Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV, 48913-48914 [2015-19924]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 157 / Friday, August 14, 2015 / Notices cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The minutes and list of attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified issues to be addressed in the plan, and will place them into one of three categories: 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan amendment; 2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action; or 3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan amendment. The BLM will provide an explanation in the EA as to why an issue was placed in category two or three. The public is also encouraged to help identify any management questions and concerns that should be addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns. The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan amendment in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines will be involved in the planning process: rangeland management, minerals and geology, outdoor recreation, visual resource management, archeology, paleontology, wildlife, botany, lands and realty, hydrology, soils, sociology and economics. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2. Carol Benkosky, Prineville District Manager. [FR Doc. 2015–20060 Filed 8–13–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–33–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES [LLNVL01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1501180 241A; MO# 4500069201] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Aug 13, 2015 Jkt 235001 Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects (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 Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce any public meetings or other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS by any of the following methods: • Email: BLM_NV_EYDO_Barrick_ Bald_EIS@blm.gov. • Fax: 775–289–1910. • Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301. Copies of the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS are available in the Ely District Office at the above address and on the Ely District’s Web page at https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_ field_office/blm_programs/minerals/ mining_projects/bald_mountain_ mine0.html. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Miles Kreidler, Project Lead, telephone: 509– 536–1222; address: 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301; email: mkreidler@ 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: Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. (Barrick) proposes to expand, construct, and operate an openpit gold mining operation located in the Bald Mountain Mining District in White Pine County, Nevada, approximately 65 miles northwest of the Town of Ely. The proposed development and expansion would create an additional 6,891 acres of disturbance, which would be located primarily on public land managed by PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 48913 the BLM. The projected mining period is 21 years, but the life of the mine would extend for 80 years, including construction, operation, reclamation, closure, reclamation monitoring, and post-closure monitoring. The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed project site-specific impacts (including cumulative) on all affected resources. The DEIS describes four alternatives: approval of the project as proposed by Barrick (the Proposed Action), the North and South Operations Area Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative, the Western Redbird Modification Alternative, and the No Action Alternative. The North and South Operations Area Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative was developed to address potential impacts to mule deer migration; greater sagegrouse leks and associated Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH) and Preliminary General Habitat (PGH); visual impacts affecting the cultural setting of the Pony Express National Historic Trail, Ruby Valley Pony Express Station, and Fort Ruby National Historic Landmark; and visual impacts affecting visitor aesthetics at the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The North and South Operations Area Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative would result in a decrease of 3703 acres (¥54 percent) of disturbance compared to the Proposed Action. The Western Redbird Modification Alternative was developed to further address potential impacts to mule deer migration and would result in a decrease of 4,339 acres (¥63 percent) of disturbance compared to the Proposed Action. Several other alternatives were considered but eliminated from further analysis. These alternatives eliminated from further consideration are discussed in Chapter 2 of the Draft EIS. Mitigation measures are considered to minimize environmental impacts and to assure the Proposed Action does not result in unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands. On April 16, 2012, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register inviting scoping comments on the Proposed Action. A legal notice was prepared by the BLM and published in the Elko Daily Free Press, Ely Times, Eureka Sentinel, and Reno GazetteJournal informing the public of the BLM’s intention to prepare the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area Projects EIS. Public scoping meetings were held May 7–10 in Ely, Eureka, Elko, and Reno, Nevada. A total of 25 comment submittals containing 180 individual comments were received. The comments are E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1 asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 48914 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 157 / Friday, August 14, 2015 / Notices incorporated in a Scoping Report and were considered in the preparation of this Draft EIS. Concerns raised during scoping include: potential degradation of surface water or groundwater quality and potential depletion to groundwater from pit lakes and/or water withdrawals for mine operations; potential impacts to mule deer habitat and migration corridors; potential impacts to greater sage-grouse habitat and strutting grounds; potential impacts to Wild Horse Herd Management Areas (HMAs), including herd access to surface water sources; potential air quality impacts from fugitive dust containing mercury, arsenic, or other contaminants; and potential impacts to visual resources including the visual setting of the Pony Express Trail and the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The North and South Operations Area Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative was developed to help reduce impacts to mule deer, greater sage-grouse, and visual resources. The Western Redbird Modification Alternative was developed to help further reduce impacts to mule deer. Mitigation measures have also been included to show how impacts on resources could be minimized. The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS in conjunction with its five Cooperating Agencies: Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, State of Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, Eureka County, and White Pine County. 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 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1501 and 43 CFR 3809. Jill A. Moore, Field Manager, Egan Field Office. [FR Doc. 2015–19924 Filed 8–13–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Aug 13, 2015 Jkt 235001 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [USITC SE–15–025] Sunshine Act Meeting United States International Trade Commission. TIME AND DATE: August 18, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, Telephone: (202) 205–2000. STATUS: Open to the public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 1. Agendas for future meetings: none 2. Minutes 3. Ratification List 4. Vote in Inv. No. 731–TA–1070A (Second Review) (Crepe Paper from China). The Commission is currently scheduled to complete and file its determination and views of the Commission on August 31, 2015. 5. Outstanding action jackets: none In accordance with Commission policy, subject matter listed above, not disposed of at the scheduled meeting, may be carried over to the agenda of the following meeting. AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: Issued: August 11, 2015. By order of the Commission. William R. Bishop, Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2015–20173 Filed 8–12–15; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 7020–02–P DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE [OMB Number—1121–NEW] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; New Collection of Information; Beneficiary Referral Request Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice. ACTION: 60-Day notice. AGENCY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until October 13, 2015. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have additional comments especially on the estimated public SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00111 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 burden or associated response time, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact Eugene Schneeberg, Director, Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20531 (phone (202) 305–7462)). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of the following four points: —Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Office of Justice Programs, including whether the information will have practical utility; —Evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; —Evaluate whether and if so how the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected can be enhanced; and —Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Overview of this information collection: 1. Type of Information Collection: This is a new information collection, which requires the collection and identification of types of information that the Department does not currently collect. 2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Beneficiary Referral Request. 3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department sponsoring the collection: The applicable component within the Department of Justice is the Office of Justice Programs. 4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: The proposed rule includes two new paperwork requirements for faith-based or religious organizations. The proposed rule would require faithbased or religious organizations to give beneficiaries (or prospective beneficiaries) notice informing them of their protections under the regulation. The proposed rule would also require E:\FR\FM\14AUN1.SGM 14AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 157 (Friday, August 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48913-48914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-19924]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1501180 241A; MO# 4500069201]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and South 
Operations Area Projects, White Pine County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Bald Mountain Mine North and 
South Operations Area Projects (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 Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations 
Area Projects Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of Availability 
in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce any public meetings or 
other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through 
public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Bald Mountain Mine 
North and South Operations Area Projects Draft EIS by any of the 
following methods:
     Email: BLM_NV_EYDO_Barrick_Bald_EIS@blm.gov.
     Fax: 775-289-1910.
     Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 
33500, Ely, NV 89301.
    Copies of the Bald Mountain Mine North and South Operations Area 
Projects Draft EIS are available in the Ely District Office at the 
above address and on the Ely District's Web page at https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office/blm_programs/minerals/mining_projects/bald_mountain_mine0.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Miles 
Kreidler, Project Lead, telephone: 509-536-1222; address: 702 North 
Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301; email: mkreidler@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: Barrick Gold U.S. Inc. (Barrick) proposes to 
expand, construct, and operate an open-pit gold mining operation 
located in the Bald Mountain Mining District in White Pine County, 
Nevada, approximately 65 miles northwest of the Town of Ely. The 
proposed development and expansion would create an additional 6,891 
acres of disturbance, which would be located primarily on public land 
managed by the BLM. The projected mining period is 21 years, but the 
life of the mine would extend for 80 years, including construction, 
operation, reclamation, closure, reclamation monitoring, and post-
closure monitoring.
    The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed project site-
specific impacts (including cumulative) on all affected resources. The 
DEIS describes four alternatives: approval of the project as proposed 
by Barrick (the Proposed Action), the North and South Operations Area 
Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative, the Western Redbird 
Modification Alternative, and the No Action Alternative. The North and 
South Operations Area Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative was 
developed to address potential impacts to mule deer migration; greater 
sage-grouse leks and associated Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH) and 
Preliminary General Habitat (PGH); visual impacts affecting the 
cultural setting of the Pony Express National Historic Trail, Ruby 
Valley Pony Express Station, and Fort Ruby National Historic Landmark; 
and visual impacts affecting visitor aesthetics at the Ruby Lake 
National Wildlife Refuge. The North and South Operations Area 
Facilities Reconfiguration Alternative would result in a decrease of 
3703 acres (-54 percent) of disturbance compared to the Proposed 
Action. The Western Redbird Modification Alternative was developed to 
further address potential impacts to mule deer migration and would 
result in a decrease of 4,339 acres (-63 percent) of disturbance 
compared to the Proposed Action. Several other alternatives were 
considered but eliminated from further analysis. These alternatives 
eliminated from further consideration are discussed in Chapter 2 of the 
Draft EIS. Mitigation measures are considered to minimize environmental 
impacts and to assure the Proposed Action does not result in 
unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands.
    On April 16, 2012, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal 
Register inviting scoping comments on the Proposed Action. A legal 
notice was prepared by the BLM and published in the Elko Daily Free 
Press, Ely Times, Eureka Sentinel, and Reno Gazette-Journal informing 
the public of the BLM's intention to prepare the Bald Mountain Mine 
North and South Operations Area Projects EIS. Public scoping meetings 
were held May 7-10 in Ely, Eureka, Elko, and Reno, Nevada. A total of 
25 comment submittals containing 180 individual comments were received. 
The comments are

[[Page 48914]]

incorporated in a Scoping Report and were considered in the preparation 
of this Draft EIS.
    Concerns raised during scoping include: potential degradation of 
surface water or groundwater quality and potential depletion to 
groundwater from pit lakes and/or water withdrawals for mine 
operations; potential impacts to mule deer habitat and migration 
corridors; potential impacts to greater sage-grouse habitat and 
strutting grounds; potential impacts to Wild Horse Herd Management 
Areas (HMAs), including herd access to surface water sources; potential 
air quality impacts from fugitive dust containing mercury, arsenic, or 
other contaminants; and potential impacts to visual resources including 
the visual setting of the Pony Express Trail and the Ruby Lake National 
Wildlife Refuge. The North and South Operations Area Facilities 
Reconfiguration Alternative was developed to help reduce impacts to 
mule deer, greater sage-grouse, and visual resources. The Western 
Redbird Modification Alternative was developed to help further reduce 
impacts to mule deer. Mitigation measures have also been included to 
show how impacts on resources could be minimized.
    The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS in conjunction with its five 
Cooperating Agencies: Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, State of Nevada Sagebrush Ecosystem Program, Eureka 
County, and White Pine County.
    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 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 
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.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501 and 43 CFR 3809.

Jill A. Moore,
Field Manager, Egan Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-19924 Filed 8-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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