Notice of Public Meetings, Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council, Idaho, 17566-17567 [2014-06907]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 17566 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 60 / Friday, March 28, 2014 / Notices Federal Register on September 5, 2013 (78 FR 54674). Scoping meetings were announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, the BLM Web site at https://www.blm.gov/ nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office.html, and the BLM’s online ePlanning system, and were held on September 24, 25, and 26 in 2013, in Ely, Eureka, and Reno, Nevada, respectively. On November 7, 2013, the BLM was informed that the email account set up to receive scoping comments on the Gold Rock Mine Project EIS, along with all of its contents, had been deleted and was not recoverable. On January 6, 2014, the BLM and the project proponent, Midway Gold US Inc. (Midway), decided to issue a second Notice of Intent (NOI) to extend the scoping period, invite the public to submit comments, and request that anyone who submitted scoping comments by email during the initial 30-day scoping period (September 5, 2013, through October 7, 2013) resubmit their comments by mail, by fax, or through the ePlanning system during this 30-day extension of the public input period. No changes have been made to the proposed action. No scoping meetings will be held during this 30-day extension of the public input period, as these meetings were not affected by the technical difficulties with the email account. Midway proposes to construct and operate an open-pit gold mining operation, which would include an open pit; a heap leach pad and associated ponds, process facility, and refinery; a mill; a carbon-in-leach (CIL) plant; waste rock dumps; a tailings storage facility; and ancillary facilities. The mine would be located on the eastern side of the Pancake Mountain Range, about 30 miles southeast of Eureka, 50 miles west of Ely and 15 miles south of U.S. Route 50. Electrical power would be obtained from Mt. Wheeler Power. For the Gold Rock Project, a 69-kV transmission line would be extended from the Pan Mine approximately 6 miles across the valley to tie into the west side of the Gold Rock Project electric system. A county road that currently passes through the project area would be relocated onto existing county and BLM roads. Currently, Midway is authorized to disturb up to 267 acres for exploration purposes. The proposed operations and associated disturbance would increase disturbance to 3,749 acres of public land managed by the BLM. The projected mining period is 10 years. Associated construction, closure, reclamation, and post-closure monitoring periods would VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:57 Mar 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 extend the Project life for an estimated 38 years, to approximately 48 years. Midway is currently conducting exploration activities in this area which were analyzed in two environmental assessments (EAs): the Midway Gold Rock Project Final Environmental Assessment (June 2012), and the Environmental Assessment for the Midway Gold Rock Project, Exploration Amendment (October 2012). A range of alternatives will be developed, including the no-action alternative, to address the issues identified during scoping. Mitigation measures will be considered to minimize environmental impacts and to assure the proposed action does not result in unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: (a) Potential effects to wild horses, which would include loss of habitat from surface disturbance and which could include mortality from collision with project-related vehicles on existing roads; (b) Potential effects to greater sagegrouse, which would include loss of habitat from surface disturbance and which could include impacts to the species created by construction and operation in proximity to active sagegrouse leks; (c) Potential effects to mule deer, which would include loss of habitat from surface disturbance habitat and which could include mortality from collision with project-related vehicles on existing access roads; (d) Potential effects to employment and housing availability; (e) Potential effects to archaeological resources in the area, which could include Carbonari (historical charcoal production) sites and the Lincoln Highway route; (f) Potential effects to air quality created by the initiation of mining at the Gold Rock Mine Project; (g) Potential effects to viewshed in and around areas of Visual Resources Management Classes III and IV from project construction and operation, including effects to night sky from nighttime operations; and (h) Potential effects to recreational uses and users, which would include loss of access and loss of hunting areas. The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to help fulfill the public involvement requirements of PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with policy, and tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets, will be given due consideration. The BLM is in the process of determining the cooperating agencies. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM’s decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate 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. Jill A. Moore, Field Manager, Egan Field Office. Authority: 40 CFR 1501 and 43 CFR 3809. [FR Doc. 2014–07005 Filed 3–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLIDT000000.L11200000.DD0000.241A.00] Notice of Public Meetings, Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council, Idaho Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Public Meetings. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council will participate in a field tour of a livestock grazing permittee’s operation. The tour will take place April 23, 2014. RAC members will meet at the Twin Falls District Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301 at 8:15 a.m. to travel to Hagerman for the field tour. A public comment period will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at the Thousand Springs SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 60 / Friday, March 28, 2014 / Notices Resort, (6 miles south of Hagerman), 18734 Hwy–30, Hagerman, ID 83332. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Tiel-Nelson, Twin Falls District, Idaho, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301, (208) 736– 2352. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15member RAC advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in Idaho. The purpose of the April 23rd tour is to give RAC members an in depth look at the process a livestock grazing permittee follows to fulfill the parameters of their grazing permit. Additional topics may be added and will be included in local media announcements. More information is available at www.blm.gov/id/st/en/res/ resource_advisory.3.html. RAC meetings are open to the public. Dated: March 19, 2014. James Stovall, District Manager (Acting). [FR Doc. 2014–06907 Filed 3–27–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [14X L1109AF LLWO300000 L14300000 PN0000] Request for Information: West-Wide Energy Corridor Review Bureau of Land Management, Interior; Forest Service, USDA; Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM); U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (FS); and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, are seeking the information described in this notice related to the West-wide Energy Corridor Review. DATES: Comments must be submitted by May 27, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments electronically to 368corridors@blm.gov. Entire comments, including any personal identifying information, may mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:57 Mar 27, 2014 Jkt 232001 be made publicly available upon request. While respondents may request that personal identifying information be withheld from the public, the BLM, FS, and DOE (Agencies) cannot guarantee that they will be able to do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Fusilier, BLM, at 202–912– 7426 or by email at sfusilie@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800–877– 8339 to contact Mr. Fusilier during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 8, 2005, the President signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) (42 U.S.C. 15801 et seq.). In Section 368 of the EPAct (42 U.S.C. 15926), Congress directed the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Energy, and the Interior (the Secretaries) to designate corridors for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines and electrical transmission and distribution facilities on Federal lands in the 11 contiguous Western states (Section 368 Corridors). The Secretaries were also directed to perform any environmental reviews required to complete the designation of Section 368 Corridors, incorporate the Section 368 Corridors into land use plans, and establish a process for identifying new Section 368 Corridors. On January 14, 2009, the DOI approved a record of decision (ROD) that amended 92 BLM land use plans and designated approximately 5,000 miles of Section 368 Corridors on BLMadministered lands. The affected States are Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The FS issued a ROD on January 14, 2009, which amended 38 FS land use plans and designated approximately 990 miles of Section 368 Corridors on National Forest System lands in 10 states. Both RODs adopted mandatory interagency operating procedures (IOP) for projects sited within the Section 368 Corridors. On July 7, 2009, several nonprofit organizations filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Wilderness Society v. United States Department of the Interior, No. 3:09-cv03048–JW, challenging the DOI and FS RODs pursuant to the EPAct, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act. On July 11, 2012, the court approved a settlement agreement (Settlement) and dismissed the case. The Settlement set PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17567 forth five provisions with the objective of ensuring that future Section 368 Corridor revisions, deletions, and additions consider the following principles: Location of Section 368 Corridors in favorable landscapes; facilitation of renewable energy projects where feasible; avoidance of environmentally sensitive areas to the maximum extent practicable; diminution of the proliferation of dispersed rights-of-way crossing the landscape; and improvement of the long-term benefits of reliable and safe transmission. The Settlement also provides that public input and an open and transparent process with engagement by tribes, States, local governments, and other interested parties occur as part of the process for making potential revisions, deletions, or additions to Section 368 Corridors. Two of the Settlement provisions are relevant to this RFI: (1) Preparation of regional periodic reviews of designated Section 368 Corridors (Regional Periodic Reviews) and reviews of IOPs; and (2) Development of a corridor study to assess the overall usefulness of the Section 368 Corridors (Section 368 Corridor Study). Information referenced in this RFI can be found at https:// corridoreis.anl.gov. Purpose of the RFI The purpose of this RFI is to solicit information that will assist the Agencies in the development of the Section 368 Corridor Study and provide the foundation for the initial Regional Periodic Review. In particular, the Agencies seek responses to the questions posed in the sections below. All work described in the Work Plan and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds. Section 368 Corridor Study On July 7, 2013, the Agencies finalized a Corridor Study Work Plan for the Section 368 Corridors (Work Plan). The Work Plan identifies how information will be gathered and analyzed and establishes a schedule for completion of the Section 368 Corridor Study. Under the Section 368 Corridor Study, the Agencies will study Section 368 Corridors to assess their overall usefulness with regard to various factors, including their effectiveness in reducing the proliferation of dispersed rights-of-way across Federal lands. The Agencies will also assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the Section 368 Corridors and record lessons learned in the siting process. The Section 368 Corridor Study will also: E:\FR\FM\28MRN1.SGM 28MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 60 (Friday, March 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17566-17567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06907]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDT000000.L11200000.DD0000.241A.00]


Notice of Public Meetings, Twin Falls District Resource Advisory 
Council, Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Public Meetings.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
(FLPMA), the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls 
District Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet as indicated below.

DATES: The Twin Falls District Resource Advisory Council will 
participate in a field tour of a livestock grazing permittee's 
operation. The tour will take place April 23, 2014. RAC members will 
meet at the Twin Falls District Office, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, 
Idaho, 83301 at 8:15 a.m. to travel to Hagerman for the field tour. A 
public comment period will take place from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. at 
the Thousand Springs

[[Page 17567]]

Resort, (6 miles south of Hagerman), 18734 Hwy-30, Hagerman, ID 83332.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Tiel-Nelson, Twin Falls 
District, Idaho, 2536 Kimberly Road, Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301, (208) 
736-2352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15-member RAC advises the Secretary of 
the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of 
planning and management issues associated with public land management 
in Idaho. The purpose of the April 23rd tour is to give RAC members an 
in depth look at the process a livestock grazing permittee follows to 
fulfill the parameters of their grazing permit.
    Additional topics may be added and will be included in local media 
announcements. More information is available at www.blm.gov/id/st/en/res/resource_advisory.3.html. RAC meetings are open to the public.

    Dated: March 19, 2014.
James Stovall,
District Manager (Acting).
[FR Doc. 2014-06907 Filed 3-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.