Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mount Hope Project, Eureka County, NV, 75554-75555 [2011-30926]

Download as PDF 75554 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 232 / Friday, December 2, 2011 / Notices The pilot program was designed to allow customs brokers to voluntarily provide CBP with internal control procedures designed to ensure their compliance with broker requirements such as annual summary reports from periodic compliance evaluations and risk assessments. CBP provided the participants with recognition and support, in the form of consultations and general assistance. The BSA team, which was comprised of CBP regulatory auditors and national account managers, gathered and analyzed the data provided by the participants to determine whether: (1) The resources expended by brokers were commensurate with the potential gains to CBP and the broker; (2) there were mutual benefits for CBP and the broker that would make the program attractive; and (3) the intent of the pilot was realized through the pilot design utilized. In making its assessment, the BSA team examined the brokers’ processing of its clients’ submissions in the following areas: periodic monthly statement; bonded warehouse; importer security filings; remote location filing; and drawback. jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Pilot Results CBP’s assessment of the pilot results showed that the participants successfully demonstrated their supervision and control over customs transactions and documented their internal controls over their customs operations. However, the procedures for the internal controls, such as supervision and control over customs transactions and customs operations, were not always written, and in some cases, the procedures were modified or improved, but not yet implemented. The pilot also disclosed that the broker’s assessment of risk factors differed from the risk factors CBP identified as potentially significant risks. All of the participants agreed that the BSA pilot helped them identify some areas of risk that they had not previously considered. Most of the participants concluded that the development of the internal control procedures revealed ways to better manage and mitigate risk factors. The reliable quantitative measure related to import transactions is the compliance measurement rate, which primarily measures compliance in areas such as, classification, valuation, free trade agreement, anti-dumping and countervailing duty. It was discovered in the BSA Pilot that the compliance measurement rate did not necessarily correlate with demonstrated compliance on the part of the broker. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Dec 01, 2011 Jkt 226001 The BSA evaluation team’s assessment of the broker’s internal control for achieving compliance with the CBP regulations (19 CFR part 111) concluded that the participants demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring compliance, professional ethics and professional development of their employees to meet its overall objective in regards to broker oversight and management controls. Moreover, the participants generally provided exemplary documentation to support their processes, which validated the assertions made as to the significant resources allocated in preparation for the team’s assessment. The NCBFAA observed that the BSA pilot demonstrated that business profiles and process management within the brokerage community is highly diverse. As such, it would be difficult to provide for a standard template that CBP could use to establish uniform methodology for compliance verification. NCBFAA recommended that CBP not pursue the BSA pilot as it is currently designed. Since CBP has decided to end the BSA pilot without a plan to proceed with another Importer Self-Assessment type model, CBP and NCBFAA will pursue other avenues to collaborate pertaining to trade modernization efforts. The complete March 1, 2011 ‘‘Broker Self-Assessment Outreach Pilot’’ Report is available on the following Web site: https://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/ trade/trade_programs/bsa/ bsa_report.ctt/bsa_report.pdf. Dated: November 29, 2011. Allen Gina, Assistant Commissioner, Office of International Trade. Street SW., Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 708–1234; TTY number for the hearing- and speechimpaired (202) 708–2565, (these telephone numbers are not toll-free), or call the toll-free Title V information line at (800) 927–7588. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the December 12, 1988 court order in National Coalition for the Homeless v. Veterans Administration, No. 88–2503–OG (D.D.C.), HUD publishes a Notice, on a weekly basis, identifying unutilized, underutilized, excess and surplus Federal buildings and real property that HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. Today’s Notice is for the purpose of announcing that no additional properties have been determined suitable or unsuitable this week. Dated November 24, 2011. Mark R. Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs. [FR Doc. 2011–30835 Filed 12–1–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVB01000 L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF09CF010; NVN– 082096; NVN–084632; 12–08807; MO#: 4500027396; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Mount Hope Project, Eureka County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: [FR Doc. 2011–31009 Filed 12–1–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mount Hope Project 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 Mount Hope Project Draft EIS within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its 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 releases, Web site postings, and/ or mailings. SUMMARY: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR–5477–N–48] Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juanita Perry, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 232 / Friday, December 2, 2011 / Notices You may submit comments related to the Mount Hope Project by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html. • Email: mhmm_project@blm.gov. • Fax: (775) 635–4034, Attention: Angelica Rose, Mt. Hope Project. • Mail: BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820 Attn: Angelica Rose, Mt. Hope Project. Copies of the Mount Hope Project Draft EIS are available at the Battle Mountain District Office at the above address, and on the Battle Mountain District’s NEPA Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/fo/battle_mountain_field/ blm_information/ national_environmental.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angelica Rose, Planning and Environmental Coordinator, telephone: (775) 635–4000; address: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820; email: mhmm_project@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– (800) 877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Eureka Moly, LLC, (EML) has submitted a Plan of Operations (NVN–082096) to the BLM for the proposed Mount Hope Molybdenum Mining Project (project). The proposed project would be located in central Nevada approximately 23 miles northwest of Eureka, Nevada. The proposed project includes a power transmission line, a water well field, and associated mine-processing facilities. The project would be located on both public and private lands in Eureka County, Nevada. The surface disturbance associated with the proposed activities totals 8,318 acres, of which 8,056 acres are on public land and 262 acres are on private land. This proposed project would consist of the following primary components: an open pit with associated pit dewatering; two waste rock disposal facilities; milling facilities; a molybdenite concentrate roaster and packaging plant; a ferromolybdenum plant for production of ferromolybdenum alloy using a metallothermic process and a separate packaging plant for drums and bags; two tailings storage facilities; an ongoing exploration program; low-grade ore stockpile; water supply in the Kobeh Valley Well Field Area; a 24-mile long, jlentini on DSK4TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:03 Dec 01, 2011 Jkt 226001 230-kilovolt electric power supply line from the existing Machacek substation, with a substation and distribution system. Ancillary facilities would include: haul, secondary, and exploration roads; a ready line; warehouse and maintenance facilities; storm water diversions; sediment control basins; pipeline corridors; reagent and diesel storage; storage and laydown yards; ammonium nitrate silos; explosives magazines; fresh and fire water storage and a process water storage pond; monitoring wells; an administration building; a security and first aid building; a helipad; a laboratory; growth media and cover stockpiles; borrow areas; mine power loop; communications equipment; hazardous waste management facilities; a Class III waivered landfill; an area to store and treat petroleum contaminated soils; and turn lanes on State Route 278. The estimated 80-year project would have an 18-month construction phase and mine life of 32 years, which is concurrent with an ore processing timeline of 44 years, followed by 30 years of reclamation and 5 years of postreclamation monitoring. Concurrent reclamation would not commence until after the first 15 years of the project. The Mount Hope ore body contains approximately 966 million tons of molybdenite (molybdenum disulfide) ore that would produce approximately 1.1 billion pounds of recoverable molybdenum during the ore-processing time frame. Approximately 1.7 billion tons of waste rock would be produced by the end of the 32-year mine life and approximately 1 billion tons of tailings would be produced by the end of the 44 years of ore processing. Optimal development of the molybdenum deposit, to meet the market conditions and maximize molybdenum production, would utilize an open-pit mining method and would process the mined ore using a flotation and roasting process. The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed project’s site-specific impacts, including cumulative impacts, on all affected resources. Four action alternatives, including the Proposed Action as described above, were analyzed in addition to the No Action Alternative. Eight alternatives were considered but eliminated from further analysis. Based on the analysis in the Draft EIS, the BLM has determined that the Preferred Alternative is the approval of the Proposed Action, with accompanying mitigation measures. On March 2, 2007, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register (E7–3643) inviting scoping comments on the proposed project and a news PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 75555 release was published in three northern Nevada newspapers. Two public scoping meetings for the project were held: March 27, 2007 in Eureka, Nevada, attended by five members of the public with no written comments submitted; and March 28, 2007 in Battle Mountain, Nevada, attended by 30 members of public with one written comment submitted. Five additional comment letters were received during the scoping period and three letters were received after the end of the scoping period. All comments received have been incorporated in a Scoping Summary Report and have been considered in preparation of the Draft EIS. Concerns raised during scoping include the length of time for mining operations and reclamation, and access to private lands. Potential impacts were identified to the Pony Express National Historic Trail, wildlife, migratory birds, special status species, threatened and endangered species (including sagegrouse and Lahontan cutthroat trout), wild horses, hydrology resources (related to water quality and quantity), water rights holders, wetlands, air quality, livestock grazing (relating to forage and water availability and reductions in AUMs), socioeconomic impacts on the community, visual resources; Native American traditional values, impacts to cultural resources, waste management, and reclamation. Financial concerns were raised relating to accountability of operators, bonding requirements, and the establishment of a long-term trust fund. These concerns were addressed in the Draft EIS to the extent practicable. Please note that public comments and information submitted, including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be 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, email 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Christopher J. Cook, Mount Lewis Field Manager. [FR Doc. 2011–30926 Filed 12–1–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P E:\FR\FM\02DEN1.SGM 02DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 232 (Friday, December 2, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75554-75555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30926]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB01000 L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF09CF010; NVN-082096; NVN-084632; 12-
08807; MO: 4500027396; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Mount Hope Project, Eureka County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Mount 
Hope Project 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 Mount Hope Project Draft EIS within 90 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its 
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 releases, Web 
site postings, and/or mailings.

[[Page 75555]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Mount Hope Project by 
any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html.
     Email: mhmm_project@blm.gov.
     Fax: (775) 635-4034, Attention: Angelica Rose, Mt. Hope 
Project.
     Mail: BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian 
Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820 Attn: Angelica Rose, Mt. Hope Project.

Copies of the Mount Hope Project Draft EIS are available at the Battle 
Mountain District Office at the above address, and on the Battle 
Mountain District's NEPA Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_information/national_environmental.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angelica Rose, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, telephone: (775) 635-4000; address: 50 
Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820; email: mhmm_project@blm.gov. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-8339 to 
contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal 
business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Eureka Moly, LLC, (EML) has submitted a Plan 
of Operations (NVN-082096) to the BLM for the proposed Mount Hope 
Molybdenum Mining Project (project). The proposed project would be 
located in central Nevada approximately 23 miles northwest of Eureka, 
Nevada. The proposed project includes a power transmission line, a 
water well field, and associated mine-processing facilities. The 
project would be located on both public and private lands in Eureka 
County, Nevada. The surface disturbance associated with the proposed 
activities totals 8,318 acres, of which 8,056 acres are on public land 
and 262 acres are on private land. This proposed project would consist 
of the following primary components: an open pit with associated pit 
dewatering; two waste rock disposal facilities; milling facilities; a 
molybdenite concentrate roaster and packaging plant; a ferromolybdenum 
plant for production of ferromolybdenum alloy using a metallothermic 
process and a separate packaging plant for drums and bags; two tailings 
storage facilities; an ongoing exploration program; low-grade ore 
stockpile; water supply in the Kobeh Valley Well Field Area; a 24-mile 
long, 230-kilovolt electric power supply line from the existing 
Machacek substation, with a substation and distribution system. 
Ancillary facilities would include: haul, secondary, and exploration 
roads; a ready line; warehouse and maintenance facilities; storm water 
diversions; sediment control basins; pipeline corridors; reagent and 
diesel storage; storage and laydown yards; ammonium nitrate silos; 
explosives magazines; fresh and fire water storage and a process water 
storage pond; monitoring wells; an administration building; a security 
and first aid building; a helipad; a laboratory; growth media and cover 
stockpiles; borrow areas; mine power loop; communications equipment; 
hazardous waste management facilities; a Class III waivered landfill; 
an area to store and treat petroleum contaminated soils; and turn lanes 
on State Route 278.
    The estimated 80-year project would have an 18-month construction 
phase and mine life of 32 years, which is concurrent with an ore 
processing timeline of 44 years, followed by 30 years of reclamation 
and 5 years of post-reclamation monitoring. Concurrent reclamation 
would not commence until after the first 15 years of the project. The 
Mount Hope ore body contains approximately 966 million tons of 
molybdenite (molybdenum disulfide) ore that would produce approximately 
1.1 billion pounds of recoverable molybdenum during the ore-processing 
time frame. Approximately 1.7 billion tons of waste rock would be 
produced by the end of the 32-year mine life and approximately 1 
billion tons of tailings would be produced by the end of the 44 years 
of ore processing. Optimal development of the molybdenum deposit, to 
meet the market conditions and maximize molybdenum production, would 
utilize an open-pit mining method and would process the mined ore using 
a flotation and roasting process.
    The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed project's site-
specific impacts, including cumulative impacts, on all affected 
resources. Four action alternatives, including the Proposed Action as 
described above, were analyzed in addition to the No Action 
Alternative. Eight alternatives were considered but eliminated from 
further analysis. Based on the analysis in the Draft EIS, the BLM has 
determined that the Preferred Alternative is the approval of the 
Proposed Action, with accompanying mitigation measures.
    On March 2, 2007, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal 
Register (E7-3643) inviting scoping comments on the proposed project 
and a news release was published in three northern Nevada newspapers. 
Two public scoping meetings for the project were held: March 27, 2007 
in Eureka, Nevada, attended by five members of the public with no 
written comments submitted; and March 28, 2007 in Battle Mountain, 
Nevada, attended by 30 members of public with one written comment 
submitted. Five additional comment letters were received during the 
scoping period and three letters were received after the end of the 
scoping period. All comments received have been incorporated in a 
Scoping Summary Report and have been considered in preparation of the 
Draft EIS.
    Concerns raised during scoping include the length of time for 
mining operations and reclamation, and access to private lands. 
Potential impacts were identified to the Pony Express National Historic 
Trail, wildlife, migratory birds, special status species, threatened 
and endangered species (including sage-grouse and Lahontan cutthroat 
trout), wild horses, hydrology resources (related to water quality and 
quantity), water rights holders, wetlands, air quality, livestock 
grazing (relating to forage and water availability and reductions in 
AUMs), socioeconomic impacts on the community, visual resources; Native 
American traditional values, impacts to cultural resources, waste 
management, and reclamation. Financial concerns were raised relating to 
accountability of operators, bonding requirements, and the 
establishment of a long-term trust fund. These concerns were addressed 
in the Draft EIS to the extent practicable.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted, 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be 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, email 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Christopher J. Cook,
Mount Lewis Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2011-30926 Filed 12-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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