Notice of Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Nacimiento Mine Site, Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, 18599-18600 [2015-07898]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices United States Forest Service (D. Colo. June 27, 2014). DATES: Comments must be received in writing by May 22, 2015. ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically at https:// cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ CommentInput?Project=46470. In addition written comments can be submitted via hard-copy mail to: Colorado Roadless Rule, 740 Simms Street, Golden, CO 80401. All comments, including names and addresses, are placed in the record and are available for public inspection and copying. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Tu at 303–275–5156. Individuals using telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Services at 1–800–877–8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 3, 2012 (77 FR 39576), the U.S. Department of Agriculture promulgated the Colorado Roadless Rule, a statespecific regulation for management of Colorado Roadless Areas. This Rule addressed State-specific concerns while conserving roadless area characteristics. One State-specific concern was to avoid foreclosing exploration and development of coal resources on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests. The Colorado Roadless Rule addressed this by defining a 19,100-acre area as the North Fork Coal Mining Area, and developing an exception that allows temporary road construction for coalrelated activities within that defined area. In July 2013, High Country Conservation Advocates, WildEarth Guardians, and Sierra Club challenged the Forest Service’s decision to consent to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) modifying two existing coal leases, the BLM’s companion decision to modify the leases, BLM’s authorization of an exploration plan in the lease modification areas, and the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule. In June 2014, the District Court of Colorado found the environmental documents supporting the four decisions to be in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) due to analysis deficiencies. In September 2014, the District Court of Colorado vacated the lease modifications, the exploration plan, and the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule (36 CFR 294.43(c)(1)(ix)). This supplemental NEPA process will only address the Colorado Roadless VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 Apr 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 Rule. The lease modifications and exploration plan authorization will be addressed in future environmental analyses, if needed. Purpose and Need The purpose and need for this supplemental EIS is to provide management direction for conserving roadless characteristics within the area while addressing the State interest in not foreclosing exploration and development of the coal resources in the North Fork Coal Mining Area. Proposed Action The proposed action for the Colorado Roadless Rule supplemental is to reinstate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception as written in 36 CFR 294.43(c)(1)(ix). In addition, the Forest Service is proposing to administratively correct the North Fork Coal Mining Area boundary to remedy clerical errors. Alternative to the Proposed Action The other alternative being considered is the no-action alternative, which is the continuation of current management following the District Court ruling to vacate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception. The Colorado Roadless Rule contains a severability clause (36 CFR 294.48(f)), which allows the rest of the Rule to remain in effect. Therefore, the District Court of Colorado’s ruling only changed management of Colorado Roadless Areas in the North Fork Coal Mining Area. Currently, the North Fork Coal Mining Area is being managed the same as other non-upper tier Colorado Roadless Areas. Valid existing coal leases would operate according the terms of their leases. Cooperating Agencies The Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the BLM will participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the SEIS. Responsible Official The Responsible Official for the rulemaking and SEIS is the Secretary of Agriculture or his designee. Decision To Be Made The Responsible Official will determine whether to reinstate the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception, or continue to manage the area without the exception. In addition, the Forest Service will determine if corrections to the North Fork Coal Mining Area boundary should be made to adjust for clerical errors. Scoping Process The Forest Service is seeking public comments for 45 days from the PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18599 publication date of this notice. Comments should be limited to issues related to the proposed action, which is limited only to reinstating the North Fork Coal Mining Area exception of the Colorado Roadless Rule. The Forest Service is not seeking comments on the other portions of the Colorado Roadless Rule, roadless area boundary modifications, or other roadless areas in Colorado. Due to the extensive public participation process that occurred with the development of the Colorado Roadless Rule, no public meetings are planned for this 45 day scoping effort. However, public meetings may be held in Denver and Paonia, Colorado after the release of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) and proposed rule. Estimated Timeline The SDEIS and proposed rule is estimated to be released in early fall 2015. The Supplemental Final EIS is estimated spring 2016. Brian Ferebee, Deputy Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region. [FR Doc. 2015–07886 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE CODE 3410–11–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent for Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Nacimiento Mine Site, Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of Settlement. AGENCY: In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC), between the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service) and Williams Express LLC (Williams), under Sections 104, 107 and 122 of CERCLA, regarding the Nacimiento Mine Site located on the Santa Fe National Forest near Cuba, New Mexico. The property that is the subject of this proposed ASAOC is areas where hazardous substances and/or pollutants or contaminants are located on the surface features of the federally owned portion of the Site designated as Operable Unit 1 (OU1). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 18600 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 66 / Tuesday, April 7, 2015 / Notices This ASAOC requires Williams perform an Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (EE/CA) report to develop, evaluate, and select cleanup alternatives involving mining waste piles and other surface features located on the federally owned portion of OU1 at the Site. The performance of this work must be approved and monitored by the Forest Service. Also under the ASAOC, Williams will reimburse up to $7,500 of the Forest Service’s oversight costs related to the EE/CA. For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the United States will receive written comments relating to the ASAOC. The United States will consider all comments received and may modify or withdraw its consent to the ASAOC if comments received disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the settlement is inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The United States’ response to any comments received will be available for public inspection at the USDA, Office of General Counsel, Mountain Region, 740 Simms Street, Golden, Colorado 80401, and the Forest Service’s Southwestern Regional Office, 333 Broadway SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 7, 2015. ADDRESSES: The proposed settlement and additional background information relating to the settlement are available for public inspection at the offices located at the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Regional Office, 333 Broadway SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, or from Kirk M. Minckler with USDA’s Office of the General Counsel, (303) 275–5549. Comments should reference the Nacimiento Mine, Santa Fe National Forest, Sandoval County, New Mexico, and should be addressed to Kirk M. Minckler, USDA Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 25005, Denver, CO 80225–005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact Steven J. McDonald, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, 333 Broadway SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, phone (505) 842–3838. For legal information, contact Kirk M. Minckler, USDA Office of the General Counsel, P.O. Box 25005, Denver, CO 80225–0005; phone (303) 275–5549, Fax: (303) 275–5557; email: kirk.minckler@ogc.usda.gov. Dated: March 31, 2015. Danny R. Montoya, Acting Deputy Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Southwestern Region. [FR Doc. 2015–07898 Filed 4–6–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE CODE 3410–11–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:46 Apr 06, 2015 Jkt 235001 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE U.S. Census Bureau Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; Geographic Partnership Programs U.S. Census Bureau, Commerce. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be submitted on or before June 8, 2015. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Jennifer Jessup, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 6625, 14th and Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230 (or via the Internet at jjessup@doc.gov). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument(s) and instructions to Laura Waggoner, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233 (or via the Internet at laura.l.waggoner@ census.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Abstract The mission of the Geography Division (GEO) within the Census Bureau is to plan, coordinate, and administer all geographic and cartographic activities needed to facilitate Census Bureau statistical programs throughout the United States and its territories. GEO manages programs to continuously update geographic data including addresses, spatial features, boundaries, and geographic entities in the Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing System (MAF/TIGER) System. GEO also conducts research into geographic concepts, methods, and standards needed to facilitate Census Bureau data collection and dissemination programs. Geographic Partnership Programs (GPPs) encourages participants, following Census Bureau guidelines, to review, update, and suggest modifications to geographic data to maintain MAF/TIGER and to ensure the PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 accurate reporting of data from censuses and surveys. Because state, local, and tribal governments have geographic data and current knowledge about where growth and change are occurring in their jurisdictions, their input into the overall development of a continually maintained address list for censuses and surveys makes a vital contribution. The Census Bureau recognizes that state, local, and tribal governments have authoritative geographic data for their jurisdiction. The benefits to local governments in sharing that information as part of the Census Bureau’s GPPs are realized with quality data for more accurate results of censuses and surveys. II. Method of Collection This notice is for a generic clearance that will cover a number of activities required for updating MAF/TIGER with participant-provided address and other geographic information, or obtain address and spatial data for research and evaluation purposes. The information collected in these programs in cooperation with state, local, and tribal governments and other partners is essential to the mission of the Census Bureau and directly contributes to the successful outcome of censuses and surveys conducted by the Census Bureau. The generic clearance allows the Census Bureau to focus its resources on actual operational planning, development of procedures, and implementation of programs to update and improve the geographic data maintained in MAF/TIGER. The Census Bureau will develop guidelines and procedures for state, local, and tribal government submissions of address data and geographic boundaries, and will outline the mutual roles and responsibilities of each party within each GPP. The GPP listed below, is not exhaustive of all activities that may be performed under this generic clearance. The Census Bureau will follow the approved procedure when submitting any additional activities not specifically listed here. Geographic Support System Initiative (GSS–I) The GSS–I is an integrated program designed to improve geographic data and enhance the quality assessment and measurement for MAF/TIGER. The GSS–I builds on the accomplishments of the last decade’s MAF/TIGER Enhancement Program (MTEP), which redesigned MAF/TGER, improved the positional accuracy of TIGER spatial features, and emphasized quality measurement. The Census Bureau plans E:\FR\FM\07APN1.SGM 07APN1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18599-18600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07898]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on 
Consent for Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis Nacimiento Mine Site, 
Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Settlement.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 122(i) of the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as 
amended (CERCLA), 42 U.S.C. 9622(i), notice is hereby given of an 
Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (ASAOC), 
between the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service 
(Forest Service) and Williams Express LLC (Williams), under Sections 
104, 107 and 122 of CERCLA, regarding the Nacimiento Mine Site located 
on the Santa Fe National Forest near Cuba, New Mexico. The property 
that is the subject of this proposed ASAOC is areas where hazardous 
substances and/or pollutants or contaminants are located on the surface 
features of the federally owned portion of the Site designated as 
Operable Unit 1 (OU1).

[[Page 18600]]

    This ASAOC requires Williams perform an Engineering Evaluation and 
Cost Analysis (EE/CA) report to develop, evaluate, and select cleanup 
alternatives involving mining waste piles and other surface features 
located on the federally owned portion of OU1 at the Site. The 
performance of this work must be approved and monitored by the Forest 
Service. Also under the ASAOC, Williams will reimburse up to $7,500 of 
the Forest Service's oversight costs related to the EE/CA.
    For thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this 
notice, the United States will receive written comments relating to the 
ASAOC. The United States will consider all comments received and may 
modify or withdraw its consent to the ASAOC if comments received 
disclose facts or considerations that indicate that the settlement is 
inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. The United States' response to 
any comments received will be available for public inspection at the 
USDA, Office of General Counsel, Mountain Region, 740 Simms Street, 
Golden, Colorado 80401, and the Forest Service's Southwestern Regional 
Office, 333 Broadway SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 7, 2015.

ADDRESSES: The proposed settlement and additional background 
information relating to the settlement are available for public 
inspection at the offices located at the United States Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Regional Office, 333 Broadway 
SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, or from Kirk M. Minckler with USDA's Office 
of the General Counsel, (303) 275-5549. Comments should reference the 
Nacimiento Mine, Santa Fe National Forest, Sandoval County, New Mexico, 
and should be addressed to Kirk M. Minckler, USDA Office of the General 
Counsel, P.O. Box 25005, Denver, CO 80225-005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information, contact 
Steven J. McDonald, USDA Forest Service Southwestern Region, 333 
Broadway SE., Albuquerque, NM 87102, phone (505) 842-3838. For legal 
information, contact Kirk M. Minckler, USDA Office of the General 
Counsel, P.O. Box 25005, Denver, CO 80225-0005; phone (303) 275-5549, 
Fax: (303) 275-5557; email: kirk.minckler@ogc.usda.gov.

    Dated: March 31, 2015.
Danny R. Montoya,
Acting Deputy Regional Forester, USDA Forest Service, Southwestern 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2015-07898 Filed 4-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 3410-11-P
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