Notice of Intent: Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Red Dog Mine Extension-Aqqaluk Project in Northwestern Alaska, 50369 [E7-17306]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 169 (Friday, August 31, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 50369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17306]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6690-6]


Notice of Intent: Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Red Dog Mine Extension--Aqqaluk Project 
in Northwestern Alaska

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
    Purpose: In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), EPA, as the lead federal agency, has 
identified a need to prepare a supplemental EIS and therefore issues 
this Notice of Intent in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7.
    For a copy of the scoping document and to be placed on the project 
mailing list contact: Patty McGrath, Project Manager, Office of Water 
and Watersheds (OWW-135), U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, 
Seattle, Washington 98101, Telephone: (206) 553-0979, Fax: (206) 553-
0165, E-mail: mcgrath.patricia@epa.gov.
SUMMARY: The Red Dog Mine is an operating mine located in northwestern 
Alaska, approximately 82 miles north of Kotzebue. The mine is operated 
by Teck Cominco Alaska Incorporated (TCAK) under an Operating Agreement 
with the NANA Regional Corporation, the landowner. The Red Dog Mine 
includes an open pit lead-zinc mine, mill, tailings impoundment, waste 
rock storage areas, and support facilities. Lead and zinc concentrates 
are trucked 52 miles from the mine site to the DeLong Mountain Regional 
Transportation System port facility located on the Chukchi Sea. 
Nineteen miles of the road passes through Cape Krusenstern National 
Monument. The mine has been operating since 1989. TCAK has proposed to 
begin mining, by 2010, the Aqqaluk deposit which is an extension of the 
existing mine. TCAK proposes to use the existing mill, tailings 
impoundment, support facilities, road, and port site. The Aqqaluk 
deposit would extend the life of the Red Dog Mine to approximately 
2031.
    The Red Dog Mine project was evaluated in a previous EIS that was 
issued in 1984. Permits by the applicable state and federal regulatory 
programs were issued and the mine proceeded to development and 
operations. The 1984 EIS did not evaluate impacts from mining the 
Aqqaluk deposit, therefore EPA determined that a supplemental EIS will 
be prepared for the Aqqaluk proposal. In addition the supplemental EIS 
will discuss whether significant impacts or changes occurred that were 
not anticipated in the 1984 EIS.
    The administrative actions that the supplemental EIS must address 
include modifying an existing EPA Clean Water Act (CWA) National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) new source permit for 
the mine site and issuing a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CWA Section 
404 permit. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park 
Service, the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the 
Northwest Arctic Borough, and nine tribal governments (Buckland, Kiana, 
Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik, Shungnak) are 
participating as cooperating agencies in the NEPA process. The Maniilaq 
Association, a tribal consortium that provides health, social, and 
tribal services to the region, will represent the nine tribal 
governments throughout the NEPA process.
    Alternatives: The supplemental EIS will evaluate the ``no action'' 
alternative. Additional alternatives will be developed in response to 
issues raised during the scoping process. For example, there may be 
waste rock and tailings disposal alternatives, water management 
alternatives, and/or mine closure alternatives that will be evaluated.
    Scoping: The public scoping period begins with the publication of 
this Notice and concludes October 15, 2007. EPA invites Federal 
agencies, Native Tribes, State and local governments, and members of 
the public to comment on the scope of the supplemental EIS. Scoping 
meetings for the purpose of identifying issues to be evaluated in the 
supplemental EIS will be held in Anchorage on October 2, in Kotzebue on 
October 3, in Noatak on October 4, and in Kivalina on October 5. The 
exact locations and times of the meetings will be announced in local 
papers. The public is invited to attend and identify issues that should 
be addressed in the SEIS. A scoping document that explains in greater 
detail the project and alternatives identified at this time will be 
sent to known interested parties. The public can obtain a copy of the 
scoping document at the project Web site, www.reddogseis.com, or by 
contacting Patty McGrath at the phone number, e-mail address, and 
mailing address listed above in this notice.
    How to Comment: EPA invites public comment on the proposed scope of 
this supplemental EIS. Comments may be submitted by mail, electronic 
mail, or fax, to Patty McGrath at the contact information above, by 
close of business October 15, 2007.
    Estimated Date of EIS Release: Summer 2008.
    Responsible Official: Elin D. Miller, Regional Administrator.

    Dated: August 27, 2007.
Anne Norton Miller,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E7-17306 Filed 8-30-07; 8:45 am]
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