Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ochoa Mine Project in Lea County, NM, 11463-11464 [2014-04257]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2014 / Notices Washington as vacated by Final Order of Vacation recorded under Auditor’s File Number 201111070157, records of said County, totaling 283.17 acres, more or less. Situate in the County of Kitsap, State of Washington. The above-described lands contain a total of 283.17 acres, more or less, which is subject to all valid rights, reservations, rights-of-way, and easements of record. This proclamation does not affect title to the land described above nor does it affect any valid existing easements for public roads and highways, for public utilities and for railroads and pipelines and any other rights-of-way or reservations of record. Dated: February 21, 2014. Kevin K. Washburn, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2014–04439 Filed 2–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNMP02000 L51100000.GE0000.LVEMG14CG200 14XL5017AR] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Ochoa Mine Project in Lea County, NM Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 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 Ochoa Mine Project and by this notice is announcing its availability. SUMMARY: 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 its own notice of availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Ochoa Mine Project Final EIS are available for public inspection at the Carlsbad Field Office, 620 E Greene Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on the Web site at: www.nm.blm.gov/cfo/ochoaMine/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Herrell or Shiva Achet, project co-leads, telephone 575–234–2229 tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:47 Feb 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 (David) or 575–234–5924 (Shiva); address BLM Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East Greene Street, Carlsbad, NM 88220; email blm_nm_cfo_comments@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: Intercontinental Potash Corporation (ICP) is proposing to develop a new underground mine in southern Lea County, New Mexico, to extract polyhalite ore for the production of the sulfate of potash and sulfate of potash magnesia, potassium fertilizers for food production. The project area includes Federal, State, and private lands totaling 31,134 acres, of which 2,400 acres would be disturbed. The surface landownership consists of about 22 percent public lands managed by the BLM, 53 percent owned by the State of New Mexico, and 25 percent privately owned. About 55 percent of the minerals within the proposed mine area is owned by the Federal Government. ICP holds BLM prospecting permits and has applied for preference right leases. These prospecting permits are located about 40 miles southeast of Carlsbad and 20 miles west of Jal, in Lea County, New Mexico. ICP has proposed a Mine Plan of Operations that includes an underground mine accessed by a shaft and a ramp, and processing facilities, including the ore process plant, dry stack tailings pile, evaporation ponds, water wells, pipelines, power lines, and a railroad load out facility. The polyhalite will be continuously mined using the conventional room and pillar retreat method. In order to mine in proximity to active oil and gas wells, ICP has elected to follow the rules and regulations of a Category IV gassy mine. Processing would require pumping a maximum of 4,000 gallons per minute of groundwater from the Capitan Reef Aquifer. The BLM initiated the NEPA process for the project by publication of a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on January 3, 2012 (77 FR 130). Public scoping meetings were conducted on January 23–24, 2012. Major issues identified for this project include oil and gas, water resources, land use, socioeconomic impacts, air quality, wildlife, livestock grazing, and health and safety. A PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 11463 scoping report was compiled and published on March 27, 2012. Alternatives developed in the Draft EIS include the proposed action (Alternative A), which would include approval of ICP’s Mine Plan of Operations, granting new rights-of-way, and approval of preference right leases to allow the mining and processing of polyhalite ore for the production of the sulphate of potash and sulphate of potash magnesia. In addition, three action alternatives were analyzed in the Draft EIS. Alternative B is identical to Alternative A except that the visual impacts of the tailing stockpile would be reduced. Alternative C is identical to Alternative A except that standards and guidance would be established for managing concurrent development of fluid minerals. Alternative D is similar to Alternative A, except that the location of the evaporation ponds and tailings stockpile would be at a different location. A no action alternative was also analyzed, in which the proposed mine plan of operations, rights-of-way, and preference right leases would be denied. The Draft EIS was published on August 9, 2013, starting a 45-day public comment period. Three public scoping meetings were held in Carlsbad, New Mexico, on August 26, 2013, and in Hobbs and Jal, New Mexico, on August 27, 2013. Briefings were also held for the City of Eunice, New Mexico, and a cooperating agency. Twenty-nine written comment letters consisting of 490 comments were received and analyzed. Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS. The Final EIS Preferred Alternative consists of a mixture of what the BLM considers the best features of Alternatives A, B, and C, as well as some new aspects incorporated in response to public comments and BLM concerns. The Preferred Alternative is similar to the proposed action (Alternative A), as it incorporates the same proposed mine area, mining methods, facilities, and processing methods. Additionally, water demands, well field and water pipelines, and layout facilities remain the same as the proposed action. The Preferred Alternative differs from the proposed action as it requires additional monitoring of water resources, includes subsidence, dust, and reclamation requirements, a smaller tailings stockpile, a more formalized codevelopment coordination program with stakeholders, and a dispute resolution process. E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM 28FEN1 11464 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 40 / Friday, February 28, 2014 / Notices Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Aden L. Seidlitz, Associate State Director. [FR Doc. 2014–04257 Filed 2–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASONRSS–15011; PPWOVPADW0, PPMPRLE1Y.LB0000] Information Collection Request Sent to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval; Research Permit and Reporting System Applications and Reports National Park Service, Interior. Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: We (National Park Service) have sent an Information Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for review and approval. We summarize the ICR below and describe the nature of the collection SUMMARY: and the estimated burden and cost. This information collection is scheduled to expire on February 28, 2014. We may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. However, under OMB regulations, we may continue to conduct or sponsor this information collection while it is pending at OMB. DATES: You must submit comments on or before March 31, 2014. ADDRESSES: Send your comments and suggestions on this information collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at OMB— OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_ Submission@omb.eop.gov (email). Please provide a copy of your comments to Madonna L. Baucum, Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1849 C Street NW. (2601), Washington, DC 20240 (mail); or madonna_baucum@nps.gov (email). Please include ‘‘1024–0236’’ in the subject line of your comments. Number of respondents Activity Number of annual responses To request additional information about this ICR, contact Bill Commins at bill_ commins@nps.gov (email) or at 202– 513–7166 (telephone). You may review the ICR online at https:// www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior collections under review by OMB. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Control Number: 1024–0236. Title: Research Permit and Reporting System Applications and Reports, 36 CFR 2.1 and 2.5. Service Form Number(s): 10–226, 10– 741a, and 10–741b. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents: Individuals; businesses; academic and research institutions; and Federal, State, local, and tribal governments. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. Frequency of Collection: On occasion for applications; annually for reports. Completion time per response Total annual burden hours 5,395 4,980 5,395 4,980 15 minutes ............................. 1.38 hours .............................. 1,349 6,872 415 415 1 hour ..................................... 415 TOTALS ........................................................................... tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Investigator’s Annual Report (Form 10–226) .......................... Application for a Scientific Research and Collecting Permit (Form 10–741a). Application for a Science Education Permit (Form 10–741b) 10,790 10,790 ........................................... 8,636 Abstract: Regulations at 36 CFR 2.1 and 2.5 provide for taking of scientific research specimens in parks. We use a permit system to manage scientific research and collecting. National Park Service Forms 10–741a (Application for a Scientific Research and Collecting Permit) and 10–741b (Application for a Science Education Permit) collect information from persons seeking a permit to conduct natural or social science research and collection activities in individual units of the National Park System. The information we collect includes, but is not limited to: • Names and business contact information. • Project title, purpose of study, summary of proposed field methods and activities, and study and field schedules. • Location where scientific activities are proposed to take place, including method of access. • Whether or not specimens are proposed to be collected or handled, and if yes, scientific descriptions and proposed disposition of specimens. VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:47 Feb 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 • If specimens are to be permanently retained, the proposed repositories for those specimens. Persons who receive a permit must report annually on the activities conducted under the permit. Form 10– 226 (Investigator’s Annual Report) collects the following information: • Reporting year, park, and type of permit. • Names and business contact information and names of additional investigators. • Project title, park-assigned study or activity number, park-assigned permit number, permit start and expiration dates, and scientific study start and ending dates. • Activity type, subject discipline, purpose of study/activity during the reporting year, and finding and status of study or accomplishments of education activity during the reporting year. We use the above information to manage the use and preservation of park resources and for reporting to the public via the Internet about the status of permitted research and collecting activities. We encourage respondents to PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 use the Internet-based, automated Research Permit and Reporting System (RPRS) to complete and submit applications and reports. For those who use RPRS, much of the information needed for the annual report is generated automatically through information supplied in the application or contained in the permit. Comments: On September 19, 2013, we published in the Federal Register (78 FR 57654) a notice of our intent to request that OMB renew approval for this information collection. In that notice, we solicited comments for 60 days, ending November 3, 2013. We did not receive any comments. We again invite comments concerning this information collection on: • Whether or not the collection of information is necessary, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; • The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information; • Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and E:\FR\FM\28FEN1.SGM 28FEN1

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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11463-11464]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04257]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNMP02000 L51100000.GE0000.LVEMG14CG200 14XL5017AR]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Ochoa Mine Project in Lea County, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) 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 Ochoa 
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 its own notice of availability in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Ochoa Mine Project Final EIS are available for 
public inspection at the Carlsbad Field Office, 620 E Greene Street, 
Carlsbad, NM 88220. Interested persons may also review the Final EIS on 
the Web site at: www.nm.blm.gov/cfo/ochoaMine/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Herrell or Shiva Achet, project 
co-leads, telephone 575-234-2229 (David) or 575-234-5924 (Shiva); 
address BLM Carlsbad Field Office, 620 East Greene Street, Carlsbad, NM 
88220; email blm_nm_cfo_comments@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: Intercontinental Potash Corporation (ICP) is 
proposing to develop a new underground mine in southern Lea County, New 
Mexico, to extract polyhalite ore for the production of the sulfate of 
potash and sulfate of potash magnesia, potassium fertilizers for food 
production. The project area includes Federal, State, and private lands 
totaling 31,134 acres, of which 2,400 acres would be disturbed. The 
surface landownership consists of about 22 percent public lands managed 
by the BLM, 53 percent owned by the State of New Mexico, and 25 percent 
privately owned. About 55 percent of the minerals within the proposed 
mine area is owned by the Federal Government.
    ICP holds BLM prospecting permits and has applied for preference 
right leases. These prospecting permits are located about 40 miles 
southeast of Carlsbad and 20 miles west of Jal, in Lea County, New 
Mexico. ICP has proposed a Mine Plan of Operations that includes an 
underground mine accessed by a shaft and a ramp, and processing 
facilities, including the ore process plant, dry stack tailings pile, 
evaporation ponds, water wells, pipelines, power lines, and a railroad 
load out facility. The polyhalite will be continuously mined using the 
conventional room and pillar retreat method. In order to mine in 
proximity to active oil and gas wells, ICP has elected to follow the 
rules and regulations of a Category IV gassy mine. Processing would 
require pumping a maximum of 4,000 gallons per minute of groundwater 
from the Capitan Reef Aquifer.
    The BLM initiated the NEPA process for the project by publication 
of a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS on January 3, 2012 (77 FR 130). 
Public scoping meetings were conducted on January 23-24, 2012. Major 
issues identified for this project include oil and gas, water 
resources, land use, socioeconomic impacts, air quality, wildlife, 
livestock grazing, and health and safety. A scoping report was compiled 
and published on March 27, 2012.
    Alternatives developed in the Draft EIS include the proposed action 
(Alternative A), which would include approval of ICP's Mine Plan of 
Operations, granting new rights-of-way, and approval of preference 
right leases to allow the mining and processing of polyhalite ore for 
the production of the sulphate of potash and sulphate of potash 
magnesia. In addition, three action alternatives were analyzed in the 
Draft EIS. Alternative B is identical to Alternative A except that the 
visual impacts of the tailing stockpile would be reduced. Alternative C 
is identical to Alternative A except that standards and guidance would 
be established for managing concurrent development of fluid minerals. 
Alternative D is similar to Alternative A, except that the location of 
the evaporation ponds and tailings stockpile would be at a different 
location. A no action alternative was also analyzed, in which the 
proposed mine plan of operations, rights-of-way, and preference right 
leases would be denied.
    The Draft EIS was published on August 9, 2013, starting a 45-day 
public comment period. Three public scoping meetings were held in 
Carlsbad, New Mexico, on August 26, 2013, and in Hobbs and Jal, New 
Mexico, on August 27, 2013. Briefings were also held for the City of 
Eunice, New Mexico, and a cooperating agency. Twenty-nine written 
comment letters consisting of 490 comments were received and analyzed. 
Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public and internal BLM 
review were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final 
EIS. The Final EIS Preferred Alternative consists of a mixture of what 
the BLM considers the best features of Alternatives A, B, and C, as 
well as some new aspects incorporated in response to public comments 
and BLM concerns. The Preferred Alternative is similar to the proposed 
action (Alternative A), as it incorporates the same proposed mine area, 
mining methods, facilities, and processing methods. Additionally, water 
demands, well field and water pipelines, and layout facilities remain 
the same as the proposed action. The Preferred Alternative differs from 
the proposed action as it requires additional monitoring of water 
resources, includes subsidence, dust, and reclamation requirements, a 
smaller tailings stockpile, a more formalized co-development 
coordination program with stakeholders, and a dispute resolution 
process.


[[Page 11464]]


    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Aden L. Seidlitz,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-04257 Filed 2-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P
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