Notice of Availability for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Potential Amendment for the Approved Resource Management Plan for the Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming, 22515-22516 [2019-10289]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2019 / Notices
extending mining and ore processing
activities to 2041; increasing the rate of
process water pumping and extending
until 2041; constructing and operating
the Northeast Tailings Storage Facility
(TSF) and associated pipeline corridor
and haul road; constructing and
operating the North Heap Leach Facility
(HLF) East expansion and associated
solution ponds; expanding the existing
Brimstone Pit below the pre-mining
groundwater table; conducting active
dewatering of the Brimstone Pit through
the installation and operation of
dewatering wells; conducting passive
dewatering within the expanded pit
footprint; expanding the South Waste
Rock Facility (WRF); modifying the
approved land use in the South
Processing Complex to allow for the
option of constructing the Southwest
WRF in place of the complex, if desired;
modifying waste backfill plans with
respect to the proposed mining plan;
expanding haul and secondary roads
around the pits, WRFs, HLFs, and TSF;
modifying the milling operation to
process ore in an ambient oxidation and
leaching process; constructing and
operating an oxygen plant; constructing
stormwater diversions, installing
culverts, and other stormwater controls;
constructing growth media stockpiles;
incorporating four HRDI rights-of-way
(ROWs) (microwave repeater site and
road [NVN046292], Floka access road
[NVN054893], buried pipeline, wells,
power distribution and access roads
[NVN046564], and road and water
pipeline [NVN039119]) that exist
wholly within the authorized Plan
boundary into the amendment to the
Plan and relinquish the ROWs with the
BLM; continuing use of the well field
ROW; relocating rangeland
improvement facilities within the
footprint of the Northeast TSF; rerouting
Rosebud Road around the Northeast
TSF; reallocating 10 acres of exploration
disturbance on private land to public
land; and implementing the authorized
and proposed additional applicantcommitted Environmental Protection
Measures to new facilities and activities.
In addition, the Project would affect
golden eagle nests and territories;
therefore, HRDI has requested
authorization from the USFWS to
remove inactive eagle nests and a 30year incidental take permit for golden
eagles under the Eagle Act. HRDI’s ECP
is the foundation of the permit
application and contains commitments
to avoid, minimize, and mitigate
adverse effects on golden eagles
resulting from the implementation of
the Project.
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17:05 May 16, 2019
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The purpose of this comment period
is for the public to comment on the
Draft EIS. The Draft EIS, through
scoping, has identified and analyzed
impacts to the following resources areas:
Air and atmospheric resources; cultural
resources (including National Historic
Trails); noxious weeds, invasive species,
and nonnative species; migratory birds;
Native American religious concerns;
wastes and materials (hazardous and
solid); water quality (surface and
ground); geology, minerals, and energy;
golden eagles; lands and realty;
paleontology; rangeland management;
recreation; social values and economics;
soils; special status species (plants and
wildlife); transportation and access;
vegetation; visual resources; and
wildlife.
The Draft EIS describes and analyzes
the proposed Project’s direct, indirect,
and cumulative impacts on all affected
resources. In addition to the Mine
Expansion Proposed Action (BLM
Decision) and the Eagle Take Permit
Proposed Action (USFWS Eagle Permit
Decision), the following alternatives are
also analyzed in the document: The
Mine Expansion Alternative A (BLM
Alternative Decision), referred to as
Alternative A; Eagle Take Permit
Alternative A (USFWS Alternative A
Eagle Permit Decision); the BLM No
Action Alternative; and the USFWS No
Action Alternative.
The BLM and USFWS have consulted
and continue 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
in the Draft EIS. 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 and USFWS is evaluating, are
invited to participate in the comment
process.
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.
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22515
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Mark Hall,
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management,
Black Rock Field Office.
Jody Holzworth,
Deputy Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife
Service, Pacific Southwest Region,
Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2019–10290 Filed 5–16–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L13200000 DS0000 LXSSK1700000 19X
LLWYP07000]
Notice of Availability for the Draft
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement and Potential Amendment
for the Approved Resource
Management Plan for the Buffalo Field
Office, Wyoming
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Wyoming Buffalo
Field Office is preparing a
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the 2015 Buffalo
Field Office Approved Resource
Management Plan (RMP). This effort is
in response to a United States District
Court of Montana opinion and order
(Western Organization of Resource
Councils, et al. v. BLM). By this notice,
the BLM is announcing the opening of
the public comment period on the Draft
Supplemental EIS.
DATES: To ensure that we can
adequately consider all comments, the
BLM must receive written comments by
August 15, 2019. During the public
comment period, the BLM will hold a
public meeting to discuss the project
with interested parties. The BLM will
announce this meeting through local
news media, newsletters, our ePlanning
website (https://go.usa.gov/xP6S3), and
the BLM website (https://www.blm.gov/
wyoming) at least 15 days prior to the
meeting.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Draft Supplemental EIS by
any of the following methods:
• Website: https://go.usa.gov/xP6S3.
• Email: blm_wy_bfo_coal_seis@
blm.gov.
• Mail: Buffalo RMP SEIS, Attn:
Thomas Bills, Project Manager, BLM
SUMMARY:
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22516
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 96 / Friday, May 17, 2019 / Notices
Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street,
Buffalo, WY 82834.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact
Thomas (Tom) Bills, RMP Supplemental
EIS Project Manager; Telephone 307–
684–1133; or at the above mailing
address or email. 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, seven 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 2015
Buffalo Approved RMP provides a
single, comprehensive land use plan
that guides management of BLMadministered lands and minerals in the
Buffalo Field Office, which consists of
approximately 800,000 acres of BLM
surface land and 4.7 million acres of
BLM mineral estate in Campbell,
Johnson, and Sheridan counties in
north-central Wyoming.
Based on the court decision Western
Organization of Resource Councils, et
al. v. BLM (CV 16–21–GF–BMM; 3/23/
2018 and 7/31/2018); feedback from
cooperating agencies and stakeholders;
and public scoping, the BLM developed
and analyzed a No Action Alternative
and an Action Alternative, which are
detailed in the Draft Supplemental EIS.
The alternatives focus solely on the
leasing of BLM-administered coal, in
response to the court order.
The No Action Alternative represents
the decision area from the 2015 RMP
and brings forward all management
decisions that precluded coal
development in the 2015 RMP. It relies
on the decisions from the 2001 coal
screening process that informed the
2015 RMP, but uses an updated 2018
coal production baseline. The BLM also
used the 2019 U.S. Energy Information
Administration development forecast to
project development over the 20-year
planning period. The No Action
Alternative covers a total area of
approximately 968,252 acres, including
approximately 59.324 billion tons of
BLM-administered coal reserves.
The Action Alternative also uses the
2018 coal production baseline and the
2019 U.S. Energy Information
Administration development forecast. In
addition, the Action Alternative applies
new coal screens (as described in 43
CFR 3420.1–4(e)), considers new
scientific and GIS data, and evaluates
issues identified through internal and
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:05 May 16, 2019
Jkt 247001
public scoping. Based on these factors,
the Action Alternative area contains
approximately 328,578 acres, including
approximately 37.345 billion tons of
BLM-administered coal reserves.
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.
any other public participation activities
at least 15 days in advance through
public notices, media releases and/or
mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Supplemental Draft EIS by
any of the following methods:
• Website: https://go.usa.gov/xmbE4.
• Mail: Miles City Field Office; Irma
Nansel; 111 Garryowen Road, Miles
City, MT 59301.
Copies of the Supplemental Draft EIS
are available at the Miles City Field
Office at the above address, or may be
viewed at: https://go.usa.gov/xmbE4.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Irma
Nansel, RMP Supplemental EIS Project
Authority: 43 CFR 1610.2(c) and
Manager, Miles City Field Office, at
3420.1–2.
(406) 233–3653, or at the above mailing
address or website. Persons who use a
Mary Jo Rugwell,
telecommunications device for the deaf
Wyoming State Director.
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay
[FR Doc. 2019–10289 Filed 5–16–19; 8:45 am]
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
contact Ms. Nansel during normal
business hours. The FRS is available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
message or question. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
Bureau of Land Management
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 2015
[L16100000 DS0000 LXSS036E0000 19X
Miles City Approved RMP provides a
LLMTC020000]
single, comprehensive land use plan
that guides management of BLMNotice of Availability of the Draft
Amendment to the Approved Resource administered lands and minerals in the
Miles City Field Office, which consists
Management Plan for the Miles City
of approximately 2.7 million acres of
Field Office, Montana, and the
BLM surface land and 10.6 million acres
Associated Supplemental Draft
of BLM mineral estate across 17
Environmental Impact Statement
counties in eastern Montana.
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Based on the above-referenced court
Interior.
decision, feedback from cooperating
agencies and stakeholders, and public
ACTION: Notice of availability.
scoping, the BLM developed and
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
analyzed a No Action Alternative and
National Environmental Policy Act of
two Action Alternatives, which are
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the
detailed in the Supplemental Draft EIS.
Federal Land Policy and Management
The No Action Alternative represents
Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
the decision area from the 2015 RMP
Land Management (BLM) Montana
and brings forward all management
Miles City Field Office has prepared a
decisions that precluded coal
Supplemental Draft Environmental
development in the 2015 RMP. It relies
Impact Statement (EIS) for the 2015
on the decisions from the 1985 Power
Miles City Field Office Approved
River RMP and 1996 Big Dry RMP coal
Resource Management Plan (RMP). This screening process. The No Action
effort is in response to a United States
Alternative includes a total area of
District Court of Montana opinion and
approximately 1,581,240 acres available
order (Western Organization of Resource for further consideration for leasing of
Councils, et al. v. BLM). By this notice,
BLM-administered coal.
the BLM is announcing the opening of
The Action alternatives applied the
the comment period.
coal screens (43 CFR 3420.1–4(e)) using
current data and evaluate the issues
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
identified through internal and public
considered, the BLM must receive
scoping. The Action alternatives also
written comments on the Draft
address the NEPA deficiencies
Supplemental EIS within 90 days
identified by the court order associated
following the date the Environmental
with the application of the multiple-use
Protection Agency publishes its Notice
screen. Alternative B considers the
of Availability of the Supplemental
development of air resources as a
Draft EIS in the Federal Register. The
BLM will announce future meetings and multiple-use screen in accordance with
PO 00000
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22515-22516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10289]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[L13200000 DS0000 LXSSK1700000 19X LLWYP07000]
Notice of Availability for the Draft Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement and Potential Amendment for the Approved Resource
Management Plan for the Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming Buffalo
Field Office is preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for the 2015 Buffalo Field Office Approved Resource Management
Plan (RMP). This effort is in response to a United States District
Court of Montana opinion and order (Western Organization of Resource
Councils, et al. v. BLM). By this notice, the BLM is announcing the
opening of the public comment period on the Draft Supplemental EIS.
DATES: To ensure that we can adequately consider all comments, the BLM
must receive written comments by August 15, 2019. During the public
comment period, the BLM will hold a public meeting to discuss the
project with interested parties. The BLM will announce this meeting
through local news media, newsletters, our ePlanning website (https://go.usa.gov/xP6S3), and the BLM website (https://www.blm.gov/wyoming) at
least 15 days prior to the meeting.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Draft Supplemental
EIS by any of the following methods:
Website: https://go.usa.gov/xP6S3.
Email: [email protected].
Mail: Buffalo RMP SEIS, Attn: Thomas Bills, Project
Manager, BLM
[[Page 22516]]
Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Thomas (Tom) Bills, RMP
Supplemental EIS Project Manager; Telephone 307-684-1133; or at the
above mailing address or email. 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, seven 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 2015 Buffalo Approved RMP provides a
single, comprehensive land use plan that guides management of BLM-
administered lands and minerals in the Buffalo Field Office, which
consists of approximately 800,000 acres of BLM surface land and 4.7
million acres of BLM mineral estate in Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan
counties in north-central Wyoming.
Based on the court decision Western Organization of Resource
Councils, et al. v. BLM (CV 16-21-GF-BMM; 3/23/2018 and 7/31/2018);
feedback from cooperating agencies and stakeholders; and public
scoping, the BLM developed and analyzed a No Action Alternative and an
Action Alternative, which are detailed in the Draft Supplemental EIS.
The alternatives focus solely on the leasing of BLM-administered coal,
in response to the court order.
The No Action Alternative represents the decision area from the
2015 RMP and brings forward all management decisions that precluded
coal development in the 2015 RMP. It relies on the decisions from the
2001 coal screening process that informed the 2015 RMP, but uses an
updated 2018 coal production baseline. The BLM also used the 2019 U.S.
Energy Information Administration development forecast to project
development over the 20-year planning period. The No Action Alternative
covers a total area of approximately 968,252 acres, including
approximately 59.324 billion tons of BLM-administered coal reserves.
The Action Alternative also uses the 2018 coal production baseline
and the 2019 U.S. Energy Information Administration development
forecast. In addition, the Action Alternative applies new coal screens
(as described in 43 CFR 3420.1-4(e)), considers new scientific and GIS
data, and evaluates issues identified through internal and public
scoping. Based on these factors, the Action Alternative area contains
approximately 328,578 acres, including approximately 37.345 billion
tons of BLM-administered coal reserves.
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: 43 CFR 1610.2(c) and 3420.1-2.
Mary Jo Rugwell,
Wyoming State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-10289 Filed 5-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
