Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Competitive Mineral Materials Sale (COC-078119) at Parkdale, Fremont County, CO, 37334 [2019-16337]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 147 (Wednesday, July 31, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 37334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16337]



[[Page 37334]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOF02000 L51100000.GL0000 LVEMC1700600 18X]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Competitive Mineral Materials Sale (COC-078119) at 
Parkdale, Fremont County, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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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) Royal Gorge 
Field Office, Ca[ntilde]on City, Colorado, intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Proposed Competitive 
Mineral Materials Sale at Parkdale, Fremont County, Colorado. This 
notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues for the EIS.

DATES: Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until August 30, 
2019. The BLM will announce date(s) and location(s) of any scoping 
meetings at least 15 days in advance of the meeting through local 
media, newspapers, and the BLM National NEPA website. For comments to 
be considered in the Draft EIS, the BLM must receive them before the 
close of the 30-day scoping period. The BLM will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Competitive Mineral 
Materials Sale (COC-078119) at Parkdale, Fremont County, Colorado, by 
any of the following methods:
     BLM National NEPA website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/; 
search for NEPA Document Number BLM-CO-F020-2019-0013.
     Mail: BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 East Main Street, 
Ca[ntilde]on City, CO 81212.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Royal 
Gorge Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Carter, Geologist; 
telephone: (719) 269-8551; address: 3028 East Main Street, Ca[ntilde]on 
City, CO 81212; email: [email protected]. Contact Ms. Carter 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. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. has 
requested a contract from the BLM to mine 400-million net tons of 
aggregate reserves located on BLM-managed lands adjacent to their 
existing hard rock quarry northwest of Ca[ntilde]on City, Colorado. 
Mining activity would be conducted on up to approximately 700 acres of 
BLM-administered public land for up to 100 years with a maximum 
production rate of 4-million tons annually. The aggregate reserves 
consist of a granodiorite bedrock that would be mined utilizing 
blasting, crushing, and screening methods. The aggregate would be used 
in the production of asphalt and concrete, as well as for a source of 
railroad ballast. The current mine is the only rail-served aggregate 
mine in Colorado. The BLM mineral material reserves would sustain 
uninterrupted supplies of aggregate to meet future demands in southern 
Colorado and adjacent areas.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that may influence the scope of the environmental analysis for 
development of the EIS, including alternatives. At present, the BLM has 
identified the following preliminary issues: Potential effects to 
bighorn sheep, visual resources, air quality, surface and ground water 
quantity and quality, and socioeconomic conditions. The BLM will 
identify, analyze, and require mitigation, as appropriate, to address 
impacts to resources from the proposed action and alternatives.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping 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 information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
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 Competitive Mineral Materials Sale (COC-078119) at Parkdale, 
Fremont County, Colorado, are invited to participate in the scoping 
process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to 
participate in the development of the EIS 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.

Jamie Connell,
Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-16337 Filed 7-30-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P