Superior National Forest Federal Hardrock Mineral Prospecting Permits Project., 77605-77606 [E8-30167]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 245 / Friday, December 19, 2008 / Notices
public workshops were held in Eureka,
Willow Creek, and Mad River, CA to
inform the public about the Travel
Management Rule. In October 2007 and
April, May, and June 2008, public
workshops were held in those same
locations to gather information from the
public about which routes they use and
their concerns. Additionally, maps of
inventoried routes were available on the
Forest’s Web site and Forest Service
offices. The public used these maps to
provide input into the process.
The comment period on the proposed
action will extend 45 days from the date
this Notice of Intent is published in the
Federal Register.
The draft environmental impact
statement is expected to be filed with
the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and to be available for public
review by spring 2009. EPA will publish
a notice of availability of the draft EIS
in the Federal Register. The comment
period on the draft EIS will extend 45
days from the date the EPA notice
appears in the Federal Register. At that
time, copies of the draft EIS will be
distributed to interested and affected
agencies, organizations, and members of
the public for their review and
comment. It is very important that those
interested in the management of the Six
Rivers NF participate at that time.
The final EIS is scheduled to be
completed in summer 2009. In the final
EIS, the Forest Service will respond to
comments received during the comment
period that are: within the scope of the
proposed action; specific to the
proposed action; have a direct
relationship with the proposed action;
and include supporting reasons for the
responsible official to consider.
Submission of comments to the draft
EIS is a prerequisite for eligibility to
appeal under the 36 CFR part 215
regulations.
Comment Requested
This Notice of Intent initiates the
scoping process which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement.
Early Notice of Importance of Public
Participation in Subsequent
Environmental Review: A draft EIS will
be prepared for comment. The comment
period on the draft EIS will be 45 days
from the date the EPA publishes the
notice of availability in the Federal
Register.
At this early stage, it is important to
give reviewers notice of several court
rulings related to public participation in
the environmental review process. First,
reviewers of draft EISs must structure
their participation in the environmental
review of the proposal so that it is
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:29 Dec 18, 2008
Jkt 217001
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 EIS stage but that are
not raised until after completion of the
final EIS 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
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 EIS.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments on the draft EIS should be as
specific as possible. It is also helpful if
comments refer to specific pages or
chapters of the draft EIS. Comments
may also address the adequacy of the
draft EIS 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: December 12, 2008.
Tyrone Kelley,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8–30047 Filed 12–18–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Superior National Forest Federal
Hardrock Mineral Prospecting Permits
Project.
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS).
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: This analysis would address
federal hardrock mineral exploration in
terms of 32 current permit applications,
future permit applications, current and
future operating plans, and future use
and occupancy authorizations (Special
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77605
Use Permits) on the Superior National
Forest (SNF) over the next 20 years. The
project area covers all SNF managed
lands available to mineral exploration.
In accordance with the SNF Land and
Resource Mangement Plan, the
Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness, Mining Protection Area,
and Eligible Wild River Segments are
not available to mineral exploration.
The Forest Service is the lead agency for
this EIS and the United States
Department of the Interior (USDI),
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a
cooperating agency. As a cooperating
agency, the BLM will adopt the EIS to
support their own Record of Decision.
Federal laws and policies will be
outlined in the EIS that will require the
SNF, as the agency managing the
surface, and the BLM, as the agency
responsible for managing sub-surface
minerals resources, to consider the
Prospecting Permit applications. Based
on the Forest Service’s
recommendations and consent, the BLM
will review those recommendations and
decide whether to authorize the
prospecting permits and operating
plans.
DATES: Scoping for this project is
planned for January 2009. When the
scoping package is completed, it will be
sent out for public review and comment.
At that time, it will also be available for
review, along with supplemental large
scale maps, on the Internet at the
following Web site: https://
www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/
projects/. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected February
2010 and the final environmental
impact statement is expected June 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
James W. Sanders, Forest Supervisor,
8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN
55808.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you would like additional information
or have questions regarding this action,
contact Patty Beyer, Project Coordinator
at 906–226–1499 or Michael Jimenez,
Forest Planner at 218–626–4383.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for this project
is three-fold.
First: Analyze the effects to the
environment from 32 permit
applications and any future prospecting
permit applications for hardrock
mineral prospecting, and, determine: (a)
If the lands requested under the 32
permit applications are available for
mineral prospecting and what lands are
available for future prospecting permit
applications; (b) If activities carried out
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
19DEN1
77606
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 245 / Friday, December 19, 2008 / Notices
under such permits are consistent with
the purpose for which the land was
acquired; and (c) What stipulations will
be required for prospecting permits to
be issued. The stipulations will include
requirements for the protection of
surface resources, and for access,
construction, or use and protection of
existing roads.
Second: Analyze the effects to the
environment from future prospecting
permit exploration operating plan
activities associated with the 32
prospecting permit applications and
future prospecting permit applications
and to define the terms and conditions
and best management practices (BMPs)
that would be included in the Forest
Service’s consent to the BLM for
approval of the operating plans. The
terms and conditions and BMPs will
include requirements for the protection
of surface resources, and for access,
construction, or use of existing roads.
Third: Analyze effects of special uses
located outside of prospecting permit
areas (off-permit areas). These activities
will be administered under Forest
Service Special Use Permits. This
includes the need to evaluate the effects
from road construction and road
reconstruction on off-permit areas.
Although specific proposals have not
been made, estimates can be made
regarding access needs to sites based on
previous experience.
Proposed Action
The BLM has received 32 prospecting
permit applications from four
companies for federal hardrock mineral
prospecting on the SNF. The
applications cover approximately
43,446 acres and are located within the
geologic complex call the Duluth
Complex. The main target minerals
include copper, nickel, cobalt, lead,
zinc, silver, gold, titanium, Platinum
Group Elements (PGE) and other
associated minerals. In addition, all
lands available for mineral exploration
within the SNF will be analyzed for
future prospecting permit applications
and associated operating plans.
Prospecting permits, if issued, include
various exploration activities under
operating plans such as drilling to
obtain core samples and air-or-ground
based geophysical surveys to determine
the location and extent of
mineralization, and where ore deposits
may be located.
Responsible Official and Nature of
Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official for the
Forest Service, the Forest Supervisor for
the Superior National Forest, will
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17:29 Dec 18, 2008
Jkt 217001
decide the following three items based
on the environmental analysis:
1. What consent recommendations
and stipulations will be provided to the
Regional Forester so that he may advise
the BLM whether the Forest Service
consents to the issuance of: (a) The 32
federal hardrock mineral prospecting
permit applications, and (b) future
hardrock mineral prospecting permits.
2. What advice will be provided to the
BLM including terms and conditions
and best management practices required
for the protection of surface resources,
and for access, construction, or use and
protection of existing roads for: (a)
Operating plans associated with the
current 32 federal hardrock mineral
prospecting permit applications, and (b)
future operating plans associated with
future hardrock minerals prospecting
permits.
3. Whether to issue future special use
and occupancy authorizations for offprospecting permit areas activities
associated with mineral exploration
operating plans and what terms and
conditions will be required for the
protection and management of surface
resources. The responsible official for
the BLM, the Deputy State Director, will
decide in a Record of Decision, whether
to approve pending and future hardrock
prospecting permits and associated
operating plans.
Scoping Process
Public scoping will include notices in
the newspaper of record, mailing of the
scoping package (detailed information
of the purpose and need for the project,
the proposed action, description of the
project area, maps, and proposed
stipulations, terms and conditions, and
best management practices) to interested
and affected publics and posting of the
project on the agency’s project planning
Web page and notice in the agency’s
quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping proces which guides the
development of the environmental
impact statement. 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: November 19, 2008.
James W. Sanders,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8–30167 Filed 12–18–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM
PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR
SEVERELY DISABLED
Procurement List; Additions and
Deletion
AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From
People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled.
ACTION: Additions to and Deletion from
Procurement List.
SUMMARY: This action adds to the
Procurement List products to be
furnished by nonprofit agencies
employing persons who are blind or
have other severe disabilities, and
deletes from the Procurement List a
product previously furnished by such
agencies.
Effective Date: 1/19/2009.
Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely
Disabled, Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800,
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway,
Arlington, Virginia, 22202–3259.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703)
603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
ADDRESSES:
Additions
On 10/10/2008, the Committee for
Purchase From People Who Are Blind
or Severely Disabled published notice
(73 FR 60236) of proposed additions to
the Procurement List.
After consideration of the material
presented to it concerning capability of
qualified nonprofit agencies to provide
the product and impact of the additions
on the current or most recent
contractors, the Committee has
determined that the product listed
below are suitable for procurement by
the Federal Government under 41 U.S.C.
46–48c and 41 CFR 51–2.4.
Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification
I certify that the following action will
not have a significant impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
The major factors considered for this
certification were:
1. The action will not result in any
additional reporting, recordkeeping or
other compliance requirements for small
entities other than the small
organizations that will furnish the
products to the Government.
2. The action will result in
authorizing small entities to furnish the
products to the Government.
3. There are no known regulatory
alternatives which would accomplish
the objectives of the Javits-Wagner-
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 245 (Friday, December 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77605-77606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30167]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Superior National Forest Federal Hardrock Mineral Prospecting
Permits Project.
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This analysis would address federal hardrock mineral
exploration in terms of 32 current permit applications, future permit
applications, current and future operating plans, and future use and
occupancy authorizations (Special Use Permits) on the Superior National
Forest (SNF) over the next 20 years. The project area covers all SNF
managed lands available to mineral exploration. In accordance with the
SNF Land and Resource Mangement Plan, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness, Mining Protection Area, and Eligible Wild River Segments
are not available to mineral exploration. The Forest Service is the
lead agency for this EIS and the United States Department of the
Interior (USDI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a cooperating
agency. As a cooperating agency, the BLM will adopt the EIS to support
their own Record of Decision. Federal laws and policies will be
outlined in the EIS that will require the SNF, as the agency managing
the surface, and the BLM, as the agency responsible for managing sub-
surface minerals resources, to consider the Prospecting Permit
applications. Based on the Forest Service's recommendations and
consent, the BLM will review those recommendations and decide whether
to authorize the prospecting permits and operating plans.
DATES: Scoping for this project is planned for January 2009. When the
scoping package is completed, it will be sent out for public review and
comment. At that time, it will also be available for review, along with
supplemental large scale maps, on the Internet at the following Web
site: https://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/projects/. The draft
environmental impact statement is expected February 2010 and the final
environmental impact statement is expected June 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to James W. Sanders, Forest
Supervisor, 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like additional
information or have questions regarding this action, contact Patty
Beyer, Project Coordinator at 906-226-1499 or Michael Jimenez, Forest
Planner at 218-626-4383.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for this project is three-fold.
First: Analyze the effects to the environment from 32 permit
applications and any future prospecting permit applications for
hardrock mineral prospecting, and, determine: (a) If the lands
requested under the 32 permit applications are available for mineral
prospecting and what lands are available for future prospecting permit
applications; (b) If activities carried out
[[Page 77606]]
under such permits are consistent with the purpose for which the land
was acquired; and (c) What stipulations will be required for
prospecting permits to be issued. The stipulations will include
requirements for the protection of surface resources, and for access,
construction, or use and protection of existing roads.
Second: Analyze the effects to the environment from future
prospecting permit exploration operating plan activities associated
with the 32 prospecting permit applications and future prospecting
permit applications and to define the terms and conditions and best
management practices (BMPs) that would be included in the Forest
Service's consent to the BLM for approval of the operating plans. The
terms and conditions and BMPs will include requirements for the
protection of surface resources, and for access, construction, or use
of existing roads.
Third: Analyze effects of special uses located outside of
prospecting permit areas (off-permit areas). These activities will be
administered under Forest Service Special Use Permits. This includes
the need to evaluate the effects from road construction and road
reconstruction on off-permit areas. Although specific proposals have
not been made, estimates can be made regarding access needs to sites
based on previous experience.
Proposed Action
The BLM has received 32 prospecting permit applications from four
companies for federal hardrock mineral prospecting on the SNF. The
applications cover approximately 43,446 acres and are located within
the geologic complex call the Duluth Complex. The main target minerals
include copper, nickel, cobalt, lead, zinc, silver, gold, titanium,
Platinum Group Elements (PGE) and other associated minerals. In
addition, all lands available for mineral exploration within the SNF
will be analyzed for future prospecting permit applications and
associated operating plans. Prospecting permits, if issued, include
various exploration activities under operating plans such as drilling
to obtain core samples and air-or-ground based geophysical surveys to
determine the location and extent of mineralization, and where ore
deposits may be located.
Responsible Official and Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official for the Forest Service, the Forest
Supervisor for the Superior National Forest, will decide the following
three items based on the environmental analysis:
1. What consent recommendations and stipulations will be provided
to the Regional Forester so that he may advise the BLM whether the
Forest Service consents to the issuance of: (a) The 32 federal hardrock
mineral prospecting permit applications, and (b) future hardrock
mineral prospecting permits.
2. What advice will be provided to the BLM including terms and
conditions and best management practices required for the protection of
surface resources, and for access, construction, or use and protection
of existing roads for: (a) Operating plans associated with the current
32 federal hardrock mineral prospecting permit applications, and (b)
future operating plans associated with future hardrock minerals
prospecting permits.
3. Whether to issue future special use and occupancy authorizations
for off-prospecting permit areas activities associated with mineral
exploration operating plans and what terms and conditions will be
required for the protection and management of surface resources. The
responsible official for the BLM, the Deputy State Director, will
decide in a Record of Decision, whether to approve pending and future
hardrock prospecting permits and associated operating plans.
Scoping Process
Public scoping will include notices in the newspaper of record,
mailing of the scoping package (detailed information of the purpose and
need for the project, the proposed action, description of the project
area, maps, and proposed stipulations, terms and conditions, and best
management practices) to interested and affected publics and posting of
the project on the agency's project planning Web page and notice in the
agency's quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping proces which guides the
development of the environmental impact statement. 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: November 19, 2008.
James W. Sanders,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8-30167 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
