Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald Mountain Mine North Operations Area Project in White Pine County, NV, 58648 [E9-27325]

Download as PDF 58648 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 218 / Friday, November 13, 2009 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES inspection at BLM’s Bakersfield Field Office (3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308) and the California State Office (2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825). Interested persons may also review the CPNM PRMP/FEIS at the following Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ ca/bakersfield. All protests must be in writing and mailed to the following addresses: Regular Mail (U.S. Postal Service): Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, P.O. Box 66538, Washington, DC 20035. Overnight Mail (non-U.S. Postal Service): Director (210), Attention: Brenda Williams, 1620 L Street, NW., Suite 1075, Washington, DC 20036. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Johna Hurl, Carrizo Plain National Monument Manager, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308, (661) 391– 6093. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The planning area for the CPNM PRMP/FEIS falls within the Bakersfield Field Office’s area of management responsibility. The planning area comprises the Carrizo Plain National Monument. A total of 200,000 acres of public lands are administered by the BLM in the planning area. The decisions in the RMP will only apply to the BLM-administered public lands and mineral estate within the planning area. Comments on the Draft RMP/EIS received from the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into the PRMP. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and several changes to the decisions contained in the PRMP, including adding lands to be managed for Wilderness characteristics and limiting vehicle use on monument roads to street licensed vehicles only. However, these comments did not result in significant changes to the decisions in the PRMP. Instructions for filing a protest with the Director of the BLM regarding this plan may be found in the Dear Reader Letter of the CPNM PRMP/ FEIS and at 43 CFR 1610.5–2. E-mail 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. If these conditions are met, the BLM will consider the e-mail or faxed protest as an advance copy and it will receive full consideration. If you wish to provide the BLM with such advance notification, please direct faxed protests to the attention of the BLM protest coordinator at 202–452–5112, and VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:07 Nov 12, 2009 Jkt 220001 e-mails to Brenda_HudgensWilliams@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. Timothy Z. Smith, Bakersfield Field Manager. [FR Doc. E9–27323 Filed 11–12–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVL00000.L51100000. GN0000.LVEMCF050000; 09–08807; TAS: 14X5017] Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald Mountain Mine North Operations Area Project in White Pine County, NV AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Nevada Ely District has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed expansion of the existing plans of operation for Barrick Gold U.S. Inc.’s Bald Mountain Mine and Mooney Basin Mine. The two existing mines would be combined into one new expanded operation which would be called the North Operations Area. The Final EIS analyzes the environmental effects of the Proposed Action, two action alternatives, and the No Action Alternative. DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days following the Environmental Protection Agency’s publication of a Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Print and compact disk copies of the North Operations Area Final EIS are available in the Ely District Office at 702 North Industrial Way, HC33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301. The document is available at: https:// www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field _office.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Bjorklund, phone: 775 289–1893, e-mail: Lynn_Bjorklund@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. has submitted a proposal to expand and combine its existing Bald Mountain and Mooney Basin mines into one project area to be administered PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 under the North Operations Area Plan of Operation. The mines are located approximately 65 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada. This proposed expansion is entirely on unpatented mining claims on BLM-administered public land. The proposed North Operations Area would include 4,160 acres of previously permitted disturbance and 3,920 acres of new disturbance, for a total of 8,080 acres. The project would consist of extending existing open pits, expanding existing rock disposal areas and heap leach facilities, construction of a truck shop, additional exploration, concurrent reclamation, and continuing operation of existing facilities. The projected life of the existing mine operation would increase by approximately ten years under this proposed project. The Draft EIS analyzed the Proposed Action and two action alternatives. The alternatives were a partial pit backfill and a leach pad alternative whereby the expansion of the Mooney Basin leach pad would be reduced by processing the ore at the existing Bald Mountain leach pad. Both the BLM and the Nevada Department of Wildlife have designated the partial pit backfill as the Preferred Alternative. The Draft EIS was released for public review on December 19, 2008. Public meetings were held in Nevada during a 45-day public comment period in Ely, Elko, and Eureka, Jan. 6–8, 2009. A total of 17 comment letters were received throughout the comment period. All comments were analyzed and appropriate changes or clarifications were incorporated into the Final EIS. The BLM will prepare a Record of Decision for the proposed project no earlier than 30 days following the publication of the Notice of Availability by the Environmental Protection Agency of the Final EIS. Authority: 43 CFR part 3809. Jeffrey A. Weeks, Associate District Manager. [FR Doc. E9–27325 Filed 11–12–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Reclamation Proposed New Central Valley Project Water Service Contract, El Dorado County Water Agency, El Dorado County, CA AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior. ACTION: Reopening of comment period for review of the Draft Environmental E:\FR\FM\13NON1.SGM 13NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 218 (Friday, November 13, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 58648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27325]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL00000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMCF050000; 09-08807; TAS: 14X5017]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald Mountain Mine 
North Operations Area Project in White Pine County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) Nevada Ely District has prepared a Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for a proposed expansion of the existing plans of 
operation for Barrick Gold U.S. Inc.'s Bald Mountain Mine and Mooney 
Basin Mine. The two existing mines would be combined into one new 
expanded operation which would be called the North Operations Area. The 
Final EIS analyzes the environmental effects of the Proposed Action, 
two action alternatives, and the No Action Alternative.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days following the Environmental Protection Agency's 
publication of a Notice of Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Print and compact disk copies of the North Operations Area 
Final EIS are available in the Ely District Office at 702 North 
Industrial Way, HC33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301. The document is 
available at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Bjorklund, phone: 775 289-1893, 
e-mail: Lynn_Bjorklund@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. has submitted a 
proposal to expand and combine its existing Bald Mountain and Mooney 
Basin mines into one project area to be administered under the North 
Operations Area Plan of Operation. The mines are located approximately 
65 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada. This proposed expansion is entirely 
on unpatented mining claims on BLM-administered public land. The 
proposed North Operations Area would include 4,160 acres of previously 
permitted disturbance and 3,920 acres of new disturbance, for a total 
of 8,080 acres. The project would consist of extending existing open 
pits, expanding existing rock disposal areas and heap leach facilities, 
construction of a truck shop, additional exploration, concurrent 
reclamation, and continuing operation of existing facilities. The 
projected life of the existing mine operation would increase by 
approximately ten years under this proposed project.
    The Draft EIS analyzed the Proposed Action and two action 
alternatives. The alternatives were a partial pit backfill and a leach 
pad alternative whereby the expansion of the Mooney Basin leach pad 
would be reduced by processing the ore at the existing Bald Mountain 
leach pad. Both the BLM and the Nevada Department of Wildlife have 
designated the partial pit backfill as the Preferred Alternative.
    The Draft EIS was released for public review on December 19, 2008. 
Public meetings were held in Nevada during a 45-day public comment 
period in Ely, Elko, and Eureka, Jan. 6-8, 2009. A total of 17 comment 
letters were received throughout the comment period. All comments were 
analyzed and appropriate changes or clarifications were incorporated 
into the Final EIS. The BLM will prepare a Record of Decision for the 
proposed project no earlier than 30 days following the publication of 
the Notice of Availability by the Environmental Protection Agency of 
the Final EIS.

    Authority:  43 CFR part 3809.

Jeffrey A. Weeks,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. E9-27325 Filed 11-12-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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