Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV, 22608-22609 [2012-9089]

Download as PDF 22608 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2012 / Notices mined in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin. The tract in this lease offering contains split estate lands. There are qualified surface owners as defined in the regulations at 43 CFR 3400.0–5(gg). Consent granted by the qualified surface owners has been filed with and verified by the BLM. The LBA tract lands included in the consent are: emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES T. 41 N., R. 71 W., 6th Principal Meridian Sec. 13, lots 12 through 14 inclusive; Sec. 14, lots 1, 2, 8, and 18; and Sec. 24, lots 3, 4, 17, 19, and 21. Containing 396.79 acres, more or less, in Campbell County, Wyoming. The purchase price of the consent as stated in the consent documents is ‘‘* * * an overriding royalty of three percent (3%) of the gross realization of all coal mined and sold from the Subject Property.’’ The tract will be leased to the qualified bidder of the highest cash amount provided that the high bid meets or exceeds the BLM’s estimate of the fair market value (FMV) of the tract. The minimum bid for the tract is $100 per acre or fraction thereof. No bid that is less than $100 per acre, or fraction thereof, will be considered. The bids should be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, or be hand delivered. The BLM Wyoming State Office Cashier will issue a receipt for each handdelivered bid. Bids received after 4 p.m. local time on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, will not be considered. The minimum bid is not intended to represent FMV. The FMV of the tract will be determined by the Authorized Officer after the sale. The lease that may be issued as a result of this offering will provide for payment of an annual rental of $3 per acre, or fraction thereof, and a royalty payment to the United States of 12.5 percent of the value of coal produced by surface mining methods. The value of the coal will be determined in accordance with 30 CFR 1206.250. Pursuant to the regulation at 43 CFR 3473.2(f), the applicant for the South Porcupine Tract, BTU Western Resources, Inc., has paid a total case-bycase cost recovery processing fee in the amount of $83,694. The successful bidder for the South Porcupine Tract, if someone other than the applicant, must pay to the BLM the $83,694 previously paid by BTU Western Resources, Inc., and, in that circumstance, the BLM would then refund that amount to BTU Western Resources, Inc. Additionally, the successful bidder must pay all processing costs the BLM will incur after the date this sale notice is published in the Federal Register, which are estimated to be $10,000. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:39 Apr 13, 2012 Jkt 226001 Bidding instructions for the LBA tract offered and the terms and conditions of the proposed coal lease are available from the BLM Wyoming State Office at the address above. Case file documents, WYW176095, are available for inspection at the BLM Wyoming State Office. Donald A. Simpson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2012–8973 Filed 4–13–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVL01000. L5110. GN0000. LVEMF1201180; N82888, N90443; MO# 4500031854; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 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 (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, 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. The proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 70 miles northwest of Ely and 30 miles northeast of Eureka, Nevada. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 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/ely_ 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. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Projects by any of the following methods: • Email: BLM_NV_EYDO_Barrick _Bald_EIS@blm.gov. • Fax: (775) 289–1910. • Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV, 89301. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Egan Field Office, 702 N. Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Miles Kreidler, project lead, telephone: (775) 289–1893; email: mkreidler@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: Bald Mountain Mine (BMM), owned by Barrick Gold US Inc., proposes to expand the existing approved mine facilities in the North Operations Project Area, and expand the existing Casino/ Winrock Plan of Operations and incorporate it into the North Operations Project Area. This expansion would add four new heap leach pads and increase the total surface disturbance from 9,124 acres to 13,704 acres. Of the 13,704 total acres, 21.6 acres would be located on private land. In addition, BMM proposes an expansion of the South Operations Area Project which would encompass and expand the existing Yankee and Alligator Ridge mine sites, and would include an access road from the North Operations Area to the South Operations Area. The access road would provide a direct route for transportation of equipment and personnel between the two operational areas, and would also be used for a power line corridor. Establishing the South Operations Area Project would increase the total surface disturbance from 960 acres to 3,643 acres, all of which is on public land. Mining has been ongoing in this area for over 20 years and a variety of different mining proposals have been analyzed under previous NEPA documents. Most recently, mine expansions were analyzed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald Mountain Mine North Operations Area Project (August 2009) and the Mooney Heap and Little Bald Mountain Mine Expansion Project Environmental Assessment (July 2006). E:\FR\FM\16APN1.SGM 16APN1 emcdonald on DSK29S0YB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 73 / Monday, April 16, 2012 / Notices 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) Potential wildlife impacts could include loss of forage or impediments to mule deer migration, and loss of habitat for the greater sage-grouse and raptors, including golden eagles. (b) Potential effects to viewshed posed by the proximity of the project to the Pony Express Trail, a Class II Visual Resource Management Area. (c) Potential effects to wild horses could include loss of habitat and mortality from vehicles using the access road. The project area is within the boundaries of the Triple B Wild Horse Herd Management Area. (d) Potential impacts to air quality could be created by an increase in the use of equipment at the North Operations Area Project and the initiation of mining at the South Operations Area Project. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to help fulfill the public involvement process under 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, 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. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:39 Apr 13, 2012 Jkt 226001 22609 Authority: 40 CFR part 1501 and 43 CFR part 3809. Office, 702 N. Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada. Doris A. Metcalf, Field Manager, Egan Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2012–9089 Filed 4–13–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVL01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1201170; N90444; MO# 4500032267; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pan Mine Project, White Pine County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 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 (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, 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. The proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 50 miles west of Ely near Newark Valley. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 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/ ely_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. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Pan Mine Project by any of the following methods: • Email: BLM_NV_EYDO_Midway _Pan_EIS@blm.gov. • Fax: (775) 289–1910. • Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV, 89301. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Egan Field SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 For further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Miles Kreidler, project lead, telephone: (775) 289–1893; email: mkreidler@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: Midway Gold US Inc. (Midway) proposes to construct and operate an open-pit gold mining operation, which would include open pits, a heap leach pad, waste rock dumps, and ancillary facilities. The mine would be located in the northern part of the Pancake Mountain Range, about 50 miles west of Ely and 10 miles south of U.S. Route 50. Currently, Midway is authorized to disturb up to 100 acres for exploration purposes. The proposed operations and associated disturbance would increase disturbance to 3,238 acres of public land managed by the BLM. The projected mining period of 13 years, associated construction, closure, and post-closure monitoring periods would extend the project life for an estimated 25 years. Midway is currently conducting exploration activities in this area which were analyzed in two environmental assessments (EA): the Castleworth Ventures, Inc. Pan Exploration Project EA (May 2004) and the Midway Gold Pan Project Exploration Amendment EA (July 2011). 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) Potential effects to archaeological resources in the area, such as Carbonari (historic charcoal production) sites and a 1913 alternative route of the Lincoln Highway. E:\FR\FM\16APN1.SGM 16APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22608-22609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9089]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL01000. L5110. GN0000. LVEMF1201180; N82888, N90443; MO 
4500031854; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area 
Projects, White Pine County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 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 
(FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan 
Field Office, Ely, 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. The 
proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 70 miles 
northwest of Ely and 30 miles northeast of Eureka, Nevada.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until 30 days after the 
publication of this notice in the Federal Register. 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/ely_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. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bald Mountain Mine 
North and South Operations Area Projects by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: BLM_NV_EYDO_Barrick_Bald_EIS@blm.gov.
     Fax: (775) 289-1910.
     Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 
33500, Ely, NV, 89301.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Egan Field 
Office, 702 N. Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Miles Kreidler, project 
lead, telephone: (775) 289-1893; email: mkreidler@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: Bald Mountain Mine (BMM), owned by Barrick 
Gold US Inc., proposes to expand the existing approved mine facilities 
in the North Operations Project Area, and expand the existing Casino/
Winrock Plan of Operations and incorporate it into the North Operations 
Project Area. This expansion would add four new heap leach pads and 
increase the total surface disturbance from 9,124 acres to 13,704 
acres. Of the 13,704 total acres, 21.6 acres would be located on 
private land. In addition, BMM proposes an expansion of the South 
Operations Area Project which would encompass and expand the existing 
Yankee and Alligator Ridge mine sites, and would include an access road 
from the North Operations Area to the South Operations Area. The access 
road would provide a direct route for transportation of equipment and 
personnel between the two operational areas, and would also be used for 
a power line corridor. Establishing the South Operations Area Project 
would increase the total surface disturbance from 960 acres to 3,643 
acres, all of which is on public land.
    Mining has been ongoing in this area for over 20 years and a 
variety of different mining proposals have been analyzed under previous 
NEPA documents. Most recently, mine expansions were analyzed in the 
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald Mountain Mine North 
Operations Area Project (August 2009) and the Mooney Heap and Little 
Bald Mountain Mine Expansion Project Environmental Assessment (July 
2006).

[[Page 22609]]

    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) Potential wildlife impacts could include loss of forage or 
impediments to mule deer migration, and loss of habitat for the greater 
sage-grouse and raptors, including golden eagles.
    (b) Potential effects to viewshed posed by the proximity of the 
project to the Pony Express Trail, a Class II Visual Resource 
Management Area.
    (c) Potential effects to wild horses could include loss of habitat 
and mortality from vehicles using the access road. The project area is 
within the boundaries of the Triple B Wild Horse Herd Management Area.
    (d) Potential impacts to air quality could be created by an 
increase in the use of equipment at the North Operations Area Project 
and the initiation of mining at the South Operations Area Project.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under 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, 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 part 1501 and 43 CFR part 3809.

Doris A. Metcalf,
Field Manager, Egan Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-9089 Filed 4-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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