Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Hollister Underground Mine Project, Elko County, NV, 20379 [2010-8906]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management
• Land Management Bureau

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 20379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8906]



[[Page 20379]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVE02000 L51100000.GN0000 LVEMF1000570 241A; MO:4500011675; 10-
08807; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Hollister Underground Mine Project, Elko County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tuscarora 
Field Office, Elko, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and to identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until May 19, 2010. The 
date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM 
Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html. 
In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last 
public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Hollister Underground 
Mine Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html.
     E-mail: janice_stadelman@blm.gov.
     Fax: (775) 753-0255.
     Mail: BLM Tuscarora Field Office, Attn. Janice Stadelman, 
3900 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada 89801.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tuscarora 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to the mailing list, contact Janice Stadelman, Project 
Lead, telephone (775) 753-0346; address 3900 Idaho St., Elko, Nevada 
89801; e-mail janice_stadelman@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rodeo Creek Gold Inc. has proposed an 
amendment to their plan of operations for the Hollister Underground 
Mine Project. The proposed amendment would expand Rodeo Creek Gold 
Inc.'s existing underground exploration activities into a full-scale 
underground mining operation. Most of the necessary infrastructure to 
support full-scale mining was authorized and built in conjunction with 
the underground exploration activities. Currently, the project has 
created 66 acres of approved surface disturbance on public lands, of 
which approximately 75 percent of the existing facilities are located 
on previously disturbed ground within an existing open pit mine. The 
proposed expansion to full-scale mining would disturb an additional 58 
acres of public land for a total of 124 acres of surface disturbance. 
The proposed action consists of constructing a new production shaft; 
improving existing roads; building a power transmission line to the 
mine site; upgrading ancillary facilities including storage areas, 
office, shop, and warehouse buildings; and continuing both surface and 
underground exploration. The full-scale project would augment the 
existing mine water management facilities that currently include a 
reverse-osmosis and desilting water treatment plant and rapid 
infiltration basins by adding underground dewatering wells and 
obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to 
authorize discharge of groundwater to Little Antelope Creek. The 
Hollister Project would haul the mined ore using highway-legal trucks 
to existing off-site milling facilities via existing roads that would 
be improved as needed; no on-site processing facilities are proposed. 
The project is expected to operate for 20 years. The proposed project 
is located in and adjacent to the Tosawihi Quarries Archaeological 
District and near the Tosawihi Quarries Traditional Cultural Properties 
(TCP), 47 miles northwest of Elko, Nevada, in Elko County.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: 
cultural resources, Native American religious concerns, hydrology, and 
noise.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f, as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted and 
Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets, if any. Federal, State, and local agencies, along 
with other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's 
decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping 
process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to 
participate as a cooperating agency.
    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 identifying 
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 1501.7.

Kenneth E. Miller,
Manager, Elko District Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-8906 Filed 4-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P