Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Copper Flat Mine Plan of Operations, Sierra County, NM, 1080-1081 [2012-128]
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1080
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2012 / Notices
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate as a
cooperating agency. The BLM will also
brief county commissioners,
Congressional delegations and grazing
permittees during the EIS process.
You may submit comments on issues
and planning criteria in writing to the
BLM using one of the methods listed in
the ADDRESSES section above. To be
most helpful, please submit comments
by the close of the 30-day scoping
period or within 15 days after the last
public meeting, whichever is later.
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 in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
The public is also encouraged to help
identify any other management
questions and concerns that should be
addressed in the EIS.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the EIS in order to
consider the variety of resource issues
and concerns identified. Specialists
with expertise in the following
disciplines will be involved in the
NEPA process: Range management,
wildlife biology, archaeology, riparian,
soils, and outdoor recreation.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.
Loretta Chandler,
Field Manager, BLM Owyhee Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2012–125 Filed 1–6–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNML00000
L51100000.GN0000.LVEMG11CG230]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Copper Flat Mine Plan of
Operations, Sierra County, NM
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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) Las Cruces
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:26 Jan 06, 2012
Jkt 226001
District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico,
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 February 8, 2012. 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/nm/st/en/fo/
Las_Cruces_District_Office.html. 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 Copper Flat EIS Project by
any of the following methods:
• Email: dhaywood@blm.gov.
• Fax: (575) 525–4412.
• Mail: BLM Las Cruces District
Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las
Cruces, NM 88005.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Las Cruces
District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Smith, Geologist; telephone
(575) 525–4421; address 1800 Marquess
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005 or by
email michaelsmith@blm.gov and to
have your name added to the mailing
list. 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: The BLM
Las Cruces District Office has received
a Mine Plan of Operations (Mine Plan)
from the New Mexico Copper Corp. to
re-start the Copper Flat Mine located in
Sierra County, New Mexico. The
proposed mine is located approximately
4 miles north-northeast of the town of
Hillsboro, New Mexico. Lands involved
in the mine include parts of the
following sections:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
T. 15 S., R. 6 W.,
Sec. 31.
T. 15 S., R. 7 W.,
Secs. 25, 26, 35 and 36.
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Mining, ore processing, and related
activities would occur on both private
land and public domain administered
by the BLM. The proponent currently
holds active mining claims over public
domain land included in the proposed
operation. The estimated project
duration is 27 years from site
construction to mine reclamation and
closure. Mining at the existing open pit
would be completed using standard
multiple-bench methods. The pit would
eventually widen to approximately
2,500 by 2,500 feet and deepen to 900
feet. Ore from the pit would be drilled,
blasted, loaded and hauled to a planned
processing facility immediately east of
the pit. At this facility, the ore would be
crushed and ground and copper and
molybdenum minerals would be
separated and concentrated using
standard flotation techniques. Mineral
concentrates would be transported by
truck and rail to be processed offsite;
onsite smelting or refining is not
included in this proposal. Waste rock
created during operations would be
banked primarily on public domain
land, and tailings would be disposed of
into an expanded, existing tailings
impoundment. Water for the proposed
operation would be obtained from a
well field located on BLM-administered
land approximately 8 miles east of the
mine in:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
T. 15 S., R. 5 W.,
Secs. 30 and 31.
Water would be piped to the proposed
operation through an existing pipeline
which roughly parallels the existing
highway (New Mexico State Route 152).
The total estimated disturbance on
public domain land would be 745 acres.
Reclamation would consist of removing
processing equipment from Federal
land, and restoring and seeding waste
rock dumps and other disturbed areas.
The BLM and the New Mexico
Department of Energy, Minerals and
Natural Resources would bond the
proponent for site reclamation prior to
granting authorization.
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. Water use and effects on surface
and subsurface hydrology;
2. Water quality effects and water
quality protection;
3. Traffic;
4. Cultural Resources and Native
American Religious Concerns;
E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM
09JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 5 / Monday, January 9, 2012 / Notices
5. Threatened, Endangered and
Special Status Species;
6. Livestock grazing; and
7. Reclamation and post-mining land
use.
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 (NHPA) (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, including impacts on
Indian trust assets. 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, 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.
Mount Diablo Meridian
T. 21 S., R. 60 E.,
Sec. 17, E1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SE1⁄4.
The area described contains 7.5 acres, more
or less, in Clark County.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Jesse Juen,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012–128 Filed 1–6–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–VC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVS00560.L58530000.ES0000.241A; N–
84625; 12–08807; MO# 4500025699; TAS:
14X5232]
Notice of Realty Action: Classification
for Lease and/or Subsequent
Conveyance for Recreation and Public
Purposes of Public Land in Clark
County, NV
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Realty Action.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
In accordance with Section 7
of the Taylor Grazing Act and Executive
Order Number 6910, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) has examined and
found suitable for classification for lease
and/or subsequent conveyance under
the provisions of the Recreation and
Public Purposes (R&PP) Act, as
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:26 Jan 06, 2012
Jkt 226001
amended, approximately 7.5 acres of
public land in the City of Las Vegas,
Clark County, Nevada. The State of
Nevada proposes to use the land for a
State office building.
DATES: Interested parties may submit
written comments regarding the
proposed classification of the land for
lease and/or subsequent conveyance of
the land, and the environmental
assessment (EA), until February 23,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
the BLM Las Vegas Field Manager, 4701
N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas,
Nevada 89130, or email:
DDickey@blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dorothy Jean Dickey, (702) 515–5119, or
DDickey@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: The State
of Nevada has filed an application to
develop the following described land as
a State office building with related
facilities near Flamingo Road and El
Capitan Way in Las Vegas:
The State office building will consist
of approximately 60,000 square feet of
office and support space. Related
facilities include a parking lot,
landscaping, lighting, utilities, and
ancillary equipment. Additional
detailed information pertaining to this
application, plan of development, and
site plan is in case file N–84625, which
is located in the BLM Las Vegas Field
Office at the above address.
The land is not required for any
Federal purpose. The lease and/or
subsequent conveyance are consistent
with the BLM Las Vegas Resource
Management Plan dated October 5,
1998, and would be in the public
interest. The State of Nevada, a qualified
applicant under the R&PP Act, has not
applied for more than the 640-acre
limitation for public purpose uses in a
year, and has submitted a statement in
compliance with the regulations at 43
CFR 2741.4(b).
The lease and/or subsequent
conveyance of the public land shall be
PO 00000
Frm 00033
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1081
subject to valid existing rights. Subject
to limitations prescribed by law and
regulations, prior to patent issuance, a
holder of any Right-of-Way within the
lease area may be given the opportunity
to amend the Right-of-Way for
conversion to a new term, including
perpetuity, if applicable.
The lease and/or subsequent
conveyance, when issued, will be
subject to the provisions of the R&PP
Act and applicable regulations of the
Secretary of the Interior, and will
contain the following terms, conditions,
and reservations to the United States:
1. A Right-of-Way thereon for ditches
or canals constructed by the authority of
the United States, Act of August 30,
1890 (43 U.S.C. 945);
2. All minerals shall be reserved to
the United States, together with the
right to prospect for, mine, and remove
such deposits from the same under
applicable law and such regulations as
the Secretary of the Interior may
prescribe;
3. Valid existing rights;
4. Right-of-Way N–59691 for paved
road and drainage, spandrels, bus
turnouts, curb, gutter, sidewalks,
streetlights, pipe conduit, and concrete
lining, granted to Clark County, its
successors or assigns, pursuant to the
Act of October 21, 1976 (43 U.S.C.
1761);
5. Right-of-Way N–60971 for a 16inch, underground natural gas pipeline
and construction staging area, granted to
Southwest Gas Corporation, its
successors or assigns, pursuant to the
Act of February 25, 1920, as amended
(30 U.S.C. 185 sec. 28);
6. Right-of-Way N–74286 for two
transformers, and underground
electrical lines with related
appurtenances, granted to Nevada
Power Company, its successors or
assigns, pursuant to the Act of October
21, 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1761); and
7. Right-of-Way N–88267 for multiple
natural gas pipelines with below and
above ground appurtenances granted to
Southwest Gas Corporation, its
successors or assigns, pursuant to the
Act of February 25, 1920, as amended
(30 U.S.C. 185 sec. 28);
8. An appropriate indemnification
clause protecting the United States from
claims arising out of the lessee’s/
patentee’s use, occupancy, or
occupations on the leased/patented
lands.
Upon publication of this notice in the
Federal Register, the land described
above will be segregated from all other
forms of appropriation under the public
land laws, including the general mining
laws, except for lease and/or subsequent
conveyance under the R&PP Act, leasing
E:\FR\FM\09JAN1.SGM
09JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1080-1081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-128]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNML00000 L51100000.GN0000.LVEMG11CG230]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Copper Flat Mine Plan of Operations, Sierra County, NM
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) Las Cruces
District Office, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 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 February 8, 2012.
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/nm/st/en/fo/Las_Cruces_District_Office.html. 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 Copper Flat EIS
Project by any of the following methods:
Email: dhaywood@blm.gov.
Fax: (575) 525-4412.
Mail: BLM Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess
Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Las Cruces
District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Smith, Geologist; telephone
(575) 525-4421; address 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005 or
by email michaelsmith@blm.gov and to have your name added to the
mailing list. 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: The BLM Las Cruces District Office has
received a Mine Plan of Operations (Mine Plan) from the New Mexico
Copper Corp. to re-start the Copper Flat Mine located in Sierra County,
New Mexico. The proposed mine is located approximately 4 miles north-
northeast of the town of Hillsboro, New Mexico. Lands involved in the
mine include parts of the following sections:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
T. 15 S., R. 6 W.,
Sec. 31.
T. 15 S., R. 7 W.,
Secs. 25, 26, 35 and 36.
Mining, ore processing, and related activities would occur on both
private land and public domain administered by the BLM. The proponent
currently holds active mining claims over public domain land included
in the proposed operation. The estimated project duration is 27 years
from site construction to mine reclamation and closure. Mining at the
existing open pit would be completed using standard multiple-bench
methods. The pit would eventually widen to approximately 2,500 by 2,500
feet and deepen to 900 feet. Ore from the pit would be drilled,
blasted, loaded and hauled to a planned processing facility immediately
east of the pit. At this facility, the ore would be crushed and ground
and copper and molybdenum minerals would be separated and concentrated
using standard flotation techniques. Mineral concentrates would be
transported by truck and rail to be processed offsite; onsite smelting
or refining is not included in this proposal. Waste rock created during
operations would be banked primarily on public domain land, and
tailings would be disposed of into an expanded, existing tailings
impoundment. Water for the proposed operation would be obtained from a
well field located on BLM-administered land approximately 8 miles east
of the mine in:
New Mexico Principal Meridian
T. 15 S., R. 5 W.,
Secs. 30 and 31.
Water would be piped to the proposed operation through an existing
pipeline which roughly parallels the existing highway (New Mexico State
Route 152). The total estimated disturbance on public domain land would
be 745 acres. Reclamation would consist of removing processing
equipment from Federal land, and restoring and seeding waste rock dumps
and other disturbed areas. The BLM and the New Mexico Department of
Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources would bond the proponent for
site reclamation prior to granting authorization.
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. Water use and effects on surface and subsurface hydrology;
2. Water quality effects and water quality protection;
3. Traffic;
4. Cultural Resources and Native American Religious Concerns;
[[Page 1081]]
5. Threatened, Endangered and Special Status Species;
6. Livestock grazing; and
7. Reclamation and post-mining land use.
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 (NHPA) (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, including impacts on Indian trust assets. 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, 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 1501.7.
Jesse Juen,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-128 Filed 1-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-P
