Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed “M” Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine, 8612 [05-3293]

Download as PDF 8612 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 22, 2005 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [MT–070–05–1990–EX] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed ‘‘M’’ Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Butte Field Office, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) intend to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the ‘‘M’’ Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine. The BLM and DEQ will announce a public scoping meeting to identify relevant issues in advance through BLM’s and DEQ’s web sites and in local news media at least 15 days prior to the event. DATES: The scoping comment period will start with the publication of this notice. Comments should be received by March 24, 2005 at the address listed below. You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Email: ghallsten@state.mt.us. • Mail: Send written comments to ‘‘M’’ Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine EIS, Greg Hallsten, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Director’s Office, PO Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620–0901. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact: Greg Hallsten, (406) 444–3276, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Director’s Office, PO Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620–0901, ghallsten@state.mt.us or David Williams, (406) 533–7655, Bureau of Land Management, Butte Field Office, 106 N. Parkmont, Butte, MT 597701, david_r_williams @blm.gov. Documents related to this EIS will be posted on the Montana DEQ Web site (www.deq.state.mt.us). ADDRESSES: This document provides notice that the Butte Field Office, Montana intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the ‘‘M’’ Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine in cooperation with the State of Montana, Department of Environmental Quality. The mine area is located approximately five miles west of Jefferson City, Jefferson County, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate jul<14>2003 19:10 Feb 18, 2005 Jkt 205001 Montana. Montana Tunnels has mined and processed ore from a polymetallic mineral deposit since 1986 producing lead, zinc, gold and silver. It encompasses approximately 150 acres of public land. The EIS will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and EIS alternatives. Comments on issues can be submitted as indicated above. To be most helpful, formal scoping comments should be submitted within 15 days after the public meeting, although comments will be accepted throughout the preparation of the EIS. The list of attendees and information gathered at each scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views expressed. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name and/or address from public review or disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, are available for public inspection in their entirety. The BLM and DEQ are seeking comments from individuals, organizations, tribal governments, and Federal, State, and local agencies that are interested or may be affected by the proposed action. While public participation is welcome at any time, comments received within 30 days of the publication of this notice will be especially useful in the preparation of the EIS. To assist the BLM and DEQ in identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the proposed EIS should be as specific as possible. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations that implement the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 An application for mine expansion from Montana Tunnels necessitates the additional environmental analysis. Preliminary issues and management concerns have been identified by BLM and Montana DEQ personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and user groups. They represent the agencies’ knowledge to date on existing issues and concerns. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the EIS in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will include specialists with expertise in: minerals and geology, wildlife, hydrology, soils, sociology and economics. Dated: November 15, 2004. Steven Hartmann, Assistant Field Manager. [FR Doc. 05–3293 Filed 2–18–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [OR–038–1220–AL 042H; HAG 05–0074] Notice of Meeting; National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vale District, Interior. ACTION: Meeting Notice for the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center (NHOTIC) Advisory Board. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Advisory Board will meet in a conference room at the Best Western Sunridge Inn (541–523– 6444), One Sunridge Way in Baker City, OR from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., (Pacific Time PT) on Thursday, March 31, 2005. The meeting topics may include; reports from the Standing Committees (Economic Development, Visitation, Education and Community Liaison), a roundtable to allow members to introduce new issues to the board, and other matters as may reasonably come before the Board. The entire meeting is open to the public. For a copy of the information to be distributed to the Board members, please submit a written request to the Vale District Office 10 days prior to the meeting. Public comment is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m., Pacific Time (PT). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the NHOTIC Advisory Board may be obtained from Debra Lyons, Public Affairs, Vale District Office, 100 Oregon E:\FR\FM\22FEN1.SGM 22FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 8612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3293]



[[Page 8612]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-070-05-1990-EX]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Proposed ``M'' Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Butte Field Office, and 
the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) intend to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement for the ``M'' Pit Mine Expansion at 
Montana Tunnels Mine. The BLM and DEQ will announce a public scoping 
meeting to identify relevant issues in advance through BLM's and DEQ's 
web sites and in local news media at least 15 days prior to the event.

DATES: The scoping comment period will start with the publication of 
this notice. Comments should be received by March 24, 2005 at the 
address listed below.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: ghallsten@state.mt.us.
     Mail: Send written comments to ``M'' Pit Mine Expansion at 
Montana Tunnels Mine EIS, Greg Hallsten, Montana Department of 
Environmental Quality, Director's Office, PO Box 200901, Helena, MT 
59620-0901.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact: Greg Hallsten, (406) 444-
3276, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Director's Office, 
PO Box 200901, Helena, MT 59620-0901, ghallsten@state.mt.us or David 
Williams, (406) 533-7655, Bureau of Land Management, Butte Field 
Office, 106 N. Parkmont, Butte, MT 597701, david--r--williams @blm.gov. 
Documents related to this EIS will be posted on the Montana DEQ Web 
site (www.deq.state.mt.us).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the Butte 
Field Office, Montana intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the ``M'' Pit Mine Expansion at Montana Tunnels Mine in 
cooperation with the State of Montana, Department of Environmental 
Quality.
    The mine area is located approximately five miles west of Jefferson 
City, Jefferson County, Montana. Montana Tunnels has mined and 
processed ore from a polymetallic mineral deposit since 1986 producing 
lead, zinc, gold and silver. It encompasses approximately 150 acres of 
public land. The EIS will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth 
by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM 
will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the 
management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and 
national needs and concerns.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and 
EIS alternatives. Comments on issues can be submitted as indicated 
above. To be most helpful, formal scoping comments should be submitted 
within 15 days after the public meeting, although comments will be 
accepted throughout the preparation of the EIS. The list of attendees 
and information gathered at each scoping meeting will be available to 
the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant 
who wishes to clarify the views expressed. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name and/or 
address from public review or disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and 
from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials 
of organizations or businesses, are available for public inspection in 
their entirety.
    The BLM and DEQ are seeking comments from individuals, 
organizations, tribal governments, and Federal, State, and local 
agencies that are interested or may be affected by the proposed action. 
While public participation is welcome at any time, comments received 
within 30 days of the publication of this notice will be especially 
useful in the preparation of the EIS. To assist the BLM and DEQ in 
identifying and considering issues and concerns on the proposed action, 
comments on the proposed EIS should be as specific as possible. 
Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations that implement the procedural provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
    An application for mine expansion from Montana Tunnels necessitates 
the additional environmental analysis. Preliminary issues and 
management concerns have been identified by BLM and Montana DEQ 
personnel, other agencies, and in meetings with individuals and user 
groups. They represent the agencies' knowledge to date on existing 
issues and concerns. An interdisciplinary approach will be used to 
develop the EIS in order to consider the variety of resource issues and 
concerns identified. Disciplines involved in the planning process will 
include specialists with expertise in: minerals and geology, wildlife, 
hydrology, soils, sociology and economics.

    Dated: November 15, 2004.
Steven Hartmann,
Assistant Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 05-3293 Filed 2-18-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P
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