Kaibab National Forest; AZ; Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project, 60233-60234 [E8-23993]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016,
1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp.
1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
these court rulings, it is very important
that those interested in this proposed
action participate by the close of the 45
day comment period so that substantive
comments and objections are made
available to the Forest Service at a time
when it can meaningfully consider them
and respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. Reviewers may wish to
refer to the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22, 36
CFR 220.5(b) and Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21.
Dated: October 1, 2008.
Roberto Martinez,
District Ranger/Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. E8–24112 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Kaibab National Forest; AZ; Uranium
Exploratory Drilling Project
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is
preparing an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to consider and disclose
the effects of proposed exploratory
drilling for uranium on National Forest
System (NFS) land. The proposed
exploratory drilling project would occur
on mining claims held by VANE
Minerals, Inc. and Uranium One (with
all exploratory drilling to be completed
by VANE Minerals, Inc.) in the Tusayan
Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:11 Oct 09, 2008
Jkt 217001
within Townships 27, 28, 29 and 30
North, Ranges 2, 3, 4 and 5 East, Gila
and Salt River Meridian, Coconino
County, Arizona. Exploration is
proposed by VANE Minerals, Inc. to
determine whether uranium deposits
exist on these mining claims. A total of
25 drill sites are planned by VANE
Minerals, Inc. Shallow drill holes would
be drilled to determine whether or not
‘‘breccia pipes’’ occur at the site. Breccia
pipes are the geologic formations found
in the Colorado Plateau region that can
contain uranium minerals. Deep drill
holes would be drilled to confirm the
presence and extent of the breccia pipes
and to gather additional information
regarding the uranium concentrations
found in these pipes. This EIS will
include analyses and will disclose the
potential environmental effects for
future exploratory uranium drilling and
accompanying ground-disturbing
activities at the seven sites that were
part of the VANE project challenged in
Center for Biological Diversity v. Stahn,
Civ. No. 08–8031–PCT–MHM (D. Ariz.).
DATES: Comments on this proposal must
be received by the Kaibab National
Forest (Forest) within 30 days following
the publication of this notice in the
Federal Register. The Draft EIS (DEIS)
for the VANE Minerals Uranium
Exploratory Drilling Project (Project) is
expected to be available for public
review in March 2009. At that time, the
Environmental Protection Agency will
publish a Notice of Availability (NOA)
of the DEIS in the Federal Register. The
NOA will begin a period of public
review that will extend 45 days from the
date of publication of the NOA in the
Federal Register. The Final EIS (EElS)
and a Record of Decision (ROD) are
scheduled to be completed in December
2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this
notice may be mailed or hand-delivered
to Kaibab National Forest, Attn: VANE
Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling
Project, 800 S. 6th St., Williams, AZ
86046. Comments may also be
submitted by facsimile to (928) 635–
8208 and by electronic mail (e-mail) to
comments-southwesternkaibab@fs.fed.us. E-mail and facsimile
comments must include the words
‘‘VANE Minerals Uranium Exploratory
Drilling Project.’’
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information on the VANE
Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling
Project (Project), please contact Tom
Mutz, Lands and Minerals Staff Officer,
in writing at Williams and Tusayan
Ranger Districts, 742 S. Clover Rd.,
Williams AZ 86046 or by telephone at
(928) 635–5600. Questions regarding the
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
60233
Forest Service NEPA process may be
directed to Alvin Brown, Forest NEPA
Coordinator, at 800 S. 6th St., Williams,
AZ 86046 and telephone (928) 635–
8200.
The
information presented in this notice is
included to help reviewers determine if
they are interested in or potentially
affected by the proposed action.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
In 2006, VANE Minerals, Inc.
submitted a Plan of Operations to the
Forest Service to drill exploration holes
for uranium at a total of (10) sites within
the Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab
National Forest. A categorical exclusion
from documentation under the National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA)
was completed in December 2007, and
the Forest Service approved VANE
Minerals, Inc.’s plan to drill on seven (7)
of the ten (10) sites, in areas accessible
by Forest Service roads. Exploratory
drill operations began in March 2008,
and one site was completed.
A lawsuit was filed against the
agency’s use of a categorical exclusion
and a Preliminary Injunction (PI) was
ordered on further uranium exploratory
drilling. The original agency decision
has been withdrawn and an
environmental impact statement will be
completed on the balance of the original
ten (10) sites (one site had exploratory
drilling on it and was rehabilitated
before the PI was instituted by the
court), plus additional proposed sites
VANE Minerals, Inc. submitted to the
Forest Service in 2007.
The agency’s purpose is to analyze the
proposals from VANE Minerals, Inc. and
any reasonable alternatives, including
any mitigation measures to protect the
surface resources in the areas of
exploratory drilling in order to approve
a plan of operations for exploration. The
agency’s need for action is based on
statutes and policy that govern mining
on NFS land.
Most NFS land is subject to the
location of certain minerals under the
Mining Law of 1872, as amended (30
U.S.C. 21–54, et seq.), and the directives
in Forest Service Manual 2800.
Prospecting, locating and developing
the mineral resources on NFS land are
also subject to other rules and
regulations. These include, but are not
limited to, the 1897 Organic
Administration Act, the 1960 MultipleUse Sustained-Yield Act, the 1970
Mining and Minerals Policy Act, and
Regulations at Title 36, Code of Federal
Regulations, part 228A which sets forth
rules and procedures governing the use
of NFS lands in conjunction with
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
10OCN1
60234
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 198 / Friday, October 10, 2008 / Notices
operations authorized by general mining
laws.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to
authorize VANE Minerals, Inc. to
perform exploratory drilling at the 25
drill sites proposed. This Proposed
Action would constitute exploratory
drilling only. No mining extraction or
transporting of uranium minerals for
processing would be contemplated or
permitted by this proposal.
Public Involvement
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. The Forest received
several comments during the categorical
exclusion analysis in 2007 which will
be considered in this analysis. The
Forest Service encourages the public to
express issues, concerns, and
suggestions they may have about this
proposed action. Comments should be
directly related to issues associated with
the proposed action, rather than general
advocacy of or opposition to the project,
to best assist us in the NEPA analysis.
Although comments are welcome at any
time during this NEPA analysis, they
will be most useful to us if they are
received within 30 days following the
publication of this notice.
Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor for the Kaibab
National Forest of the Southwestern
Region of the USDA Forest Service is
the Responsible Official.
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is what plan
of operations to approve for exploration,
including any requirements for surface
resource protection. VANE Minerals,
Inc. has a statutory right to explore for
locatable minerals under the 1872
Mining Law.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact
statement will be prepared for comment.
The comment period on the draft
environmental impact statement will be
45 days from the date the
Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in
the Federal Register. The Forest Service
believes, at this early state, it is
important to give reviewers notice of
several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental
review process. First reviewers of draft
environmental impact statements must
structure their participation in the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
20:11 Oct 09, 2008
Jkt 217001
environmental review of the proposal so
that it is meaningful and alerts an
agency to the reviewer’s position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear
Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553
(1978). Also, environmental objections
that could be raised at the draft
environmental impact statement stage
but that are not raised until after the
completion of the final environmental
impact statement may be waived or
dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon
v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir.
1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v.
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D.
Wis. 1980). Because of these court
rulings, it is very important that those
interested in this proposed action
participate by the close of the 45-day
comment period so that substantive
comments and objections are made
available to the Forest Service at a time
when it can meaningfully consider them
and respond to them in the final
environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft environmental
impact statement should be as specific
as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft statement.
Comments may also address the
adequacy of the draft environmental
impact statement or the merits of the
alternatives formulated and discussed in
the statement. Reviewers may wish to
refer to the Council on Environmental
Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act at 40
CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21).
Dated: October 2, 2008.
Michael P. Williams,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8–23993 Filed 10–9–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Notice of Meeting; Federal Lands
Recreation Enhancement Act (Title VIII,
Pub. L. 108–447)
Black Hills National Forest,
Rocky Mountain Region.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ACTION:
Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: The Black Hills National
Forest Advisory Board, acting in its
capacity as the Black Hills National
Forest Recreation Resource Advisory
Committee (RRAC), will meet in Rapid
City, SD. The purpose of the meeting is
for the Committee to consider
recommending special recreation permit
fees to use the Black Hills National
Forest’s designated, motorized, offhighway vehicle trail system. Fees
would include a $20.00 weekly permit,
a $40.00 annual permit, and a $100.00
commercial vehicle annual permit. The
fees would be established pursuant to
Public Law 108–447 (H.R. 48 118),
September 8, 2004, Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2005, Title VillFederal Lands Recreation Enhancement
Act, Section 803 Recreation Fee
Authority, (h) Special Recreation Permit
Fee.
The meeting(s) will tentatively
be held October 15 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
This meeting will only be held if a
quorum of the Committee is present.
DATES:
The meeting will be held at
the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center;
LaCroix Hall, in Rapid City, South
Dakota. Details will be published prior
to the meeting on the Black Hills
National Forest Web site at https://
www.fs.fed.us/r2/blackhills, and in the
news media. Send written comments to
Craig Bobzien, Designated Federal
Official, 1019 N. 5th St., Custer, SD,
57730 or e-mail twillems@fs.fed.us.
ADDRESSES:
Tom
Willems, Black Hills National Forest
Travel Planner at 605–673–9217 or
twillems@fs.fed.us.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
meeting is open to the public. There
will be time on the agenda for timed
verbal comments (at the discretion of
the Chair) and the Chair may ask for
comments from the public at any time
during the meeting. People wishing to
speak at the meeting are asked to sign
in at the door with a name and contact
information. Public comments will be
taken based first-come, first-served. The
public may provide written comments
to the Committee staff. Check for the
status of the meeting, the final agenda,
and a special recreation permit fee
proposal at: https://wwwfs.fed.us/r2/
blackhills. The Recreation RAC is
authorized by the Federal Land
Recreation Enhancement Act, which
was signed into law by President Bush
in December 2004.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
E:\FR\FM\10OCN1.SGM
10OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 198 (Friday, October 10, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60233-60234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23993]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Kaibab National Forest; AZ; Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service is preparing an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to consider and disclose the effects of proposed
exploratory drilling for uranium on National Forest System (NFS) land.
The proposed exploratory drilling project would occur on mining claims
held by VANE Minerals, Inc. and Uranium One (with all exploratory
drilling to be completed by VANE Minerals, Inc.) in the Tusayan Ranger
District, Kaibab National Forest within Townships 27, 28, 29 and 30
North, Ranges 2, 3, 4 and 5 East, Gila and Salt River Meridian,
Coconino County, Arizona. Exploration is proposed by VANE Minerals,
Inc. to determine whether uranium deposits exist on these mining
claims. A total of 25 drill sites are planned by VANE Minerals, Inc.
Shallow drill holes would be drilled to determine whether or not
``breccia pipes'' occur at the site. Breccia pipes are the geologic
formations found in the Colorado Plateau region that can contain
uranium minerals. Deep drill holes would be drilled to confirm the
presence and extent of the breccia pipes and to gather additional
information regarding the uranium concentrations found in these pipes.
This EIS will include analyses and will disclose the potential
environmental effects for future exploratory uranium drilling and
accompanying ground-disturbing activities at the seven sites that were
part of the VANE project challenged in Center for Biological Diversity
v. Stahn, Civ. No. 08-8031-PCT-MHM (D. Ariz.).
DATES: Comments on this proposal must be received by the Kaibab
National Forest (Forest) within 30 days following the publication of
this notice in the Federal Register. The Draft EIS (DEIS) for the VANE
Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project (Project) is expected to
be available for public review in March 2009. At that time, the
Environmental Protection Agency will publish a Notice of Availability
(NOA) of the DEIS in the Federal Register. The NOA will begin a period
of public review that will extend 45 days from the date of publication
of the NOA in the Federal Register. The Final EIS (EElS) and a Record
of Decision (ROD) are scheduled to be completed in December 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments on this notice may be mailed or hand-
delivered to Kaibab National Forest, Attn: VANE Minerals Uranium
Exploratory Drilling Project, 800 S. 6th St., Williams, AZ 86046.
Comments may also be submitted by facsimile to (928) 635-8208 and by
electronic mail (e-mail) to comments-southwestern-kaibab@fs.fed.us. E-
mail and facsimile comments must include the words ``VANE Minerals
Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on the VANE
Minerals Uranium Exploratory Drilling Project (Project), please contact
Tom Mutz, Lands and Minerals Staff Officer, in writing at Williams and
Tusayan Ranger Districts, 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams AZ 86046 or by
telephone at (928) 635-5600. Questions regarding the Forest Service
NEPA process may be directed to Alvin Brown, Forest NEPA Coordinator,
at 800 S. 6th St., Williams, AZ 86046 and telephone (928) 635-8200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information presented in this notice is
included to help reviewers determine if they are interested in or
potentially affected by the proposed action.
Purpose and Need for Action
In 2006, VANE Minerals, Inc. submitted a Plan of Operations to the
Forest Service to drill exploration holes for uranium at a total of
(10) sites within the Tusayan Ranger District, Kaibab National Forest.
A categorical exclusion from documentation under the National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) was completed in December 2007, and
the Forest Service approved VANE Minerals, Inc.'s plan to drill on
seven (7) of the ten (10) sites, in areas accessible by Forest Service
roads. Exploratory drill operations began in March 2008, and one site
was completed.
A lawsuit was filed against the agency's use of a categorical
exclusion and a Preliminary Injunction (PI) was ordered on further
uranium exploratory drilling. The original agency decision has been
withdrawn and an environmental impact statement will be completed on
the balance of the original ten (10) sites (one site had exploratory
drilling on it and was rehabilitated before the PI was instituted by
the court), plus additional proposed sites VANE Minerals, Inc.
submitted to the Forest Service in 2007.
The agency's purpose is to analyze the proposals from VANE
Minerals, Inc. and any reasonable alternatives, including any
mitigation measures to protect the surface resources in the areas of
exploratory drilling in order to approve a plan of operations for
exploration. The agency's need for action is based on statutes and
policy that govern mining on NFS land.
Most NFS land is subject to the location of certain minerals under
the Mining Law of 1872, as amended (30 U.S.C. 21-54, et seq.), and the
directives in Forest Service Manual 2800. Prospecting, locating and
developing the mineral resources on NFS land are also subject to other
rules and regulations. These include, but are not limited to, the 1897
Organic Administration Act, the 1960 Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act,
the 1970 Mining and Minerals Policy Act, and Regulations at Title 36,
Code of Federal Regulations, part 228A which sets forth rules and
procedures governing the use of NFS lands in conjunction with
[[Page 60234]]
operations authorized by general mining laws.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to authorize VANE Minerals, Inc. to
perform exploratory drilling at the 25 drill sites proposed. This
Proposed Action would constitute exploratory drilling only. No mining
extraction or transporting of uranium minerals for processing would be
contemplated or permitted by this proposal.
Public Involvement
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest
received several comments during the categorical exclusion analysis in
2007 which will be considered in this analysis. The Forest Service
encourages the public to express issues, concerns, and suggestions they
may have about this proposed action. Comments should be directly
related to issues associated with the proposed action, rather than
general advocacy of or opposition to the project, to best assist us in
the NEPA analysis. Although comments are welcome at any time during
this NEPA analysis, they will be most useful to us if they are received
within 30 days following the publication of this notice.
Responsible Official
The Forest Supervisor for the Kaibab National Forest of the
Southwestern Region of the USDA Forest Service is the Responsible
Official.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is what plan of operations to approve for
exploration, including any requirements for surface resource
protection. VANE Minerals, Inc. has a statutory right to explore for
locatable minerals under the 1872 Mining Law.
Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review
A draft environmental impact statement will be prepared for
comment. The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement
will be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register. The
Forest Service believes, at this early state, it is important to give
reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised
until after the completion of the final environmental impact statement
may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803
F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v.
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this
proposed action participate by the close of the 45-day comment period
so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and
respond to them in the final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21).
Dated: October 2, 2008.
Michael P. Williams,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8-23993 Filed 10-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
