Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine and Reclamation Plan, Caribou County, Idaho, 14742-14744 [2017-05679]
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14742
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices
of Executive Departments and Agencies
of January 21, 2009—Transparency and
Open Government (74 FR 4685; Jan. 26,
2009), which call on all Federal
agencies to promote openness and
transparency in Government by
disclosing information to the public, we
invite public comment on these permit
applications before final action is taken.
III. Permit Applications
A. Endangered Species
Applicant: Ruth Linsky, Ellensburg,
WA; PRT–15011C
The applicant requests a permit to
import saliva samples obtained
noninvasively from wild Bornean
orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) within
Cape Leaky, Tanjung Puting National
Park for the purpose of enhancement of
the survival of the species through
scientific research.
Applicant: Alex Cisneros, Graham, TX;
PRT–07645C
The applicant requests a permit to
import a shoulder mount and skin of a
cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra
zebra) for the purpose of enhancement
of the survival of the species. This
notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
Applicant: Jack Phillips, Gladewater,
TX; PRT–195823
The applicant requests a permit to
renew his application for red lechwe
(Kobus leche), for the enhancement of
the survival of the species. This
notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Applicant: Turtle Back Zoo, West
Orange, NJ; PRT–09742C
The applicant requests a permit to
import one female captive-bred amur
leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)
from the Parken Zoo, Sweden, for the
purpose of enhancement of the survival
of the species.
Applicant: Jude Lagarde, Baton Rouge,
LA; PRT–04151C
The applicant requests a captive-bred
wildlife registration under 50 CFR
17.21(g) for the Great green macaw (Ara
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Multiple Applicants
The following applicants each request
a permit to import the sport-hunted
trophy of one male bontebok
(Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled
from a captive herd maintained under
the management program of the
Republic of South Africa, for the
purpose of enhancement of the survival
of the species.
Applicant: Ronald Price, Mesa, AZ;
PRT–15386C
Applicant: Gary Cooper, Oakwood, OH;
PRT–16709C
the Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas,
Texas, and John Bornemann, Dover,
Florida.
If approved, the program will be
overseen by the Zoological Association
of America, Punta Gorda, Florida.
IV. Public Comments
You may submit your comments and
materials concerning this notice by one
of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We
will not consider comments sent by
email or fax or to an address not listed
in ADDRESSES.
If you submit a comment via https://
www.regulations.gov, your entire
comment, including any personal
identifying information, will be posted
on the Web site. If you submit a
hardcopy comment that includes
personal identifying information, you
may request at the top of your document
that we withhold this information from
public review. However, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so.
We will post all hardcopy comments
on https://www.regulations.gov.
V. Authority
Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992
(16 U.S.C. 4901–4916); Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531).
Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch
of Permits, Division of Management
Authority.
B. Wild Bird Conservation Act
The public is invited to comment on
the following applications for approval
to conduct certain activities with bird
species covered under the Wild Bird
Conservation Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C.
4901–4916). This notice is provided
pursuant to section 112(4) of the Wild
Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (50 CFR
15.26(c)).
The applicant requests a permit to
import biological samples from wild
giant Galapagos tortoise (Geochelone
nigra), for the purpose of scientific
research. This notification covers
activities to be conducted by the
applicant over a 5-year period.
18:14 Mar 21, 2017
Applicant: Dr. Frank Paladino, IndianaPurdue University Fort Wayne, IN;
PRT–06369C
The applicant requests a permit to
collect skin, scute, and blood samples
from hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys
imbricata) for the purpose of
enhancement of the survival of the
species/scientific research. This
notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
Applicant: John Watson, Richardson,
TX; PRT–11484C
Applicant: Adalgisa Caccone, New
Haven, CT; PRT–209142
VerDate Sep<11>2014
ambiguus), to enhance species
propagation or survival. This
notification covers activities to be
conducted by the applicant over a 5year period.
[FR Doc. 2017–05726 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
Applicant: Vernon Brett Padgett,
Atlanta, GA; PRT–12087C
The applicant wishes to establish a
cooperative breeding program for
Papuan hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus),
knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix),
wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros
undulatus), wrinkled hornbill (Aceros
corrugatus), writhed hornbill (Aceros
leucocephalus), Asian pied hornbill
(Anthracoceros albirostris), Palawan
hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei), black
hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus),
rufous hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax),
rhinocerous hornbill (Buceros
rhinoceros), tarictic hornbill
(Penelopides panini), Pesquet’s parrot
(Psittrichas fulgidus) and gang-gang
cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum).
The applicant wishes to be an active
participant in this program along with
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine
and Reclamation Plan, Caribou
County, Idaho
PO 00000
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BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[16XL LLIDI00200
L71220000.EO0000.LVTFDX602300;
4500101185]
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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) Pocatello
Field Office, Pocatello, Idaho, intends to
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential
impacts of approving the proposed
Caldwell Canyon mine and reclamation
plan (MRP). The EIS will also consider
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices
the effects of lease modifications that
are part of the proposed project. This
notice announces the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues to be
addressed in the EIS.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. Comments
on issues may be submitted in writing
until April 21, 2017. 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://bit.ly/2eoKYV8. In order to be
addressed 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 Caldwell Canyon Mine
Project by any of the following methods:
• Web site: https://bit.ly/2eoKYV8.
• Email: blm_id_caldwell_canyon_
mine_eis@blm.gov.
• Fax: 208–478–6376.
• Mail: Caldwell Canyon Mine EIS,
C/O Tetra Tech, 2525 Palmer Street,
Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Pocatello Field
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Alderman, BLM Pocatello Field
Office, telephone (208) 478–6369;
address 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello,
Idaho 83204; dalderman@blm.gov.
Information is also available at the
BLM’s Web site at https://bit.ly/
2eoKYV8. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS 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: P4
Production, LLC (P4), a subsidiary of
Monsanto Company, has developed and
submitted a mine and reclamation plan
(MRP) for the Caldwell Canyon
Phosphate Mine. The proposed mine is
located along Schmid Ridge,
approximately 13 air miles northeast of
Soda Springs, Idaho. The BLM will
serve as the lead agency for conducting
the necessary environmental analysis.
The Idaho Department of Environmental
Quality, Idaho Department of Lands,
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
will be cooperating agencies. Although
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18:14 Mar 21, 2017
Jkt 241001
a small amount of U.S. Forest Service
(USFS) surface land is within the
proposed project area, the USFS will not
participate as a cooperating agency. The
affected USFS lands are located on
BLM-administered phosphate leases
owned by Agrium, Inc. (Agrium) and
managed as part of the Dry Valley Mine.
Dry Valley Mine has been mined and
fully reclaimed per the existing MRP for
that project.
The proposed action includes a haul
road across the reclaimed surface of the
Dry Valley Mine and the partial filling
in of the open Panel D pit with waste
rock from Caldwell Canyon. A
modification of the Dry Valley MRP to
allow construction of the haul road and
backfilling of the Dry Valley D Pit is
necessary and will be evaluated as part
of this EIS. No USFS special use permits
or other decisions are needed to permit
the project. The USFS will be routinely
apprised regarding the progress of the
environmental analysis and will be
consulted regarding project aspects
affecting USFS lands.
Operations at Caldwell Canyon would
consist of open pit mining on the
Federal Phosphate Leases IDI–02, IDI–
014080, and IDI–13738. The mine
would also include State of Idaho
Mineral Lease E07959. P4 is requesting
modifications to phosphate lease
boundaries for each of these leases. All
of the proposed lease modifications
contain part of the proposed mine pit
and are necessary to maximize ore
recovery. Issuing these lease
modifications is a discretionary decision
that will be analyzed in the EIS. New
mining operations at the Caldwell
Canyon Mine would occur on Federal
phosphate leases and public lands
administered by the BLM, on National
Forest System lands administered by the
USFS, on a State of Idaho phosphate
lease and state lands administered by
Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), and
on private lands. The public lands lie in
the BLM Pocatello Field Office. The
leases grant exclusive rights to the
leaseholder to mine and otherwise
dispose of the phosphate resource at the
sites. Through development of this EIS,
the BLM will analyze environmental
impacts of the proposed mining and
reclamation operations and reasonable
alternatives to the proposed action.
Appropriate mitigation measures will
also be formulated by the BLM in
conjunction with the proponent.
Agency Decisions
The BLM Idaho State Director, or
delegated official, will make a decision
regarding approval of the MRP and
appropriate mitigation measures, the
proposed Federal phosphate lease
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14743
modifications and other appropriate
land use authorizations for activities
that take place off leased lands.
Decisions will be based on BLM’s
authority, the EIS analysis, and any
recommendations the cooperating
agencies may have related to their
jurisdiction, expertise, or permitting
actions.
The proposed action has been
reviewed for consistency with the 2012
Pocatello Field Office Resource
Management Plan and, at this time, the
project is generally consistent with the
management direction in the Resource
Management Plan. It is unlikely that any
amendments to the Resource
Management Plan will be needed.
The IDL will make an independent
decision on approving a mine plan for
state lease EO7959. IDL is a cooperating
agency for the EIS and will consider the
BLM’s EIS in its decision making.
The Army Corps of Engineers may
also make decisions related to permits
under Section 404 of the Clean Water
Act.
Background
The MRP for Caldwell Canyon
includes development of two open mine
pits: North Pit and South Pit. Mining
operations would be conducted over an
estimated 40-year period using a pit
panel mining method. Mining would be
initiated in the mid-point of the South
Pit and proceed southward.
Approximately six million tons of initial
overburden materials would be hauled
to the inactive Dry Valley Mine Panel D
and placed as backfill. All other
overburden generated from each new
panel would be used to backfill a
previously mined panel. Once mining
reaches the south end of the South Pit,
mining would resume at the mid-point
of the South Pit and proceed northward
in the same fashion.
Ore would be transported via a two
mile-long haul road linking the mine pit
areas to an ore stockpile located offlease at the East Caldwell Area. The
haul road is mostly on lease or on
private land but a small section is off
lease on BLM land and will require a
right of way. The ore stockpile would be
located adjacent to an ore loadout
facility, which would be used to load
ore into a train for rail transport by
existing rail line to P4’s processing plant
at Soda Springs. The proposed stockpile
and ore loadout site was previously
used by Agrium during active mining
operations at the Dry Valley Mine.
Selected materials generated from
development of the initial pit panel
would be used for the construction of
haul roads. Once P4 has hauled the
initial overburden to the Dry Valley Pit
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices
(estimated to occur during the third year
of production at Caldwell Canyon),
overburden generated from each
subsequent pit panel would be used to
backfill pit panels in sequence in the
South and North pits of the Caldwell
Canyon Mine.
Hauling overburden from the
Caldwell Canyon South Pit to the open
pit at Dry Valley Mine would require
construction of an additional two-mile
long haul road from the ore stockpile
area to the Dry Valley Pit (Panel D Pit)
across reclaimed areas of the Dry Valley
Mine. Construction, operation,
maintenance, grading, and reclamation
of this haul road would be the
responsibility of P4 and are addressed
in the MRP for Caldwell Canyon.
Agrium, as the Dry Valley mine owner,
is ultimately responsible for the final
reclamation at Dry Valley. Agrium
would place the final cover/growth
media on the partially backfilled Panel
D pit and haul road and revegetate the
reclaimed surface.
Mining below the water table would
occur at the south and north ends of the
Caldwell Canyon South Pit; mining in
these areas is expected to occur during
years 6–8 and 14–16 of production,
respectively. In these locations, P4
would install ground water interception
wells to draw down the water table to
an elevation below the planned pit
bottom. This would reduce the amount
of ground water flowing into the pit.
The water would be stored in water
management ponds until water quality
meets infiltration criteria at which point
it would be infiltrated into the ground
water. The sequestered water would not
be allowed to leave the mine site other
than by infiltration or evaporation. With
the exception of one culverted haul road
crossing, P4’s MRP proposes to avoid
Caldwell Creek, which is a small nonconnected/non-fish bearing stream that
runs between the north and south pits.
All overburden and waste material
would be backfilled into mine pit panels
and reclaimed using an earthen cap to
reduce infiltration of precipitation,
groundwater and surface water, and to
support establishment of vegetation to
meet post-closure land use goals. The
proposed cap is a capillary break design
consisting of 1.5 feet of topsoil and 2.5
feet of alluvium and colluvium over two
feet of cherty material taken from
overburden at the site.
Mining operations at Caldwell
Canyon would disturb approximately
1,530 acres. Some mine facilities (ore
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stockpile, tipple, water management
infrastructure, offices, shop and storage
facilities) would be located in the East
Caldwell Area in Dry Valley. Additional
facilities located at the Caldwell Canyon
mine site include service and haul
roads, water pipelines, water
management ponds, sediment control
ponds, infiltration galleries, growth
media stockpiles, and other facilities.
P4 and Agrium would obtain
governmental agency approvals
necessary to allow placement of
overburden into the Dry Valley Pit in
accordance with a proposed Dry Valley
Mine Plan Modification. The mine plan
modification would be analyzed as part
of this EIS.
Alternatives and Schedule
The EIS will analyze the Proposed
Action (approving the MRP and lease
modifications) and the No Action
Alternative. Other mining alternatives
may be considered that could resolve
important issues or provide mitigation
of potential impacts.
The tentative EIS project schedule is
as follows:
• Begin public scoping period and
meetings: Early 2017.
• Estimated date for draft EIS and
associated comment period: Fall 2017.
• Final EIS publication: Spring 2018.
• Record of Decision: Spring 2018.
Scoping
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to identify relevant issues that
will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for
developing the EIS. The BLM has
identified some preliminary issues
associated with the Caldwell Canyon
Mine Project:
• Potential impacts to groundwater
and surface water quantity and quality;
• Impacts to vegetation including rare
species and species important to Native
Americans;
• Impacts to soil and mineral
resources;
• Impacts to air quality from vehicle
emissions and fugitive dust;
• Potential reductions of wildlife and
their habitats, including the Greater
Sage-Grouse;
• Potential reductions in livestock
grazing;
• Impacts to wetlands and riparian
habitat;
• Impacts to recreation including
hunting and camping;
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• Socio-economic effects such as
increased employment and the
continued operation of an elemental
phosphorous plant and support
businesses;
• Impacts to Native American rights,
treaties, and land uses;
• Impacts to visual resources from the
development of the mine; and
• Impacts to resources from the
cumulative effects of the multiple mines
in southeast Idaho.
The BLM will continue to refine these
issues during the scoping process.
The BLM will use and coordinate the
NEPA scoping process to help fulfill the
public involvement requirements 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 treaty rights 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 Caldwell
Canyon Mine are invited to participate
in the scoping process. Agencies with
regulatory authority or special expertise,
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.
Mary D’Aversa,
District Manager, BLM Idaho Falls District.
[FR Doc. 2017–05679 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14742-14744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05679]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[16XL LLIDI00200 L71220000.EO0000.LVTFDX602300; 4500101185]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine and Reclamation Plan, Caribou County,
Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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) Pocatello
Field Office, Pocatello, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of approving
the proposed Caldwell Canyon mine and reclamation plan (MRP). The EIS
will also consider
[[Page 14743]]
the effects of lease modifications that are part of the proposed
project. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify issues to be addressed in the EIS.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until April 21, 2017.
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://bit.ly/2eoKYV8. In order to be addressed 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 Caldwell Canyon Mine
Project by any of the following methods:
Web site: https://bit.ly/2eoKYV8.
Email: blm_id_caldwell_canyon_mine_eis@blm.gov.
Fax: 208-478-6376.
Mail: Caldwell Canyon Mine EIS, C/O Tetra Tech, 2525
Palmer Street, Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the
Pocatello Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Alderman, BLM Pocatello Field
Office, telephone (208) 478-6369; address 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello,
Idaho 83204; dalderman@blm.gov. Information is also available at the
BLM's Web site at https://bit.ly/2eoKYV8. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during
normal business hours. The FRS 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: P4 Production, LLC (P4), a subsidiary of
Monsanto Company, has developed and submitted a mine and reclamation
plan (MRP) for the Caldwell Canyon Phosphate Mine. The proposed mine is
located along Schmid Ridge, approximately 13 air miles northeast of
Soda Springs, Idaho. The BLM will serve as the lead agency for
conducting the necessary environmental analysis. The Idaho Department
of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Lands, and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers will be cooperating agencies. Although a small
amount of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) surface land is within the
proposed project area, the USFS will not participate as a cooperating
agency. The affected USFS lands are located on BLM-administered
phosphate leases owned by Agrium, Inc. (Agrium) and managed as part of
the Dry Valley Mine. Dry Valley Mine has been mined and fully reclaimed
per the existing MRP for that project.
The proposed action includes a haul road across the reclaimed
surface of the Dry Valley Mine and the partial filling in of the open
Panel D pit with waste rock from Caldwell Canyon. A modification of the
Dry Valley MRP to allow construction of the haul road and backfilling
of the Dry Valley D Pit is necessary and will be evaluated as part of
this EIS. No USFS special use permits or other decisions are needed to
permit the project. The USFS will be routinely apprised regarding the
progress of the environmental analysis and will be consulted regarding
project aspects affecting USFS lands.
Operations at Caldwell Canyon would consist of open pit mining on
the Federal Phosphate Leases IDI-02, IDI-014080, and IDI-13738. The
mine would also include State of Idaho Mineral Lease E07959. P4 is
requesting modifications to phosphate lease boundaries for each of
these leases. All of the proposed lease modifications contain part of
the proposed mine pit and are necessary to maximize ore recovery.
Issuing these lease modifications is a discretionary decision that will
be analyzed in the EIS. New mining operations at the Caldwell Canyon
Mine would occur on Federal phosphate leases and public lands
administered by the BLM, on National Forest System lands administered
by the USFS, on a State of Idaho phosphate lease and state lands
administered by Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), and on private lands.
The public lands lie in the BLM Pocatello Field Office. The leases
grant exclusive rights to the leaseholder to mine and otherwise dispose
of the phosphate resource at the sites. Through development of this
EIS, the BLM will analyze environmental impacts of the proposed mining
and reclamation operations and reasonable alternatives to the proposed
action. Appropriate mitigation measures will also be formulated by the
BLM in conjunction with the proponent.
Agency Decisions
The BLM Idaho State Director, or delegated official, will make a
decision regarding approval of the MRP and appropriate mitigation
measures, the proposed Federal phosphate lease modifications and other
appropriate land use authorizations for activities that take place off
leased lands. Decisions will be based on BLM's authority, the EIS
analysis, and any recommendations the cooperating agencies may have
related to their jurisdiction, expertise, or permitting actions.
The proposed action has been reviewed for consistency with the 2012
Pocatello Field Office Resource Management Plan and, at this time, the
project is generally consistent with the management direction in the
Resource Management Plan. It is unlikely that any amendments to the
Resource Management Plan will be needed.
The IDL will make an independent decision on approving a mine plan
for state lease EO7959. IDL is a cooperating agency for the EIS and
will consider the BLM's EIS in its decision making.
The Army Corps of Engineers may also make decisions related to
permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Background
The MRP for Caldwell Canyon includes development of two open mine
pits: North Pit and South Pit. Mining operations would be conducted
over an estimated 40-year period using a pit panel mining method.
Mining would be initiated in the mid-point of the South Pit and proceed
southward. Approximately six million tons of initial overburden
materials would be hauled to the inactive Dry Valley Mine Panel D and
placed as backfill. All other overburden generated from each new panel
would be used to backfill a previously mined panel. Once mining reaches
the south end of the South Pit, mining would resume at the mid-point of
the South Pit and proceed northward in the same fashion.
Ore would be transported via a two mile-long haul road linking the
mine pit areas to an ore stockpile located off-lease at the East
Caldwell Area. The haul road is mostly on lease or on private land but
a small section is off lease on BLM land and will require a right of
way. The ore stockpile would be located adjacent to an ore loadout
facility, which would be used to load ore into a train for rail
transport by existing rail line to P4's processing plant at Soda
Springs. The proposed stockpile and ore loadout site was previously
used by Agrium during active mining operations at the Dry Valley Mine.
Selected materials generated from development of the initial pit panel
would be used for the construction of haul roads. Once P4 has hauled
the initial overburden to the Dry Valley Pit
[[Page 14744]]
(estimated to occur during the third year of production at Caldwell
Canyon), overburden generated from each subsequent pit panel would be
used to backfill pit panels in sequence in the South and North pits of
the Caldwell Canyon Mine.
Hauling overburden from the Caldwell Canyon South Pit to the open
pit at Dry Valley Mine would require construction of an additional two-
mile long haul road from the ore stockpile area to the Dry Valley Pit
(Panel D Pit) across reclaimed areas of the Dry Valley Mine.
Construction, operation, maintenance, grading, and reclamation of this
haul road would be the responsibility of P4 and are addressed in the
MRP for Caldwell Canyon. Agrium, as the Dry Valley mine owner, is
ultimately responsible for the final reclamation at Dry Valley. Agrium
would place the final cover/growth media on the partially backfilled
Panel D pit and haul road and revegetate the reclaimed surface.
Mining below the water table would occur at the south and north
ends of the Caldwell Canyon South Pit; mining in these areas is
expected to occur during years 6-8 and 14-16 of production,
respectively. In these locations, P4 would install ground water
interception wells to draw down the water table to an elevation below
the planned pit bottom. This would reduce the amount of ground water
flowing into the pit. The water would be stored in water management
ponds until water quality meets infiltration criteria at which point it
would be infiltrated into the ground water. The sequestered water would
not be allowed to leave the mine site other than by infiltration or
evaporation. With the exception of one culverted haul road crossing,
P4's MRP proposes to avoid Caldwell Creek, which is a small non-
connected/non-fish bearing stream that runs between the north and south
pits.
All overburden and waste material would be backfilled into mine pit
panels and reclaimed using an earthen cap to reduce infiltration of
precipitation, groundwater and surface water, and to support
establishment of vegetation to meet post-closure land use goals. The
proposed cap is a capillary break design consisting of 1.5 feet of
topsoil and 2.5 feet of alluvium and colluvium over two feet of cherty
material taken from overburden at the site.
Mining operations at Caldwell Canyon would disturb approximately
1,530 acres. Some mine facilities (ore stockpile, tipple, water
management infrastructure, offices, shop and storage facilities) would
be located in the East Caldwell Area in Dry Valley. Additional
facilities located at the Caldwell Canyon mine site include service and
haul roads, water pipelines, water management ponds, sediment control
ponds, infiltration galleries, growth media stockpiles, and other
facilities.
P4 and Agrium would obtain governmental agency approvals necessary
to allow placement of overburden into the Dry Valley Pit in accordance
with a proposed Dry Valley Mine Plan Modification. The mine plan
modification would be analyzed as part of this EIS.
Alternatives and Schedule
The EIS will analyze the Proposed Action (approving the MRP and
lease modifications) and the No Action Alternative. Other mining
alternatives may be considered that could resolve important issues or
provide mitigation of potential impacts.
The tentative EIS project schedule is as follows:
Begin public scoping period and meetings: Early 2017.
Estimated date for draft EIS and associated comment
period: Fall 2017.
Final EIS publication: Spring 2018.
Record of Decision: Spring 2018.
Scoping
The purpose of the public scoping process is to identify relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.
The BLM has identified some preliminary issues associated with the
Caldwell Canyon Mine Project:
Potential impacts to groundwater and surface water
quantity and quality;
Impacts to vegetation including rare species and species
important to Native Americans;
Impacts to soil and mineral resources;
Impacts to air quality from vehicle emissions and fugitive
dust;
Potential reductions of wildlife and their habitats,
including the Greater Sage-Grouse;
Potential reductions in livestock grazing;
Impacts to wetlands and riparian habitat;
Impacts to recreation including hunting and camping;
Socio-economic effects such as increased employment and
the continued operation of an elemental phosphorous plant and support
businesses;
Impacts to Native American rights, treaties, and land
uses;
Impacts to visual resources from the development of the
mine; and
Impacts to resources from the cumulative effects of the
multiple mines in southeast Idaho.
The BLM will continue to refine these issues during the scoping
process.
The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help
fulfill the public involvement requirements 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
treaty rights 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
Caldwell Canyon Mine are invited to participate in the scoping process.
Agencies with regulatory authority or special expertise, 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.
Mary D'Aversa,
District Manager, BLM Idaho Falls District.
[FR Doc. 2017-05679 Filed 3-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
