Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Mojave Precious Metals Exploratory Drilling Project, Ridgecrest, Inyo County, CA, 55719-55720 [2023-17297]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55719-55720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17297]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_CA_FRN_MO4500170074]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Mojave Precious Metals Exploratory Drilling Project, 
Ridgecrest, Inyo County, CA

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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Ridgecrest Field Office, Ridgecrest, California intends to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the effects of the 
proposed Mojave Precious Metals Exploratory Drilling Project in Inyo 
County, California, 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 that the public submit comments concerning the scope 
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant 
information, and studies by October 10, 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 60-day scoping period.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Mojave Precious 
Metals Exploratory Drilling Project by any of the following methods:

     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022050/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: (760) 384-5499.
     Mail: BLM Ridgecrest Field Office, Attn: Mojave 
Exploration Project, 300 S. Richmond Rd., Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022050/510 and at the 
BLM Ridgecrest Field Office during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamara Faust, Project Manager, 
telephone: (505) 427-6759; address: Bureau of Land Management 
Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Rd., Ridgecrest, CA 93555; 
email [email protected]. Contact Ms. Faust 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. Faust. 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 BLM's need for the action is established by FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 
1732(b), and the surface management regulations promulgated under the 
authority of FLPMA, 43 CFR subpart 3809. The BLM's purpose is to 
provide Mojave Precious Metals, Inc. (MPM) with the opportunity to 
explore its existing mining claims on BLM-managed lands, while ensuring 
compliance with applicable land management plans, protection of 
resources, and compliance with Federal and State laws related to 
environmental protection (e.g., 43 CFR 3809.420).

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    MPM proposes an exploratory drilling plan of operations 
modification (Plan Modification) on public lands. The plan would modify 
the 2018 approved plan of operations that was originally submitted by 
Silver Standard US Holdings, Inc. and reviewed under NEPA in a 2017 
environmental assessment (DOI-BLM-CA-0050-2017-0037-EA; Perdito 
Exploration Project). The Plan Modification is for additional 
exploratory drilling activities within a portion of its mining claims 
termed the ``Mojave Property'' and would require development of 
additional access routes. The Plan Modification would include 25 
additional drill sites and reopening a reclaimed access road. The 
project is in conformance with the California Desert Conservation Area 
Plan, as amended.
    The Mojave Property is located near Conglomerate Mesa in west-
central Inyo County, approximately 3.4 miles east of Keeler, 
California, and 15.5 miles (25 km) southeast of Lone Pine, California. 
The property is located within Township 16 and 17 south, Range 38 and 
39 east, San Bernardino Base and Meridian. The project would access and 
drill up to 30 drill sites with a total estimated 120 boreholes, each 
averaging 300 meters (984 feet) below ground surface. The plan would 
access the drill sites along a combination of overland travel and 
reconstruction of about 7 miles of previously developed (now reclaimed) 
roads. The total amount of land disturbed by the drilling program would 
be up to 15 acres. The project would be limited to exploration 
activities; no mining or processing of minerals is proposed. The 
project would be completed within 5 to 10 months and reclamation would 
be completed within 3 years.
    Any hydrocarbons and petroleum lubricants used on site would be 
stored on the equipment, and fueling of equipment would be done with 
mobile fuel/lube trucks. Diesel fuel used on the site would comply with 
California Air Resources Board low-sulfur diesel requirements. Spills 
would be managed and contained according to the project's spill 
contingency plan. An estimated 500 to 1,000 gallons of water would be 
required per day. Water would be supplied from a permitted/authorized 
source and delivered via water truck by a licensed commercial delivery 
service. Portable water storage tanks would be kept on site for 
drilling, dust suppression, and firefighting assistance.
    Reclamation of disturbed areas resulting from mining operations 
would be completed in accordance with BLM and the California Surface 
Mining Control and Regulation Act of 1975 regulations. Reclamation 
activities would include the following:
     Plugging of boreholes;
     Regrading and reshaping of disturbed topography to 
approximate the original contour;
     Restoring existing public roads in project area to pre-
project conditions;
     Rehabilitating wildlife habitat;
     Revegetating disturbed areas;
     Removing equipment and temporary and mobile support 
facilities; and
     Monitoring and maintenance.
    A range of reasonable alternatives will be developed and analyzed 
in the EIS after considering information received during the scoping 
period. Preliminary action alternatives include using an alternative 
route with less ground disturbance. The range of reasonable 
alternatives will include a no action alternative, under which the BLM 
would deny the Plan Modification and MPM's Exploratory Drilling Plan of 
Operations would remain as analyzed in the original environmental 
assessment. The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives 
as well as suggestions for additional alternatives, including the 
feasibility of using a helicopter alternative to satisfy the objectives 
of the project.

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Summary of Expected Impacts

    Preliminary issues, either beneficial or adverse and of varying 
intensity, for the Project have been identified by BLM personnel and in 
consultation with Federal, State, and local agencies, Tribes, and other 
cooperating agencies. These preliminary issues include potential 
impacts to:
     Cultural resources;
     Biological resources, including Joshua trees and the Inyo 
thread plant;
     Special designations, including California Desert National 
Conservation Lands and the Conglomerate Mesa Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern; and
     Water resources.
    The public scoping process will guide determination of relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives and mitigation measures. The EIS will identify 
and describe the effects of the proposed action and alternatives on the 
human environment. The BLM also requests the identification of 
potential impacts that should be analyzed. Impacts should be a result 
of the action; therefore, please identify the activity along with the 
potential impact.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

    In addition to the requested authorization to perform mineral 
exploration under a mining plan of operations, other Federal, State, 
and local authorizations will be required for the project. These 
include authorizations under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, 
the Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, and other laws and 
regulations determined to be applicable to the project.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with the NEPA process, including a 60-day 
comment period on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be 
available for public review in Fall/Winter 2023, and the Final EIS is 
anticipated to be released in Summer 2024 with a record of decision 
(ROD) in Fall 2024.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will 
accept public scoping comments via letter or email. Should the BLM 
decide to hold public meetings, the specific date(s) and location(s) of 
any meeting will be announced in advance through public notices, media 
releases, mailings, and the BLM website (see ADDRESSES).

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The National Park Service has agreed to participate in the 
development of the EIS as a cooperating agency. Inyo County is also a 
cooperating agency. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
Indian Tribal Nations and stakeholders that may be interested in or 
affected by the proposed Mojave Precious Metals Exploratory Drilling 
Project that the BLM is evaluating, 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 environmental analysis as 
a cooperating agency.

Responsible Official

    The BLM California Ridgecrest Field Manager is the responsible 
official who will make the decisions below.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The BLM will use the analysis in the EIS to inform the following: 
whether to approve, approve with conditions, or deny the applicant's 
proposed Plan Modification. The BLM may: (a) decide to approve the 
complete Plan Modification; (b) approve the Plan Modification subject 
to certain conditions imposed to ensure the operation meets the 
performance standards and does not result in unnecessary or undue 
degradation (UUD); or (c) disapprove or withhold approval of the Plan 
Modification. The ROD will explain how the selected alternative meets 
the requirement to prevent UUD and is in conformance with the 
applicable land use plans.

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed 
action and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 
40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not already 
included in the proposed action or alternatives. Mitigation may include 
avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination over 
time, and compensation, and may be considered at multiple scales, 
including the landscape scale.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help 
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3), including public involvement requirements of Section 106. 
The information about historic and cultural resources and threatened 
and endangered species within the area potentially affected by the 
proposed plan will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts 
to such resources. The BLM is the lead Federal agency for this EIS and 
the related National Historic Preservation Act Section 106 process and 
Endangered Species Act consultation process.
    The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM MS 1780, 
and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will 
be given due consideration. The BLM intends to hold a series of 
government-to-government consultation meetings. The BLM will send 
invitations to potentially affected Tribal Nations prior to the 
meetings. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for government-
to-government consultation during the NEPA 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.
    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9.

Thomas Bickauskas,
Bureau of Land Management Ridgecrest Field Manager (Acting).
[FR Doc. 2023-17297 Filed 8-15-23; 8:45 am]
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