Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To Analyze the Proposed Amendment to the Pipeline/South Pipeline Plan of Operations (NVN-067575) for the Cortez Hills Expansion Project, 72308-72309 [E5-6768]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 231 / Friday, December 2, 2005 / Notices
The objective of this final plan is to
provide a framework for the recovery of
these six aquatic snails so that
protection under the Act is no longer
necessary. As reclassification and
recovery criteria are met, the status of
these species will be reviewed and they
will be considered for reclassification or
removal from the Federal List of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants (50 CFR part 17).
Authority: The authority for this action is
section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act,
16 U.S.C. 1533 (f).
Dated: September 8, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E5–6759 Filed 12–1–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[OR–038–1220-AL; HAG 06–0011]
Notice of Call for Nominations for the
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center Advisory Board
Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Call for nominations.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management is requesting public
nominations to fill an unexpired term
on the National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center Advisory Board. The
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center Advisory Board
provides advice regarding management,
use, and further development of the
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center. The Bureau of Land
Management will consider public
nominations until January 17, 2006.
DATES: Send all nominations to the
address listed below no later than
January 17, 2006.
ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION for the location to send
nominations.
citizen-based advisory council that is
consistent with the requirements of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Members serve without monetary
compensation, but will be reimbursed
for travel and per diem expenses at
current rates for government employees.
As required by the Federal Advisory
Committee Act, board membership must
be balanced and representative of the
various interests concerned with the
management of public lands. The
unexpired term to be filled is a
representative of trail advocacy groups.
The term expiration is December 29,
2006. Individuals may nominate
themselves or others to serve on the
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center Advisory Board.
Nominees must be residents of Oregon.
The Bureau of Land Management will
evaluate nominees in coordination with
the Governor of the State of Oregon,
based on their education, training, and
experience and their knowledge of the
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center. The Bureau of Land
Management will forward
recommended nominations to the
Secretary of the Interior, who has
responsibility for making the
appointments. The following must
accompany all nominations:
—Letters of reference from trail
advocacy group(s),
—A completed background information
nomination form,
—Any other information that speaks to
the nominee’s qualifications.
Nomination forms are available from
Pam Robbins, P.O. Box 2965, 333 SW.,
First Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97208–
2965, (503) 808–6306, email:
pam_robbins@blm.gov. Completed
applications should be sent to the same
address.
Dated: October 20, 2005.
David R. Henderson,
Vale District Manager, OR/WA BLM.
[FR Doc. E5–6777 Filed 12–1–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
Pam
Robbins, Bureau of Land Management,
P.O. Box 2965, Portland, Oregon 97208,
(503) 808–6306, e-mail:
pam_robbins@blm.gov.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
The
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (43 U.S.C. 1730) directs the
Secretary of the Interior to involve the
public in planning and issues related to
management of lands administered by
the Bureau of Land Management. The
National Historic Oregon Trail
Interpretive Center Advisory Board is a
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement To
Analyze the Proposed Amendment to
the Pipeline/South Pipeline Plan of
Operations (NVN–067575) for the
Cortez Hills Expansion Project
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:11 Dec 01, 2005
Jkt 205001
Bureau of Land Management
[NV–060–1990]
Bureau of Land Management,
Department of Interior.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
COOPERATING AGENCY Nevada
Department of Wildlife. Consultation is
ongoing with the Environmental
Protection Agency on Cooperating
Agency status.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement to
analyze the Proposed Amendment to the
Pipeline/South Pipeline Plan of
Operations (NVN–067575) for the Cortez
Hills Expansion Project, Lander and
Eureka Counties, Nevada, and notice of
scoping period.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969 (NEPA), 40 Code of Federal
Regulations 1500–1508 Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations, and
43 Code of Federal Regulations 3809,
the Bureau of Land Management’s
(BLM’s) Battle Mountain Field Office
will be directing the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
to analyze proposed pit and process
facility expansions and development of
a new open-pit gold mine and
associated facilities, in Lander and
Eureka counties, Nevada. The EIS will
be prepared by a third-party contractor
directed by the BLM and funded by the
proponent, Cortez Gold Mines. The
project will involve public and private
lands in Lander and Eureka counties,
Nevada. The BLM invites comments and
suggestions on the scope of the analysis.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process. Comments on the
scope of the EIS can be submitted in
writing to the address below and must
be post-marked or otherwise delivered
by 4:30 p.m. on January 3, 2006.
Scoping meetings will be held in
Crescent Valley and in Battle Mountain,
Nevada. All scoping meetings will be
announced through the local news
media, newsletters or flyers, at least 15
days prior to each event. The minutes
and list of attendees for each meeting
will be available to the public and open
for 30 days after the meeting to any
participants who wish to clarify the
views they expressed.
The purpose of the public scoping
meetings is to identify issues to be
addressed in the EIS, and to identify
potentially viable alternatives that
address these issues. BLM personnel
will be present to explain the NEPA
process, mining regulations, and other
requirements for processing the
proposed Plan of Operations
Amendment and the associated EIS.
Representatives of Cortez Gold Mines
will also be available to describe their
proposal.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments
should be sent to the Bureau of Land
E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM
02DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 231 / Friday, December 2, 2005 / Notices
Management, Battle Mountain Field
Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, Nevada 89820, ATTN: Chris
Worthington. Written comments may
also be faxed to Chris Worthington at
(775) 635–4034. Documents pertinent to
this proposal as well as comments,
including names and street addresses of
respondents, may be examined at the
Battle Mountain Field Office during
regular business hours (7:30 a.m.–4:30
p.m. Monday through Friday, except
holidays). Comments may be published
as part of the EIS.
Individual respondents may request
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold
your name or street address from public
review or from 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
and businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
available for public inspection in their
entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris Worthington, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, Battle
Mountain Field Office, 50 Bastian Road,
Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820 (775)
635–4144.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cortez
Gold Mines (CGM), on behalf of the
Cortez Joint Venture, proposes to
expand its Pipeline/South Pipeline
Project, an existing open-pit gold
mining and processing operation. The
Pipeline/South Pipeline Project is
located in north-central Nevada
approximately 31 miles south of
Beowawe in Lander County.
The proposed Cortez Hills Expansion
Project (Project) is located within
Township 27 North (T27N), Range 47
East (R47E); T27N, R46E; T26N, R47E;
T26N, R48E; T28N, R46E; and T28N,
R47E in Lander and Eureka counties.
The currently authorized disturbance
area associated with the Pipeline/South
Pipeline Project is 9,103 acres.
Approximately 6,139 additional acres of
disturbance would occur as a result of
the proposed mine expansion, most of
which would occur on federal land
administered by the Bureau of Land
Management Battle Mountain Field
Office.
The project would involve the
construction and development of the
following primary components in the
Cortez Hills and Cortez Mine area: New
open pit for development of the Cortez
Hills and Pediment ore zones with an
in-pit groundwater dewatering system;
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:11 Dec 01, 2005
Jkt 205001
expansion of existing Cortez Mine open
pits; two new heap leach facilities with
associated solution ponds and two
carbon-in-column facilities; new ore,
subgrade ore, and growth media
stockpiles; two new waste rock disposal
facilities; expansion of the existing
waste rock disposal facility at the Cortez
Mine; new ancillary facilities
(maintenance shop, administrative
facilities, and fuel and lubricant storage
facilities); new primary crusher, stock
pile area, and 12-mile conveyor system;
expansion of the existing tailings facility
at the Cortez Mill; new water supply
well(s) and associated power line and
pipeline; potential new cross-valley
water pipelines; Horse Canyon haul
road modifications; relocation of
existing county road and relocation of
existing 69–kV transmission line
segments in the project area; installation
of a new 120–kV transmission line and
substation; new borrow area; and
construction of a new land fill and
reactivation of the existing landfill near
the Cortez Mill.
The project also would involve the
construction or modification of the
following primary components in the
Pipeline/South Pipeline and Gold Acres
areas:
Expansion of the existing Pipeline
waste rock disposal facility, relocation
of the existing county road around the
waste rock disposal facility expansion
area, expansion of the existing Pipeline/
South Pipeline open pit, and an increase
in the Pipeline Mill processing capacity
from the currently permitted 13,500
tons per day (tpd) to an average of
15,000 tpd.
CGM proposes to mine the ore body
in the Cortez Hills Expansion area
concurrently with their existing
Pipeline/South Pipeline ore bodies.
Although a portion of the ore from the
Cortez Hills Expansion area may be
processed at the existing Cortez and/or
Pipeline mills, the primary method of
processing would be heap leaching at
the Cortez Hills site. Construction and
operation of the Cortez Hills Expansion
Project is anticipated to be initiated in
2007. The life of the mine would
include approximately 10 years of active
mining and an additional 3 years for ongoing ore processing. Concurrent
reclamation would be conducted during
this period as areas become available.
Site closure and final reclamation
would continue for a few additional
years.
Potential significant direct, indirect,
residual, and cumulative impacts from
the proposed action will be analyzed in
the EIS. Significant issues to be
addressed in the EIS include dewatering
activities, cultural and native American
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72309
issues, and visual impacts. Additional
issues to be addressed may arise during
the scoping process. Federal, state, and
local agencies, and other individuals or
organizations that may be interested in
or affected by the BLM’s decision on
this Plan of Operations amendment are
invited to participate in the scoping
process.
Dated: October 26, 2005.
Gerald M. Smith,
Field Manager, Battle Mountain Field Office.
[FR Doc. E5–6768 Filed 12–1–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CO–922–06–1310–FI; COC62571]
Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of
Terminated Oil and Gas Lease
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
Notice of Proposed
Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and
Gas Lease.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Under the provisions of 30
U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR
3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) received a
petition for reinstatement of oil and gas
lease COC62571 from Red Willow
Production Company for lands in
Jackson County, Colorado. The petition
was filed on time and was accompanied
by all the rentals due since the date the
lease terminated under the law.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bureau of Land Management, Milada
Krasilinec, Land Law Examiner, Branch
of Fluid Minerals Adjudication, at
303.239.3767.
The lessee
has agreed to the amended lease terms
for rentals and royalties at rates of $5.00
per acre or fraction thereof, per year and
162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee
has paid the required $500
administrative fee and $155 to
reimburse the Department for the cost of
this Federal Register notice. The lessee
has met all the requirements for
reinstatement of the lease as set out in
section 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral
Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C.
188), and the Bureau of Land
Management is proposing to reinstate
lease COC62571 effective April 1, 2005,
under the original terms and conditions
of the lease and the increased rental and
royalty rates cited above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM
02DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72308-72309]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6768]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-060-1990]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To
Analyze the Proposed Amendment to the Pipeline/South Pipeline Plan of
Operations (NVN-067575) for the Cortez Hills Expansion Project
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior.
Cooperating Agency Nevada Department of Wildlife. Consultation is
ongoing with the Environmental Protection Agency on Cooperating Agency
status.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
to analyze the Proposed Amendment to the Pipeline/South Pipeline Plan
of Operations (NVN-067575) for the Cortez Hills Expansion Project,
Lander and Eureka Counties, Nevada, and notice of scoping period.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 40 Code of Federal Regulations 1500-1508
Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, and 43 Code of Federal
Regulations 3809, the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM's) Battle
Mountain Field Office will be directing the preparation of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze proposed pit and
process facility expansions and development of a new open-pit gold mine
and associated facilities, in Lander and Eureka counties, Nevada. The
EIS will be prepared by a third-party contractor directed by the BLM
and funded by the proponent, Cortez Gold Mines. The project will
involve public and private lands in Lander and Eureka counties, Nevada.
The BLM invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process. Comments on
the scope of the EIS can be submitted in writing to the address below
and must be post-marked or otherwise delivered by 4:30 p.m. on January
3, 2006. Scoping meetings will be held in Crescent Valley and in Battle
Mountain, Nevada. All scoping meetings will be announced through the
local news media, newsletters or flyers, at least 15 days prior to each
event. The minutes and list of attendees for each meeting will be
available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any
participants who wish to clarify the views they expressed.
The purpose of the public scoping meetings is to identify issues to
be addressed in the EIS, and to identify potentially viable
alternatives that address these issues. BLM personnel will be present
to explain the NEPA process, mining regulations, and other requirements
for processing the proposed Plan of Operations Amendment and the
associated EIS. Representatives of Cortez Gold Mines will also be
available to describe their proposal.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to the Bureau of
Land
[[Page 72309]]
Management, Battle Mountain Field Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, Nevada 89820, ATTN: Chris Worthington. Written comments may
also be faxed to Chris Worthington at (775) 635-4034. Documents
pertinent to this proposal as well as comments, including names and
street addresses of respondents, may be examined at the Battle Mountain
Field Office during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday
through Friday, except holidays). Comments may be published as part of
the EIS.
Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to
withhold your name or street address from public review or from
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 and businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Worthington, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, Battle Mountain Field Office, 50 Bastian
Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820 (775) 635-4144.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cortez Gold Mines (CGM), on behalf of the
Cortez Joint Venture, proposes to expand its Pipeline/South Pipeline
Project, an existing open-pit gold mining and processing operation. The
Pipeline/South Pipeline Project is located in north-central Nevada
approximately 31 miles south of Beowawe in Lander County.
The proposed Cortez Hills Expansion Project (Project) is located
within Township 27 North (T27N), Range 47 East (R47E); T27N, R46E;
T26N, R47E; T26N, R48E; T28N, R46E; and T28N, R47E in Lander and Eureka
counties. The currently authorized disturbance area associated with the
Pipeline/South Pipeline Project is 9,103 acres. Approximately 6,139
additional acres of disturbance would occur as a result of the proposed
mine expansion, most of which would occur on federal land administered
by the Bureau of Land Management Battle Mountain Field Office.
The project would involve the construction and development of the
following primary components in the Cortez Hills and Cortez Mine area:
New open pit for development of the Cortez Hills and Pediment ore zones
with an in-pit groundwater dewatering system; expansion of existing
Cortez Mine open pits; two new heap leach facilities with associated
solution ponds and two carbon-in-column facilities; new ore, subgrade
ore, and growth media stockpiles; two new waste rock disposal
facilities; expansion of the existing waste rock disposal facility at
the Cortez Mine; new ancillary facilities (maintenance shop,
administrative facilities, and fuel and lubricant storage facilities);
new primary crusher, stock pile area, and 12-mile conveyor system;
expansion of the existing tailings facility at the Cortez Mill; new
water supply well(s) and associated power line and pipeline; potential
new cross-valley water pipelines; Horse Canyon haul road modifications;
relocation of existing county road and relocation of existing 69-kV
transmission line segments in the project area; installation of a new
120-kV transmission line and substation; new borrow area; and
construction of a new land fill and reactivation of the existing
landfill near the Cortez Mill.
The project also would involve the construction or modification of
the following primary components in the Pipeline/South Pipeline and
Gold Acres areas:
Expansion of the existing Pipeline waste rock disposal facility,
relocation of the existing county road around the waste rock disposal
facility expansion area, expansion of the existing Pipeline/South
Pipeline open pit, and an increase in the Pipeline Mill processing
capacity from the currently permitted 13,500 tons per day (tpd) to an
average of 15,000 tpd.
CGM proposes to mine the ore body in the Cortez Hills Expansion
area concurrently with their existing Pipeline/South Pipeline ore
bodies. Although a portion of the ore from the Cortez Hills Expansion
area may be processed at the existing Cortez and/or Pipeline mills, the
primary method of processing would be heap leaching at the Cortez Hills
site. Construction and operation of the Cortez Hills Expansion Project
is anticipated to be initiated in 2007. The life of the mine would
include approximately 10 years of active mining and an additional 3
years for on-going ore processing. Concurrent reclamation would be
conducted during this period as areas become available. Site closure
and final reclamation would continue for a few additional years.
Potential significant direct, indirect, residual, and cumulative
impacts from the proposed action will be analyzed in the EIS.
Significant issues to be addressed in the EIS include dewatering
activities, cultural and native American issues, and visual impacts.
Additional issues to be addressed may arise during the scoping process.
Federal, state, and local agencies, and other individuals or
organizations that may be interested in or affected by the BLM's
decision on this Plan of Operations amendment are invited to
participate in the scoping process.
Dated: October 26, 2005.
Gerald M. Smith,
Field Manager, Battle Mountain Field Office.
[FR Doc. E5-6768 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
