Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, Caribou County, ID, 69301-69302 [2022-25048]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2022 / Notices is filed. Before including your address, or other personal information in your protest, please be aware that your entire protest, 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 U.S.C. Chap. 3. Michael J. Purtee, Chief Cadastral Surveyor of New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2022–25120 Filed 11–17–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [223.LLIDI00000.L1330000.EO0000.241A] Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, Caribou County, ID Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA); Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance 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) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF), announce the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine (Project). DATES: The Final EIS and the USFS Draft Record of Decision (ROD) are now available for public review. A 45-day objection period for the USFS Draft ROD will start when the USFS publishes a legal notice in the newspaper of record. The BLM will not issue a decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The USFS will issue a Final ROD following resolution of any objections. ADDRESSES: The Final EIS and documents pertinent to this proposal are available for review on the BLM ePlanning project website at https:// VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:46 Nov 17, 2022 Jkt 259001 go.usa.gov/x7HSJ; the Caribou-Targhee National Forest Current and Recent Projects at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects; or at the BLM Pocatello Field Office at 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wes Gilmer, BLM Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204; phone (208) 478–6369; email: wgilmer@ blm.gov; fax (208) 478–6376. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting Mr. Gilmer. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Itafos Conda LLC (Itafos) submitted a proposed mine and reclamation plan (MRP) for the Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine to conduct operations and recover phosphate ore from existing leases (IDI–8289, IDI–05549, I–04, and IDI–0678). The MRP proposes surface mining, support and reclamation activities on approximately 1,146 acres of mostly National Forest System (NFS) land. A modification (enlargement by 559 acres) of Federal phosphate lease IDI–05549 to recover adjacent ore reserves that would otherwise be bypassed and rendered unmineable in the future is also requested. The BLM, the Federal lease administrator, is the lead agency, and the USFS, the Federal land management agency, is the co-lead agency. The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources are cooperating agencies. The NOA for the Draft EIS was published on October 22, 2021 (86 FR 58686), initiating a 45-day public comment period that ended on December 6, 2021. Agencies, organizations and individual stakeholders provided comments on the Draft EIS via mail, email and through the project website. Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public were considered and incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and two new alternatives but did not significantly change the proposed action or predicted impacts of the proposal. The Final EIS addresses issues identified during scoping and public PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 69301 review of the Draft EIS by analyzing impacts to the human and natural environment including water resources, air quality, health and safety, socioeconomics and wildlife. It also addresses reclamation, financial assurance, mitigation and monitoring. The Final EIS considers a range of alternatives and evaluates several in detail: the proposed action, an alternative cover, an alternative stream routing, two alternative access routes, an alternative sequence of mining and the No Action alternative. The agencies’ preferred alternative combines four alternatives that modify the proposed action to be more protective of natural resources, including: alternative cover that reduces impacts to surface water and ground water by reducing infiltration of meteoric water into waste rock; alternative stream routing to limit long-term impacts to Stewart Creek by returning it permanently to its natural channel after mining; alternative access Option 2 that permanently relocates NFS Road 134 to maintain public and tribal access to the site and through NFS lands; and the alternative mine sequence in which mining would begin in the North Dry Ridge area prior to developing the Husky 1 area. The BLM and USFS will make separate but coordinated decisions related to the Project. The BLM will either approve, approve with modifications, or deny the MRP; and decide whether to modify lease IDI– 05549. The BLM will base its decisions on the Final EIS; public, Tribal, and agency input; and any recommendations that the USFS may have regarding surface management of leased NFS lands. The USFS will make recommendations to the BLM concerning surface management and best management practices on leased lands within the CTNF and issue decisions on approval of proposed special use authorizations (SUAs) for off-lease mining support activities and the alternative access. The USFS SUAs are necessary for any off-lease disturbances or structures associated with the Project located within the CTNF. The reroute of the Simplot slurry line, which crosses the proposed mine operations, will require an amendment of the Caribou National Forest Revised Land and Resource Management Plan (2003 Revised Forest Plan (RFP)). The portion of the Project related to proposed USFS SUAs for off-lease activities, the selection of the alternative access and the amendment of the 2003 RFP are subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 subparts A and B. Instructions for filing objections will be provided in the legal notice E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1 69302 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 222 / Friday, November 18, 2022 / Notices published in the newspaper of record for the USFS Draft ROD. Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project, either during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment, in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted, timely and specific written comments regarding the proposed project, unless based on new information arising after designated opportunities. (Authority: 36 CFR 218; 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10; 43 CFR 46; and 43 CFR 3590.) Mary D’Aversa, Idaho Falls District Manager, Bureau of Land Management. Melvin Bolling, Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest. [FR Doc. 2022–25048 Filed 11–17–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [L51010000.ER0000.LVRWB19B6670. LLCAD01000.19X (MO #4500161985)] Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Ivanpah-Control Project, Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino Counties, CA Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. 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) California Desert District Office, Palm Springs, California, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the Ivanpah-Control Project (Project) 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 EIS. The BLM requests comments concerning the scope of the analysis and identification of relevant information and studies by January 3, 2023. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the Draft EIS, please ensure your comments are 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 hold public khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:46 Nov 17, 2022 Jkt 259001 scoping meetings; the dates, locations, and times will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, mailings, and the BLM website at: https://bit.ly/3knv8cm. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Ivanpah-Control Project by any of the following methods: • Website: https://bit.ly/3knv8cm. • Email: BLM_CA_CD_TLRR_ IvanpahControl@blm.gov. • Fax: 760–833–7199. • Mail: Ivanpah-Control Environmental Impact Statement, Bureau of Land Management California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs CA 92262. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at https:// bit.ly/3knv8cm and at the BLM California Desert District Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Patrovsky, Project Manager, IvanpahControl Project, telephone: (760) 252– 6032; address: Bureau of Land Management California Desert District Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs CA 9226; email: jpatrovs@ blm.gov. Contact Ms. Patrovsky to have your name added to our mailing list. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services for contacting Ms. Patrovsky. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action The purpose of this Federal action is to respond to a right-of-way application from Southern California Edison for demolition, construction, operations, and maintenance of the Ivanpah-Control 115 kilovolt transmission line on BLMadministered lands, consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to grant rights-of-way on public lands for systems for generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy (43 U.S.C. Section 1761(a)(4)); the need for the BLM’s action is established by this delegated authority under Title V of FLPMA. The applicant is Southern California Edison and the purpose for the Project is to ensure compliance with the California Public Utilities Commission’s General Order 95 and National Electric Reliability Corporation reliability standards. The proposed action is to PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 implement engineering solutions to remediate approximately 2,950 discrepancies along the Ivanpah-Control alignment, continue to provide safe and reliable electrical service, meet Project needs while minimizing environmental impacts, and design and construct the physical components of the Project in conformance with industry and/or Southern California Edison’s approved engineering, design, and construction standards for substation and subtransmission system projects. Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives Southern California Edison proposes to remediate physical clearance discrepancies on existing 115 kilovolt subtransmission lines, referred to collectively as the Ivanpah-Control transmission line, located in southern California. The Project is composed of five segments (1, 2, 3N, 3S, and 4) spanning Inyo County, northeast Kern County, and northern San Bernardino County. The northern/western terminus is the Control Substation, approximately 5 miles west of the city of Bishop in Inyo County; the eastern terminus is at Ivanpah Substation, located in California approximately 6 miles southwest of Primm, Nevada. To address the discrepancies, Southern California Edison proposes to conduct the following activities: • Segment 1: Control Substation (Bishop) to Inyokern Substation (126mile segment): The subtransmission lines would be rebuilt in a new alignment adjacent to the existing alignment (but outside the existing right-of-way) and the existing subtransmission structures would be removed. This would involve removing approximately 1,161 existing structures and replacing with 905 new structures. • Segment 2: Inyokern Substation to Kramer Junction (48-mile segment): The subtransmission line would be rebuilt in a new alignment adjacent to the existing alignment (but within the existing rightof-way) and the existing subtransmission structures would be removed. This would involve removing approximately 390 transmission structures and installing 342 new structures. • Segment 3N: Kramer Junction– Coolwater Substation (44-mile segment): The subtransmission line would be reconductored. Some existing subtransmission structures would be replaced with steel and wood H-frames and wood pole multipole structures; most replacement structures would be installed proximate to existing structures that would be removed. This would involve removing approximately E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69301-69302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-25048]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[223.LLIDI00000.L1330000.EO0000.241A]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, 
Caribou County, ID

AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA); Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance 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) and the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee 
National Forest (CTNF), announce the availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Husky 1 North Dry 
Ridge Phosphate Mine (Project).

DATES: The Final EIS and the USFS Draft Record of Decision (ROD) are 
now available for public review. A 45-day objection period for the USFS 
Draft ROD will start when the USFS publishes a legal notice in the 
newspaper of record. The BLM will not issue a decision on the proposal 
for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in 
the Federal Register. The USFS will issue a Final ROD following 
resolution of any objections.

ADDRESSES: The Final EIS and documents pertinent to this proposal are 
available for review on the BLM ePlanning project website at https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ; the Caribou-Targhee National Forest Current and 
Recent Projects at https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects; or at the BLM Pocatello Field Office at 4350 Cliffs Drive, 
Pocatello, ID 83204.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wes Gilmer, BLM Pocatello Field 
Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204; phone (208) 478-6369; 
email: [email protected]; fax (208) 478-6376. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services for contacting Mr. Gilmer. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Itafos Conda LLC (Itafos) submitted a 
proposed mine and reclamation plan (MRP) for the Husky 1 North Dry 
Ridge Phosphate Mine to conduct operations and recover phosphate ore 
from existing leases (IDI-8289, IDI-05549, I-04, and IDI-0678). The MRP 
proposes surface mining, support and reclamation activities on 
approximately 1,146 acres of mostly National Forest System (NFS) land. 
A modification (enlargement by 559 acres) of Federal phosphate lease 
IDI-05549 to recover adjacent ore reserves that would otherwise be 
bypassed and rendered unmineable in the future is also requested.
    The BLM, the Federal lease administrator, is the lead agency, and 
the USFS, the Federal land management agency, is the co-lead agency. 
The United States Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho Department of 
Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Lands and Idaho Governor's 
Office of Energy and Mineral Resources are cooperating agencies.
    The NOA for the Draft EIS was published on October 22, 2021 (86 FR 
58686), initiating a 45-day public comment period that ended on 
December 6, 2021. Agencies, organizations and individual stakeholders 
provided comments on the Draft EIS via mail, email and through the 
project website.
    Comments on the Draft EIS received from the public were considered 
and incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS. Public comments 
resulted in the addition of clarifying text and two new alternatives 
but did not significantly change the proposed action or predicted 
impacts of the proposal.
    The Final EIS addresses issues identified during scoping and public 
review of the Draft EIS by analyzing impacts to the human and natural 
environment including water resources, air quality, health and safety, 
socioeconomics and wildlife. It also addresses reclamation, financial 
assurance, mitigation and monitoring. The Final EIS considers a range 
of alternatives and evaluates several in detail: the proposed action, 
an alternative cover, an alternative stream routing, two alternative 
access routes, an alternative sequence of mining and the No Action 
alternative. The agencies' preferred alternative combines four 
alternatives that modify the proposed action to be more protective of 
natural resources, including: alternative cover that reduces impacts to 
surface water and ground water by reducing infiltration of meteoric 
water into waste rock; alternative stream routing to limit long-term 
impacts to Stewart Creek by returning it permanently to its natural 
channel after mining; alternative access Option 2 that permanently 
relocates NFS Road 134 to maintain public and tribal access to the site 
and through NFS lands; and the alternative mine sequence in which 
mining would begin in the North Dry Ridge area prior to developing the 
Husky 1 area.
    The BLM and USFS will make separate but coordinated decisions 
related to the Project. The BLM will either approve, approve with 
modifications, or deny the MRP; and decide whether to modify lease IDI-
05549. The BLM will base its decisions on the Final EIS; public, 
Tribal, and agency input; and any recommendations that the USFS may 
have regarding surface management of leased NFS lands. The USFS will 
make recommendations to the BLM concerning surface management and best 
management practices on leased lands within the CTNF and issue 
decisions on approval of proposed special use authorizations (SUAs) for 
off-lease mining support activities and the alternative access. The 
USFS SUAs are necessary for any off-lease disturbances or structures 
associated with the Project located within the CTNF. The reroute of the 
Simplot slurry line, which crosses the proposed mine operations, will 
require an amendment of the Caribou National Forest Revised Land and 
Resource Management Plan (2003 Revised Forest Plan (RFP)).
    The portion of the Project related to proposed USFS SUAs for off-
lease activities, the selection of the alternative access and the 
amendment of the 2003 RFP are subject to the objection process pursuant 
to 36 CFR 218 subparts A and B. Instructions for filing objections will 
be provided in the legal notice

[[Page 69302]]

published in the newspaper of record for the USFS Draft ROD. Objections 
will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific 
written comments regarding the proposed project, either during scoping 
or other designated opportunities for public comment, in accordance 
with 36 CFR 218.5. Issues raised in objections must be based on 
previously submitted, timely and specific written comments regarding 
the proposed project, unless based on new information arising after 
designated opportunities.

(Authority: 36 CFR 218; 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10; 43 CFR 46; 
and 43 CFR 3590.)

Mary D'Aversa,
Idaho Falls District Manager, Bureau of Land Management.
Melvin Bolling,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2022-25048 Filed 11-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P

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