Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Hycroft Mine Expansion Project, Humboldt and Pershing Counties, Nevada, 18243-18244 [2011-7718]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices LRMPs. Pursuant to 36 CFR 219.9, the USFS notifies the public of potential amendments to LRMPs. If a land use plan amendment is necessary, the BLM and USFS would integrate the land use planning process as described in 43 CFR subpart 1610 and 36 CFR 219.8, concurrently, into the NEPA process for this Project. The plan amendments would comply with all applicable Federal law, regulations, and agency policies. The plan amendments would apply only to public lands managed by the BLM or USFS and would recognize all valid existing rights. Native American tribes will be consulted to identify areas, sites, and objects important to their cultural and religious heritage. Plan amendment decisions would comply with the Endangered Species Act and follow interagency agreements with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding the Section 7 consultation process. Because the proposed Project may involve action in floodplains or wetlands, this Notice of Intent also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action, in accordance with Department of Energy regulations for Compliance with Floodplain and Wetlands Environmental Review Requirements at 10 CFR 1022.12(a). The EIS will include a floodplain/wetland assessment and, if required, a floodplain/wetland statement of findings will be issued with the Final EIS or ROD. 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. 470(f)) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). 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. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or any 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 request in your comment that your personal identifying information be withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Donald A. Simpson, Wyoming State Director, Bureau of Land Management. [FR Doc. 2011–7736 Filed 3–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:09 Mar 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVW0300. L5110000. GN0000. LVEMF1000880 241A; 11–08807; MO#4500019124; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Hycroft Mine Expansion Project, Humboldt and Pershing Counties, Nevada Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. AGENCY: 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) Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office, Winnemucca, 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 identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until June 30, 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/nv/st/en/fo/ wfo.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 Hycroft Mine Expansion Project by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/fo/wfo.html; • E-mail: wfoweb@blm.gov; • Fax: (775) 623–1503; or • Mail: BLM Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office, 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Black Rock Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Kathleen Rehberg, project lead, telephone: (775) 623–1500; e-mail: Kathleen_Rehberg@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hycroft Resources and Development, Inc. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00100 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18243 (Hycroft) proposes to expand its existing open pit operation and associated disturbance of 1,371 acres by including an additional 2,041 acres in its operation. This would lead to operations on 3,412 acres of public land managed by the BLM Winnemucca District. The proposal would also add 1,812 acres of new disturbance on private land controlled by Hycroft. The proposed operations would extend the mine life by 12 years. The BLM regulates this operation through 43 CFR part 3809. Current mining was analyzed in four previous environmental assessments: NV–020–4–25–EA, Lewis Mine Project, Decision Record (DR)/Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) dated 4/4/ 1984; NV–020–07–31–EA, Crofoot Project, DR/FONSI dated 8/3/1987; NV020–05–19–EA Brimstone Pit Expansion Project, DR/FONSI dated 5/5/1995; NV–020–06–30–EA, Hycroft Crofoot/Lewis Mine, DR/FONSI dated 10/2/1996. A range of alternatives will be developed, including the no-action alternative, to address the issues identified during scoping. Mitigation measures will be considered to minimize environmental impacts and to assure the proposed action does not result in unnecessary or undue degradation of 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: (a) Waste rock dumps, heap leach pads, or pit walls may potentially produce acid rock drainage or heavy metals. These features need to be analyzed to ensure that the proposed action does not degrade the waters of the State or cause undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands; (b) Potential effects to the viewshed posed by the close proximity of the project to the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA) and the Black Rock Desert Wilderness Area. While the project is outside of the NCA and the wilderness area, it is within the viewshed of both areas; (c) An updated inventory of lands with wilderness characteristics will be utilized in order to comply with Secretarial Order 3310 and should lands with wilderness characteristics be identified they will be considered in the NEPA process; (d) Wildlife issues include potential impacts to sage-grouse winter habitat, potential bighorn sheep habitat, and E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1 18244 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2011 / Notices possible habitat for Townsend’s bigeared bats; and (e) A BLM sensitive plant species, the Crosby buckwheat, and a Nevada at-risk plant, the sand cholla, have been observed in the project area. 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 tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given due consideration. 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. room), 110 West Broadway (300 South), Salt Lake City, Utah. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sherry Foot, Special Programs Coordinator, Utah State Office, Bureau of Land Management, P.O. Box 45155, Salt Lake City, Utah 84145–0155; phone (801) 539–4195. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in Utah. Planned agenda topics include a welcome and introduction of new Council members, election of officers, overview and procedures of resource advisory councils, issues and concerns in BLM Utah, RAC subgroup report (Rich County Allotment), overview of the Utah Partners for Conservation and Development group, an overview of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, facts about the Wild Lands Initiative, and future project work for the RAC. A half-hour public comment period, where the public may address the Council, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Written comments may be sent to the BLM address listed above. All meetings are open to the public; however, transportation, lodging, and meals are the responsibility of the participating public. Weaver, Chief, Fluid Minerals Adjudication, at (307) 775–6176. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee has agreed to the amended lease terms for rentals and royalties at rates of $10 per acre or fraction thereof, per year and 162⁄3 percent, respectively. The lessee has paid the required $500 administrative fee and $163 to reimburse the Department for the cost of this Federal Register notice. The lessee has met all the requirements for reinstatement of the lease as set out in Sections 31(d) and (e) of the Mineral Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 188), and the BLM is proposing to reinstate lease WYW164400 effective October 1, 2010, under the original terms and conditions of the lease and the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. The BLM has not issued a valid lease to any other interest affecting the lands. Gene Seidlitz, Manager, Winnemucca District. Dated: March 25, 2011. Jeff Rawson, Assoc. State Director. Public Land Order No. 7760; Extension of Public Land Order No. 6839; Alaska Authority: 40 CFR 1501, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. and 43 CFR 3809. [FR Doc. 2011–7726 Filed 3–31–11; 8:45 am] [FR Doc. 2011–7718 Filed 3–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P Julie L. Weaver, Chief, Fluid Minerals Adjudication. [FR Doc. 2011–7594 Filed 3–31–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLAK963000–L14300000–ET–P: F–81469, F–81490] Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Public Land Order. AGENCY: This order extends the withdrawal created by Public Land Order No. 6839, which modified Public Land Order No. 2344, as amended, for a 20-year period until April 1, 2031. This extension is necessary to allow the continued protection of the Barrow Base Line Observatory (formerly known as the Barrow Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change Observatory) and the Barrow Magnetic Observatory (formerly known as the Barrow Geomagnetic Observatory). This order also provides the official surveyed land description of the areas withdrawn by Public Land Order No. 6839. DATES: Effective Date: April 2, 2011. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert L. Lloyd, BLM Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7504. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey requested the extension for the continued protection of the facilities SUMMARY: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Bureau of Land Management [WY–923–1310–FI; WYW164400] [LLUT980300–L12100000–PH0000–24–1A] Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Gas Lease WYW164400, Wyoming Notice of Utah’s Resource Advisory Council Meeting AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Utah Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Utah RAC will meet Tuesday, May 10, 2011, (8 a.m.–5 p.m.), in Salt Lake City, Utah. ADDRESSES: The Council will meet at the Peery Hotel (Broadway 110 meeting SUMMARY: mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 20:09 Mar 31, 2011 Jkt 223001 Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. Under the provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement from Tyler Rockies Exploration, Ltd. for competitive oil and gas lease WYW164400 for land in Natrona County, Wyoming. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Julie L. PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01APN1.SGM 01APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18243-18244]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7718]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVW0300. L5110000. GN0000. LVEMF1000880 241A; 11-08807; 
MO4500019124; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Hycroft Mine Expansion Project, Humboldt and Pershing 
Counties, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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

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) Winnemucca 
District, Black Rock Field Office, Winnemucca, 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 identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until June 30, 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/nv/st/en/fo/wfo.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 Hycroft Mine 
Expansion Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/wfo.html;
     E-mail: wfoweb@blm.gov;
     Fax: (775) 623-1503; or
     Mail: BLM Winnemucca District, Black Rock Field Office, 
5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Black 
Rock Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Kathleen Rehberg, project 
lead, telephone: (775) 623-1500; e-mail: Kathleen_Rehberg@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hycroft Resources and Development, Inc. 
(Hycroft) proposes to expand its existing open pit operation and 
associated disturbance of 1,371 acres by including an additional 2,041 
acres in its operation. This would lead to operations on 3,412 acres of 
public land managed by the BLM Winnemucca District. The proposal would 
also add 1,812 acres of new disturbance on private land controlled by 
Hycroft. The proposed operations would extend the mine life by 12 
years. The BLM regulates this operation through 43 CFR part 3809.
    Current mining was analyzed in four previous environmental 
assessments: NV-020-4-25-EA, Lewis Mine Project, Decision Record (DR)/
Finding of No Significant Impacts (FONSI) dated 4/4/1984; NV-020-07-31-
EA, Crofoot Project, DR/FONSI dated 8/3/1987; NV020-05-19-EA Brimstone 
Pit Expansion Project, DR/FONSI dated 5/5/1995; NV-020-06-30-EA, 
Hycroft Crofoot/Lewis Mine, DR/FONSI dated 10/2/1996.
    A range of alternatives will be developed, including the no-action 
alternative, to address the issues identified during scoping. 
Mitigation measures will be considered to minimize environmental 
impacts and to assure the proposed action does not result in 
unnecessary or undue degradation of 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:
    (a) Waste rock dumps, heap leach pads, or pit walls may potentially 
produce acid rock drainage or heavy metals. These features need to be 
analyzed to ensure that the proposed action does not degrade the waters 
of the State or cause undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands; 
(b) Potential effects to the viewshed posed by the close proximity of 
the project to the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon-Emigrant Trails 
National Conservation Area (NCA) and the Black Rock Desert Wilderness 
Area. While the project is outside of the NCA and the wilderness area, 
it is within the viewshed of both areas; (c) An updated inventory of 
lands with wilderness characteristics will be utilized in order to 
comply with Secretarial Order 3310 and should lands with wilderness 
characteristics be identified they will be considered in the NEPA 
process; (d) Wildlife issues include potential impacts to sage-grouse 
winter habitat, potential bighorn sheep habitat, and

[[Page 18244]]

possible habitat for Townsend's big-eared bats; and (e) A BLM sensitive 
plant species, the Crosby buckwheat, and a Nevada at-risk plant, the 
sand cholla, have been observed in the project area.
    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 tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration. 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.

 Gene Seidlitz,
Manager, Winnemucca District.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501, 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. and 43 CFR 3809.
[FR Doc. 2011-7718 Filed 3-31-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

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