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

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management
• Land Management Bureau

[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.

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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]
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