Black Mesa and Kayenta Mines, Life-of-Mine Plans and Water Supply Project, Coconino, Navajo, and Mohave Counties, AZ, and Clark County, NV, 6036 [05-2180]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
• Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Office

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 23 (Friday, February 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 6036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2180]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Black Mesa and Kayenta Mines, Life-of-Mine Plans and Water Supply 
Project, Coconino, Navajo, and Mohave Counties, AZ, and Clark County, 
NV

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of the scoping comment period for an environmental 
impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) 
is extending the scoping comment period for the Black Mesa Project 
environmental impact statement (EIS). The Black Mesa Project includes 
Peabody Western Coal Company's proposed operation and reclamation plans 
for the Black Mesa and Kayenta coal mines; the Coal Slurry Preparation 
Plant at the Black Mesa Mine; the reconstruction of the 273-mile long 
Coal Slurry Pipeline across northern Arizona from the Coal Slurry 
Preparation Plant to the Mohave Generating Station (electrical) in 
Laughlin, Nevada; the construction and operation of water wells in the 
Coconino aquifer (C-aquifer) northwest of Winslow, Arizona; and 
construction and operation of a water supply pipeline running about 120 
miles across the Navajo and Hopi Reservations from the wells to the 
Coal Slurry Preparation Plant.

DATES: Written comments must be received by OSM by 4 p.m. on March 4, 
2005, to ensure consideration in the preparation of the draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing or by e-mail. At the 
top of your letter or in the subject line of your e-mail message, 
please indicate that the comments are ``BMK EIS Comments.''
     E-mail comments should be sent to: BMK-EIS@osmre.gov.
     Written comments sent by first-class or priority U.S. 
Postal Service should be mailed to: Richard Holbrook, Chief, Southwest 
Branch, OSM WRCC, P.O. Box 46667, Denver, Colorado 80201-6667
     Comments delivered by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail or 
by courier service should be sent to: Richard Holbrook, Chief, 
Southwest Branch OSM WRCC, 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320, Denver, Colorado 
80202-5733

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Holbrook, Chief, Southwest 
Branch, Program Support Division, OSM Western Regional Coordinating 
Center, by telephone at (303) 844-1400, extension 1491, or by e-mail at 
BMK-EIS@osmre.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 1, 2004, OSM published in the 
Federal Register a notice of intent to prepare an EIS for the Black 
Mesa Project and to hold public scoping meetings (69 FR 69951).
    OSM held eight scoping meetings to solicit public comments on the 
scope of the EIS and significant issues that should be addressed in the 
EIS. Due to the complex nature of the project and numerous concerns 
expressed during the scoping meetings, OSM is extending the scoping 
comment period.
    The Black Mesa Project includes Peabody Western Coal Company's 
proposed operation and reclamation plans for the Black Mesa and Kayenta 
coal mines; the Coal Slurry Preparation Plant at the Black Mesa Mine; 
the reconstruction of the 273-mile long Coal Slurry Pipeline across 
northern Arizona from the Coal Slurry Preparation Plant to the Mohave 
Generating Station (electrical) in Laughlin, Nevada; the construction 
and operation of water wells in the Coconino aquifer (C-aquifer) 
northwest of Winslow, Arizona; and construction and operation of a 
water supply pipeline running about 120 miles across the Navajo and 
Hopi Reservations from the wells to the Coal Slurry Preparation Plant. 
At www.wrcc.osmre.gov/bmk-eis, interested persons may view information 
about the proposed projects.
    In accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's 
regulations for implementing NEPA, 40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508, OSM 
solicits public comments on the scope of the EIS and significant issues 
that it should address in the EIS.
    Written comments, including email comments, should be sent to OSM 
at the addresses given in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 
Comments should be specific and pertain only to the issues relating to 
the proposals. OSM will include all comments in the administrative 
record.
    If you would like to be placed on the mailing list to receive 
future information, please contact the person listed in the section, 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above.
    OSM will make comments, including names and addresses of 
respondents, available for public review during normal business hours. 
OSM will not consider anonymous comments. If individual respondents 
request confidentiality, OSM will honor their requests to the extent 
allowable by law. Individual respondents who wish to withhold their 
name or address (except for the city or town) from public review must 
state this prominently at the beginning of their comments and must 
submit their comments by regular mail. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves 
as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be 
available for public review in their entirety.

    Dated: January 27, 2005.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Western Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 05-2180 Filed 2-3-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P