Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Lost Creek Uranium In-Situ Recovery Project Amendments, Sweetwater County, WY, 55149-55150 [2015-23059]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 177 (Monday, September 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55149-55150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-23059]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYD03000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMK10CW580-WYW-184415]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Lost Creek Uranium In-Situ Recovery Project Amendments, 
Sweetwater County, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rawlins Field 
Office, Rawlins, Wyoming, 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 45 days after the 
date of publication in the Federal Register. 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/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rfo/lostcreek.html. In 
order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the 45-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 Lost Creek Uranium 
In-Situ Recovery Project Amendments by any of the following methods:

[[Page 55150]]

     Web site: https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rfo/lostcreek.html.
     Email: Lost_Crk_Mine_WY@blm.gov.
     Fax: 307-328-4224.
     Mail: John Russell, Project Manager, BLM Rawlins Field 
Office, 1300 North Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins, WY 82301-2407
     Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at 
the BLM Rawlins Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Russell, Project Manager, 
telephone 307-328-4224; address Bureau of Land Management, Rawlins 
Field Office, 1300 N. Third Street, P.O. Box 2407, Rawlins, Wyoming 
82301; email Lost_Crk_Mine_WY@blm.gov. Contact Mr. Russell 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: The applicant, Lost Creek ISR, LLC, (LCI), a 
wholly owned subsidiary of Ur-Energy Inc., has requested to modify 
their Lost Creek Uranium In-Situ Recovery Project, 43 CFR 3809 Plan of 
Operations, approved October 5, 2012. The proposed plan amendments 
(Lost Creek East, KM Horizon, and secondary objectives received 
September 29, 2014) would expand uranium production by in-situ recovery 
methods and increase associated milling facilities, located in T. 25 
N., R. 92 W.; and T. 25 N., R. 93 W., 6th P.M., Sweetwater County, 
Wyoming.
    The Lost Creek East amendment would add approximately 5,750 acres 
to the existing Lost Creek Project area of approximately 4,254 acres 
for a new total project area of approximately 10,000 acres. LCI's 
proposed KM Horizon amendment would allow in-situ mining of uranium 
from the KM horizon, and increases the extent of mining in the existing 
HJ horizon within the existing project area, approved October 5, 2012. 
Development of the proposed amendments would result in approximately 
650 acres of new surface disturbance including 5 new mine units, 
additional Class 1 deep disposal well pads, roads, pipelines, power 
lines, header houses, and mud pits. LCI also requested the BLM approve 
an increase of the overall production rate from 1.0 million pounds of 
uranium per year to 2.2 million pounds of uranium per year. This 
includes an increase of 0.2 million pounds of uranium per year from the 
facility well fields, plus an increase of 1 million pounds of uranium 
per year from the toll milling resin or slurry from other off-site 
facilities. 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: (1) Potential impacts to range, water, recreation, wild horses, 
and wildlife resources (e.g., Greater Sage-Grouse, Wyoming Pocket 
Gopher); (2) the need to identify opportunities to apply mitigation 
hierarchy strategies for on-site, regional, and compensatory mitigation 
efforts; and, (3) the need to apply landscape-level conservation and 
management actions that are appropriate to the size of the project in 
order to achieve resource objectives.
    The BLM will use NEPA public participation requirements to assist 
the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements under 
section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 
470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic 
and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the 
proposed plan amendments will assist the BLM in identifying and 
evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and 
section 106 of the 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 plan amendments 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.
    The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the State of Wyoming will be 
cooperating agencies for this project. Others are pending. 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 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.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.

Larry Claypool,
Acting, State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-23059 Filed 9-11-15; 8:45 am]
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