Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gemfield Mine Project, Esmeralda County, NV, 77706-77707 [2013-30618]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77706-77707]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30618]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB02000 L71220000.EX0000.LVTFF1201490; N-91038, 14-08807; 
MO 4500059743]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Gemfield Mine Project, Esmeralda County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Tonopah Field 
Office, Tonopah, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose impacts associated with the 
Gemfield Mine Project, a proposed open pit gold mine and associated 
processing and ancillary facilities. The project would be located on 
public and private land in Esmeralda County, Nevada. This notice 
announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until January 23, 2014. 
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM 
Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html. In order to be considered during the preparation of the 
Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-
day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever 
is later. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed Gemfield 
Mine Project by any of the following methods:

 Email: BLM_NV_BMDO_GemfieldProject@blm.gov
 Fax: 775-482-7810
 Mail: BLM, Tonopah Field Office, 1553 S. Main Street/P.O. Box 
911, Tonopah, NV 89049

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tonopah 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark J. Ennes, Assistant Field 
Manager, telephone: 775-482-7835; address: 1553 S. Main Street/P.O. Box 
911, Tonopah,

[[Page 77707]]

NV 89049; email: mennes@blm.gov. Contact Mr. Ennes if you wish to add 
your name 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: Metallic Goldfield, Inc. proposes to 
construct, operate, reclaim, and close an open pit, heap leach, gold 
mining operation known as the Gemfield Mine Project.
    The proposed project would be located 1.5 miles north of Goldfield, 
Nevada, in Esmeralda County. The proposed project area contains 
approximately 660 acres of public land managed by the Tonopah Field 
Office and 414 acres of private land for a total of approximately 1,074 
acres of proposed disturbance.
    Approximately 10 million tons of ore and waste rock would be mined 
annually and extracted using conventional open pit mining methods of 
drilling and blasting over the approximately 10-year production phase 
of the mine. An estimated 600,000 ounces is expected to be extracted 
from the ore. The life of the mine would be approximately 13 years 
including reclamation and closure activities.
    The primary facilities associated with the proposed project would 
include the open pit, waste rock dump facility, mine office and 
facilities, crushing facilities and stockpile, heap leach pad, process 
facility, various process and make up water ponds, mine and access 
roads, and storm water diversion channels.
    There are 14 rights-of-way (ROW) associated with the Gemfield 
Mining Project Plan of Operations. Of these ROWs, there are 20 actions 
which consist of relinquishment and closure of ROW case files, 
amendments of ROWs, and the addition of new ROWs. Major ROW actions 
would include the relocation of U.S. Highway 95; the relocation of a 
major fiber optic line known as the Defense Bypass Route that serves 
military installations along U.S. Highway 95; the Nevada Hospital 
Association fiber optic line connecting major hospitals along the U.S. 
Highway 95 corridor with Reno and Las Vegas; and the existing Goldfield 
waterline that serves the residents of the Town of Goldfield.
    Metallic Goldfield, Inc. would employ up to 200 employees for the 
construction of the proposed project and approximately 150 employees 
during mine operations, including contractors.
    An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the EIS in 
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns 
identified during the scoping period. Potential direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impacts from the proposed action will be analyzed in the 
EIS.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including potential alternatives, and the extent to which those issues 
and impacts will be analyzed in the EIS. At present, the BLM has 
identified the following preliminary issues: (1) Closure of the cyanide 
heap leach pad; (2) The relocation of 2.5 miles of U.S. Highway 95 and 
several associated ROWs and their impact on wildlife and vegetation; 
and (3) Socioeconomic concerns associated with the influx of workers 
expected to be employed by the mine.
    The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to help fulfill the 
public participation requirements of Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)) as provided for in 
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Any information about historic and cultural 
resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed project 
will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such 
resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including potential impacts to cultural 
resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local 
agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed Gemfield Mine Project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate in the development of 
the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  40 CFR part 1501.

Timothy J. Coward,
Field Manager, Tonopah Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2013-30618 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
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