Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ruby Pipeline Project, NV, 40496-40497 [2013-16129]

Download as PDF 40496 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2013 / Notices Jean Sonneman, Bureau of Land Management, Information Collection Clearance Officer. [FR Doc. 2013–16133 Filed 7–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVE02000 L5110000.GN0000LVEMF1300570 241A; 13– 08807; MO# 4500050125; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Hollister Underground Mine Project, Elko County, NV AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. Notice of Availability. ACTION: 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 Hollister Underground Mine 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 their notice in the Federal Register. SUMMARY: Copies of the Final EIS for the Hollister Underground Mine Project are available for public inspection at the BLM Elko District Office. Interested persons may also review the FEIS on the Internet at https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/fo/elko_field_office/blm_ information/nepa.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Janice Stadelman, Project Manager; telephone 775–753–0346; address 3900 Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801; email: jstadelm@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: Rodeo Creek Gold Inc. proposes an amendment to their plan of operations for the Hollister Underground Mine Project, which is located 47 miles northwest of Elko, Nevada in Elko County. The tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:06 Jul 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 proposed amendment would expand existing underground exploration activities into an underground gold and silver mining operation. Most of the infrastructure to support a mining operation was authorized and built to conduct the underground exploration activities. The proposed project would create approximately 222 acres of surface disturbance. The project is expected to operate for 20 years and would provide an estimated 220 jobs. The proposal is in conformance with the 1986 Elko Resource Area Resource Management Plan. The Proposed Action consists of underground mining, constructing a new production shaft, improving existing roads, building a 120 kilovolt (kV) electrical power transmission line and a 24.9 kV distribution line to the mine site, upgrading ancillary facilities, and continuing both surface and underground exploration. The proposed project would augment the existing mine water management facilities that include water treatment facilities and rapid infiltration basins by adding underground dewatering wells and by obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to authorize discharge of groundwater to Little Antelope Creek. Mined ore would be hauled using highway-legal trucks to existing off-site milling facilities via existing roads that would be improved as needed. No on-site processing facilities are proposed. The Draft EIS for the Hollister Underground Mine Project was available for review on June 1, 2012 (77 FR 32665). A 45-day comment period occurred. The BLM received a total of 33 comment submittals (e.g. letter, comment form or email). Key issues identified by individuals, groups or organizations, Tribe members, and governmental entities include: potential impacts to cultural resources and the traditional cultural properties, access, discharge to surface water, seeps and springs, post-closure groundwater contamination, air quality, and support for the project. Comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS received from the public 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 the analysis. The agency preferred alternative is the Proposed Action and the Backfill Alternative. The Backfill Alternative would require the shafts to be completely backfilled. Following a 30-day Final EIS availability and review period, a Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued. The PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 decision reached in the ROD is subject to appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals. The 30-day appeal period begins with the issuance of the ROD. Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 40 CFR 1506.10. Richard E. Adams, Field Manager, Tuscarora Field Office. [FR Doc. 2013–16126 Filed 7–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNV930000 L51010000.ER0000 241A; 13– 08807; MO# 4500051040; TAS: 14X5017] Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Ruby Pipeline Project, NV Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. 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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Ruby Pipeline Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Ruby Pipeline Project Draft Supplemental EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce any future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Ruby Pipeline Project Draft Supplemental EIS by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/ en/info/nepa/ ruby_pipeline_project.html. • Email: blmruby@blm.gov. • Mail: Ruby SEIS, c/o Bureau of Land Management Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, Utah 84501. Locations where copies of the Ruby Pipeline Project Draft Supplemental EIS are available are listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Mackiewicz, PMP, Project Manager at 435–636–3616, Bureau of SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM 05JYN1 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 129 / Friday, July 5, 2013 / Notices Land Management Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, Utah 84501; or by email at mmackiew@blm.gov. You may contact Mr. Mackiewicz to have your name added to our mailing list. 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 BLM has prepared a Draft Supplemental EIS to correct the deficiencies in the Ruby Pipeline Final EIS identified by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Draft Supplemental EIS includes supplemental information about the original and present condition of the sagebrush steppe habitat and analyzes the cumulative impacts of the Ruby Pipeline Project based on the supplemental information. The Draft Supplemental EIS will serve as the foundation for the BLM’s decision on whether to reissue the right-of-way (ROW) granted to Ruby for the project and, if so, to determine what terms and conditions would be required. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is responsible for authorizing construction and operation of interstate natural gas pipelines. Accordingly, the FERC served as the lead agency for Ruby Pipeline LLC’s (Ruby) application for the Ruby Pipeline Project. The FERC used the Final EIS it prepared (January 28, 2010) to issue its Certificate for the Ruby Pipeline Project on April 5, 2010. The Certificate authorized Ruby to construct an approximately 678-mile long, 42-inch diameter interstate natural gas pipeline that crosses 368 miles of Federal land beginning near Opal, Wyoming, extending through northern Utah and northern Nevada, and terminating near Malin, Oregon. The BLM has primary responsibility for issuing right-of-way ROW grants and temporary use permits for natural gas pipelines across most Federal lands pursuant to Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 185 et seq.). Ruby applied to the BLM for a ROW grant for the Ruby Pipeline Project on December 3, 2007. The Federal lands crossed or used as access for the project include lands managed by the BLM; Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation); the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge; and the United States VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:06 Jul 03, 2013 Jkt 229001 Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), specifically the Fremont-Winema National Forests, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and the Modoc National Forest. Based on the Final EIS issued by the FERC, the BLM issued a Ruby Pipeline Project Record of Decision (ROD) and ROW grant for the use of lands under the administration of the BLM, Reclamation, USFWS, and the USFS on July 12, 2010. The project has been constructed and is currently in operation. However, the BLM Ruby Pipeline Project ROD and ROW grant were appealed to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011, and, on October 22, 2012, the court found that the Ruby Pipeline Final EIS does not provide sufficient quantified or detailed data about the cumulative loss of sagebrush steppe vegetation and habitat. Consistent with an April 29, 2013, order staying an earlier opinion vacating the BLM’s original ROD, the Ninth Circuit directed the BLM to prepare a revised ROD by November 21, 2013, that addresses the identified deficiencies in the NEPA analysis. The Supplemental EIS is part of the process of responding to that order. To the extent applicable, the BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3) and Secretarial Order 3317. 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. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. Copies of the Ruby Pipeline Project Draft Supplemental EIS are available at the following BLM offices: • Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Hwy 189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming • Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah • Elko District Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada • Winnemucca District Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, Nevada • Lakeview District Office, 1301 S. G Street, Lakeview, Oregon • Klamath Falls Resource Area Office, 2795 Anderson Avenue, Suite 25, Klamath Falls, Oregon PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 40497 • Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler Street, Cedarville, California • Additional locations where hard copies of the Draft Supplemental EIS can be viewed can be found on the project Web site or by contacting the project manager. 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 1502.9, 43 CFR 2880. Amy Lueders, Nevada State Director. [FR Doc. 2013–16129 Filed 7–3–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAC07000 L913100000 EI0000 LXSIGEOT0000] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report for the Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project, Mono County, CA Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA); the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended; and the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United States Forest Service (USFS), and the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (GBUAPCD), a California State agency, have prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/ Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Casa Diablo IV Geothermal Development Project near the town of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County, California, and by this notice are announcing its availability. DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its notice of availability in the Federal Register. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05JYN1.SGM 05JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 129 (Friday, July 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40496-40497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16129]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNV930000 L51010000.ER0000 241A; 13-08807; MO 4500051040; 
TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement for the Ruby Pipeline Project, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: 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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Ruby 
Pipeline Project and by this notice is announcing the opening of the 
comment period.

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

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Ruby Pipeline Project 
Draft Supplemental EIS by any of the following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/info/nepa/ruby_pipeline_project.html.
     Email: blmruby@blm.gov.
     Mail: Ruby SEIS, c/o Bureau of Land Management Price Field 
Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, Utah 84501.
    Locations where copies of the Ruby Pipeline Project Draft 
Supplemental EIS are available are listed under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Mackiewicz, PMP, Project Manager 
at 435-636-3616, Bureau of

[[Page 40497]]

Land Management Price Field Office, 125 South 600 West, Price, Utah 
84501; or by email at mmackiew@blm.gov. You may contact Mr. Mackiewicz 
to have your name added to our mailing list.
    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 BLM has prepared a Draft Supplemental 
EIS to correct the deficiencies in the Ruby Pipeline Final EIS 
identified by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Draft 
Supplemental EIS includes supplemental information about the original 
and present condition of the sagebrush steppe habitat and analyzes the 
cumulative impacts of the Ruby Pipeline Project based on the 
supplemental information. The Draft Supplemental EIS will serve as the 
foundation for the BLM's decision on whether to reissue the right-of-
way (ROW) granted to Ruby for the project and, if so, to determine what 
terms and conditions would be required.
    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is responsible for 
authorizing construction and operation of interstate natural gas 
pipelines. Accordingly, the FERC served as the lead agency for Ruby 
Pipeline LLC's (Ruby) application for the Ruby Pipeline Project. The 
FERC used the Final EIS it prepared (January 28, 2010) to issue its 
Certificate for the Ruby Pipeline Project on April 5, 2010. The 
Certificate authorized Ruby to construct an approximately 678-mile 
long, 42-inch diameter interstate natural gas pipeline that crosses 368 
miles of Federal land beginning near Opal, Wyoming, extending through 
northern Utah and northern Nevada, and terminating near Malin, Oregon.
    The BLM has primary responsibility for issuing right-of-way ROW 
grants and temporary use permits for natural gas pipelines across most 
Federal lands pursuant to Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act of 
1920, as amended (30 U.S.C. 185 et seq.). Ruby applied to the BLM for a 
ROW grant for the Ruby Pipeline Project on December 3, 2007. The 
Federal lands crossed or used as access for the project include lands 
managed by the BLM; Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation); the United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Sheldon National Wildlife 
Refuge; and the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 
(USFS), specifically the Fremont-Winema National Forests, the Uinta-
Wasatch-Cache National Forest, and the Modoc National Forest. Based on 
the Final EIS issued by the FERC, the BLM issued a Ruby Pipeline 
Project Record of Decision (ROD) and ROW grant for the use of lands 
under the administration of the BLM, Reclamation, USFWS, and the USFS 
on July 12, 2010.
    The project has been constructed and is currently in operation. 
However, the BLM Ruby Pipeline Project ROD and ROW grant were appealed 
to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2011, and, on October 22, 
2012, the court found that the Ruby Pipeline Final EIS does not provide 
sufficient quantified or detailed data about the cumulative loss of 
sagebrush steppe vegetation and habitat. Consistent with an April 29, 
2013, order staying an earlier opinion vacating the BLM's original ROD, 
the Ninth Circuit directed the BLM to prepare a revised ROD by November 
21, 2013, that addresses the identified deficiencies in the NEPA 
analysis. The Supplemental EIS is part of the process of responding to 
that order.
    To the extent applicable, the BLM will use the NEPA commenting 
process to satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of 
the National Historic Preservation Act as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3) and Secretarial Order 3317. 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.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    Copies of the Ruby Pipeline Project Draft Supplemental EIS are 
available at the following BLM offices:
     Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Hwy 189 North, Kemmerer, 
Wyoming
     Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake 
City, Utah
     Elko District Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada
     Winnemucca District Office, 5100 East Winnemucca 
Boulevard, Winnemucca, Nevada
     Lakeview District Office, 1301 S. G Street, Lakeview, 
Oregon
     Klamath Falls Resource Area Office, 2795 Anderson Avenue, 
Suite 25, Klamath Falls, Oregon
     Surprise Field Office, 602 Cressler Street, Cedarville, 
California
     Additional locations where hard copies of the Draft 
Supplemental EIS can be viewed can be found on the project Web site or 
by contacting the project manager.
    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 1502.9, 43 CFR 2880.

Amy Lueders,
Nevada State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-16129 Filed 7-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

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