Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Expanding an Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake County, Oregon, 3467 [2016-01176]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 3467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01176]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLORL05000; L19900000.EX0000; 15XL1109HF; HAG 15-0214]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Expanding an Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake County, Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Lakeview Resource Area, Lakeview, Oregon 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 February 22, 2016. 
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/or/districts/lakeview/index.php. 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. The BLM will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the EIS for Expanding an 
Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake County, Oregon by any of the 
following methods:
     Mail: Todd Forbes, Field Manager, Lakeview Resource Area, 
Bureau of Land Management, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630.
     Email: pdamo@blm.gov.
     Fax: 541-947-6399; Attn: Phil D'Amo.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil D'Amo, Geologist, telephone: 541-
947-6114; address: Lakeview Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management, 
1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630; email: pdamo@blm.gov. Contact 
Mr. D'Amo to have your name added to the BLM's 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, Cornerstone, Inc., has 
requested to modify its existing Plan of Operation by expanding its 
existing 70-acre quarry by up to an additional 340 acres on Tucker 
Hill, located approximately 35 miles northwest of the town of Lakeview, 
Oregon. The BLM will consider issues and concerns identified during the 
scoping process during the preparation of 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. The 
preliminary issues identified include potential impacts to soils, 
vegetation, noxious weeds, traditional Native American uses, 
archaeological sites, wildlife habitat, visual quality, and socio-
economics. The BLM will identify, analyze, and require mitigation, as 
appropriate, to address the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources 
from the expansion of this mine. Mitigation may include avoidance, 
minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination over time, and 
compensatory mitigation, and may be considered at multiple scales, 
including the landscape-scale. Those individuals, organizations, tribal 
governments, and agencies with a known interest in the proposal have 
been sent a scoping letter requesting comments. At this time there is 
no formal scoping meeting planned, though one could be scheduled if 
there is sufficient interest.
    The comment period on the draft EIS will last 45 days from the date 
the U.S. EPA Notice of Availability appears in the Federal Register. 
Because of recent court rulings, it is very important that interested 
parties participate during the scoping and draft EIS review processes, 
so that any substantive comments are provided at a time when the BLM 
can meaningfully consider them.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (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 action will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    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 EIS for Expanding an Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake 
County, Oregon 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 letter, 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 to have your personal identifying information 
withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

Todd Forbes,
Field Manager, Lakeview Resource Area.
[FR Doc. 2016-01176 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-33-P