Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix Mine Project, Lander County, NV, 58501-58502 [2015-24432]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 188 / Tuesday, September 29, 2015 / Notices
C010–2012–0058–EA. The lands have
no known mineral value, no recognized
environmental conditions, and no
existing encumbrances of record.
Conveyance of the parcel would be
subject to valid existing rights and the
following terms, conditions, and
reservations:
1. A right-of-way thereon for ditches
and canals constructed by authority of
the United States, Act of August 30,
1890 (43 U.S.C. 945).
2. An appropriate indemnification
clause protecting the United States from
claims arising out of the patentee’s use
occupancy or occupations on the
patented lands.
On August 20, 2014, the lands were
segregated from the public land laws,
including the mining laws, except for
the sale provisions of FLPMA (79 FR
49336). Detailed information concerning
the land sale including the EA,
appraisal report, environmental site
assessment, and mineral report are
available for review at the BLM Cedar
City Field Office.
Any comments regarding the sale will
be reviewed by the BLM State Director
or other authorized official of the
Department of the Interior, who may
sustain, vacate, or modify this realty
action in whole or in part. In the
absence of timely filed objections, this
realty action will become the final
determination of the Department of the
Interior.
Before including your address,
telephone 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 in your
comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
Authority: 43 CFR 2710, 2711, and 2720
Jenna Whitlock,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015–24695 Filed 9–28–15; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:54 Sep 28, 2015
Jkt 235001
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVB01000.L71220000.
EX0000.LVTFF15F6810 MO# 4500081505]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Greater Phoenix Mine
Project, Lander 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 29, 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.html. In order to be
considered during the preparation of 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. The
BLM will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
upon publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the proposed Greater Phoenix
Mine Project by any of the following
methods:
• Email: BLM_NV_BMDO_
GreaterPhoenixProject@blm.gov
• Fax: 775–635–4034
• Mail: Mount Lewis Field Office, 50
Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV
89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Mount Lewis
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chris Worthington, Project Manager,
telephone: 775–635–4144; address: 50
Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV
89820; email: BLM_NV_BMDO_
GreaterPhoenixProejct@blm.gov.
Contact Mr. Worthington if you wish to
add your name to our mailing list.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
58501
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: Newmont
Mining Corporation, Inc. (NMC)
proposes to amend the existing Phoenix
Mine Plan of Operations to construct,
operate, reclaim, and close an open pit,
heap leach, gold and copper mining
operation known as the Greater Phoenix
Mine Project (Project) located 14 miles
south of Battle Mountain, Nevada, in
Lander County. The proposed Project
would be located within all or portions
of the following Townships, Ranges,
and Sections relative to the Mount
Diablo Baseline and Meridian:
Township 30 North, Range 43 East,
Sections 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08, 09, 10,
11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, and 22; and
Township 31 North, Range 43 East,
Sections 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The
proposed Plan of Operations
amendment would include increasing
the existing Phoenix Mine plan
boundary by 10,429 acres to 18,657
acres, of which approximately 9,950
acres is public land managed by the
Mount Lewis Field Office. New surface
disturbance would include
approximately 3,245 acres, which
includes approximately 2,285 acres of
surface disturbance on public land
administered by the BLM, and
approximately 960 acres of surface
disturbance on private land controlled
by NMC.
The proposed Project consists of a
modification to an existing mining Plan
of Operations and a new right-of-way
(ROW) grant authorization to be
analyzed in a single NEPA analysis
document. The proposed Project would
create one large pit encompassing the
footprint of the existing Bonanza and
Fortitude pit areas into one large
Phoenix Pit, of approximately 1,912
acres, of which approximately 568 acres
is public land administered by the BLM.
The proposed pit depths would
intercept groundwater and pit
dewatering would be necessary.
Following mine closure, pit water
would be managed and treated to meet
water quality standards and
subsequently put to beneficial use. The
primary components associated with the
proposed Project would include the
open pit, two new waste rock dump
facilities (WRDF), an expansion of an
existing WRDF, expansion of an existing
heap leach pad, an expansion of an
E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM
29SEN1
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
58502
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 188 / Tuesday, September 29, 2015 / Notices
existing tailings storage facility, and a
new borrow area.
NMC would continue to employ the
existing workforce of approximately 500
employees for the construction,
operation, reclamation, and closure of
the proposed project expansion, which
is anticipated to extend the mine life by
approximately another 23 years from
2040 to 2063.
The proposed Project surface
disturbance affecting Greater SageGrouse habitat on BLM administered
land is 7 acres of Preliminary Priority
Habitat (PPH) and 108 acres of
Preliminary General Habitat (PGH).
Since 2013, BLM biologists at the Mount
Lewis Field Office have coordinated
with the Nevada Department of Wildlife
(NDOW) and the BLM State Office
regarding NMC’s disturbance to Greater
Sage-Grouse habitat. Collectively, the
organizations will formulate best
management practices for Greater SageGrouse and other wildlife species and
will agree on measures to mitigate the
disturbance to Greater Sage-Grouse
habitat through the EIS development.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
potential alternatives, and guide the
process for developing the EIS. At
present, the BLM has identified the
following preliminary issues: Closure of
the cyanide heap leach pad (s), water
management, air quality impacts,
wildlife (including migratory birds),
special status species, noise and visual
issues, soils, recreation, cultural
resources, Native American cultural
concerns, and grazing management.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate
the NEPA scoping process to help fulfill
the public involvement process 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 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 Project that the
BLM is evaluating, are invited to
participate in the scoping process and,
if eligible, may request or be requested
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:54 Sep 28, 2015
Jkt 235001
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.
Jon D. Sherve,
Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2015–24432 Filed 9–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAK930000.L13100000.EI0000.241A]
Notice of National Petroleum Reserve
in Alaska Oil and Gas Lease Sale 2015
and Notice of Availability of the
Detailed Statement of Sale for Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 2015 in the National
Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) Alaska State
Office hereby notifies the public it will
hold a National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska oil and gas lease sale bid
opening for tracts in the National
Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The
United States reserves the right to
withdraw any tract from this sale prior
to issuance of a written acceptance of a
bid.
DATES: The oil and gas lease sale bid
opening will be held at 1 p.m. on
Wednesday, November 18, 2015. Sealed
bids must be received by 4 p.m.,
Monday, November 16, 2015.
ADDRESSES: The oil and gas lease sale
bids will be opened at the Anchorage
Federal Building, Denali Room (fourth
floor), 222 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage,
AK. Sealed bids must be sent to Carol
Taylor (AK932), BLM-Alaska State
Office; 222 West 7th Avenue, #13;
Anchorage, AK 99513–7504.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wayne Svejnoha, 907–271–4407.
Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
(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
Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM)
Alaska State Office, under the authority
of 43 CFR 3131.4–1(a), hereby notifies
the public it will hold a National
Petroleum Reserve in Alaska oil and gas
lease sale bid opening for tracts in the
National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
All bids must be submitted by sealed
bid in accordance with the provisions
identified in the Detailed Statement of
Sale. They must be received at the BLM
Alaska State Office, ATTN: Carol Taylor
(AK932); 222 West 7th Avenue, #13;
Anchorage, AK 99513–7504; no later
than 4:00 p.m., Monday, November 16,
2015.
The Detailed Statement of Sale for the
National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 2015 will be
available to the public immediately after
publication of this Notice in the Federal
Register. The Detailed Statement may be
obtained from the BLM Alaska Web site
at www.blm.gov/ak, or by request from
the Public Information Center, BLM
Alaska State Office; 222 West 7th
Avenue, #13; Anchorage, AK 99513–
7504; telephone 907–271–5960. The
Detailed Statement of Sale will include
a description of the areas to be offered
for lease, the lease terms, conditions,
special stipulations, required operating
procedures, and how and where to
submit bids.
Authority: 43 CFR 3131.4–1 and 43 U.S.C.
1733 and 1740.
Bud C. Cribley,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015–24671 Filed 9–28–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[BOEM–2015–0016]
Revised Environmental Assessment
for Virginia Offshore Wind Technology
Advancement Project on the Atlantic
Outer Continental Shelf Offshore
Virginia; MMAA104000
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of a
Revised Environmental Assessment and
a Finding of No Significant Impact.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\29SEN1.SGM
29SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58501-58502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24432]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVB01000.L71220000.EX0000.LVTFF15F6810 MO# 4500081505]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Greater Phoenix Mine Project, Lander 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 29, 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.html.
In order to be considered during the preparation of 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.
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation
upon publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed Greater
Phoenix Mine Project by any of the following methods:
Email: BLM_NV_BMDO_GreaterPhoenixProject@blm.gov
Fax: 775-635-4034
Mail: Mount Lewis Field Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle
Mountain, NV 89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Mount
Lewis Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Worthington, Project Manager,
telephone: 775-635-4144; address: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV
89820; email: BLM_NV_BMDO_GreaterPhoenixProejct@blm.gov. Contact Mr.
Worthington if you wish to add your name 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: Newmont Mining Corporation, Inc. (NMC)
proposes to amend the existing Phoenix Mine Plan of Operations to
construct, operate, reclaim, and close an open pit, heap leach, gold
and copper mining operation known as the Greater Phoenix Mine Project
(Project) located 14 miles south of Battle Mountain, Nevada, in Lander
County. The proposed Project would be located within all or portions of
the following Townships, Ranges, and Sections relative to the Mount
Diablo Baseline and Meridian: Township 30 North, Range 43 East,
Sections 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21,
and 22; and Township 31 North, Range 43 East, Sections 15, 16, 20, 21,
22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The proposed Plan of
Operations amendment would include increasing the existing Phoenix Mine
plan boundary by 10,429 acres to 18,657 acres, of which approximately
9,950 acres is public land managed by the Mount Lewis Field Office. New
surface disturbance would include approximately 3,245 acres, which
includes approximately 2,285 acres of surface disturbance on public
land administered by the BLM, and approximately 960 acres of surface
disturbance on private land controlled by NMC.
The proposed Project consists of a modification to an existing
mining Plan of Operations and a new right-of-way (ROW) grant
authorization to be analyzed in a single NEPA analysis document. The
proposed Project would create one large pit encompassing the footprint
of the existing Bonanza and Fortitude pit areas into one large Phoenix
Pit, of approximately 1,912 acres, of which approximately 568 acres is
public land administered by the BLM. The proposed pit depths would
intercept groundwater and pit dewatering would be necessary. Following
mine closure, pit water would be managed and treated to meet water
quality standards and subsequently put to beneficial use. The primary
components associated with the proposed Project would include the open
pit, two new waste rock dump facilities (WRDF), an expansion of an
existing WRDF, expansion of an existing heap leach pad, an expansion of
an
[[Page 58502]]
existing tailings storage facility, and a new borrow area.
NMC would continue to employ the existing workforce of
approximately 500 employees for the construction, operation,
reclamation, and closure of the proposed project expansion, which is
anticipated to extend the mine life by approximately another 23 years
from 2040 to 2063.
The proposed Project surface disturbance affecting Greater Sage-
Grouse habitat on BLM administered land is 7 acres of Preliminary
Priority Habitat (PPH) and 108 acres of Preliminary General Habitat
(PGH). Since 2013, BLM biologists at the Mount Lewis Field Office have
coordinated with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the BLM
State Office regarding NMC's disturbance to Greater Sage-Grouse
habitat. Collectively, the organizations will formulate best management
practices for Greater Sage-Grouse and other wildlife species and will
agree on measures to mitigate the disturbance to Greater Sage-Grouse
habitat through the EIS development.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including potential alternatives, and guide the process for developing
the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary
issues: Closure of the cyanide heap leach pad (s), water management,
air quality impacts, wildlife (including migratory birds), special
status species, noise and visual issues, soils, recreation, cultural
resources, Native American cultural concerns, and grazing management.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to
help fulfill the public involvement process 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 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 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.
Jon D. Sherve,
Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-24432 Filed 9-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P