Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Round Mountain Expansion Project, Nye County, NV, 38217-38218 [E9-18265]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 146 / Friday, July 31, 2009 / Notices requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), by any party who submits a request for a copy of such documents within 30 days of the date of publication of this notice to Kris Olsen, by mail (see ADDRESSES) or by telephone at 303–236–4256. All comments we receive from individuals become part of the official public record. PWALKER on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES Applications The following applicants have requested issuance of enhancement of survival permits to conduct certain activities with endangered species pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Applicant: Mike Phillips, Turner Endangered Species Fund, Bozeman, Montana, TE–219757. The applicant requests a permit to take black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) in conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species’ range for the purpose of enhancing its survival and recovery. Applicant: Catherine Ortega, Ft. Lewis College, San Juan Institute of Natural Resources, Durango, Colorado, TE– 220822. The applicant requests a permit to take Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species’ range for the purpose of enhancing its survival and recovery. Applicant: David Johnson, Nelson Consulting, Inc., Durango, Colorado, TE–220648. The applicant requests a permit to take Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species’ range for the purpose of enhancing its survival and recovery. Applicant: Katie Fessler, ZooAmerica, North American Wildlife Park, Hershey, Pennsylvania, TE–220820. The applicant requests a permit to possess black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) for public display and propagation in conjunction with recovery activities for the purpose of enhancing its survival and recovery. Applicant: Brian Graeb, U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources Division, South Dakota Coop Unit, Brookings, South Dakota, TE–047249. The applicant requests a permit amendment to take pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus) in conjunction with recovery activities throughout the species’ range for the purpose of enhancing its survival and recovery. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:38 Jul 30, 2009 Jkt 217001 Dated: July 23, 2009. Noreen E. Walsh, Deputy Regional Director, Denver, Colorado. [FR Doc. E9–18286 Filed 7–30–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVB0200000.L51100000.GN0000. LVEMCF020000; 9–08807; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Round Mountain Expansion Project, Nye County, NV AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Battle Mountain District, Tonopah Field Office has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Round Mountain Expansion Project in Nye County, Nevada, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft EIS for the Round Mountain Expansion Project, Nye County, Nevada, within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media news releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted by the following methods: • BLM Web site: www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html. • Fax: (775) 482–7810; • E-mail: NV–E-mail Tonopah Field Office@blm.gov; or mail: • BLM, Attn: Field Manager, P.O. Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049. Copies of the Draft EIS for the Round Mountain Expansion Project, Nye County, Nevada, are available in the BLM Battle Mountain District, Tonopah Field Office at the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Williams, 775–482–7800. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Round Mountain Gold Corporation, which is a joint venture of Kinross Gold Corporation and Barrick Gold Corporation, proposes to expand its PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38217 Round Mountain Mine, an existing open-pit gold mining and processing operation. The proposed Round Mountain Expansion Project is located in: Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada T. 9 N., R. 43 E., Sec. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15 T. 9 N., R. 44 E., Sec. 6 T. 10 N., R. 43 E., Sec. 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35 and 36 T. 10 N., R. 44 E., Sec. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30 and 31 T. 11 N., R. 43 E., Sec. 25 and 36 T. 11 N., R. 44 E., Sec. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 The area described comprises 15,395 acres, more or less. The proposed project would increase the existing Round Mountain mine plan boundary by 3,122 acres to a total of 10,385 acres; expand the Round Mountain pit by 209 acres to approximately 1,289 acres; expand the dewatering operations by 1,325 gallons per minute (gpm) to a maximum rate of 7,525 gpm; conduct underground mining operations within the Round Mountain Pit; expand the north waste rock dump by 700 acres to approximately 1,919 acres; construct the new north dedicated leach pad with a footprint of approximately 538 acres, increase the daily production capacity of the Round Mountain mill from 11,000 tons per day to 22,000 tons per day; and increase tailings disposal capacity from a currently authorized 677 acres to approximately 1,563 acres. Development in the Gold Hill area would include delineating a Gold Hill project boundary of approximately 4,928 acres; excavating an open pit with a footprint of approximately 222 acres; creating two waste rock dumps with combined footprints of approximately 552 acres; constructing and operating a heap leach facility and lined solution ponds with a footprint of approximately 300 acres and constructing a 1.1 mile transportation and utility corridor of about 66.2 acres between the Round Mountain area and the Gold Hill area. The primary method of processing lowgrade ore in the Gold Hill area would be heap leaching. Depending on economics, the Gold Hill operation may be developed either concurrently with the Round Mountain operation or sequentially as mining in the Round Mountain area approaches completion. Construction and operation of the Round Mountain Expansion Project is projected to begin in early 2010 followed by an estimated 13 years E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM 31JYN1 PWALKER on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with NOTICES 38218 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 146 / Friday, July 31, 2009 / Notices of active mining and concurrent reclamation and an additional five years for ore processing and final reclamation. The Draft EIS addresses environmental issues identified by the BLM and other Federal and state agencies, as well as comments made during the public scoping period in 2006. A range of action alternatives have been developed and analyzed to address the concerns and issues that were identified. The Draft EIS analyzes the environmental effects of the proposed action and alternatives, including the No Action Alternative. The alternatives include processing all Gold Hill ore in the Gold Hill area rather than trucking some ore to Round Mountain for processing (Gold Hill area processing alternative); constructing an overpass rather than a grade crossing at the intersection of the transportation and utility corridor and County Road 875 (County Road Overpass Alternative) and completing mining at Round Mountain under current BLM authorizations (No Action Alternative). Other alternatives considered, and the rationale for their elimination from detailed analysis, are also discussed. Mitigation measures have been identified, as needed, to minimize potential environmental impacts. The Draft EIS includes an analysis of cumulative impacts to all resources and land uses, including an evaluation of potential impacts to Native American traditional values. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of respondents will be made available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identification information— may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 43 CFR 3809. Thomas J. Seley, Manager, Tonopah Field Office. [FR Doc. E9–18265 Filed 7–30–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:38 Jul 30, 2009 Jkt 217001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CO–840–1610–DQ] Notice of Availability of Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Colorado AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Proposed Resource Management Plan/ Final Environmental Impact Statement (PRMP/FEIS) for the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. DATES: The BLM planning regulations (43 CFR 1610.5–2) state that any person who meets the conditions as described in the regulations may protest the BLM’s Proposed RMP. A person who meets the conditions and files a protest must file the protest within 30 days of the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument PRMP/FEIS have been sent to affected Federal, Tribal, state, and local government agencies and to interested parties. Copies of the PRMP/FEIS are available for public review at: • Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323 • Dolores Public Lands Center, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323 • San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301 • Dolores Public Library, 420 Railroad Ave., Dolores, CO 81323 • Cortez Public Library, 202 N. Park, Cortez, CO 81321 • Mancos Public Library, 111 N. Main, Mancos, CO 81328 • Dolores County Extension Office, 409 N. Main, Dove Creek, CO 81324 • Durango Public Library, 1188 E. 2nd Ave., Durango, CO 81301 Interested persons may also review the PRMP/FEIS on the Internet at https:// www.blm.gov/rmp/canm/. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the following addresses: Regular Mail: Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC 20035. Overnight Mail: Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, 1620 L Street, NW., Suite 1075, Washington, DC 20036. PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Musclow, Monument Planner, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323; Phone: (970) 882– 5632. The planning area is located in southwest Colorado in Dolores and Montezuma Counties. The plan provides a framework to guide subsequent management decisions on approximately 166,000 acres managed by the BLM. Within the Monument boundary, there are approximately 400 acres of National Park Service lands (Hovenweep National Monument) and 17,560 acres of private inholdings. The Canyons of the Ancients National Monument is currently being managed under the BLM 1985 San Juan/San Miguel RMP and the Interim Guidance provided after the National Monument was established. The PRMP/FEIS will provide the management direction for the areas within the National Monument under BLM management. Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS received from the public and the internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the proposed plan. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but did not significantly change the proposed land use plan decisions. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding the Proposed PRMP/FEIS may be found in the Dear Reader Letter of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument PRMP/FEIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. Email and faxed protests will not be accepted as valid protests unless the protesting party also provides the original letter by either regular or overnight mail postmarked by the close of the protest period. Under these conditions, the BLM will consider the email or faxed protest as an advance copy of the protest and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please fax protests to the attention of the BLM protest coordinator at 202–452–5112, and e-mails to Brenda Hudgens-Williams@blm.gov. All protests, including the follow-up letter (if e-mailing or faxing) must be in writing and mailed to the appropriate address, as set forth in the ADDRESSES section above. Before including your phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your protest, you should be aware that your entire protest—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\31JYN1.SGM 31JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 146 (Friday, July 31, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38217-38218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18265]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB0200000.L51100000.GN0000. LVEMCF020000; 9-08807; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Round Mountain Expansion Project, Nye County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Battle Mountain District, 
Tonopah Field Office has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Round Mountain Expansion Project in Nye County, 
Nevada, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment 
period.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft EIS for the Round Mountain Expansion 
Project, Nye County, Nevada, within 45 days following the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings 
and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance 
through public notices, media news releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted by the following 
methods:
     BLM Web site: www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html.
     Fax: (775) 482-7810;
     E-mail: NV-E-mail Tonopah Field Office@blm.gov; or mail:
     BLM, Attn: Field Manager, P.O. Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049.
    Copies of the Draft EIS for the Round Mountain Expansion Project, 
Nye County, Nevada, are available in the BLM Battle Mountain District, 
Tonopah Field Office at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Williams, 775-482-7800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Round Mountain Gold Corporation, which is a 
joint venture of Kinross Gold Corporation and Barrick Gold Corporation, 
proposes to expand its Round Mountain Mine, an existing open-pit gold 
mining and processing operation. The proposed Round Mountain Expansion 
Project is located in:

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 9 N., R. 43 E.,
    Sec. 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15
T. 9 N., R. 44 E.,
    Sec. 6
T. 10 N., R. 43 E.,
    Sec. 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 34, 35 and 36
T. 10 N., R. 44 E.,
    Sec. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30 and 31
T. 11 N., R. 43 E.,
    Sec. 25 and 36
T. 11 N., R. 44 E.,
    Sec. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33

    The area described comprises 15,395 acres, more or less.

    The proposed project would increase the existing Round Mountain 
mine plan boundary by 3,122 acres to a total of 10,385 acres; expand 
the Round Mountain pit by 209 acres to approximately 1,289 acres; 
expand the dewatering operations by 1,325 gallons per minute (gpm) to a 
maximum rate of 7,525 gpm; conduct underground mining operations within 
the Round Mountain Pit; expand the north waste rock dump by 700 acres 
to approximately 1,919 acres; construct the new north dedicated leach 
pad with a footprint of approximately 538 acres, increase the daily 
production capacity of the Round Mountain mill from 11,000 tons per day 
to 22,000 tons per day; and increase tailings disposal capacity from a 
currently authorized 677 acres to approximately 1,563 acres.
    Development in the Gold Hill area would include delineating a Gold 
Hill project boundary of approximately 4,928 acres; excavating an open 
pit with a footprint of approximately 222 acres; creating two waste 
rock dumps with combined footprints of approximately 552 acres; 
constructing and operating a heap leach facility and lined solution 
ponds with a footprint of approximately 300 acres and constructing a 
1.1 mile transportation and utility corridor of about 66.2 acres 
between the Round Mountain area and the Gold Hill area. The primary 
method of processing low-grade ore in the Gold Hill area would be heap 
leaching.
    Depending on economics, the Gold Hill operation may be developed 
either concurrently with the Round Mountain operation or sequentially 
as mining in the Round Mountain area approaches completion. 
Construction and operation of the Round Mountain Expansion Project is 
projected to begin in early 2010 followed by an estimated 13 years

[[Page 38218]]

of active mining and concurrent reclamation and an additional five 
years for ore processing and final reclamation.
    The Draft EIS addresses environmental issues identified by the BLM 
and other Federal and state agencies, as well as comments made during 
the public scoping period in 2006. A range of action alternatives have 
been developed and analyzed to address the concerns and issues that 
were identified. The Draft EIS analyzes the environmental effects of 
the proposed action and alternatives, including the No Action 
Alternative.
    The alternatives include processing all Gold Hill ore in the Gold 
Hill area rather than trucking some ore to Round Mountain for 
processing (Gold Hill area processing alternative); constructing an 
overpass rather than a grade crossing at the intersection of the 
transportation and utility corridor and County Road 875 (County Road 
Overpass Alternative) and completing mining at Round Mountain under 
current BLM authorizations (No Action Alternative). Other alternatives 
considered, and the rationale for their elimination from detailed 
analysis, are also discussed. Mitigation measures have been identified, 
as needed, to minimize potential environmental impacts. The Draft EIS 
includes an analysis of cumulative impacts to all resources and land 
uses, including an evaluation of potential impacts to Native American 
traditional values. Please note that public comments and information 
submitted including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of 
respondents will be made available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identification 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 43 CFR 3809.

Thomas J. Seley,
Manager, Tonopah Field Office.
[FR Doc. E9-18265 Filed 7-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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