Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, Wyoming, 2437-2438 [2015-00453]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices Wyoming 82801; telephone 307–674– 2656; email glaurent@fs.fed.us; or Janelle Wrigley, BLM Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009; telephone 307–775–6257; email jwrigley@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 individuals. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant is the USFS. The application requests the Secretary of the Interior to withdraw, subject to valid existing rights, the following described National Forest System land from location and entry under the United States mining laws, but not from leasing under the mineral leasing laws, for a period of 20 years, to protect the capital improvements constructed for the Burgess Junction Visitor Center and Administrative Site: asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Bighorn National Forest Sixth Principal Meridian T. 56 N., R. 88 W., Sec. 31, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, those portions lying northwesterly of the centerline of United States Highway 14; Sec. 32, S1⁄2NW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4, and NW1⁄4SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, those portions lying northeasterly of the centerline of United States Highway 14. The area described contains approximately 73 acres in Sheridan County. The purpose of the requested withdrawal is to protect the capital improvements constructed for the administrative site. The use of a rightof-way, interagency or cooperative agreement would not adequately constrain nondiscretionary uses which could result in permanent loss of the facilities at the site. There are no suitable alternative sites as the described lands contain a fully constructed visitor center and administrative site. Moving the facilities to a different location would not be economical or practical. No additional water rights would be needed to fulfill the purpose of the requested withdrawal. There is a well on the site for domestic purposes and a water rights permit is in place to the United States. Records relating to the application may be examined by contacting Janelle Wrigley, BLM Wyoming State Office, at VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Jan 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 the above address; telephone 307–775– 6257; email jwrigley@blm.gov. For the period until April 16, 2015, all persons who wish to submit comments, suggestions or objections in connection with the withdrawal application may present their views in writing to the BLM Wyoming State Office at the address noted above. Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the BLM Wyoming State Office at the address above during regular business hours 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 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 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 cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Notice is hereby given that an opportunity for a public meeting is afforded in connection with the application for withdrawal. All interested persons who desire a public meeting for the purpose of being heard on the application for withdrawal must submit a written request to the BLM Wyoming State Director no later than April 16, 2015. If the authorized officer determines that a public meeting will be held, a notice of the time and place will be published in the Federal Register and through local newspapers, at least 30 days before the scheduled date of the meeting. For a period until January 16, 2017, subject to existing rights, the land described in this notice will be segregated from location and entry under the United States mining laws unless the application is denied or cancelled or the withdrawal is approved prior to that date. Licenses, permits, cooperative agreements or discretionary land use authorizations of a temporary nature which will not significantly impact the values to be protected by the withdrawal may be allowed with the approval of the authorized officer of the USFS during the temporary segregative period. This application will be processed in accordance with the regulations set forth in 43 CFR part 2300. Donald A. Simpson, State Director, Wyoming. [FR Doc. 2015–00598 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3411–15–P PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2437 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWYR05000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMK 11CW630–WYW168184] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, Wyoming 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 Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sheep Mountain Uranium 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 Sheep Mountain 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 or hearings and any other public involvement activities related to this Draft EIS at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/ st/en/info/NEPA/documents/lfo/ gashills.html. • Email: blm_wy_sheep_mountain_ eis@blm.gov. • Mail: Chris Krassin, Project Manager, BLM Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520. Copies of the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project Draft EIS are available in the Lander Field Office at the above address, the BLM Wyoming State Office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and online at the above Web site. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Krassin, Project Manager, telephone: 307–332–8400; address: BLM Lander Field Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520; or email: blm_wy_ sheep_mountain_eis@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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 2438 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 11 / Friday, January 16, 2015 / Notices 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: Titan Uranium USA Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Titan Uranium Inc., submitted a 43 CFR 3809 Plan of Operations (Plan) to the BLM Lander Field Office (LFO) for the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project (Project) in Fremont County, Wyoming, on June 16, 2011. On February 29, 2012, Energy Fuels Inc. merged with Titan Uranium Inc. and all of its subsidiaries are now wholly-owned subsidiaries of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (Energy Fuels). Energy Fuels will continue as the owner and operator of the Sheep Mountain Project. Energy Fuels submitted revised Plans to the BLM on July 16, 2012, August 29, 2013, and January 14, 2014. The 2014 revision consisted of a revision to the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality— Land Quality Division (WDEQ–LQD) Mine Permit 381C and a final update to the Plan for which the EIS is based. The Project is located 8 road miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming, in south-central Fremont County, in the Crooks Gap-Green Mountain District which was extensively mined starting in the 1950s. This area lies 62 road miles southeast of Riverton, Wyoming and 105 road miles west of Casper, Wyoming. The Project is within an active State of Wyoming Permit to Mine (No.381C) administered by the WDEQ–LQD. Revisions to the WDEQ–LQD permit have been submitted by Energy Fuels. Energy Fuels is currently considering applying for a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Source Materials License for the proposed heap leach and processing facility. Energy Fuels proposes to explore for and develop uranium reserves to produce approximately 1.0 million to 2.0 million pounds of uranium per year over an anticipated project life of 20 years. Uranium would be extracted using conventional open-pit and underground mining methods. Ore processing into yellowcake (U3O8) would occur either on-site using a heap leach and solvent extraction/ion exchange or offsite utilizing the existing conventional Sweetwater Uranium Mill approximately 30 miles to the south (NRC License SUA–1350). The boundary of the Sheep Mountain Project Area (Project Area) is within the active WDEQ–LQD 381C Mine Permit Area, encompassing approximately 3,611 acres (5.6 square miles) of which approximately 929 acres would be disturbed under the Proposed Action VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:36 Jan 15, 2015 Jkt 235001 Alternative. Approximately 62 percent (572.5 acres) of the surface within the Proposed Action disturbance area historically was disturbed by previous mining and exploration activities. The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of the Proposed Action and two alternatives including the No Action Alternative and the BLM Mitigation Alternative. The No Action Alternative, as required by NEPA, describes conditions that would occur if the proposed project were denied. This includes existing reclamation efforts on 227 acres of existing disturbance within the Project Area as required by the financial guarantee held for Mine Permit 381C. This reclamation includes a portion of the McIntosh pit and the existing underground mines, roads and facilities. Reclamation of the entire McIntosh Pit would be completed by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality— Abandoned Mine Lands program (WDEQ–AML) in coordination with Energy Fuels. The Proposed Action Alternative is the project as proposed by Energy Fuels in their Plan, as amended, and the revised WDEQ–LQD Mine Permit 381C. The BLM Mitigation Alternative would utilize the same conventional mining techniques over the same period as under the Proposed Action, but modifications to the proposed reclamation plan and development of a transportation plan would be required. In addition, the BLM Mitigation Alternative would identify opportunities to apply hierarchical mitigation strategies for on-site, regional and compensatory mitigation strategies and identify areas appropriate to apply landscape-level conservation and management actions to achieve regional mitigation objectives. The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2011 (76 FR 52688). Key issues identified during scoping were related to the development of additional alternatives, cumulative impacts, mitigation and monitoring and potential impacts to range, water, recreation, and wildlife resources. The public is encouraged to comment on any of these 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, PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 identification of data gaps in the impact analysis, or technical or scientific rationale for opinions or preference. 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. 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. Donald A. Simpson, State Director. [FR Doc. 2015–00453 Filed 1–15–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCOS05000.L13100000.EJ0000.241A] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison County, CO AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice. In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan (MDP) and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. SUMMARY: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Bull Mountain MDP 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 or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases and/or mailings. DATES: E:\FR\FM\16JAN1.SGM 16JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2437-2438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00453]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYR05000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMK11CW630-WYW168184]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, Fremont County, 
Wyoming

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 Act of 1976 
(FLPMA) and associated regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Sheep 
Mountain Uranium 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 Sheep Mountain 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 or hearings and any other public 
involvement activities related to this Draft EIS at least 15 days in 
advance through public notices, media releases and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft EIS may be submitted by any of the 
following methods:
     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/lfo/gashills.html.
     Email: blm_wy_sheep_mountain_eis@blm.gov.
     Mail: Chris Krassin, Project Manager, BLM Lander Field 
Office, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520.
    Copies of the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project Draft EIS are 
available in the Lander Field Office at the above address, the BLM 
Wyoming State Office in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and online at the above Web 
site.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Krassin, Project Manager, 
telephone: 307-332-8400; address: BLM Lander Field Office, 1335 Main 
Street, Lander, WY 82520; or email: blm_wy_sheep_mountain_eis@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

[[Page 2438]]

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: Titan Uranium USA Inc., a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Titan Uranium Inc., submitted a 43 CFR 3809 Plan of 
Operations (Plan) to the BLM Lander Field Office (LFO) for the Sheep 
Mountain Uranium Project (Project) in Fremont County, Wyoming, on June 
16, 2011. On February 29, 2012, Energy Fuels Inc. merged with Titan 
Uranium Inc. and all of its subsidiaries are now wholly-owned 
subsidiaries of Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. (Energy Fuels). 
Energy Fuels will continue as the owner and operator of the Sheep 
Mountain Project. Energy Fuels submitted revised Plans to the BLM on 
July 16, 2012, August 29, 2013, and January 14, 2014. The 2014 revision 
consisted of a revision to the Wyoming Department of Environmental 
Quality--Land Quality Division (WDEQ-LQD) Mine Permit 381C and a final 
update to the Plan for which the EIS is based.
    The Project is located 8 road miles south of Jeffrey City, Wyoming, 
in south-central Fremont County, in the Crooks Gap-Green Mountain 
District which was extensively mined starting in the 1950s. This area 
lies 62 road miles southeast of Riverton, Wyoming and 105 road miles 
west of Casper, Wyoming. The Project is within an active State of 
Wyoming Permit to Mine (No.381C) administered by the WDEQ-LQD. 
Revisions to the WDEQ-LQD permit have been submitted by Energy Fuels. 
Energy Fuels is currently considering applying for a U.S. Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission (NRC) Source Materials License for the proposed 
heap leach and processing facility.
    Energy Fuels proposes to explore for and develop uranium reserves 
to produce approximately 1.0 million to 2.0 million pounds of uranium 
per year over an anticipated project life of 20 years. Uranium would be 
extracted using conventional open-pit and underground mining methods. 
Ore processing into yellowcake (U3O8) would occur 
either on-site using a heap leach and solvent extraction/ion exchange 
or offsite utilizing the existing conventional Sweetwater Uranium Mill 
approximately 30 miles to the south (NRC License SUA-1350). The 
boundary of the Sheep Mountain Project Area (Project Area) is within 
the active WDEQ-LQD 381C Mine Permit Area, encompassing approximately 
3,611 acres (5.6 square miles) of which approximately 929 acres would 
be disturbed under the Proposed Action Alternative. Approximately 62 
percent (572.5 acres) of the surface within the Proposed Action 
disturbance area historically was disturbed by previous mining and 
exploration activities.
    The Draft EIS addresses the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts 
of the Proposed Action and two alternatives including the No Action 
Alternative and the BLM Mitigation Alternative.
    The No Action Alternative, as required by NEPA, describes 
conditions that would occur if the proposed project were denied. This 
includes existing reclamation efforts on 227 acres of existing 
disturbance within the Project Area as required by the financial 
guarantee held for Mine Permit 381C. This reclamation includes a 
portion of the McIntosh pit and the existing underground mines, roads 
and facilities. Reclamation of the entire McIntosh Pit would be 
completed by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality--Abandoned 
Mine Lands program (WDEQ-AML) in coordination with Energy Fuels.
    The Proposed Action Alternative is the project as proposed by 
Energy Fuels in their Plan, as amended, and the revised WDEQ-LQD Mine 
Permit 381C.
    The BLM Mitigation Alternative would utilize the same conventional 
mining techniques over the same period as under the Proposed Action, 
but modifications to the proposed reclamation plan and development of a 
transportation plan would be required. In addition, the BLM Mitigation 
Alternative would identify opportunities to apply hierarchical 
mitigation strategies for on-site, regional and compensatory mitigation 
strategies and identify areas appropriate to apply landscape-level 
conservation and management actions to achieve regional mitigation 
objectives.
    The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on August 23, 2011 (76 FR 52688). Key issues identified during 
scoping were related to the development of additional alternatives, 
cumulative impacts, mitigation and monitoring and potential impacts to 
range, water, recreation, and wildlife resources.
    The public is encouraged to comment on any of these 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.
    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.
    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.

Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-00453 Filed 1-15-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
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