Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Gold Bar Mine Project, Eureka County, NV, 54800-54801 [2015-22907]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 176 / Friday, September 11, 2015 / Notices
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developed south of new recreational
beach, and added to the new assigned
area. We would continue current
management of the Overwash and Hook
area for shorebirds until the new
recreational beach is established, at
which time the March 15 through
September 15 closure would go into
effect.
• We will keep current biking access
open via Swan Cove Trail and will not
propose an alternative bike route north
to the relocated public beach (from
Wildlife Loop to Mallard (C Dike)).
• The Service Road would continue
to be open year-round to hikers north to
the refuge/National Seashore boundary.
• A section of the Affected
Environment (Chapter 3) on cultural
resources was inadvertently left out of
the draft CCP/EIS. This section, which
has been coordinated with the Virginia
Department of Historic Resources, is
included in the final CCP/EIS.
Other Features of Alternative B
Alternative B would continue
established habitat and wildlife
management strategies but focus them
in light of the new goals and vision
established by the CCP. The alternative
balances habitat management, public
use and access, and administration of
the refuge. We would continue to
preserve approximately 2,650 acres of
wetland impoundments, but make
adjustments in accordance with a new
impoundment management plan that
takes into account various factors, such
as the habitat needs of black ducks and
monarch butterflies, climate change and
natural coastal processes, and relocated
beach access and parking. The refuge
would continue to protect and enhance
the wilderness character of the 1974
proposed wilderness area, and there
would be no change in its size (1,300
acres) or location.
In recognition of the vulnerability of
the current parking, the refuge would
develop and implement a site design
plan for parking and access to a new
beach location, approximately 1.5 miles
north of the existing beach. We are
committed to working with the National
Park Service (NPS) and others to future
design, refine, and analyze beach
relocation infrastructure in a separate
National Environmental Policy Act
document.
Over the next 15 years, the refuge
would maintain and, where possible,
expand current hunting opportunities
by including additional species,
extending hours, and providing special
events. The refuge would add mourning
doves, light geese, and non-migratory
Canada goose hunting opportunities to
the refuge’s migratory bird hunting
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program. Additionally, the refuge would
allow migratory bird hunting on Federal
holidays within the Commonwealth of
Virginia hunting seasons. The refuge
would also add turkeys to the big game
hunting program and pursue
development of a trapping program for
furbearers. The refuge would continue
sika hunting and would conduct
research to identify a desired population
size.
The refuge would pursue partnerships
to enhance land conservation,
environmental education, and
interpretation on the Delmarva
Peninsula. The ‘‘Chincoteague ponies’’
have a strong cultural tie to the
community, and the refuge would
implement a Chincoteague pony
management plan that meets multiple
objectives: visitor viewing, habitat
management, and pony health. The
refuge would allow grazing of the
current pony population, with a
maximum pony herd size of 150, per the
management agreement with the
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company.
Public Availability of Documents
You can view or obtain the final CCP/
EIS as indicated under ADDRESSES.
During the public comment period, a
total of 236 emails and 94 letters were
received, including official comments
from the town of Chincoteague, the
Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce,
The Nature Conservancy, NPS,
Environmental Protection Agency,
various departments from the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and other
local interest groups. In addition a
petition was submitted supporting
Alternative ‘‘A plus,’’ an alternative
with elements of both alternative A and
B, with approximately 600 individuals
signing. Another petition supporting the
preferred alternative (alternative B) was
submitted with 112 individuals signing.
We held two public open house
meetings in Chincoteague, and
additional meetings in Melfa, Virginia,
and Pocomoke City, Maryland. As part
of the public involvement process, we
held a public hearing on June 26, 2014,
in Chincoteague with 28 people
formally raising a variety of issues and
concerns.
We evaluated all the letters and
emails sent to us during that comment
period, along with comments recorded
at our public hearing, and addressed all
substantive comments. A summary of
those comments and our responses to
them is included in the final CCP/EIS as
appendix R.
Frm 00039
We will document the final decision
in a record of decision, which will be
published in the Federal Register after
a 30-day ‘‘wait period’’ that begins when
EPA announces this final CCP–EIS. For
more information, see EPA’s Role in the
EIS Process.
Dated: August 18, 2015.
Deborah Rocque,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–21925 Filed 9–10–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVB01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF
1503550.15X MO# 4500077415]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Gold Bar Mine Project,
Eureka County, NV
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Mount Lewis
Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada,
intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) and by this
notice is announcing the beginning of
the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. Comments
on issues may be submitted in writing
until October 13, 2015. The date(s) and
location(s) of any scoping meetings will
be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media,
newspapers and the BLM Web site at:
https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_
mountain_field/blm_information/
national_environmental.html. In order
to be included in the Draft EIS, all
comments must be received prior to the
close of the 30-day scoping period or 15
days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. We will provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Gold Bar Mine Project by
any of the following methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/
en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_
SUMMARY:
Comments
PO 00000
Next Steps
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 176 / Friday, September 11, 2015 / Notices
information/national_
environmental.html.
• Email: blm_nv_bmdo_mlfo_gold_
bar_project_eis@blm.gov.
• Fax: 775–635–4034.
• Mail: 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, Nevada 89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Mount Lewis
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joseph Moskiewicz—Project Manager,
telephone 775–635–4000; address 50
Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada
89820; email blm_nv_bmdo_mlfo_gold_
bar_project_eis@blm.gov. Contact Mr.
Joseph Moskiewicz to have your name
added to our mailing list. 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: McEwen
Mining Inc. (McEwen) proposes to
develop a gold mine in the southwest
portion of the Roberts Mountains,
approximately 30 miles northwest of
Eureka, Nevada. The proposed McEwen
Gold Bar Mine Project (Project) consists
of a mining Plan of Operations and four
ROW grant authorizations to be
analyzed in a single NEPA analysis
document. Mining would occur from
the existing Gold Pick and Gold Ridge
pits and the proposed Cabin Creek
North and South pits. Additional
disturbance would be result from
activities associated with gold mining
operations, including waste rock
disposal areas, crusher and ore stockpile
pad, growth media stockpiles, process
ponds, haul roads, access roads and
power lines, heap leach facility,
ancillary facilities, and diversion
channels and sediment basins. Total
proposed Project disturbance would be
approximately 1,300 acres, including
disturbance associated with the ROWs
(consisting of approximately 1,137 acres
of surface disturbance on public land
and 163 acres of surface disturbance on
private land controlled by McEwen, as
well as other private land owners); 366
acres of the total disturbance would
occur on areas disturbed by previous
mining operations. The proposed
Project would take up to 17 years to
complete, including: A year of prestripping and construction, 8 years of
mining, 4 years of reclamation following
mine closure, and 4 years of postreclamation monitoring. The proposed
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15:14 Sep 10, 2015
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pit depths would not intercept
groundwater. No pit dewatering would
be necessary and no pit lakes are
expected to form after mining
operations end. The Project is expected
to employ 151 individuals comprised of
90 contractors and 61 staff.
Mt. Wheeler Power requested a ROW
grant authorization to supply needed
power to the Project. McEwen has
requested three ROW grant
authorizations for the following: 1)
Primary access along the Atlas Haul
Road; 2) Employee transport and
emergency secondary access along
North Roberts Creek Road and GB
Process Road; and 3) A water supply
pipeline.
The Gold Bar Project boundary
contains 916.5 acres of Greater SageGrouse Preliminary Priority Habitat
(PPH) on BLM-managed public lands.
The total mine disturbance, including
the right-of-way (ROW), affecting
Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on public
land is 294 acres of PPH and 36 acres
of Preliminary General Habitat (PGH).
Since 2013, BLM biologists at the Mount
Lewis Field Office have coordinated
with the Nevada Department of Wildlife
and the BLM State Office regarding Gold
Bar’s ROW and disturbance to Greater
Sage-Grouse habitat. Collectively, the
organizations formulated best
management practices for Greater SageGrouse and other wildlife species and
developed measures to offset the
potential disturbance associated with
the project to benefit Greater SageGrouse habitat. For example, as a result
of this collaboration, the proposed
project’s power line was re-routed to use
pre-existing routes in order to minimize
effects to Greater Sage-Grouse habitat.
These and other measures, including
compliance with the Nevada and
Northeastern California Greater SageGrouse Land Use Plan Amendment, if
finalized, will be among the issues
analyzed in the EIS.
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: Water resources; air quality;
vegetation resources (including noxious
weeds); wildlife (including migratory
birds and Greater Sage-Grouse); special
status species; grazing management;
land use and access; aesthetics (noise
and visual); cultural resources;
geological resources; minerals; soils;
recreation; social and economic values;
hazardous materials; Native American
cultural concerns; and wild horses.
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54801
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill
the public involvement requirements
under the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as
provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The
information about historic and cultural
resources within the area potentially
affected by the proposed Project will
assist the BLM in identifying and
evaluating impacts to such resources in
the context of both NEPA and NHPA.
The BLM will consult with Indian
tribes on a government-to-government
basis in accordance with Executive
Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal
concerns, including impacts on Indian
trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with tribes and other
stakeholders that may be interested in or
affected by the proposed Project that the
BLM is evaluating, are invited to
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
by the BLM to participate in the
development of the environmental
analysis 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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7
Joseph S. Moskiewicz, Jr.,
Acting Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field
Office.
[FR Doc. 2015–22907 Filed 9–10–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAC09000, L1430; CACA 008215]
Public Land Order No. 7840;
Revocation of Withdrawal Created by
Executive Order No. 5732, California
The Bureau of Land
Management.
ACTION: Public Land Order.
AGENCY:
This order revokes in its
entirety the withdrawal created by
Executive Order No. 5732 dated October
14, 1931, which withdrew 40 acres of
public land from settlement, location,
sale, or entry for use as a lookout station
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\11SEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54800-54801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22907]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVB01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF 1503550.15X MO# 4500077415]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Gold Bar Mine Project, Eureka County, NV
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount Lewis
Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until October 13, 2015.
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM
Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field/blm_information/national_environmental.html. In order to be included in
the Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the
30-day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting,
whichever is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Gold Bar Mine Project
by any of the following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/
battle_mountain_field/blm_
[[Page 54801]]
information/national_environmental.html.
Email: blm_nv_bmdo_mlfo_gold_bar_project_eis@blm.gov.
Fax: 775-635-4034.
Mail: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Mount
Lewis Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph Moskiewicz--Project Manager,
telephone 775-635-4000; address 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain,
Nevada 89820; email blm_nv_bmdo_mlfo_gold_bar_project_eis@blm.gov.
Contact Mr. Joseph Moskiewicz to have your name added to our mailing
list. 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: McEwen Mining Inc. (McEwen) proposes to
develop a gold mine in the southwest portion of the Roberts Mountains,
approximately 30 miles northwest of Eureka, Nevada. The proposed McEwen
Gold Bar Mine Project (Project) consists of a mining Plan of Operations
and four ROW grant authorizations to be analyzed in a single NEPA
analysis document. Mining would occur from the existing Gold Pick and
Gold Ridge pits and the proposed Cabin Creek North and South pits.
Additional disturbance would be result from activities associated with
gold mining operations, including waste rock disposal areas, crusher
and ore stockpile pad, growth media stockpiles, process ponds, haul
roads, access roads and power lines, heap leach facility, ancillary
facilities, and diversion channels and sediment basins. Total proposed
Project disturbance would be approximately 1,300 acres, including
disturbance associated with the ROWs (consisting of approximately 1,137
acres of surface disturbance on public land and 163 acres of surface
disturbance on private land controlled by McEwen, as well as other
private land owners); 366 acres of the total disturbance would occur on
areas disturbed by previous mining operations. The proposed Project
would take up to 17 years to complete, including: A year of pre-
stripping and construction, 8 years of mining, 4 years of reclamation
following mine closure, and 4 years of post-reclamation monitoring. The
proposed pit depths would not intercept groundwater. No pit dewatering
would be necessary and no pit lakes are expected to form after mining
operations end. The Project is expected to employ 151 individuals
comprised of 90 contractors and 61 staff.
Mt. Wheeler Power requested a ROW grant authorization to supply
needed power to the Project. McEwen has requested three ROW grant
authorizations for the following: 1) Primary access along the Atlas
Haul Road; 2) Employee transport and emergency secondary access along
North Roberts Creek Road and GB Process Road; and 3) A water supply
pipeline.
The Gold Bar Project boundary contains 916.5 acres of Greater Sage-
Grouse Preliminary Priority Habitat (PPH) on BLM-managed public lands.
The total mine disturbance, including the right-of-way (ROW), affecting
Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on public land is 294 acres of PPH and 36
acres of Preliminary General Habitat (PGH). Since 2013, BLM biologists
at the Mount Lewis Field Office have coordinated with the Nevada
Department of Wildlife and the BLM State Office regarding Gold Bar's
ROW and disturbance to Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Collectively, the
organizations formulated best management practices for Greater Sage-
Grouse and other wildlife species and developed measures to offset the
potential disturbance associated with the project to benefit Greater
Sage-Grouse habitat. For example, as a result of this collaboration,
the proposed project's power line was re-routed to use pre-existing
routes in order to minimize effects to Greater Sage-Grouse habitat.
These and other measures, including compliance with the Nevada and
Northeastern California Greater Sage-Grouse Land Use Plan Amendment, if
finalized, will be among the issues analyzed in the EIS.
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:
Water resources; air quality; vegetation resources (including noxious
weeds); wildlife (including migratory birds and Greater Sage-Grouse);
special status species; grazing management; land use and access;
aesthetics (noise and visual); cultural resources; geological
resources; minerals; soils; recreation; social and economic values;
hazardous materials; Native American cultural concerns; and wild
horses.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to
help fulfill the public involvement requirements under the National
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36
CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources
within the area potentially affected by the proposed Project will
assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources
in the context of both NEPA and NHPA.
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed Project that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis
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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7
Joseph S. Moskiewicz, Jr.,
Acting Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-22907 Filed 9-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
