Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Marigold Mining Company-Marigold Mine-Mackay Optimization Project Humboldt County, Nevada, 22894-22896 [2019-10475]
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
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, in Pocatello, Idaho, intends
to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) and by this notice is
announcing the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the proposed
Blackrock Land Exchange EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted
in writing until July 5, 2019. The BLM
will hold two public meetings as part of
the scoping process. The dates and
locations of these scoping meeting will
be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media,
newspapers and the BLM website at:
https://go.usa.gov/xEUuc. In order to be
included in the Draft 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. The BLM will provide
additional opportunities for public
participation upon publication of the
Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Blackrock Land Exchange
by any of the following methods:
• Website: https://go.usa.gov/xEUuc
• Fax: 208.478.6376
• Mail: BLM, Pocatello Field Office,
Attention: Bryce Anderson/Blackrock
Land Exchange Project, 4350 S Cliffs
Dr., Pocatello, ID 83204.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Pocatello Field
Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bryce Anderson, Project Manager by
telephone: 208–478–6353; address: 4350
S Cliffs Dr., Pocatello, ID 83204; or
email: bdanderson@blm.gov. Persons
who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339 to contact Mr. Anderson.
The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week, to leave a message or
question with Mr. Anderson. You will
receive a reply during normal business
hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1994,
the J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot)
submitted an application to acquire 719
acres of Federal land managed by the
BLM in exchange for 667 acres of nonFederal land. The selected Federal land
is adjacent to Simplot’s Don Plant in
Power and Bannock Counties, Idaho.
The offered non-Federal lands are
located in the Blackrock and Caddy
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Jkt 247001
Canyon areas in Bannock County
approximately five miles east-southeast
of Pocatello, Idaho.
In 1998, pursuant to the
Comprehensive Environmental
Response Compensation and Liability
Act, the Don Plant facilities and the
surrounding area known as the Eastern
Michaud Flats (EMF) were designated a
Superfund Site, including a portion of
the proposed Federal lands to be
exchanged. The BLM prepared an
Environmental Assessment (EA) to
analyze the proposed land exchange,
and issued a Decision Record/Finding of
No Significant Impact (DR/FONSI) on
December 21, 2007. The ShoshoneBannock Tribes litigated the decision in
District Court. In May 2011, the Court
granted the Tribes’ motion and
remanded the DR/FONSI to the BLM,
ordering the agency to prepare an EIS.
The BLM’s purpose is to evaluate the
land exchange proposal. If approved,
the proposal would improve resource
management in an area containing
crucial mule deer winter range and
secure permanent public access to a
popular recreation area. Simplot’s
purpose for the proposed exchange is to
implement legally enforceable controls
as directed by the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Record of
Decision (ROD) for the EMF Superfund
Site and required by a Consent Order
(CO) from the Idaho Department of
Environmental Quality. The CO requires
Simplot to reduce fluoride emissions by
2026. To meet this requirement, Simplot
has proposed construction of cooling
ponds adjacent to its Don Plant in
Pocatello, Idaho, which would require
the acquisition of adjacent Federal
lands. Additionally, this acquisition
would allow for future onsite expansion
of phosphate processing operations.
The purpose of the public scoping
process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for
developing the EIS. At present, the BLM
has identified the following preliminary
issues:
• Concerns with contamination of
surface and groundwater resources;
• Acquiring crucial mule deer winter
range;
• Economic impacts on the region if
production at the Don Plant slows or
ceases (if the exchange is not approved);
• Retaining contaminated lands in
Federal ownership; and
• Securing permanent access to
Federal lands.
The BLM will fulfill the public
involvement requirements under the
National Historic Preservation Act (54
U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
PO 00000
Frm 00089
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
800.2(d)(3) through the NEPA process.
Information the BLM receives 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 Native
American Tribes on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. The BLM will give Tribal
concerns due consideration, including
impacts on Native American trust assets
and potential impacts to cultural
resources.
The BLM invites Federal, State, and
local agencies, along with Tribes and
other stakeholders that may be
interested in or affected by the proposed
Blackrock Land Exchange to participate
in the scoping process and
environmental analysis, and if eligible,
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.
John F. Ruhs,
BLM Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019–10473 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVW00000.L5110000.
GN0000.LVEMF1504350. 15X MO#
4500132874]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Marigold Mining
Company—Marigold Mine—Mackay
Optimization Project Humboldt County,
Nevada
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance 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) Humboldt
River Field Office, Winnemucca,
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
Nevada has prepared a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Proposed Marigold Mine—
Mackay Optimization Project (Project)
and by this notice is announcing the
opening of the comment period.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
comment period for the Draft EIS.
Comments may be submitted in writing
until July 5, 2019. The date(s) and
location(s) of any comment meetings
will be announced at least 15 days in
advance through local media,
newspapers and the BLM website at:
https://1.usa.gov/1PKqIbI. In order to be
included in the Draft EIS, all comments
must be received prior to the close of
the 45-day public comment period. We
will provide additional opportunities
for public participation upon
publication of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the Marigold Mine—Mackay
Optimization Project by any of the
following methods:
• Website: https://1.usa.gov/1PKqIbI.
• Email: wfoweb@blm.gov. Include
Marigold Mine Mackay DEIS Comments
in the subject line.
• Fax: (775) 623–1740.
• Mail: BLM Winnemucca District,
Humboldt River Field Office, 5100 East
Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV
89445.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jeanette Black, telephone 775–623–
1500; address BLM Winnemucca
District, Humboldt River Field Office,
5100 E Winnemucca Blvd.,
Winnemucca, NV 89445; email
infoweb@blm.gov. 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: The
applicant, Marigold Mining Company
(MMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of
SSR Mining Inc., has requested to
optimize and modify its approved Plan
of Operations by expanding its gold
mining operations at the existing
Marigold Mine, which is located in the
southeastern portion of Humboldt
County, Nevada approximately 35 miles
southeast of Winnemucca. The mine is
currently authorized to disturb up to
5,682.6 acres (3,211.4 acres of private
land and 2,471.2 acres of public land),
and was permitted under a series of
Environmental Impact Statements and
Environmental Assessments from July
1988 through October 2013.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 May 17, 2019
Jkt 247001
All proposed disturbance would
occur within the existing approved Plan
boundary and includes combining
multiple existing pits into three large
pits. Waste rock storage areas, heap
leach pads, and other supporting
facilities would be expanded to support
the pit expansion. The pits are proposed
to extend below the historic water table
necessitating dewatering of the
groundwater and rapid infiltration
basins (RIBs) for recharging the excess
water downgradient of the pits. If
approved, the proposed modification
would extend the mine life by up to 10
years.
Amendments to two associated rightsof-ways (ROWs) needed to
accommodate the proposed mine
changes are evaluated in the Draft EIS.
These ROWs include relocation of a
portion of the county road called
Buffalo Valley Road and of a portion of
the existing 120-kV power line (ROW
held by NV Energy).
The Draft EIS analyzes three
alternatives; the Proposed Action,
Alternative I—Partial Discharge to
Cottonwood Creek and Pipeline to RIBs
Alternative, and the No Action
Alternative.
The Proposed Action, if selected by
the BLM, would include 2,055.9 acres of
new disturbance (800.9 acres of public
land and 1,255 acres of private land),
increasing the surface disturbance by a
total of 7,738.5 acres (3,271.7 acres of
public land and 4,466.4 acres on private
land).
Under Alternative I, all components
of the Proposed Action would be the
same except for the proposed
dewatering operation that would
increase the total disturbance by
approximately 4 acres. A portion of the
dewatered groundwater (approximately
191 gpm) would be treated at a water
treatment plant, transported via an
above ground pipeline system and
discharged to Cottonwood Creek
drainage, creating a water source for
livestock and wildlife while recharging
the aquifer. The remaining portion of
dewatering water would be piped to the
RIBs.
Under the No Action Alternative, the
plan modification would not be
authorized and the activities described
under the Proposed Action would not
occur. MMC would continue mining
activities as authorized in their current
Plan, dated November 6, 2013, with
closure in 2027, followed by
approximately three years of
reclamation.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
EIS for the proposed Mackay Project
was published in the Federal Register
on March 4, 2016 (FR Doc No: 2016–
PO 00000
Frm 00090
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
22895
04806). The BLM received 22 public
scoping comment during the 31-day
scoping period. From the 22 comments,
70 issue statements were identified and
evaluated in the Draft EIS (Table 1.4–1).
The following issues of environmental,
social, and economic concern were
identified: Air quality from mining
emissions; fugitive dust; hazardous air
pollutants; greenhouse gases;
geochemical concerns from mining
activities; effects on cultural sites;
impacts to California Trails;
environmental justice; Native American
Religious Concerns; noise effects on
Greater Sage Grouse and humans;
rangeland management; impacts from
the relocation of county road and NV
Energy powerline; public access for
dispersed recreation; economic benefits;
visual resources; surface and
groundwater quality and quantity
impacts due to dewatering of the
aquifer; water rights; formation of a pit
lake with evaporative water losses;
wetland and riparian zones; wildlife
impacts due to mining activities
(vegetation loss, weed management,
surface water sources, migration routes,
lighting); environmental protection
measures; mitigation; monitoring;
reclamation; closure; and alternatives.
The BLM analyzed a combination of
proposed environmental measures and
possible mitigation to eliminate or
minimize impacts associated with the
proposed action. These included the
potential for identifying opportunities to
apply mitigation hierarchy strategies for
on-site and regional mitigation
appropriate to the size of the proposal,
and management actions to achieve
resource objectives.
The BLM will use NEPA public
participation requirements to assist the
agency in satisfying the public
involvement requirements under the
National Historic Preservation Act
(NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) pursuant to
36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information
about historic and cultural resources
within the area potentially affected by
the proposed amendment will assist the
BLM in identifying and evaluating
impacts to such resources in the context
of both NEPA and the NHPA.
The BLM continues to consult with
Indian tribes on a government-togovernment basis in accordance with
Executive Order 13175 and other
policies. Tribal concerns, including
impacts to 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 or affected are invited
to comment on the proposal that the
BLM is evaluating.
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
22896
Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2019 / Notices
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 1506.6, 40 CFR
1506.10.
Suzanne Morris,
Chief, Premerger and Division Statistics Unit,
Antitrust Division.
[FR Doc. 2019–10343 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–11–P
David Kampwerth,
Field Manager, Humboldt River Field Office.
Antitrust Division
[FR Doc. 2019–10475 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
Notice Pursuant to the National
Cooperative Research and Production
Act of 1993—Integrated Photonics
Institute for Manufacturing Innovation
Operating Under the Name of the
American Institute for Manufacturing
Integrated Photonics
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
Notice Pursuant to the National
Cooperative Research and Production
Act of 1993—ODPI, Inc.
Notice is hereby given that, on May 7,
2019, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the
National Cooperative Research and
Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301
et seq. (‘‘the Act’’), ODPi, Inc. (‘‘ODPi’’)
has filed written notifications
simultaneously with the Attorney
General and the Federal Trade
Commission disclosing changes in its
membership. The notifications were
filed for the purpose of extending the
Act’s provisions limiting the recovery of
antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages
under specified circumstances.
Specifically, Cloudera, Inc., Santa Clara,
CA, has been added as a party to this
venture.
Also, Hortonworks, Inc., Santa Clara,
CA; UNIFi Software, San Mateo, CA;
AsiaInfo Technologies (H.K.) Limited
(fka Beijing AsiaInfo Smart Big Data Co.,
Ltd.), Beijing, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF
CHINA; and China Mobile
Communication Company Ltd., Beijing,
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA, have
withdrawn as parties to this venture.
No other changes have been made in
either the membership or planned
activity of the group research project.
Membership in this group research
project remains open, and ODPi intends
to file additional written notifications
disclosing all changes in membership.
On November 23, 2015, ODPi filed its
original notification pursuant to Section
6(a) of the Act. The Department of
Justice published a notice in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on December 23, 2015 (80 FR
79930).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:41 May 17, 2019
Jkt 247001
Act on December 20, 2018 (83 FR
65362).
Suzanne Morris,
Chief, Premerger and Division Statistics Unit,
Antitrust Division.
[FR Doc. 2019–10334 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P
khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
The last notification was filed with
the Department on December 10, 2018.
A notice was published in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on January 31, 2019 (84 FR 796).
Notice is hereby given that, on April
29, 2019, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the
National Cooperative Research and
Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301
et seq. (‘‘the Act’’), the Integrated
Photonics Institute for Manufacturing
Innovation operating under the name of
the American Institute for
Manufacturing Integrated Photonics
(‘‘AIM Photonics’’) has filed written
notifications simultaneously with the
Attorney General and the Federal Trade
Commission disclosing changes in its
membership. The notifications were
filed for the purpose of extending the
Act’s provisions limiting the recovery of
antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages
under specified circumstances.
Specifically, Pendar Technologies, LLC,
Cambridge, MA; Sheaumann Laser, Inc.,
Marlborough, MA; and EXFO, Inc.,
Quebec, CANADA, have been added as
parties to this venture.
No other changes have been made in
either the membership or planned
activity of the group research project.
Membership in this group research
project remains open, and AIM
Photonics intends to file additional
written notifications disclosing all
changes in membership.
On June 16, 2016, AIM Photonics
filed its original notification pursuant to
Section 6(a) of the Act. The Department
of Justice published a notice in the
Federal Register pursuant to Section
6(b) of the Act on July 25, 2016 (81 FR
48450).
The last notification was filed with
the Department on November 13, 2018.
A notice was published in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
PO 00000
Frm 00091
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Notice Pursuant to the National
Cooperative Research and Production
Act of 1993—PXI Systems Alliance,
Inc.
Notice is hereby given that, on May 7,
2019, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the
National Cooperative Research and
Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301
et seq. (‘‘the Act’’), PXI Systems
Alliance, Inc. (‘‘PXI Systems’’) has filed
written notifications simultaneously
with the Attorney General and the
Federal Trade Commission disclosing
changes in its membership. The
notifications were filed for the purpose
of extending the Act’s provisions
limiting the recovery of antitrust
plaintiffs to actual damages under
specified circumstances. Specifically,
CHNN Instruments (Beijing) Technology
Co., Ltd., Beijing, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA; and Shenzhen Houwu Tech.
Co. LTD., Shenzhen, PEOPLE’S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA, have been added
as parties to this venture.
Also, Innovative Integration,
Camarillo, CA, has withdrawn as a party
to this venture.
No other changes have been made in
either the membership or planned
activity of the group research project.
Membership in this group research
project remains open, and PXI Systems
intends to file additional written
notifications disclosing all changes in
membership.
On November 22, 2000, PXI Systems
filed its original notification pursuant to
Section 6(a) of the Act. The Department
of Justice published a notice in the
Federal Register pursuant to Section
6(b) of the Act on March 8, 2001 (66 FR
13971).
The last notification was filed with
the Department on February 8, 2019. A
notice was published in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on February 28, 2019 (84 FR 6822).
Suzanne Morris,
Chief, Premerger and Division Statistics Unit,
Antitrust Division.
[FR Doc. 2019–10341 Filed 5–17–19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410–11–P
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22894-22896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10475]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVW00000.L5110000. GN0000.LVEMF1504350. 15X MO# 4500132874]
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Marigold Mining Company--Marigold Mine--
Mackay Optimization Project Humboldt County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance 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) Humboldt River
Field Office, Winnemucca,
[[Page 22895]]
Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
the Proposed Marigold Mine--Mackay Optimization Project (Project) and
by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.
DATES: This notice initiates the public comment period for the Draft
EIS. Comments may be submitted in writing until July 5, 2019. The
date(s) and location(s) of any comment meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM
website at: https://1.usa.gov/1PKqIbI. In order to be included in the
Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 45-
day public comment period. We will provide additional opportunities for
public participation upon publication of the Final EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Marigold Mine--Mackay
Optimization Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://1.usa.gov/1PKqIbI.
Email: [email protected]. Include Marigold Mine Mackay DEIS
Comments in the subject line.
Fax: (775) 623-1740.
Mail: BLM Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field
Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeanette Black, telephone 775-623-
1500; address BLM Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field Office,
5100 E Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445; email [email protected].
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: The applicant, Marigold Mining Company
(MMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of SSR Mining Inc., has requested to
optimize and modify its approved Plan of Operations by expanding its
gold mining operations at the existing Marigold Mine, which is located
in the southeastern portion of Humboldt County, Nevada approximately 35
miles southeast of Winnemucca. The mine is currently authorized to
disturb up to 5,682.6 acres (3,211.4 acres of private land and 2,471.2
acres of public land), and was permitted under a series of
Environmental Impact Statements and Environmental Assessments from July
1988 through October 2013.
All proposed disturbance would occur within the existing approved
Plan boundary and includes combining multiple existing pits into three
large pits. Waste rock storage areas, heap leach pads, and other
supporting facilities would be expanded to support the pit expansion.
The pits are proposed to extend below the historic water table
necessitating dewatering of the groundwater and rapid infiltration
basins (RIBs) for recharging the excess water downgradient of the pits.
If approved, the proposed modification would extend the mine life by up
to 10 years.
Amendments to two associated rights-of-ways (ROWs) needed to
accommodate the proposed mine changes are evaluated in the Draft EIS.
These ROWs include relocation of a portion of the county road called
Buffalo Valley Road and of a portion of the existing 120-kV power line
(ROW held by NV Energy).
The Draft EIS analyzes three alternatives; the Proposed Action,
Alternative I--Partial Discharge to Cottonwood Creek and Pipeline to
RIBs Alternative, and the No Action Alternative.
The Proposed Action, if selected by the BLM, would include 2,055.9
acres of new disturbance (800.9 acres of public land and 1,255 acres of
private land), increasing the surface disturbance by a total of 7,738.5
acres (3,271.7 acres of public land and 4,466.4 acres on private land).
Under Alternative I, all components of the Proposed Action would be
the same except for the proposed dewatering operation that would
increase the total disturbance by approximately 4 acres. A portion of
the dewatered groundwater (approximately 191 gpm) would be treated at a
water treatment plant, transported via an above ground pipeline system
and discharged to Cottonwood Creek drainage, creating a water source
for livestock and wildlife while recharging the aquifer. The remaining
portion of dewatering water would be piped to the RIBs.
Under the No Action Alternative, the plan modification would not be
authorized and the activities described under the Proposed Action would
not occur. MMC would continue mining activities as authorized in their
current Plan, dated November 6, 2013, with closure in 2027, followed by
approximately three years of reclamation.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for the proposed Mackay
Project was published in the Federal Register on March 4, 2016 (FR Doc
No: 2016-04806). The BLM received 22 public scoping comment during the
31-day scoping period. From the 22 comments, 70 issue statements were
identified and evaluated in the Draft EIS (Table 1.4-1). The following
issues of environmental, social, and economic concern were identified:
Air quality from mining emissions; fugitive dust; hazardous air
pollutants; greenhouse gases; geochemical concerns from mining
activities; effects on cultural sites; impacts to California Trails;
environmental justice; Native American Religious Concerns; noise
effects on Greater Sage Grouse and humans; rangeland management;
impacts from the relocation of county road and NV Energy powerline;
public access for dispersed recreation; economic benefits; visual
resources; surface and groundwater quality and quantity impacts due to
dewatering of the aquifer; water rights; formation of a pit lake with
evaporative water losses; wetland and riparian zones; wildlife impacts
due to mining activities (vegetation loss, weed management, surface
water sources, migration routes, lighting); environmental protection
measures; mitigation; monitoring; reclamation; closure; and
alternatives.
The BLM analyzed a combination of proposed environmental measures
and possible mitigation to eliminate or minimize impacts associated
with the proposed action. These included the potential for identifying
opportunities to apply mitigation hierarchy strategies for on-site and
regional mitigation appropriate to the size of the proposal, and
management actions to achieve resource objectives.
The BLM will use NEPA public participation requirements to assist
the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements under the
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) pursuant
to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural
resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed
amendment will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to
such resources in the context of both NEPA and the NHPA.
The BLM 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, will be given due
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes
and other stakeholders that may be interested or affected are invited
to comment on the proposal that the BLM is evaluating.
[[Page 22896]]
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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.
David Kampwerth,
Field Manager, Humboldt River Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2019-10475 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
