Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed United States Gypsum Company Mine Expansion/Modernization Project, Imperial County, CA, 56046-56047 [2017-25523]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2017 / Notices
Documents and other
information submitted with these
applications are available for review,
subject to the requirements of the
Privacy Act and Freedom of Information
Act, by any party who submits a written
request for a copy of such documents to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Division of Management Authority,
Branch of Permits, MS: IA, 5275
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041;
fax (703) 358–2281. To locate the
ADDRESSES:
Federal Register notice that announced
our receipt of the application for each
permit listed in this document, go to
www.regulations.gov and search on the
permit number provided in the tables in
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joyce Russell, (703) 358–2023
(telephone); (703) 358–2281 (fax); or
DMAFR@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On the
dates below, as authorized by the
provisions of the ESA, as amended (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we issued
requested permits subject to certain
conditions set forth therein. For each
permit for an endangered species, we
found that (1) the application was filed
in good faith, (2) the granted permit
would not operate to the disadvantage
of the endangered species, and (3) the
granted permit would be consistent with
the purposes and policy set forth in
section 2 of the ESA.
ENDANGERED SPECIES
Permit No.
Applicant
23963c ............
32538C ...........
31910C ...........
700877 ...........
64738A ...........
14837C ...........
66306A ...........
Janis Maund .................................................................
Amanda Henson ..........................................................
Zoological Society of Philadelphia ...............................
Bishop Museum ...........................................................
Palfam Ranch ...............................................................
Temple .........................................................................
Wildwood Wildlife Park and Nature Center, Inc ..........
Availability of Documents
Joyce Russell,
Government Information Specialist, Branch
of Permits, Division of Management
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2017–25501 Filed 11–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
[LLCAD07000 L51010000 ER0000 16X
LVRWB09B1670]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed United
States Gypsum Company Mine
Expansion/Modernization Project,
Imperial County, CA
Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
16:59 Nov 24, 2017
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35817;
37603;
32374;
35817;
28348;
33924;
Jkt 244001
June 21, 2017 .......................................
August 1, 2017 .....................................
August 11, 2017 ...................................
July 13, 2017 ........................................
August 1, 2017 .....................................
June 21, 2017 .......................................
July 21, 2017 ........................................
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) El Centro
Field Office, with the United States
Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as a
cooperating agency, intends to prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the United States
Gypsum Company (USG) Mine
Expansion/Modernization Project. The
Supplemental EIS will analyze
additional alternatives and update
technical information in the 2008 USG
Mine Expansion/Modernization Project
Final Environmental Impact Report
(EIR)/EIS. The USACE was not involved
in the development of the EIR/EIS, but
will be involved with the Supplemental
EIS, based on USACE’s jurisdiction by
law and special expertise, pursuant to
section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Scoping is not usually required for
preparation of a Supplemental EIS.
However, since USACE was not a
cooperating agency during scoping of
the EIR/EIS, they have requested that
public scoping be included for the
Supplemental EIS.
This notice announces the beginning
of the public scoping process for input
into the Supplemental EIS. The goal of
the scoping process is to solicit public
comments, for the purpose of
identifying relevant issues that will
influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for
developing the Supplemental EIS.
SUMMARY:
Documents and other information
submitted with these applications are
available for review, subject to the
requirements of the Privacy Act and
Freedom of Information Act, by any
party who submits a written request for
a copy of such documents to: U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Division of
Management Authority, Branch of
Permits, MS: IA, 5275 Leesburg Pike,
Falls Church, VA 22041; fax (703) 358–
2281.
Authority: We issue this notice under
the authority of the ESA, as amended
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Receipt of application Federal Register notice
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Permit
issuance
date
8/29/2017
9/14/2017
9/15/2017
9/19/2017
9/22/2017
9/13/2017
9/28/2017
Comments for input into the
Supplemental EIS may be submitted in
writing until January 11, 2018. A public
scoping meeting will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local
newspaper(s), the BLM Web site, BLM
Newsbytes, and BLM social media. All
comments received during the scoping
period will be considered for input into
the Supplemental EIS. In order to be
included in the Supplemental 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. Additional
opportunities for public participation
will be provided upon publication of a
Draft Supplemental EIS. Upon
completion of the public review and
comment period of the Draft
Supplemental EIS, a Final
Supplemental EIS will be prepared and
subsequently published for public
review.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues related to the Supplemental
EIS by any of the following methods:
Email: lgreenhalgh@blm.gov; Fax: 530–
224–2172; or Mail: Attn: Susie
Greenhalgh, BLM Northern California
District Office, 6640 Lockheed Drive,
Redding, CA 96002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Susie Greenhalgh, BLM Northern
California District Office, 6640
Lockheed Drive, Redding, CA 96002;
phone: 530–224–2142; email:
lgreenhalgh@blm.gov. Contact Ms.
Greenhalgh to have your name added to
our mailing list. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
DATES:
E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM
27NON1
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 226 / Monday, November 27, 2017 / Notices
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service at 1–800–877–8339 to contact
the above individual during normal
business hours. The Service 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 USG’s
mine expansion/modernization project
(Project) involves both the Plaster City
Wallboard Plant (Plant) and Plaster City
Quarry (Quarry). The Plant is located on
Evan Hewes Highway in Plaster City,
CA, approximately 18 miles west of the
city of El Centro. The Quarry is located
on Split Mountain Road approximately
26 miles northwest of Plaster City. Both
sites are located within the BLM’s
California Desert Conservation Area.
Components of the expansion project
originally analyzed in the EIR/EIS
included water delivery systems to the
wallboard plant and quarry, a new
electrical transmission line, and
maintenance of an existing tram road
using narrow gauge rail line between the
Plant and Quarry. Certain aspects of the
project have already been implemented
under the conditions and approvals
provided by Imperial County and may
not be subject to the jurisdiction of the
BLM or the USACE.
The surface disturbance analyzed in
the 2006 Draft EIR/EIS and the 2008
Final EIR/EIS included operations on
placer mining claims and mill sites on
BLM land totaling 407.9 acres. Since
then, 304.57 acres of these mining
claims were patented, subject to
regulations as may be prescribed by the
Secretary of the Interior to protect the
scenic, scientific, and environmental
values of the public lands within the
California Desert Conservation Area.
Pursuant to 43 CFR 3809.2(c), lands
patented with this stipulation must
comply with the regulations at 43 CFR
3809.
Consequently, the Supplemental EIS
will update land ownership changes
since completion of the 2006/2008
environmental documents, but the
analysis of the applicable regulations
and impacts will not need to be changed
because of the change in land
ownership.
Additionally, USG submitted two
right of way applications for the utility
access across approximately 55.7 acres
of BLM-managed land. BLM’s
involvement consists of responding to a
plan of operations, the two right of way
applications, and any other project
needs that may be discovered during the
scoping process. USG also submitted a
request for a Clean Water Act (CWA)
Section 404 Permit to the USACE for
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:59 Nov 24, 2017
Jkt 244001
expansion of operations into alluvial
portions of the quarry. USACE’s
involvement consists of responding to
the Section 404 Permit.
At present, the following preliminary
issues have been identified: hydrology
and water resources, threatened and
endangered species, realty/right-ofways, mineral resources, and cultural
resources. The BLM will identify,
analyze, and require mitigation, as
appropriate, to address the reasonably
foreseeable impacts to resources from
the project. The BLM will utilize and
coordinate the NEPA 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 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 USG Project
that the BLM and USACE are
evaluating, are invited to participate in
the public 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.
In December 2001, Imperial County,
California, published the Notice of
Preparation of the joint EIR/EIS for the
USG Expansion/Modernization Project
pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As
the lead agency for the project under
NEPA, the BLM issued a Notice of
Intent to prepare a joint EIR/EIS in the
Federal Register on May 1, 2002 (67 FR
21713). A Draft EIR/EIS was prepared
for the project and was circulated for
comment by the public and other
interested agencies from April 17, 2006,
to July 17, 2006. The BLM also initiated
consultation with the USFWS pursuant
to Section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act (ESA). A Final EIR/EIS responding
to comments was released in January of
2008.
On March 18, 2008, the Imperial
County Board of Supervisors certified
the EIR and adopted findings of fact, a
statement of overriding considerations,
and a mitigation monitoring program in
compliance with CEQA. The Imperial
County Board of Supervisors filed a
Notice of Determination on March 19,
2008. On March 14, 2008, the BLM
published in the Federal Register the
Notice of Availability of the USG
Expansion/Modernization Project Final
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
56047
EIR/EIS (73 FR 13918). The BLM did not
issue a ROD because its ESA Section 7
consultation requirements were still
pending.
USG proceeded to conduct quarrying
operations within its private land at the
Quarry under the conditions and
approvals provided by Imperial County
and the State of California consistent
with stipulations outlined by the
County. Under existing conditions, USG
holds title to 2,032.2 acres of private
land of which 1,118.7 acres are
approved by Imperial County for
mining. In order to proceed with phased
quarry operations consistent with
production demands and an approved
Mine Reclamation Plan, USG proposes
to initiate alluvial quarrying activities in
undisturbed portions of its mine plan.
Proposed project activities related to
alluvial quarrying will require a CWA
Section 404 Permit from the USACE.
The USACE was not a cooperating
agency in the development of the USG
Expansion/Modernization Project Final
EIR/EIS.
In March 2014, USG submitted a
request for a Clean Water Act (CWA)
Section 404 Permit to the USACE for
expansion of operations into alluvial
portions of the quarry, Phase 2 and 2P
of the Quarry’s mine plan. The USACE
determined in its initial evaluation of
the application that an EIS-level
analysis may be required to evaluate
impacts to waters of the U.S., including
a CWA Section 404(b)(1) alternatives
analysis (pursuant to 40 CFR part 230).
The USACE could not adopt the USG
Final EIR/EIS, per Federal regulations at
40 CFR 1506.3(c), because the USACE
was not a cooperating agency at the time
of the development of the EIR/EIS.
Furthermore, the BLM did not complete
its ESA Section 7 consultation
requirements or issue a Record of
Decision (ROD) based on the Final EIR/
EIS.
Public Comments: Before including
your address, phone number, email
address, or other personally identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your personally
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.
Thomas F. Zale,
El Centro Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2017–25523 Filed 11–24–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–40–P
E:\FR\FM\27NON1.SGM
27NON1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56046-56047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25523]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCAD07000 L51010000 ER0000 16X LVRWB09B1670]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed United States Gypsum Company Mine Expansion/
Modernization Project, Imperial County, CA
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 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) El Centro
Field Office, with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as
a cooperating agency, intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the United States Gypsum Company (USG) Mine
Expansion/Modernization Project. The Supplemental EIS will analyze
additional alternatives and update technical information in the 2008
USG Mine Expansion/Modernization Project Final Environmental Impact
Report (EIR)/EIS. The USACE was not involved in the development of the
EIR/EIS, but will be involved with the Supplemental EIS, based on
USACE's jurisdiction by law and special expertise, pursuant to section
404 of the Clean Water Act. Scoping is not usually required for
preparation of a Supplemental EIS. However, since USACE was not a
cooperating agency during scoping of the EIR/EIS, they have requested
that public scoping be included for the Supplemental EIS.
This notice announces the beginning of the public scoping process
for input into the Supplemental EIS. The goal of the scoping process is
to solicit public comments, for the purpose of identifying relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the
Supplemental EIS.
DATES: Comments for input into the Supplemental EIS may be submitted in
writing until January 11, 2018. A public scoping meeting will be
announced at least 15 days in advance through local newspaper(s), the
BLM Web site, BLM Newsbytes, and BLM social media. All comments
received during the scoping period will be considered for input into
the Supplemental EIS. In order to be included in the Supplemental 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.
Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided upon
publication of a Draft Supplemental EIS. Upon completion of the public
review and comment period of the Draft Supplemental EIS, a Final
Supplemental EIS will be prepared and subsequently published for public
review.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the
Supplemental EIS by any of the following methods: Email:
lgreenhalgh@blm.gov; Fax: 530-224-2172; or Mail: Attn: Susie
Greenhalgh, BLM Northern California District Office, 6640 Lockheed
Drive, Redding, CA 96002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susie Greenhalgh, BLM Northern
California District Office, 6640 Lockheed Drive, Redding, CA 96002;
phone: 530-224-2142; email: lgreenhalgh@blm.gov. Contact Ms. Greenhalgh
to have your name added to our mailing list. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
[[Page 56047]]
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact
the above individual during normal business hours. The Service 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 USG's mine expansion/modernization
project (Project) involves both the Plaster City Wallboard Plant
(Plant) and Plaster City Quarry (Quarry). The Plant is located on Evan
Hewes Highway in Plaster City, CA, approximately 18 miles west of the
city of El Centro. The Quarry is located on Split Mountain Road
approximately 26 miles northwest of Plaster City. Both sites are
located within the BLM's California Desert Conservation Area.
Components of the expansion project originally analyzed in the EIR/EIS
included water delivery systems to the wallboard plant and quarry, a
new electrical transmission line, and maintenance of an existing tram
road using narrow gauge rail line between the Plant and Quarry. Certain
aspects of the project have already been implemented under the
conditions and approvals provided by Imperial County and may not be
subject to the jurisdiction of the BLM or the USACE.
The surface disturbance analyzed in the 2006 Draft EIR/EIS and the
2008 Final EIR/EIS included operations on placer mining claims and mill
sites on BLM land totaling 407.9 acres. Since then, 304.57 acres of
these mining claims were patented, subject to regulations as may be
prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior to protect the scenic,
scientific, and environmental values of the public lands within the
California Desert Conservation Area. Pursuant to 43 CFR 3809.2(c),
lands patented with this stipulation must comply with the regulations
at 43 CFR 3809.
Consequently, the Supplemental EIS will update land ownership
changes since completion of the 2006/2008 environmental documents, but
the analysis of the applicable regulations and impacts will not need to
be changed because of the change in land ownership.
Additionally, USG submitted two right of way applications for the
utility access across approximately 55.7 acres of BLM-managed land.
BLM's involvement consists of responding to a plan of operations, the
two right of way applications, and any other project needs that may be
discovered during the scoping process. USG also submitted a request for
a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit to the USACE for expansion
of operations into alluvial portions of the quarry. USACE's involvement
consists of responding to the Section 404 Permit.
At present, the following preliminary issues have been identified:
hydrology and water resources, threatened and endangered species,
realty/right-of-ways, mineral resources, and cultural resources. The
BLM will identify, analyze, and require mitigation, as appropriate, to
address the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the
project. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA 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 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 USG
Project that the BLM and USACE are evaluating, are invited to
participate in the public 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.
In December 2001, Imperial County, California, published the Notice
of Preparation of the joint EIR/EIS for the USG Expansion/Modernization
Project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As
the lead agency for the project under NEPA, the BLM issued a Notice of
Intent to prepare a joint EIR/EIS in the Federal Register on May 1,
2002 (67 FR 21713). A Draft EIR/EIS was prepared for the project and
was circulated for comment by the public and other interested agencies
from April 17, 2006, to July 17, 2006. The BLM also initiated
consultation with the USFWS pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered
Species Act (ESA). A Final EIR/EIS responding to comments was released
in January of 2008.
On March 18, 2008, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors
certified the EIR and adopted findings of fact, a statement of
overriding considerations, and a mitigation monitoring program in
compliance with CEQA. The Imperial County Board of Supervisors filed a
Notice of Determination on March 19, 2008. On March 14, 2008, the BLM
published in the Federal Register the Notice of Availability of the USG
Expansion/Modernization Project Final EIR/EIS (73 FR 13918). The BLM
did not issue a ROD because its ESA Section 7 consultation requirements
were still pending.
USG proceeded to conduct quarrying operations within its private
land at the Quarry under the conditions and approvals provided by
Imperial County and the State of California consistent with
stipulations outlined by the County. Under existing conditions, USG
holds title to 2,032.2 acres of private land of which 1,118.7 acres are
approved by Imperial County for mining. In order to proceed with phased
quarry operations consistent with production demands and an approved
Mine Reclamation Plan, USG proposes to initiate alluvial quarrying
activities in undisturbed portions of its mine plan. Proposed project
activities related to alluvial quarrying will require a CWA Section 404
Permit from the USACE. The USACE was not a cooperating agency in the
development of the USG Expansion/Modernization Project Final EIR/EIS.
In March 2014, USG submitted a request for a Clean Water Act (CWA)
Section 404 Permit to the USACE for expansion of operations into
alluvial portions of the quarry, Phase 2 and 2P of the Quarry's mine
plan. The USACE determined in its initial evaluation of the application
that an EIS-level analysis may be required to evaluate impacts to
waters of the U.S., including a CWA Section 404(b)(1) alternatives
analysis (pursuant to 40 CFR part 230). The USACE could not adopt the
USG Final EIR/EIS, per Federal regulations at 40 CFR 1506.3(c), because
the USACE was not a cooperating agency at the time of the development
of the EIR/EIS. Furthermore, the BLM did not complete its ESA Section 7
consultation requirements or issue a Record of Decision (ROD) based on
the Final EIR/EIS.
Public Comments: Before including your address, phone number, email
address, or other personally identifying information in your comment,
you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personally
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.
Thomas F. Zale,
El Centro Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2017-25523 Filed 11-24-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P
