Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gas Hills In Situ Recovery Uranium Project, Fremont and Natrona Counties, WY, 68814-68816 [2012-27771]

Download as PDF 68814 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 222 / Friday, November 16, 2012 / Notices through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS/EIR for the Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/bishop.html. • Email: cabipubcom@ca.blm.gov; Subject: Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project Draft EIS/EIR. • Fax: 760–872–5050. • Mail: BLM, Bishop Field Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514; Attn: Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project Draft EIS/EIR, c/o Collin Reinhardt, Project Manager. Oral comments may be submitted to Margie DeRose via telephone at 760– 873–2424 or in person at the Inyo National Forest, Supervisor’s Office, 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 200, Bishop, CA 93514. Oral comments may also be submitted at any public meeting that is designed to elicit public comments. Copies of the Draft EIS/EIR for the Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project are available at the Bishop Field Office at the above address and at the Mono County Library at 400 Sierra Park Road, Mammoth Lakes, California. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Collin Reinhardt, Project Manager, telephone 760–872–5024; address 351 Pacu Lane, Suite 100, Bishop, CA 93514; email creinhardt@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 Draft EIS/EIR analyzes the potential impacts of authorizing the proposed Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project near the Town of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California. In accordance with the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, as amended (30 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), the BLM Bishop Field Office is the lead Federal agency responsible for permitting the proposed project and for completing the required environmental analysis under NEPA. The USFS Inyo National Forest is a cooperating Federal agency. The GBUAPCD is the lead State agency responsible for permitting the proposed project and for completing the required environmental analysis under the CEQA. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:43 Nov 15, 2012 Jkt 229001 The purpose and need for action is to respond to an application to construct and operate the proposed Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project on Federal geothermal leases administered by the BLM Bishop Field Office. The proposed project would be located on Inyo National Forest lands and adjacent private lands within portions of Federal geothermal leases CACA–11667, CACA– 14407, CACA–14408, and CACA–11672. The leases proposed for development are part of an existing geothermal unit, which is currently providing energy sufficient to power three operating geothermal plants. The applicant’s proposed action includes the construction of a new 33MW binary geothermal power plant, which would be the fourth geothermal plant in the vicinity; up to 16 wells for production and reinjection, drilled to an approximate 1,600- to 2,500-ft depth; and associated pipelines. A 650-ft long transmission line is proposed to interconnect the new power plant to the existing Southern California Edison (SCE) substation at Substation Road. The proposed Casa Diablo IV plant, access roads, well pads, pipelines and transmission line would occupy approximately 80 acres. Of the 16 proposed production/injection well locations, 14 were previously analyzed and approved by the BLM as exploration wells in EA–170–02–15 (2001) and EA–170–05–04 (2005). Three of these exploration wells have already been drilled as of the time of the publication of this notice. The proposed well field contains two existing production wells and associated pipelines that currently serve the three existing power plants in the area. The BLM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a joint EIS/EIR on March 25, 2011, in the Federal Register (76 FR 16806). Publication of the NOI initiated a public scoping period, which included two public scoping meetings. Comments received through the scoping process and consultations carried out pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and other Federal mandates identified the following issues and concerns that have been incorporated into the Draft EIS/EIR: Potential effects on air quality, biological resources including vegetation and wildlife, cultural resources and Native American concerns, public health and safety, recreation resources, and surface and groundwater resources. Alternatives identified and evaluated in the Draft EIS/EIR include: Alternative 1, the applicant’s proposed action which is outlined above; Alternative 2, which considers an alternative location PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 for the proposed power plant; Alternative 3, which considers alternative pipeline alignments in Basalt Canyon and slightly alters the location of one proposed well; and Alternative 4, the no action alternative which would limit geothermal development activities on the affected leases to those previously authorized by the BLM. In accordance with NEPA (40 CFR 1502.14(e)), the BLM and USFS have identified Alternative 3 as the preferred alternative. The GBUAPCD has also identified Alternative 3 as the ‘‘environmentally superior alternative’’ pursuant to the CEQA (14 C.C.R. 15126.6(e)(2)). Public comments and information submitted, including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments, will be available for public review at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Bernadette Lovato, Bishop Field Manager. [FR Doc. 2012–27768 Filed 11–15–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWYR05000.L51100000.GN0000. LVEMK10CW370–WYW–140590] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gas Hills In Situ Recovery Uranium Project, Fremont and Natrona Counties, WY Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gas Hills In Situ Recovery (ISR) Uranium Project and by this notice SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16NON1.SGM 16NON1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 222 / Friday, November 16, 2012 / Notices is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Gas Hills ISR Uranium Project draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: Comments on the Gas Hills ISR Uranium Project may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/ info/NEPA/documents/lfo/gashills.html. • Email: Gas_Hills_Uranium_EIS_WY@blm.gov. • Fax: 307–332–8444. • Mail or hand delivery: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Kristin Yannone, Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the following BLM offices: • Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, Wyoming 82520; • High Plains District Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 82604; • Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office, 101 South 23rd, Worland, Wyoming 82401; and • Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009; Interested persons may also view the documents online at: https:// www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/ documents/lfo/gashills.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Yannone, Project Manager, telephone: 307–332–8400; address: mail: 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520; email: Gas_Hills_Uranium_EIS_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 individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Power Resources, Inc. (PRI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cameco US Holdings, Inc., doing business as Cameco Resources, has filed a plan of operations pursuant to 43 CFR subpart 3809 regulations to construct uranium recovery facilities including: Waste water disposal facilities; access roads; VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:43 Nov 15, 2012 Jkt 229001 pipelines and utility lines; delineation, injection and production wells; and improvement of one existing and construction of one new equipmenthousing satellite facility used in the ISR process. The project would be located in eastern Fremont and western Natrona counties, approximately 45 road miles east of Riverton, Wyoming, and approximately 65 road miles west of Casper, Wyoming. The boundary of the Gas Hills Project Area (GHPA) encompasses approximately 8,500 acres, of which approximately 1,300 acres would incur surface disturbance from the proposed project. Approximately 15 percent of the surface within the GHPA has been disturbed by past mining and exploration activities. This disturbance includes an existing warehouse structure (the Carol Shop) and access road (the AML Road). If the proposed mining operation is not approved, existing reclamation responsibilities under the No-Action Alternative would require Cameco to remove and reclaim the existing disturbance once ongoing exploratory activities are concluded. This reclamation would include a minimum of 26.7 acres for the removal of the Carol Shop. If no other use for the existing 1.8 miles of road were identified, it would need to be removed and reclaimed, an additional 10.9 acres. Additional noticelevel activities resulting from exploration would need to be reclaimed as well for a total of 40.2 acres. The use of the road and Carol Shop have been allowed during active exploration in the area and currently maintained mill-site claims. The Plan of Operations identifies five production areas, or mine units, with subsurface ore bodies within the Wind River Formation for ISR extraction. Construction, operation, groundwater restoration, and surface reclamation of five mine units would occur during an estimated period of approximately 25 years. At the end of the project, all surface structures would be removed, and all disturbances would be recontoured and reclaimed. In accordance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations, any radiological contaminated wastes, including any processing pipe and equipment as well as solid residue or liners from evaporation ponds, would be removed from the Project Area and disposed of in accordance with regulations. The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the Proposed Action and two alternatives including the No Action Alternative and the Resource Protection Alternative. PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68815 The Proposed Action Alternative is the project proposed by Cameco as identified by the Plan of Operations, the NRC license application, and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Land Quality Division’s Mine Permit Application #687. Under the Resource Protection Alternative, the project would utilize the same ISR process occurring over the same time period as the Proposed Action, but modifications to the project would reduce surface disturbance and heavy truck transportation. Modifications would include on-site resin processing to produce slurry, submittal of an annual development plan, construction timing constraints, a disturbance offset for an additional satellite facility, reduced number of evaporation ponds, enhanced reclamation, and power line burial. The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on September 7, 2010 (75 FR 54384). Key issues identified during scoping included: Alternative reclamation and restoration criteria and timing; alternative transportation routes; alternative wastewater treatment, storage, and disposal; potential groundwater restoration issues; enforcement of reclamation or restoration; impacts to area recreation, grazing, and hunting; impacts to surface waters from runoff; the potential to impact sage-grouse, migratory birds, mule deer, and antelope; adequate opportunity for comment by the public; and adequate analysis of cumulative impacts. The public is encouraged to comment on any of the draft alternatives. The BLM asks that those submitting comments make them as specific as possible with reference to chapters, page numbers, and paragraphs in the draft EIS document. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response; however, they will be considered and included as part of the BLM decision-making process. The most useful comments will include new technical or scientific information, identification of data gaps in the impact analysis, or technical or scientific rationale for opinions or preference. 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 may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we E:\FR\FM\16NON1.SGM 16NON1 68816 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 222 / Friday, November 16, 2012 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR • Email: SunValley-Morgan@blm.gov. • Fax: 623–580–5580. • Mail: BLM Phoenix District Office, Hassayampa Field Office, Attention: Joe Incardine/Sun Valley-Morgan Project, 21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85207–2929. Copies of the Draft EIS and Draft RMP amendment are available in the BLM Hassayampa Field Office at the above address. Bureau of Land Management FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. (Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10) Donald A. Simpson, State Director, Wyoming. [FR Doc. 2012–27771 Filed 11–15–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P [L51010000.FX0000.LVRWA11A2990. LLAZP02000.XXX; AZA35079] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Sun Valley to Morgan 500/230kV Transmission Line Project (Formerly Called TS–5 to TS–9), Arizona, and the Draft BradshawHarquahala Resource Management Plan Amendment and Notice of Public Hearings Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Sun Valley to Morgan 500/230-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project (Project) and Draft Bradshaw-Harquahala Resource Management Plan (RMP) amendment for the BLM Hassayampa Field Office, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP amendment within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will hold public hearings on the Draft EIS and Draft RMP amendment on December 11, 2012, in Peoria, Arizona; December 12 in Wittmann, Arizona; and December 13 in Phoenix, Arizona. All of the public hearings will begin with an open house at 5:30 p.m., followed by a presentation at 6 p.m. Further details about these hearings and any other public involvement activities will be published at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/az/st/ en.html. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:43 Nov 15, 2012 Jkt 229001 Joe Incardine, BLM National Project Manager, telephone 801–539–4118; address BLM Phoenix District Office, Hassayampa Field Office, 21605 North 7th Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85027– 2929; email jincardi@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 Arizona Public Service Company (APS) submitted a right-of-way (ROW) application to construct, operate, and maintain a 500/230kV overhead transmission line from the Sun Valley Substation to the Morgan Substation in Maricopa County. The Project would be located on a combination of BLMmanaged lands, Arizona State Trust lands, and private lands in northern Maricopa County, northwest of Phoenix, Arizona. The Project is an overhead transmission line, approximately 38 miles long, on monopole structures. The BLM-managed lands within the Project area are managed under the existing Bradshaw-Harquahala Resource Management Plan (RMP). Environmental and social concerns and issues were identified through internal and public scoping. The issues addressed in the EIS that shaped the Project’s scope and alternatives include: • Need and reliability; • RMP amendment; • Project design features, mitigation measures, and alternatives; • Air and climate; • Biological resources; • Cultural resources; • Health and safety; • Recreation; • Socioeconomic; • Scenic/Visual; and • Transportation and traffic. In addition to the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative, three Action Alternative routes and one subalternative route (as proposed by the PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Arizona State Land Department) were analyzed in detail in the Draft EIS. As proposed, the Project would require an RMP amendment because the current RMP requires high-voltage transmission lines crossing BLM-managed lands to be within designated utility corridors, and a utility corridor for the proposed ROW on public lands was not established in the current RMP, the proposed action is within a designated transportation corridor. In addition, the Visual Resource Management (VRM) class designation would need to be amended from Class III to Class IV for those BLMmanaged lands where views would be dominated by the transmission line, and thus would not meet the objectives of the current VRM designation. The VRM class would also be changed for those BLM-managed public lands north and south of State Route (SR) 74 surrounding the proposed transmission line ROW (i.e., the existing transportation corridor north of SR 74 and the key-shaped piece south of SR 74) in order to avoid creating narrow linear strips with different VRM classes. An interdisciplinary approach was used to develop the Draft EIS in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. An amendment to the Bradshaw Harquahala RMP would be based upon the following planning criteria: • The amendment will be completed in compliance with FLPMA, NEPA, and all other relevant Federal laws, Executive Orders, and management policies of the BLM; • Where existing planning decisions are still valid, those decisions will remain unchanged and be incorporated into the new amendment; and • The amendment will recognize valid existing rights. The BLM has identified a modified Proposed Action route crossing BLMmanaged lands as the Agency Preferred Alternative route for the proposed transmission line, including best management practices and mitigative measures. Mitigative measures could consist of minor route deviations for micro-siting of structures or segments of the line at the time of route engineering to reduce impacts to visual and other sensitive resources. However, mitigative measures would still allow for the transmission line route to remain within the Arizona Corporation Commissioncertificated route. Under the Agency Preferred Alternative, the BLM would amend the RMP to: • Designate a 200-foot-wide singleuse utility corridor on public lands managed by the BLM north of SR 74; E:\FR\FM\16NON1.SGM 16NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 222 (Friday, November 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68814-68816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27771]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYR05000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMK10CW370-WYW-140590]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Gas Hills In Situ Recovery Uranium Project, Fremont 
and Natrona Counties, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gas Hills 
In Situ Recovery (ISR) Uranium Project and by this notice

[[Page 68815]]

is announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Gas Hills ISR Uranium Project draft EIS within 
45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM 
will announce future meetings and any other public involvement 
activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media 
releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Gas Hills ISR Uranium Project may be 
submitted by any of the following methods:
     Web site: www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/lfo/gashills.html.
     Email: Gas_Hills_Uranium_EIS_WY@blm.gov.
     Fax: 307-332-8444.
     Mail or hand delivery: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: 
Kristin Yannone, Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 
82520.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
following BLM offices:
     Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, Wyoming 
82520;
     High Plains District Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, 
Casper, Wyoming 82604;
     Wind River/Bighorn Basin District Office, 101 South 23rd, 
Worland, Wyoming 82401; and
     Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, 
Wyoming 82009; Interested persons may also view the documents online 
at: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/lfo/gashills.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Yannone, Project Manager, 
telephone: 307-332-8400; address: mail: 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 
82520; email: Gas_Hills_Uranium_EIS_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 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Power Resources, Inc. (PRI), 
a wholly owned subsidiary of Cameco US Holdings, Inc., doing business 
as Cameco Resources, has filed a plan of operations pursuant to 43 CFR 
subpart 3809 regulations to construct uranium recovery facilities 
including: Waste water disposal facilities; access roads; pipelines and 
utility lines; delineation, injection and production wells; and 
improvement of one existing and construction of one new equipment-
housing satellite facility used in the ISR process. The project would 
be located in eastern Fremont and western Natrona counties, 
approximately 45 road miles east of Riverton, Wyoming, and 
approximately 65 road miles west of Casper, Wyoming.
    The boundary of the Gas Hills Project Area (GHPA) encompasses 
approximately 8,500 acres, of which approximately 1,300 acres would 
incur surface disturbance from the proposed project. Approximately 15 
percent of the surface within the GHPA has been disturbed by past 
mining and exploration activities. This disturbance includes an 
existing warehouse structure (the Carol Shop) and access road (the AML 
Road).
    If the proposed mining operation is not approved, existing 
reclamation responsibilities under the No-Action Alternative would 
require Cameco to remove and reclaim the existing disturbance once 
ongoing exploratory activities are concluded. This reclamation would 
include a minimum of 26.7 acres for the removal of the Carol Shop. If 
no other use for the existing 1.8 miles of road were identified, it 
would need to be removed and reclaimed, an additional 10.9 acres. 
Additional notice-level activities resulting from exploration would 
need to be reclaimed as well for a total of 40.2 acres. The use of the 
road and Carol Shop have been allowed during active exploration in the 
area and currently maintained mill-site claims.
    The Plan of Operations identifies five production areas, or mine 
units, with subsurface ore bodies within the Wind River Formation for 
ISR extraction. Construction, operation, groundwater restoration, and 
surface reclamation of five mine units would occur during an estimated 
period of approximately 25 years. At the end of the project, all 
surface structures would be removed, and all disturbances would be re-
contoured and reclaimed. In accordance with Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) regulations, any radiological contaminated wastes, 
including any processing pipe and equipment as well as solid residue or 
liners from evaporation ponds, would be removed from the Project Area 
and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
    The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts of the Proposed Action and two alternatives including the No 
Action Alternative and the Resource Protection Alternative.
    The Proposed Action Alternative is the project proposed by Cameco 
as identified by the Plan of Operations, the NRC license application, 
and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Land Quality 
Division's Mine Permit Application 687.
    Under the Resource Protection Alternative, the project would 
utilize the same ISR process occurring over the same time period as the 
Proposed Action, but modifications to the project would reduce surface 
disturbance and heavy truck transportation. Modifications would include 
on-site resin processing to produce slurry, submittal of an annual 
development plan, construction timing constraints, a disturbance offset 
for an additional satellite facility, reduced number of evaporation 
ponds, enhanced reclamation, and power line burial.
    The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on September 7, 2010 (75 FR 54384). Key issues identified 
during scoping included: Alternative reclamation and restoration 
criteria and timing; alternative transportation routes; alternative 
wastewater treatment, storage, and disposal; potential groundwater 
restoration issues; enforcement of reclamation or restoration; impacts 
to area recreation, grazing, and hunting; impacts to surface waters 
from runoff; the potential to impact sage-grouse, migratory birds, mule 
deer, and antelope; adequate opportunity for comment by the public; and 
adequate analysis of cumulative impacts.
    The public is encouraged to comment on any of the draft 
alternatives. The BLM asks that those submitting comments make them as 
specific as possible with reference to chapters, page numbers, and 
paragraphs in the draft EIS document. Comments that contain only 
opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response; however, 
they will be considered and included as part of the BLM decision-making 
process. The most useful comments will include new technical or 
scientific information, identification of data gaps in the impact 
analysis, or technical or scientific rationale for opinions or 
preference.
    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 may 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we

[[Page 68816]]

cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10)

Donald A. Simpson,
State Director, Wyoming.
[FR Doc. 2012-27771 Filed 11-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
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