Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lost Creek In Situ Uranium Recovery Project in Sweetwater County, WY, 7877-7878 [2011-3073]
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jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 29 / Friday, February 11, 2011 / Notices
Draft Environmental Assessment
We are announcing the availability of
a draft Environmental Assessment (EA)
that was prepared to evaluate potential
environmental effects associated with
our authorization or denial of IDFG’s
proposal to lethally take wolves in the
Lolo Zone in an effort to reduce wolf
populations to a minimum of 20 to 30
wolves in 3 to 5 packs and reduce
predation pressure on the elk
population in that zone. A No Action
and Preferred Action are described, and
the environmental consequences of each
alternative are analyzed.
No-Action Alternative (Deny
Requested Authorization). Under the
No-Action Alternative, the Service
would deny IDFG’s 10(j) proposal to
remove wolves in the Lolo Elk
Management Zone, and current
management direction for wolves would
continue. In the Lolo Elk Management
Zone, wolves would be managed by the
Service or their designated agent and
could be removed when livestock, stock
animals, or dogs are killed by wolves as
currently provided for in the 2008 10(j)
rule (73 FR 4720, January 28, 2008). The
No-Action Alternative management
strategy would not include lethal
removal of wolves in response to
predation on wild ungulate populations.
The No-Action Alternative would
continue to allow management activities
by State and Tribal governments to
address major causes of elk declines
other than wolf predation. Past
management activities have included
changes in elk hunting seasons and
harvest strategies, changes in black bear
and mountain lion seasons to address
low calf survival, and efforts to improve
elk habitat. These management activities
would not be affected under the NoAction Alternative.
Preferred Alternative (Approve
Requested Authorization). Under the
preferred alternative, the Service would
approve the IDFG 10(j) proposal to
remove wolves in the Lolo Elk
Management Zone to reduce wolf
predation on elk populations over a 5year period. This alternative would
provide an adaptive management
strategy to reduce the wolf population.
Wolves would be removed to manage
for a minimum of 20 to 30 wolves in 3
to 5 packs. Based on the 2009 year-end
wolf population estimate of 76 wolves
residing in the Lolo Elk Management
Zone, the initial removal is estimated to
be a minimum of 40 to 50 wolves.
Levels of wolf removal in subsequent
years are expected to be lower, and
would be based on wolf population
monitoring. Management activities
would be intended to protect the elk
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population in the Lolo Elk Management
Zone while maintaining wolf
populations that meet recovery
objectives. This alternative includes
monitoring both wolf and elk
populations yearly to determine elk
response to the implementation of
management activities and whether
adaptive changes in wolf removal are
needed based on yearly monitoring
results.
Wolf removal would be accomplished
by IDFG personnel and other approved
agents of the State of Idaho. Wolves that
inhabit the Lolo Elk Management Zone
would be targeted for removal. Removal
would be accomplished using legal
means approved by the Service under
provisions of the Service’s 2008 10(j)
rule. Wolf control will occur through
shooting from aircraft or from the
ground, or by capture with foothold
traps or snares followed by euthanasia.
IDFG is not proposing to use poison or
other chemical means to control wolves.
The goal of the removal would be to
reduce pack sizes and, when
appropriate, to remove entire packs. The
primary removal effort would occur
during the winter months. Most wolf
control would occur on U.S. Forest
Service lands outside of designated
wilderness. IDFG is not proposing to use
aircraft to remove wolves from within
designated wilderness. Wolf carcasses
would be recovered from the field,
when possible, and processed for
collection of biological data. Hides and
skulls would be used for educational
purposes.
Next Steps
After the comment period ends, we
will analyze comments received and
determine whether to: (1) Prepare a final
EA and Finding of No Significant
Impact and authorize lethal take of
wolves in the Lolo Zone under section
10(j) of the ESA in response to wolf
impacts on elk populations, (2)
reconsider our preferred alternative and
deny IDFG’s proposal, or (3) determine
that an Environmental Impact Statement
should be prepared prior to authorizing
or denying IDFG’s proposal.
Public Availability of Comments
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.
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7877
Authorities
The Environmental Review of this
project will be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.): NEPA Regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508); other appropriate Federal
laws and regulations; Executive Order
12996; and Service policies and
procedures for compliance with those
laws and regulations.
Dated: February 4, 2011.
Theresa E. Rabot,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011–3064 Filed 2–10–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYD03000. L51100000. GN0000.
LVEMK10CW580]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Lost Creek In Situ
Uranium Recovery Project in
Sweetwater County, WY
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field
Office, Rawlins, Wyoming, 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 identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. Comments
on issues may be submitted in writing
until March 14, 2011. 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/wy/st/en/info/
NEPA/rfodocs/lostcreek.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. We will provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Lost Creek In Situ
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM
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7878
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 29 / Friday, February 11, 2011 / Notices
Recovery Project by any of the following
methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/
st/en/info/NEPA/rfodocs/lostcreek.html;
• E-mail:
Lost_Crk_Mine_WY@blm.gov;
• Fax: (307) 328–4224; or
• Mail: Rawlins Field Office,
Attention: Eldon Allison, 1300 North
Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins,
Wyoming 82301–2407.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Rawlins Field
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information and/or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact
Eldon Allison, Team Leader, telephone
(307) 328–4267; address 1300 North
Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins,
Wyoming 82301–2407; e-mail
Eldon_Allison@blm.gov.
The
applicant Lost Creek ISR LLC (Lost
Creek) has filed a plan of operations
pursuant to the 43 CFR subpart 3809
regulations to construct an ore recovery
plant, an access road to the site, and a
pipeline system for the flow of oxidizing
leach solution to injection wells and
return of fluids from recovery wells to
the recovery plant site; to drill injection,
recovery and monitoring wells; and to
construct associated facilities such as
parking lots, power lines, etc.
Development and recovery of the
uranium consists of dissolving
underground uranium-bearing minerals
into solution and then bringing it to the
surface facility for concentration.
The Lost Creek ISR project is located
about 40 miles northwest of Rawlins,
Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. More
specifically, the project is located in
sections 16–20, 29–31, T. 25 N., R. 92
W., and sections 13, 24, and 25, T. 25
N., R. 93 W. The project area boundary
includes approximately 4,250 acres, but
no more than 324 acres would be
subjected to actual surface disturbance
and would be approved by the BLM.
Most of the surface disturbance would
be related to construction of the well
pads used to extract the uranium in
solution from the site. Construction
would occur year round. The plant site
would comprise approximately 10 acres,
including parking space for about 50–60
employees. Multiple subsurface ore
bodies range in depth from about 300–
700 feet below the surface. Each of the
six separate cells containing uranium
would be established and mined one at
a time. It is expected that mining
operations would last about 8 years. An
estimated additional 3 years would be
required for startup and closure of the
site for a total project length of 11 years.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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A proposed final reclamation plan for
the project area has been submitted. All
surface facilities would be removed
when the project is completed and the
land re-contoured to near predisturbance condition and re-vegetated.
In conjunction with this proposal,
Lost Creek has also applied for a
material source license from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC). The
NRC is in the process of conducting its
own environmental review and has
released a draft Supplemental EIS. BLM
may decide it is appropriate to
incorporate by reference into its own
EIS all or part of the NRC’s
Supplemental EIS once it is complete.
In 2009, the BLM and the NRC entered
into a memorandum of understanding to
foster greater cooperation between the
agencies with regard to the development
of uranium resources on public lands.
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:
1. What standard operating
procedures, best management practices
or mitigation measures are necessary to
reduce impacts from mineral resource
exploration and development?
2. How will access to and
transportation across the BLM lands be
influenced by project facilities?
3. Will changes to recreation and offhighway vehicle management be
necessary to protect the safety of public
land users?
4. How will project activities affect
wildlife or wildlife habitat including
threatened, endangered, candidate, and
sensitive species?
5. What effects to vegetation
(including noxious and invasive
species) might be expected from project
development?
6. Will special project considerations
be necessary to protect cultural
resources?
7. Will the project facilities change
wildland fire management response?
8. Will the project affect livestock
grazing?
9. What project facilities will
influence visual resource management?
10. Will project development affect air
and water quality?
11. Will project development affect
groundwater quality and quantity?
The BLM will utilize 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).
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Sfmt 4703
Native American Tribes in the project
area were consulted regarding the
proposed project in conjunction with
the NRC environmental review process,
which resulted in an agreement among
certain Tribes, BLM, NRC, and the State
Historical Preservation Office. The BLM
has invited three Tribes to be
cooperating agencies in its EIS process.
Any additional Native American Tribal
consultations will be conducted in
accordance with policy, and Tribal
concerns will be given due
consideration, including impacts on
Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and
local agencies, and Native American
Tribes, along with other stakeholders
that may be interested in 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 may 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.
Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011–3073 Filed 2–10–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYR01000 L54400000.EQ0000;
LVCLK09K0760]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Westside Land Conveyance
Project, Washakie and Big Horn
Counties, WY
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) has prepared
a Final Environmental Impact Statement
(FEIS) for the Westside Land
Conveyance Project and by this notice is
announcing its availability.
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\11FEN1.SGM
11FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 29 (Friday, February 11, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7877-7878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3073]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWYD03000. L51100000. GN0000. LVEMK10CW580]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Lost Creek In Situ Uranium Recovery Project in Sweetwater
County, WY
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins
Field Office, Rawlins, Wyoming, 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 identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until March 14, 2011.
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/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/rfodocs/lostcreek.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. We will provide additional
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft
EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Lost Creek In Situ
[[Page 7878]]
Recovery Project by any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/rfodocs/lostcreek.html;
E-mail: Lost_Crk_Mine_WY@blm.gov;
Fax: (307) 328-4224; or
Mail: Rawlins Field Office, Attention: Eldon Allison, 1300
North Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301-2407.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Rawlins
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Eldon Allison, Team
Leader, telephone (307) 328-4267; address 1300 North Third Street, P.O.
Box 2407, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301-2407; e-mail Eldon_Allison@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant Lost Creek ISR LLC (Lost
Creek) has filed a plan of operations pursuant to the 43 CFR subpart
3809 regulations to construct an ore recovery plant, an access road to
the site, and a pipeline system for the flow of oxidizing leach
solution to injection wells and return of fluids from recovery wells to
the recovery plant site; to drill injection, recovery and monitoring
wells; and to construct associated facilities such as parking lots,
power lines, etc. Development and recovery of the uranium consists of
dissolving underground uranium-bearing minerals into solution and then
bringing it to the surface facility for concentration.
The Lost Creek ISR project is located about 40 miles northwest of
Rawlins, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. More specifically, the project
is located in sections 16-20, 29-31, T. 25 N., R. 92 W., and sections
13, 24, and 25, T. 25 N., R. 93 W. The project area boundary includes
approximately 4,250 acres, but no more than 324 acres would be
subjected to actual surface disturbance and would be approved by the
BLM. Most of the surface disturbance would be related to construction
of the well pads used to extract the uranium in solution from the site.
Construction would occur year round. The plant site would comprise
approximately 10 acres, including parking space for about 50-60
employees. Multiple subsurface ore bodies range in depth from about
300-700 feet below the surface. Each of the six separate cells
containing uranium would be established and mined one at a time. It is
expected that mining operations would last about 8 years. An estimated
additional 3 years would be required for startup and closure of the
site for a total project length of 11 years. A proposed final
reclamation plan for the project area has been submitted. All surface
facilities would be removed when the project is completed and the land
re-contoured to near pre-disturbance condition and re-vegetated.
In conjunction with this proposal, Lost Creek has also applied for
a material source license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
The NRC is in the process of conducting its own environmental review
and has released a draft Supplemental EIS. BLM may decide it is
appropriate to incorporate by reference into its own EIS all or part of
the NRC's Supplemental EIS once it is complete. In 2009, the BLM and
the NRC entered into a memorandum of understanding to foster greater
cooperation between the agencies with regard to the development of
uranium resources on public lands.
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:
1. What standard operating procedures, best management practices or
mitigation measures are necessary to reduce impacts from mineral
resource exploration and development?
2. How will access to and transportation across the BLM lands be
influenced by project facilities?
3. Will changes to recreation and off-highway vehicle management be
necessary to protect the safety of public land users?
4. How will project activities affect wildlife or wildlife habitat
including threatened, endangered, candidate, and sensitive species?
5. What effects to vegetation (including noxious and invasive
species) might be expected from project development?
6. Will special project considerations be necessary to protect
cultural resources?
7. Will the project facilities change wildland fire management
response?
8. Will the project affect livestock grazing?
9. What project facilities will influence visual resource
management?
10. Will project development affect air and water quality?
11. Will project development affect groundwater quality and
quantity?
The BLM will utilize 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 Tribes in the project area were consulted regarding
the proposed project in conjunction with the NRC environmental review
process, which resulted in an agreement among certain Tribes, BLM, NRC,
and the State Historical Preservation Office. The BLM has invited three
Tribes to be cooperating agencies in its EIS process. Any additional
Native American Tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance
with policy, and Tribal concerns will be given due consideration,
including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and local
agencies, and Native American Tribes, along with other stakeholders
that may be interested in 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 may 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.
Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-3073 Filed 2-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
