Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix Project, Lander County, NV, 38172-38173 [2018-16680]

Download as PDF amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 38172 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2018 / Notices community, oil and gas industry, and potash industry in May 2011. The BLM gave a scoping presentation to the Pecos District Resource Advisory Council in January 2012. The BLM also held public workshops pertaining to VRM, travel, and special designations and met with the Public Lands Advisory Council in February 2012. In addition, the BLM held two economic profile system workshops early in the process with local citizens and community leaders to develop a common understanding of the local economies, and the ways in which land-use planning decisions may affect them. During the scoping period, the public provided the Carlsbad Field Office with input on relevant issues to consider in the planning process. Additional information was collected during two internal alternatives development workshops and one cooperating agency workshop. Based on the issues, conflicts, and the BLM’s goals and objectives, the Carlsbad Field Office Interdisciplinary Team and managers formulated four action alternatives for consideration and analysis in the Draft RMP/Draft EIS. At the close of the public comment period, the BLM will use substantive public comments to revise the Draft RMP/Draft EIS in preparation for its release to the public as the Proposed Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (Proposed RMP/Final EIS). The BLM will respond to each substantive comment received during the public review and comment period by making appropriate revisions to the document, or explaining why the comment did not warrant a change. Notice of the Availability of the Proposed RMP/Final EIS will be posted in the Federal Register. Please note that public comments and information submitted including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at the above address during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:26 Aug 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2. Aden L. Seidlitz, Acting BLM New Mexico State Director. [FR Doc. 2018–16665 Filed 8–2–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVB00000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1704460. 17X. MO# 4500106342] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix 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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing its availability. The Greater Phoenix Project is owned by Newmont USA Limited and is located approximately 12 miles southwest of the town of Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. The Proposed Project includes expanding the life of the mine from 2040 to 2063; expanding the boundary of the mine by 10,611 acres, from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres; and increasing surface disturbance by 3,497 acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 acres. DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS for the Greater Phoenix Mine Project and other documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Mount Lewis Field Office: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820. All documents are available for download at https://go.usa.gov/xQDYJ. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Gabriel—Project Manager, telephone 775–635–4000; address 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820; email blm_nv_bmdo_ GreaterPhoenixProject@blm.gov. Contact Christine Gabriel to have your name added to our mailing list. Persons who use a telecommunications device SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: Newmont USA Limited (Newmont) proposes to modify the Phoenix Mine Plan of Operations to expand its existing mining operations. The proposed Project is located approximately 12 miles southwest of the town of Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. Within this expanded area, surface disturbance would increase by 3,497 acres from 8,374 to 11,871 acres, which includes 5,896 acres located on public lands administered by the BLM Mount Lewis Field Office. The existing Phoenix Mine is a gold and copper mining and beneficiation operation. Mill-grade oxide gold ore is beneficiated to gold concentrate at the Phoenix Mill facility, which also produces small amounts of copper and silver concentrates as trace elements. Mill tailings are deposited in a tailings storage facility (TSF). Copper-containing ore is beneficiated using heap leaching followed by solvent extraction and electrowinning of copper from the leach solution. Operations at Phoenix Mine under the currently authorized Plan of Operations and existing permits would last approximately 24 years. Active closure and reclamation activities are anticipated to extend approximately 13 years beyond the operational phase. Additionally, more than 500 years of post-closure monitoring would follow final reclamation. The proposed Project amendments include the following: Extension of mine life from 2040 to 2063; expansion of the Plan of Operations boundary by 10,611 acres—from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres, of which 10,132 are BLMmanaged public lands; increase surface disturbance by 3,497 acres—from 8,374 acres to 11,871 acres; expansion of the Phoenix Pit area through consolidation of existing pit areas, and increase in pit depth by 380 feet—from 4,990 to 4,610 feet above mean sea level; expansion of the Natomas Waste Rock Facility by 347 acres—from 997 acres to 1,344 acres; expansion of the Phoenix TSF by 1,801 acres—from 1,396 acres to 3,197 acres; expansion of the Phoenix Heap Leach Facility by 79 acres—from 536 acres to 615 acres; expansion of the clay soil borrow area by 819 acres—from 469 acres to 1,288 acres; development of an additional soil borrow area (483 acres); E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1 amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 150 / Friday, August 3, 2018 / Notices modification of the mine closure approach (including the management of pit water through treatment to meet applicable water quality standards and subsequently put to beneficial use in perpetuity); and realignment of Buffalo Valley Road, as well as realignment of a service power line, fiber optic line, and natural gas pipeline. Under the proposed Project, four existing FLPMA right-of-way grants (associated with project-related linear facilities) would be amended. The EIS’s analysis is focused on impacts to the following resource areas that were identified through the NEPA scoping process: Water resources (including surface water, groundwater, and geochemistry); air quality; vegetation resources (including noxious weeds and special status species); wildlife (including migratory birds and special status species); grazing management; land use and access; aesthetics (visual); cultural resources; Native American cultural concerns; geological resources (including minerals and soils); paleontological resources; recreation; social and economic values; hazardous materials; wetland and riparian zones. The EIS describes and analyzes the proposed Project’s direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition to the proposed Project, three alternatives were analyzed: the Enhanced/Mechanical Evaporation Cell Alternative, Treat Water for Agricultural Cropping on Private Land Alternative, and the No Action Alternative. The Draft EIS, was available for a 45day public comment period, which ended October 16, 2017. A public meeting was held on September 26, 2017 in Battle Mountain, NV. A total of 178 comments were received during the public comment process. Comment responses are in the Final EIS. The BLM has utilized and coordinated the NEPA scoping and comment process to help fulfill the public involvement requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)—and continues to do so. The information about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed Project has assisted the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and the NHPA. The BLM has consulted and continues to consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts to Indian trust assets VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:26 Aug 02, 2018 Jkt 244001 and potential impacts to cultural resources have been analyzed and addressed in the EIS. John Gant Massey, Acting Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office. [FR Doc. 2018–16680 Filed 8–2–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–WASO–NAGPRA–25875; PPWOCRADN0–PCU00RP16.R50000] Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee Notice of Public Meeting National Park Service, Interior. Meeting notice. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee (Review Committee) will hold one meeting. All meetings are open to the public. DATES: The Review Committee will meet on October 17–19, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m. (Eastern). Related deadlines for participating in the meeting are detailed in this notice. ADDRESSES: The Review Committee will meet in the Yates Auditorium, Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. Electronic submissions of materials or requests are to be sent to nagpra_info@nps.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melanie O’Brien, Designated Federal Officer, National Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Program (2253), National Park Service, telephone (202) 354–2201, or email nagpra_info@nps.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Review Committee was established in section 8 of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act of 1990 (NAGPRA). Purpose of the Meeting: The agenda will include a report from the National NAGPRA Program; the discussion of the Review Committee Report to Congress; subcommittee reports and discussion; and other topics related to the Review Committee’s responsibilities under section 8 of NAGPRA. In addition, the agenda may include requests to the Review Committee for a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior that an agreed-upon disposition of Native American human remains proceed; presentations by Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 38173 associations, and individuals; and public comment. Presentation to the Review Committee by telephone may be requested but is not guaranteed. The agenda and materials for this meeting will be posted on or before September 18, 2018, at https://www.nps.gov/ nagpra. The Review Committee is soliciting presentations from Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, and Federal agencies on the following two topics: (1) the progress made, and any barriers encountered, in implementing NAGPRA and (2) the outcomes of disputes reviewed by the Review Committee pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3006 (c)(4). The Review Committee also will consider other presentations from Indian tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, museums, Federal agencies, associations, and individuals. A presentation request must, at minimum, include an abstract of the presentation and contact information for the presenter(s). Presentation requests and materials must be received by September 4, 2018. Written comments will be accepted from any party and provided to the Review Committee. Written comments received by September 11, 2018, will be provided to the Review Committee before the meeting. The Review Committee will consider requests for a recommendation to the Secretary of the Interior that an agreedupon disposition of Native American human remains proceed. A disposition request must include specific information and, as applicable, ancillary materials. For details on the required information go to https://www.nps.gov/ nagpra/review. Disposition requests must be received by August 14, 2018. At this meeting, the Review Committee will not consider new requests for findings of fact related to the identity or cultural affiliation of human remains or other cultural items, or the return of such items; or facilitate the resolution of disputes. The Review Committee will consider additions to or hear presentations on previous requests. Contact the Designated Federal Officer to discuss any requests for findings of fact or resolution of disputes by August 10, 2018. Submissions and requests should be sent to nagpra_info@nps.gov. Such items are subject to posting on the National NAGPRA Program website prior to the meeting. General Information Information about NAGPRA, the Review Committee, and Review Committee meetings is available on the E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38172-38173]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16680]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB00000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1704460. 17X. MO# 4500106342]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix 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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount 
Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing 
its availability. The Greater Phoenix Project is owned by Newmont USA 
Limited and is located approximately 12 miles southwest of the town of 
Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. The Proposed Project includes 
expanding the life of the mine from 2040 to 2063; expanding the 
boundary of the mine by 10,611 acres, from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres; 
and increasing surface disturbance by 3,497 acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 
acres.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS for the Greater Phoenix Mine Project 
and other documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Mount Lewis Field Office: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 
89820. All documents are available for download at https://go.usa.gov/xQDYJ.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Gabriel--Project Manager, 
telephone 775-635-4000; address 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, 
Nevada 89820; email [email protected]. Contact 
Christine Gabriel to have your name added to our mailing list. 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: Newmont USA Limited (Newmont) proposes to 
modify the Phoenix Mine Plan of Operations to expand its existing 
mining operations. The proposed Project is located approximately 12 
miles southwest of the town of Battle Mountain in Lander County, 
Nevada. Within this expanded area, surface disturbance would increase 
by 3,497 acres from 8,374 to 11,871 acres, which includes 5,896 acres 
located on public lands administered by the BLM Mount Lewis Field 
Office. The existing Phoenix Mine is a gold and copper mining and 
beneficiation operation. Mill-grade oxide gold ore is beneficiated to 
gold concentrate at the Phoenix Mill facility, which also produces 
small amounts of copper and silver concentrates as trace elements. Mill 
tailings are deposited in a tailings storage facility (TSF). Copper-
containing ore is beneficiated using heap leaching followed by solvent 
extraction and electrowinning of copper from the leach solution.
    Operations at Phoenix Mine under the currently authorized Plan of 
Operations and existing permits would last approximately 24 years. 
Active closure and reclamation activities are anticipated to extend 
approximately 13 years beyond the operational phase. Additionally, more 
than 500 years of post-closure monitoring would follow final 
reclamation.
    The proposed Project amendments include the following: Extension of 
mine life from 2040 to 2063; expansion of the Plan of Operations 
boundary by 10,611 acres--from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres, of which 
10,132 are BLM-managed public lands; increase surface disturbance by 
3,497 acres--from 8,374 acres to 11,871 acres; expansion of the Phoenix 
Pit area through consolidation of existing pit areas, and increase in 
pit depth by 380 feet--from 4,990 to 4,610 feet above mean sea level; 
expansion of the Natomas Waste Rock Facility by 347 acres--from 997 
acres to 1,344 acres; expansion of the Phoenix TSF by 1,801 acres--from 
1,396 acres to 3,197 acres; expansion of the Phoenix Heap Leach 
Facility by 79 acres--from 536 acres to 615 acres; expansion of the 
clay soil borrow area by 819 acres--from 469 acres to 1,288 acres; 
development of an additional soil borrow area (483 acres);

[[Page 38173]]

modification of the mine closure approach (including the management of 
pit water through treatment to meet applicable water quality standards 
and subsequently put to beneficial use in perpetuity); and realignment 
of Buffalo Valley Road, as well as realignment of a service power line, 
fiber optic line, and natural gas pipeline.
    Under the proposed Project, four existing FLPMA right-of-way grants 
(associated with project-related linear facilities) would be amended.
    The EIS's analysis is focused on impacts to the following resource 
areas that were identified through the NEPA scoping process: Water 
resources (including surface water, groundwater, and geochemistry); air 
quality; vegetation resources (including noxious weeds and special 
status species); wildlife (including migratory birds and special status 
species); grazing management; land use and access; aesthetics (visual); 
cultural resources; Native American cultural concerns; geological 
resources (including minerals and soils); paleontological resources; 
recreation; social and economic values; hazardous materials; wetland 
and riparian zones.
    The EIS describes and analyzes the proposed Project's direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition 
to the proposed Project, three alternatives were analyzed: the 
Enhanced/Mechanical Evaporation Cell Alternative, Treat Water for 
Agricultural Cropping on Private Land Alternative, and the No Action 
Alternative.
    The Draft EIS, was available for a 45-day public comment period, 
which ended October 16, 2017. A public meeting was held on September 
26, 2017 in Battle Mountain, NV. A total of 178 comments were received 
during the public comment process. Comment responses are in the Final 
EIS.
    The BLM has utilized and coordinated the NEPA scoping and comment 
process to help fulfill the public involvement requirements under the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as 
provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)--and continues to do so. The information 
about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially 
affected by the proposed Project has assisted the BLM in identifying 
and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA 
and the NHPA.
    The BLM has consulted and continues to consult with Indian tribes 
on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 
13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts to Indian 
trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources have been 
analyzed and addressed in the EIS.

John Gant Massey,
Acting Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-16680 Filed 8-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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