Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Lost Creek Uranium In Situ Recovery Project in Sweetwater County, WY, 49825-49826 [2012-20175]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / Notices take will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the ABB in the wild. Other Alternatives Considered Our proposed action is approving the applicant’s DHCP and issuance of an ITP for take associated with the applicant’s covered activities. As required by NEPA, the DEA considers the consequences to the human environmental of the proposed HCP and two alternatives; the No Action Alternative and a Reduced Permit Duration Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, Keystone would not apply for and we would not issue an ITP. The No-Action Alternative does not meet Keystone’s need for take authorization and would not provide any conservation benefits for the ABB. Under the Reduced Permit Duration Alternative, the applicant would employ the same avoidance and minimization measures described under the Proposed Alternative, but they would pursue an ITP only for construction and restoration activities, not to exceed 5 years. This alternative would not meet Keystone’s need for incidental take authorization for operation and maintenance activities post-construction. Additionally, this alternative provides less conservation benefit for the covered species than would the Proposed Action. 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Persons wishing to review the Keystone XL Pipeline Project final EIS may obtain a copy from the Department of State’s Web site at: https://keystonepipeline-xl. state.gov/archive/dos_docs/feis/index. htm. Public Availability of Comments All comments we receive become part of the public record. Requests for copies of comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Department of the Interior policies and procedures. 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 to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their entirety. erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Reviewing Documents Authority You may obtain copies of the DEA and DHCP on the Service’s Web site at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ Oklahoma/. Alternatively, you may obtain CD– ROMs with electronic copies of these documents by writing to Dr. Dixie Porter, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 E. 21st St., Tulsa, OK 74129; calling 918–581–7458; or faxing 918–581–7467. A limited number of printed copies of the DEA and DHCP are also available, by request, from Dr. Porter. Copies of the DEA and DHCP are also available for public inspection and review by appointment only, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST) at the following locations: • Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C. St. NW., Washington, DC 20240; • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102; and • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 E. 21st St., Tulsa, OK 74129. Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32), and the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:13 Aug 16, 2012 Jkt 226001 Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2012–20349 Filed 8–16–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWYD03000.L51100000. GN0000.LVEMK10CW580–WYW–166318] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Lost Creek Uranium In Situ Recovery Project in Sweetwater County, WY Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 49825 In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lost Creek Uranium In Situ Recovery (ISR) Project and by this notice is announcing its availability. DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days from the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes this notice in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Lost Creek Uranium ISR Project Final EIS are available for public inspection at: • Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009; • Bureau of Land Management, High Desert District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901; • Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins Field Office, 1300 N. Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301; and • Bureau of Land Management, Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, Wyoming 82520. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on the Internet at: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/ NEPA/documents/rfo/lostcreek.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Russell, Project Manager, telephone: 307–328–4252; address: Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins Field Office, 1300 N. Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301; email: Lost_Crk_Mine_WY@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-named individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Development of Federal locatable minerals by private industry is part of the BLM’s mineral program under the authority of 43 CFR 3800. The applicant, Lost Creek ISR, LLC (Lost Creek), has filed a plan of operations pursuant to the 43 CFR 3809 regulations to construct a uranium ore recovery plant, an access road to the site, and a pipeline system for the flow of oxidizing leach solution to injection wells and the return of fluids from recovery wells to the recovery plant site; to drill injection, recovery and monitoring wells; and to SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 49826 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2012 / Notices construct associated facilities such as parking lots, power lines, etc. Development and recovery of the uranium consists of dissolving underground uranium-bearing minerals into solution and then bringing the solution to the surface facility for concentration. The Lost Creek ISR Project is located about 40 miles northwest of Rawlins, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. The project is located in the following area: erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Sixth Principal Meridian T. 25 N., R. 92 W., Sec. 17, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2N1⁄2, and S1⁄2; Sec. 18, lots 2 to 4, inclusive, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4; Sec. 19; Sec. 20, N1⁄2N1⁄2, W1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, and W1⁄2W1⁄2SW1⁄4; Sec. 29, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4; Sec. 30, lots 5 to 9, inclusive, and lots 16 and 17; Sec. 31, lot 8. T. 25 N., R. 93 W., Sec. 13, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2S1⁄2, S1⁄2N1⁄2S1⁄2, and NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SE1⁄4; Sec. 24; Sec. 25. The areas described aggregate 3,737 acres of BLM-managed land. The total project area, including both BLMmanaged and State lands, is approximately 4,377 acres. The BLM would approve approximately 345 acres of actual surface disturbance. Most of the surface disturbance would be related to construction of pads for wells used to extract uranium in solution from the site. The plant site would comprise approximately 10 acres, including parking space for 50–60 employees. Multiple subsurface ore bodies ranging in depth from 300–700 feet below the surface are found at the site. Each of the three separate production areas containing uranium would be established and mined, one at a time. It is expected that mining operations would last about 8 years. An estimated additional 3 years would be required for startup and closure of the site for a total project length of 11 years. A proposed final reclamation plan for the project area has been submitted. All surface facilities would be removed when the project is completed and the land recontoured to near predisturbance condition and re-vegetated. The BLM has selected the Drying Yellowcake On-Site Alternative as the preferred alternative. Under this alternative, a yellowcake drying and packing facility would be constructed and operated at the permit area. As with VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:13 Aug 16, 2012 Jkt 226001 the proposed action, yellowcake slurry (30–50 percent solids) would be produced; however, the slurry would be filter-pressed to remove additional water, dried, and packaged on-site. Housing the drying-packing facility within the processing plant would reduce shipments from the site, resulting in fewer transportation-related impacts, fewer wildlife disturbances, and cleaner air quality. The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 2011 (76 FR 7877). The scoping comments received in response to the NOI were used during the preparation of the Draft EIS to help identify impacts expected as a result of the proposed action and to develop the No Action Alternative, the ‘‘NotFencing-The-Pattern-Areas’’ Alternative, and the ‘‘Drying-Yellowcake-On-Site’’ Alternative. A 45-day comment period for the Draft EIS ran from April 27, 2012, through June 11, 2012, as announced in the Federal Register on April 27, 2012 (77 FR 25193). The BLM prepared the Final EIS in coordination with the State of Wyoming, Sweetwater County, and Carbon County, which participated as formal cooperating agencies during the EIS process. The BLM also closely coordinated with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. Comments received from the public on the Draft EIS and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but did not significantly change proposed decisions. Stephanie A. Connolly, Acting Associate State Director. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. [FR Doc. 2012–20175 Filed 8–16–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCO956000 L14200000.BJ0000] Notice of Filing of Plats Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Filing of Plats; Colorado. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State Office is publishing this notice to inform the public of the official filing of SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the survey plat listed below. The plat will be available for viewing at https:// www.glorecords.blm.gov. DATES: The plat described in this notice was filed on July 27, 2012. ADDRESSES: BLM Colorado State Office, Cadastral Survey, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado 80215– 7093. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado, (303) 239–3856. 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 supplemental plat of the SW1⁄4 of Section 30, in Township 5 South, Range 83 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado, was accepted and filed on July 27, 2012. Randy Bloom, Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado. [FR Doc. 2012–20221 Filed 8–16–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLIDI00000–L10200000–MJ0000] Notice of Public Meeting, Idaho Falls District Resource Advisory Council Meeting Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Public Meetings. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Idaho Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Idaho Falls District RAC will meet in Idaho Falls, Idaho on September 18–19, 2012 for a two-day meeting at the Upper Snake Field Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho. The first day will begin at 10:30 a.m. and adjourn at 4:30 p.m. The second day will begin at 8:30 a.m. and adjourn around 12:30 p.m. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49825-49826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20175]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYD03000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMK10CW580-WYW-166318]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Lost Creek Uranium In Situ Recovery Project in 
Sweetwater County, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lost Creek Uranium 
In Situ Recovery (ISR) Project and by this notice is announcing its 
availability.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days from the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes this notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Lost Creek Uranium ISR Project Final EIS are 
available for public inspection at:
     Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009;
     Bureau of Land Management, High Desert District Office, 
280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901;
     Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins Field Office, 1300 N. 
Third Street, Rawlins, Wyoming 82301; and
     Bureau of Land Management, Lander Field Office, 1335 Main 
Street, Lander, Wyoming 82520.
    Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on the Internet 
at: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rfo/lostcreek.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Russell, Project Manager, 
telephone: 307-328-4252; address: Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins 
Field Office, 1300 N. Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins, Wyoming 
82301; email: Lost_Crk_Mine_WY@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-
named individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Development of Federal locatable minerals by 
private industry is part of the BLM's mineral program under the 
authority of 43 CFR 3800. The applicant, Lost Creek ISR, LLC (Lost 
Creek), has filed a plan of operations pursuant to the 43 CFR 3809 
regulations to construct a uranium ore recovery plant, an access road 
to the site, and a pipeline system for the flow of oxidizing leach 
solution to injection wells and the return of fluids from recovery 
wells to the recovery plant site; to drill injection, recovery and 
monitoring wells; and to

[[Page 49826]]

construct associated facilities such as parking lots, power lines, etc.
    Development and recovery of the uranium consists of dissolving 
underground uranium-bearing minerals into solution and then bringing 
the solution to the surface facility for concentration. The Lost Creek 
ISR Project is located about 40 miles northwest of Rawlins, Wyoming, in 
Sweetwater County.
    The project is located in the following area:

Sixth Principal Meridian

T. 25 N., R. 92 W.,
    Sec. 17, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\NE\1/
4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\, S\1/2\N\1/2\, and S\1/2\;
    Sec. 18, lots 2 to 4, inclusive, S\1/2\NE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/
2\SW\1/4\NE\1/4\, SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\SE\1/4\NW\1/4\, E\1/2\SW\1/
4\, and SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 19;
    Sec. 20, N\1/2\N\1/2\, W\1/2\SW\1/4\NW\1/4\, and W\1/2\W\1/
2\SW\1/4\;
    Sec. 29, NW\1/4\NW\1/4\NW\1/4\;
    Sec. 30, lots 5 to 9, inclusive, and lots 16 and 17;
    Sec. 31, lot 8.
    T. 25 N., R. 93 W.,
    Sec. 13, SE\1/4\SE\1/4\NE\1/4\, S\1/2\S\1/2\, S\1/2\N\1/2\S\1/
2\, and NE\1/4\NE\1/4\SE\1/4\;
    Sec. 24;
    Sec. 25.

    The areas described aggregate 3,737 acres of BLM-managed land. The 
total project area, including both BLM-managed and State lands, is 
approximately 4,377 acres. The BLM would approve approximately 345 
acres of actual surface disturbance. Most of the surface disturbance 
would be related to construction of pads for wells used to extract 
uranium in solution from the site. The plant site would comprise 
approximately 10 acres, including parking space for 50-60 employees. 
Multiple subsurface ore bodies ranging in depth from 300-700 feet below 
the surface are found at the site. Each of the three separate 
production areas containing uranium would be established and mined, one 
at a time. It is expected that mining operations would last about 8 
years. An estimated additional 3 years would be required for startup 
and closure of the site for a total project length of 11 years. A 
proposed final reclamation plan for the project area has been 
submitted. All surface facilities would be removed when the project is 
completed and the land re-contoured to near predisturbance condition 
and re-vegetated.
    The BLM has selected the Drying Yellowcake On-Site Alternative as 
the preferred alternative. Under this alternative, a yellowcake drying 
and packing facility would be constructed and operated at the permit 
area. As with the proposed action, yellowcake slurry (30-50 percent 
solids) would be produced; however, the slurry would be filter-pressed 
to remove additional water, dried, and packaged on-site. Housing the 
drying-packing facility within the processing plant would reduce 
shipments from the site, resulting in fewer transportation-related 
impacts, fewer wildlife disturbances, and cleaner air quality.
    The Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register on February 11, 
2011 (76 FR 7877). The scoping comments received in response to the NOI 
were used during the preparation of the Draft EIS to help identify 
impacts expected as a result of the proposed action and to develop the 
No Action Alternative, the ``Not-Fencing-The-Pattern-Areas'' 
Alternative, and the ``Drying-Yellowcake-On-Site'' Alternative. A 45-
day comment period for the Draft EIS ran from April 27, 2012, through 
June 11, 2012, as announced in the Federal Register on April 27, 2012 
(77 FR 25193). The BLM prepared the Final EIS in coordination with the 
State of Wyoming, Sweetwater County, and Carbon County, which 
participated as formal cooperating agencies during the EIS process. The 
BLM also closely coordinated with the United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service and the Environmental Protection Agency.
    Comments received from the public on the Draft EIS and internal BLM 
review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final 
EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text, but 
did not significantly change proposed decisions.

Stephanie A. Connolly,
Acting Associate State Director.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

[FR Doc. 2012-20175 Filed 8-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
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