Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pan Mine Project, White Pine County, NV, 22609-22610 [2012-9091]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 73 (Monday, April 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22609-22610]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9091]


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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

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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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 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 
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: 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.

[[Page 22610]]

    (b) Potential effects to greater sage-grouse posed by the proximity 
to active sage-grouse leks.
    (c) Potential effects to viewshed in and around areas of Visual 
Resources Management Classes III and IV.
    (d) Potential effects to wild horses including loss of habitat and 
mortality from vehicles on newly created roads.
    (e) Potential impacts to air quality created by the initiation of 
mining at the Pan Mine Project. This would increase air pollution in 
the area.
    (f) Potential effects to recreational use including loss of access 
and hunting areas. Recreationists using the 1913 alternative route of 
the Lincoln Highway might lose use of this route.

The BLM will use the NEPA public comment process to help fulfill the 
public involvement requirements of 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, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets, 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, 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. 2012-9091 Filed 4-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P