additional 1,011 acres of surface disturbance (766
acres on private land, 245 acres on NFS lands) for a total estimated
surface disturbance of 4,856 acres (4,155 on private land, 701 acres on
NFS lands).
Each of the past, present, and proposed future uses of NFS lands is
addressed in the MPO. Existing or proposed mining use of NFS lands
includes portions of the Open Pit, 19 Dump, portions of three tailings
storage facilities, transportation on Forest Roads and temporary access
roads, use of existing powerlines and water pipelines, existing water
supply, stormwater management facilities, and a sign.
In summary, at the end of the current planned life of the mine,
PVMC would use approximately 701 acres of NFS lands and 42.45 miles of
Forest Roads and temporary access roads to access mine facilities and/
or as alignments for linear utility infrastructure.
Possible Alternatives
The Pinto Valley Mine EIS will analyze the No Action Alternative,
which would not approve of the proposed MPO. For the No Action
Alternative, mining operations, reclamation, and closure would continue
under current authorizations. The responsible official does not have
discretion to select the No Action alternative, because it would not be
consistent with requirements of 36 CFR 228.5.
The EIS may evaluate additional alternatives that could include
application of design features and other measures that address issues
identified during scoping, that would meet the purpose and need for the
project, and are reasonable and practicable. These alternatives may
require changes to the proposed MPO, which are necessary to meet Forest
Service regulations for locatable minerals set forth at 36 CFR part
228, subpart A.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service will be the lead agency preparing the EIS.
Cooperating agencies have not yet been confirmed, but may include
agencies within the Department of the Interior, as well as other state
and Federal agencies with regulatory and/or enforcement jurisdiction
over the project.
Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor of the TNF will be the responsible official
who prepares the Record of Decision (ROD) and approves the MPO.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
TNF Forest Supervisor will consider beneficial and adverse impacts
of each alternative analyzed in the EIS. TNF Forest Supervisor has
discretion to determine whether changes in the proposed MPO will be
required prior to approval.
Plan of Operations
Using the analysis in the EIS and supporting documentation, the TNF
Forest Supervisor will make the following decisions regarding the
proposed MPO:
1. Decide whether to approve the proposed MPO submitted by PVMC, or
require changes in, or additions to, the proposed MPO to meet the
purpose of the regulations, including those for environmental
protection and reclamation set forth at 36 CFR part 228, subpart A
before approving a final MPO. The alternative that is selected for
approval in the final MPO must minimize adverse impacts on NFS surface
resources where feasible.
2. If Forest Service determines that any amendment(s) is (are)
required to the Forest Plan, then decide whether to approve amendments
to the Forest Plan,
[[Page 15324]]
which would be necessary to approve the final MPO.
Final EIS and Record of Decision
The Forest Supervisor plans to release a draft ROD in conjunction
with the final EIS. The draft ROD would address the decision on
approval of the MPO. The decision would be subject to 36 CFR part 218,
Project-Level Pre-decisional Administrative Review Process. If forest
plan amendments are required, then the draft decision may also be
subject to 36 CFR part 219, subpart B, Pre-decisional Administrative
Review Process.
Following resolution of objections to the draft ROD, a final ROD
would be issued. PVMC would have an opportunity to appeal the decision
as set forth at 36 CFR part 214, Postdecisional Administrative Review
Process for Occupancy or Use of National Forest System Lands and
Resources.
Prior to approval of the MPO, PVMC may be required to modify the
proposed MPO to align it with the description of the selected
alternative in the final ROD. In addition, the TNF Forest Supervisor
would require PVMC to submit a reclamation bond or other acceptable
financial assurance to ensure that NFS lands and resources involved
with the mining operation are reclaimed in accordance with the approved
MPO and Forest Service requirements for environmental protection (36
CFR 228.8 and 228.13). After the Forest Service has determined that the
MPO conforms to the ROD and that the reclamation bond is acceptable,
the TNF Forest Supervisor would approve the MPO. Implementation of
mining operations that affect NFS lands and resources may not commence
until the MPO is approved and the reclamation bond or other financial
assurance is in place.
Preliminary Issues
Issues to be analyzed in the EIS will be developed during the
scoping process. Preliminary issues expected to be analyzed include
potential impacts to: Groundwater and surface water quantity and
quality; riparian and aquatic areas and springs; biological resources,
including threatened and endangered species and Forest Service
sensitive species; historical and cultural resources; air quality;
socioeconomics; transportation and traffic; noise; visual resources;
and recreation. This list is subject to change based on comments
received from the public and resource agencies.
Permits or Licenses Required
The following is a list of permits for Pinto Valley Mine: Permits
associated with groundwater withdrawal and dam safety permits (Arizona
Department of Water Resources); air quality Class II synthetic minor
permit (Arizona Department of Environmental Quality), Arizona Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System process and stormwater permits, Aquifer
Protection Permit, and public water supply permit (Arizona Department
of Environmental Quality); Mined Land Reclamation Plan (Arizona State
Mine Inspector); letter agreement for a commercial vehicle staging area
(Arizona Department of Transportation); and other required permits.
Because the Pinto Valley Mine is an operating mine, PVMC already holds
required permits. PVMC would update and amend permits for additional
activities proposed in the MPO, as required.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the Pinto Valley Mine EIS. Public comments may be
submitted to TNF in a variety of ways, including: By email, via the
project Web site, by mail, and by facsimile. In addition, TNF will
conduct two open houses during the scoping process through which
members of the public can learn about the proposed action and the NEPA
review process, and submit comments. Comments sought by TNF include
specific comments related to the proposed action, appropriate
information that could be pertinent to the description of baseline
resource conditions and analysis of environmental effects,
identification of significant issues, identification of reasonably
foreseeable actions that should be considered in the cumulative
analysis, and identification of potential design features and
alternatives.
Written comments may be sent to: Pinto Valley Mine EIS Comments,
2324 E McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85006. Comments may also be sent by
email to: Comment@pintovalleymineeis.us, or sent by facsimile to (602)
225-5302.
It is important that reviewers provide comments at such times and
in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the
environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate
the reviewer's concerns and contentions and specific recommendations
wherever possible. When submitting comments, please keep them specific
to this proposal only. Comments which are not specific to the project
and project area will be deemed outside the scope of the analysis and
will not be considered. If you are including references, citations, or
additional information to be considered for this project, please
provide a copy and specify exactly how the material relates to the
project. Also indicate exactly what part of the material you would like
us to consider (such as page or figure number). Comments received in
response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those
who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed
action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered;
however, anonymous comments will not provide the agency with the
ability to provide the respondent with subsequent environmental
documents.
Dated: March 21, 2017.
Jeanne M. Higgins,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-06020 Filed 3-27-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P