Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Herring River Restoration Project, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, 62257-62258 [2012-24888]

Download as PDF wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 198 / Friday, October 12, 2012 / Notices would have an 18- to 24-month construction phase, 44 years of mining and ore processing, 30 years of reclamation, and 5 years of monitoring. Approximately 400 potential jobs would be provided in the area for this timeframe with a peak employment of 615 personnel during construction activities. The project is consistent with the Shoshone-Eureka Resource Area Management Plan and does not impact any areas with special designations. The Partial Backfill Alternative would be essentially similar to the Proposed Action except that the open pit would be partially backfilled at the end of mining to eliminate the potential for a pit lake to form. The Off-Site Transfer of Ore Concentrate for Processing Alternative would also be similar to the Proposed Action except that the ore processing facilities would include only milling operations and production of the molybdenum sulfide concentrate. The Slower, Longer Project Alternative would have the same components as the Proposed Action, but operations would be conducted at approximately one-half the production rate of the Proposed Action, which would result in a project that would last approximately twice as long. The BLM analyzed this alternative in detail based on a request from Eureka County, a Cooperating Agency on the EIS. Mitigation measures have been identified for multiple resources under each alternative to minimize potential environmental impacts and to assure that the proposed project would not result in undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands. Eight additional alternatives were considered and rationale for their elimination from detailed analysis is discussed. These alternatives include (1) Complete Backfilling Alternative, (2) Different Waste Rock Disposal Facility Heights Alternative, (3) Increased Ore Processing to Match the Mining Schedule Alternative, (4) Decreased Mining to Match the Ore Processing Schedule Alternative, (5) Reduced Project Alternative, (6) Different Facility Locations within the Project Area Alternative, (7) Different Powerline Alternative, and (8) Different Potentially Acid Generating Waste Rock Management Alternative. Based on the analysis in the Final EIS, the BLM has determined that the Preferred Alternative is the Proposed Action, with accompanying mitigation measures. On March 2, 2007, a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register (72 FR 9579) inviting scoping comments on the proposed action. Public scoping meetings for the VerDate Mar<15>2010 13:59 Oct 11, 2012 Jkt 229001 project were held on March 27 and 28, 2007 in Eureka and Battle Mountain, Nevada. Six written comments were received via mail and/or email during the scoping period and three additional letters were received after the closure of the formal scoping period. All comments that were received have been incorporated in a Scoping Summary Report and were considered in the preparation of this Final EIS. On December 2, 2011 a Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register (76 FR 75554) on the Draft EIS to the public for a 90-day comment period. Two public comment meetings were held on January 18 and 19, 2012 in Eureka and Crescent Valley, Nevada. More than 1,900 comments were received from 941 separate parties. Comments primarily pertained to potential impacts from the groundwater drawdown, socioeconomic impacts to the local communities, and impacts to wildlife and other natural resources. All of these comments were considered and are addressed in Appendix H of the Final EIS. Some additional analysis and clarifying text was included in the Final EIS as a result of the comments. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Christopher J. Cook, Mount Lewis Field Manager. [FR Doc. 2012–25182 Filed 10–11–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–NER–CACO–10593: 2310–0081–422] Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Herring River Restoration Project, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Availability. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Herring River Restoration Project in Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. The DEIS provides a systematic analysis of alternative approaches to restore the Herring River estuary to a more productive and natural condition after a century of diking and draining. DATES: The NPS will accept comments on the DEIS from the public for 60 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency notices the availability of the DEIS in its regular SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62257 Friday Federal Register listing. A public meeting will be held during the review period to facilitate the submission of public comment. Once scheduled, the meeting date will be announced via the Cape Cod National Seashore Web site (https://www.nps.gov/caco/), the NPS’s Planning Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) Web site (https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river), and a press release to area media. ADDRESSES: The DEIS for the Herring River Restoration Project will be available for public review online at the NPS’s PEPC Web site (https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river). You may submit your comments by any one of several methods. The preferred method of comment is via the internet at (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/ herring_river). You may also mail comments to Herring River Restoration Plan, Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667. Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George E. Price, Jr., Superintendent, Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02267; telephone (508) 771–2144. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Herring River Restoration Project is a joint project of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Town of Wellfleet, and the Town of Truro, Massachusetts Division of Ecological Restoration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Natural Resource Conservation Service. The Herring River is the largest estuary on outer Cape Cod, encompassing more than 1,100 acres of degraded wetlands in a complicated network of five valleys: The Herring River, Mill Creek, Pole Dike Creek, Bound Brook, and Duck Harbor. The Chequessett Neck Road dike was built in 1908 at the mouth of the Herring River to restrict natural tidal flows. Ditches were constructed to drain the normally saturated flood plain soil. The once extensive salt marshes have been transformed into stands of invasive plants, shrubby thickets, and forests. The old salt marsh peat, deprived of the tides, has decomposed and compressed, sinking the surface of the flood plain as much as three feet. The decomposition of peat has released sulfuric acid that kills fish and other aquatic life, and low summertime dissolved oxygen has also harmed aquatic life. The DEIS analyzes three action alternatives and the no action E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 62258 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 198 / Friday, October 12, 2012 / Notices alternative, as described below: Alternative A would leave in place the current tide control structure at Chequessett Neck Road and continue management of the estuary without restoration. Alternative B would employ an adaptive management strategy to restore tides in the lower reach of the Herring River up to a maximum high tide of approximately six feet. At this tide level flood mitigation of sensitive properties can be achieved without a secondary dike at Mill Creek. Alternative C would employ an adaptive management strategy to restore tides up to the maximum Chequessett Neck Road dike capacity (10 foot vertical tide gate opening) with a new dike at Mill Creek that blocks all tidal influence. This alternative would maximize restoration in all sub-basins except Mill Creek. Mill Creek would remain unrestored, but no new flood proofing measures would be needed in Mill Creek. Alternative D would employ an adaptive management strategy to restore tides up to the maximum Chequessett Neck Road dike capacity (10 foot vertical tide gate opening) with a new dike at Mill Creek. Mill Creek tides would be controlled by this secondary structure to the same level as that of Alternative B, the maximum level that can be achieved after flood proofing several low-lying properties. Tidal restoration would be maximized in all other sub-basins. For Alternatives B and D, two options are considered for mitigating project impacts to the Chequessett Yacht & Country Club (CYCC) golf course, a private golf course in Mill Creek: (1) Raise low-lying fairways a minimum of two feet above proposed inundation levels, or (2) relocate low-lying fairways to an undeveloped upland area owned by CYCC. Alternative D, with the option to raise existing low-lying fairways a minimum of two feet above proposed inundation levels, has been identified as the NPS Preferred Alternative. This alternative best fulfills the restoration objectives of the project while mitigating adverse impacts to developed properties. 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 13:59 Oct 11, 2012 Jkt 229001 Dated: August 8, 2012. Michael A. Caldwell, Acting Regional Director, National Park Service, Northeast Region. Dated: September 25, 2012. Jeffrey P. Reinbold, Superintendent, Flight 93 National Memorial. [FR Doc. 2012–24888 Filed 10–11–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P [FR Doc. 2012–25098 Filed 10–11–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement National Park Service [NPS–NERO–FLNI–11426; 4140–SZD] Notice of November 3, 2012, Meeting for Flight 93 National Memorial Advisory Commission National Park Service, Interior. Meeting notice. AGENCY: ACTION: This notice sets forth the date of the November 3, 2012, meeting of the Flight 93 Advisory Commission. DATES: The public meeting of the Advisory Commission will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern). Location: The meeting will be held at the Flight 93 National Memorial Office, 109 West Main Street, Suite 104, Somerset, PA 15501. Agenda: The November 3, 2012, Commission meeting will consist of the following: 1. Opening of Meeting, Review and Approval of Commission Minutes 2. Reports 3. Old Business 4. New Business 5. Public Comments 6. Closing Remarks FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Further information concerning this meeting may be obtained from the Superintendent, Flight 93 National Memorial, P. O. Box 911, Shanksville, PA 15560, telephone (814) 893–6322. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The meeting is open to the public. Interested persons may make oral/written presentations to the Commission or file written statements. Such requests should be made to the Superintendent at least seven days prior to the meeting. 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. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Notice To Reopen and Extend the Scoping Comment Period for the Environmental Impact Statement for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), Interior. ACTION: Reopening and extension of the scoping comment period. AGENCY: We are allowing additional time for the public to submit comments on significant issues and alternatives that we should consider in the planning and preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project. We are extending the end of the scoping comment period from September 17, 2012 to November 1, 2012. DATES: To ensure consideration in developing the draft EIS, we must receive your electronic or written comments by the close of the scoping period on November 1, 2012. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing or by email. At the top of your letter or in the subject line of your email message, please indicate that the comments are ‘‘Four CornersNavajo Mine EIS Comments.’’ • Email comments should be sent to: fcppnavajoenergyeis@osmre.gov. • Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier: Written comments should be sent to: Marcelo Calle, OSM Western Region, 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320, Denver, Colorado 80202–3050. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about the Project and/or to have your name added to the mailing list, contact: Marcelo Calle, OSM Project Coordinator, at 303–293– 5035. 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. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\12OCN1.SGM 12OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62257-62258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24888]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[NPS-NER-CACO-10593: 2310-0081-422]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Herring River 
Restoration Project, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Herring River 
Restoration Project in Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts. The 
DEIS provides a systematic analysis of alternative approaches to 
restore the Herring River estuary to a more productive and natural 
condition after a century of diking and draining.

DATES: The NPS will accept comments on the DEIS from the public for 60 
days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency notices 
the availability of the DEIS in its regular Friday Federal Register 
listing. A public meeting will be held during the review period to 
facilitate the submission of public comment. Once scheduled, the 
meeting date will be announced via the Cape Cod National Seashore Web 
site (https://www.nps.gov/caco/), the NPS's Planning Environment and 
Public Comment (PEPC) Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river), and a press release to area media.

ADDRESSES: The DEIS for the Herring River Restoration Project will be 
available for public review online at the NPS's PEPC Web site (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river). You may submit your comments by 
any one of several methods. The preferred method of comment is via the 
internet at (https://parkplanning.nps.gov/herring_river). You may also 
mail comments to Herring River Restoration Plan, Cape Cod National 
Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667. Finally, you may 
hand-deliver comments to Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site 
Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George E. Price, Jr., Superintendent, 
Cape Cod National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02267; 
telephone (508) 771-2144.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Herring River Restoration Project is a 
joint project of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Town of Wellfleet, 
and the Town of Truro, Massachusetts Division of Ecological 
Restoration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, and the Natural Resource Conservation 
Service.
    The Herring River is the largest estuary on outer Cape Cod, 
encompassing more than 1,100 acres of degraded wetlands in a 
complicated network of five valleys: The Herring River, Mill Creek, 
Pole Dike Creek, Bound Brook, and Duck Harbor. The Chequessett Neck 
Road dike was built in 1908 at the mouth of the Herring River to 
restrict natural tidal flows. Ditches were constructed to drain the 
normally saturated flood plain soil. The once extensive salt marshes 
have been transformed into stands of invasive plants, shrubby thickets, 
and forests. The old salt marsh peat, deprived of the tides, has 
decomposed and compressed, sinking the surface of the flood plain as 
much as three feet. The decomposition of peat has released sulfuric 
acid that kills fish and other aquatic life, and low summertime 
dissolved oxygen has also harmed aquatic life.
    The DEIS analyzes three action alternatives and the no action

[[Page 62258]]

alternative, as described below: Alternative A would leave in place the 
current tide control structure at Chequessett Neck Road and continue 
management of the estuary without restoration.
    Alternative B would employ an adaptive management strategy to 
restore tides in the lower reach of the Herring River up to a maximum 
high tide of approximately six feet. At this tide level flood 
mitigation of sensitive properties can be achieved without a secondary 
dike at Mill Creek.
    Alternative C would employ an adaptive management strategy to 
restore tides up to the maximum Chequessett Neck Road dike capacity (10 
foot vertical tide gate opening) with a new dike at Mill Creek that 
blocks all tidal influence. This alternative would maximize restoration 
in all sub-basins except Mill Creek. Mill Creek would remain 
unrestored, but no new flood proofing measures would be needed in Mill 
Creek.
    Alternative D would employ an adaptive management strategy to 
restore tides up to the maximum Chequessett Neck Road dike capacity (10 
foot vertical tide gate opening) with a new dike at Mill Creek. Mill 
Creek tides would be controlled by this secondary structure to the same 
level as that of Alternative B, the maximum level that can be achieved 
after flood proofing several low-lying properties. Tidal restoration 
would be maximized in all other sub-basins.
    For Alternatives B and D, two options are considered for mitigating 
project impacts to the Chequessett Yacht & Country Club (CYCC) golf 
course, a private golf course in Mill Creek: (1) Raise low-lying 
fairways a minimum of two feet above proposed inundation levels, or (2) 
relocate low-lying fairways to an undeveloped upland area owned by 
CYCC.
    Alternative D, with the option to raise existing low-lying fairways 
a minimum of two feet above proposed inundation levels, has been 
identified as the NPS Preferred Alternative. This alternative best 
fulfills the restoration objectives of the project while mitigating 
adverse impacts to developed properties.
    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.

    Dated: August 8, 2012.
Michael A. Caldwell,
Acting Regional Director, National Park Service, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012-24888 Filed 10-11-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-WV-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.