Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Robertson Mine Project, Lander County, Nevada, 56649-56652 [2023-17779]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2023 / Notices
T. 5 S., R. 21 E.,
Sec. 27, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 32, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 33, SW1⁄4;
Sec. 34, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 35, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 36, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4.
T. 6 S., R. 21 E.,
Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 3, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,
E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 2, lot 4, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 3, lots 1 thru 3, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4,
N1⁄2SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 4, lots 3 and 4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2;
Sec. 5, lots 1 and 2, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, and E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 8, E1⁄2NE1⁄4 and E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 9, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2;
Sec. 10, NE1⁄4 and S1⁄2;
Sec. 11, W1⁄2NW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4,
and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 12, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 13, N1⁄2, SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and
SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 14, N1⁄2, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, and N1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 15, NE1⁄4 and N1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 17, NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and
SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 19, lots 5 thru 12, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, and
N1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 20, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2;
Sec. 28, N1⁄2SW1⁄4 and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 29, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and NE1⁄4SW1⁄4;
Sec. 30, lots 2 and 3;
Sec. 35, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4 and NE1⁄4SW1⁄4.
T. 7 S., R. 21 E.,
Sec. 6, lot 7;
Sec. 7, lots 1 thru 3, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and
E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 8, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4;
Sec. 17, W1⁄2NW1⁄4 and W1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 3, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and
E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 19, lot 4, NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4,
and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 20, W1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 25, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 26, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 29, N1⁄2 and W1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 30, lots 1 and 2, E1⁄2, and E1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 31, lots 1 thru 4, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4,
NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 32, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2;
Sec. 33, S1⁄2;
Sec. 34, S1⁄2SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 35, E1⁄2 and S1⁄2SW1⁄4.
T. 8 S., R. 21 E.,
Sec. 1, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4,
and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 2, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 3, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4,
SW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 4, lots 1 thru 4;
Sec. 5, lots 1 thru 4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4,
E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 6, lots 1 thru 5, lot 7, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, and
SE1⁄4NW1⁄4;
Sec. 7, lots 1 thru 4, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and
SE1⁄4SW1⁄4;
Sec. 8, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, W1⁄2, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 10, N1⁄2NW1⁄4 and SE1⁄4NW1⁄4;
Sec. 11, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 12, NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4,
and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 13, E1⁄2SW1⁄4 and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 14, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4,
N1⁄2SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
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Sec. 15, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4;
Sec. 17, N1⁄2, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and
SE1⁄4;
Sec. 18, lots 1 thru 4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4,
and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 19, lots 1 thru 4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4,
and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 20, NE1⁄4 and E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 21, NW1⁄4 and S1⁄2;
Sec. 22, S1⁄2NE1⁄4 and SE1⁄4NW1⁄4;
Sec. 23, NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, and S1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 24, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, and
N1⁄2NW1⁄4;
Sec. 28, W1⁄2 and SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 29, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and
E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 30, lots 1 thru 4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4,
SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and
W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 31, lots 1 thru 3, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4,
S1⁄2NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4, and SE1⁄4;
Sec. 32, NE1⁄4;
Sec. 33, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4 and N1⁄2NW1⁄4;
T. 6 S., R. 22 E.,
Sec. 32, lots 2 thru 4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, and
NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.
T. 7 S., R. 22 E.,
Sec. 3, lots 2 thru 4, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4,
SW1⁄4, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 5, S1⁄2;
Sec. 6, lot 2, S1⁄2NE1⁄4, and NE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 8;
Sec. 9, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4 and W1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 10, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, W1⁄2, and W1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 14, S1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 15, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, W1⁄2, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 17, N1⁄2, SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4, and
SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 19, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 20, W1⁄2NE1⁄4, W1⁄2, NW1⁄4SE1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 21, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 22, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4, and
E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 23, W1⁄2;
Sec. 26, W1⁄2;
Sec. 27, E1⁄2NE1⁄4, W1⁄2NW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4,
S1⁄2SW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 28, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, and
S1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Sec. 29;
Sec. 30, lots 1, 2, and 4, E1⁄2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4,
and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;
Secs. 31 thru 33;
Sec. 34, N1⁄2, SW1⁄4, and E1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 35, N1⁄2NE1⁄4 and W1⁄2.
T. 8 S., R. 22 E.,
Sec. 3, lot 4;
Secs. 4 thru 7;
Sec. 8, N1⁄2 and SW1⁄4;
Sec. 17, W1⁄2;
Sec. 18, lots 1, 2, and 4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4,
SE1⁄4NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4,
NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;
Sec. 19, lots 1 thru 4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, E1⁄2NW1⁄4,
and SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;
Sec. 20, W1⁄2.
The areas described aggregate 106,555.88
acres, according to the official plats of the
surveys of the said lands on file with the
BLM.
As provided in the Final Rule, the
segregation of lands in this notice will
not exceed two years from the date of
publication. Termination of the
segregation occurs on the earliest of the
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56649
following dates: upon issuance of a
decision by the authorized officer
granting, granting with modifications, or
denying the application for a ROW;
automatically at the end of the
segregation; or upon publication of a
Federal Register notice of termination
of the segregation. Upon termination of
the segregation of these lands, all lands
subject to this segregation will
automatically reopen to appropriation
under the public land laws.
Authority: 43 CFR 2091.3–1(e) and 43
CFR 2804.25(f).
Karen Kelleher,
Idaho State Director.
[FR Doc. 2023–17845 Filed 8–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331–19–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500169100]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Robertson Mine Project,
Lander County, Nevada
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION:
Notice of intent.
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)
Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle
Mountain, Nevada intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
to consider the effects of Nevada Gold
Mines LLC’s (NGM’s) Robertson Mine
Project (Project) in Lander County,
Nevada. This notice announces the
beginning of the scoping process to
solicit public comments and identify
issues and alternatives; it also serves to
initiate public consultation, as required,
under the National Historic Preservation
Act (NHPA).
SUMMARY:
This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS, which will
run through September 18, 2023.
Scoping comments may be submitted in
writing until September 18, 2023. The
date(s) and location(s) of the scoping
meetings will be announced at least 15
days in advance through local media
and newspapers and the project’s
website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/
eplanning-ui/project/2023088/510. In
order to be considered during the
preparation of the Draft EIS, all scoping
DATES:
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 159 / Friday, August 18, 2023 / Notices
comments must be received prior to the
close of the 30-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 Robertson Mine Project by
any of the following methods:
• Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/
eplanning-ui/project/2023088/510.
• Email: egilseth@blm.gov.
• Fax: (775) 635–4034.
• Mail: BLM Battle Mountain District
Office, Attn: Robertson Mine Project,
50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV
89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined online at https://
eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2023088/510 and at the Mount
Lewis Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gene Gilseth, Project Manager,
telephone (775) 635–4020; address BLM
Battle Mountain District Office, Attn:
Robertson Mine Project, 50 Bastian
Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820; email
egilseth@blm.gov. Contact Mr. Gilseth 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 Mr. Gilseth. 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.
Based on
the submitted proposed Plan of
Operations, NGM is proposing to
construct, operate, close, and reclaim a
new surface mine within the Shoshone
Range approximately 58 miles southeast
of Battle Mountain, Nevada, and 70
miles southwest of Elko, Nevada.
The proposed Robertson Mine Plan of
Operations boundary would encompass
5,990 acres. The total disturbance
associated with the proposed action,
including existing, reclassified, and
exploration, would be 4,306 acres, with
4,127 acres on land administered by the
BLM and 179 acres on private land. The
proposed surface mining activities for
the Robertson Mine would include:
• Three open pits (Gold Pan,
Porphyry, and Altenburg Hill) and
associated haul roads;
• A waste rock facility;
• A heap leach facility including a
lined pad, process solution ponds and
vaults, and a carbon-in-column plant;
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• Ancillary facilities including a
three-stage crushing system with
associated conveyors; ore stockpiles;
growth media stockpiles; a gravel
borrow source; secondary roads;
stormwater controls and diversions;
truck scale; power lines and electrical
substations; water production,
dewatering, and monitoring wells; water
pipelines and loadouts; ready lines; fuel
and reagent storage; fueling facilities;
laydown yards; wildlife and range
fencing; an assay laboratory; trailers;
buildings; and communications sites;
• Shared facilities with the Pipeline
Complex at the Cortez Mine, including
but not limited to haul roads; a potable
water well; water pipelines;
warehousing and maintenance shops;
hazardous waste storage; a petroleumcontaminated soils facility; ore
stockpiles; the Pipeline Mill; carbon
handling; refinery; laboratory; and
Pipeline Area 28 tailings storage facility;
and
• Modifying the authorized Robertson
Exploration Plan (NVN–067688)
(Exploration Plan) boundary.
Additionally, the proposed action
would result in changes to the
boundaries of the authorized
Exploration Plan boundary, the Cortez
Mine Plan boundary, and the PipelineSouth Pipeline-Gold Acres Exploration
Plan boundary. These authorized plans
would be modified subsequent to the
approval of the Project Plan.
The project would employ a
contractor workforce of approximately
150 employees during the initial twoyear construction period, and
approximately 415 full-time employees,
comprised of approximately 370
existing Cortez Mine employees and 45
new hires, for the operations period.
The proposed project would operate
24 hours per day, 365 days per year. The
total life of the project would be 15
years, including nine years of mining,
three additional years of ore processing,
and three additional years of
reclamation. Reclamation of disturbed
areas resulting from mining operations
would be completed in accordance with
BLM and Nevada Division of
Environmental Protection regulations.
Concurrent reclamation would take
place where practicable and safe.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The BLM’s purpose is to respond to
NGM’s proposal as described in the Plan
of Operations and to analyze the
environmental effects associated with
the proponent’s proposed action and
alternatives to the proposed action,
consider reasonable alternatives, and
develop and consider mitigation when
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necessary to mitigate environmental
impacts. The NEPA mandates that the
BLM evaluate the effects of the
proposed action and develop
alternatives and mitigation, when
necessary, to lessen any effects to
environmental resources.
The need for the action is established
by the BLM’s responsibilities under the
Mining Law of 1872, Section 302 of
FLPMA, and the BLM Surface
Management Regulations at 43 CFR
3809. Under these statutes and
regulations, BLM is required to review
the Project and ensure that the NGM
activities include appropriate
reclamation and do not cause
unnecessary or undue degradation of
the public lands.
Preliminary Proposed Action and
Alternatives
The proposed action consists of the
Plan of Operations as submitted by
NGM. Additional alternatives to be
considered include the No Action
Alternative and a Partial Pit Backfill
Alternative.
The Partial Pit Backfill Alternative
would include a partial backfill of the
Gold Pan pit to prevent a pit lake from
forming while maintaining a terminal
pit lake system through capillary
evaporation from the backfill surface.
Approximately 16 million tons of
additional waste rock would be moved
from the waste rock facility back into
the Gold Pan pit. No additional
disturbance is anticipated to be required
for this alternative, and backfilling
would occur during final reclamation
but is not anticipated to increase the
reclamation schedule.
Under the No Action Alternative, the
development of the Robertson Mine
Project would not be authorized, and
NGM would not construct, operate, and
close a new surface mine. Modifications
to the Exploration Plan boundary, the
Cortez Mine Plan boundary, and the
Pipeline-South Pipeline-Gold Acres
Exploration Plan boundary would not
occur.
The BLM welcomes comments on all
preliminary alternatives as well as
suggestions for additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Primary impacts from the Robertson
Mine Project that will be analyzed in the
EIS include potential impacts to surface
and groundwater resources (water
quality and quantity), aesthetics (visual
and noise), air quality including
greenhouse gases and climate change,
cultural resources and historic
properties, wildlife resources including
special status species, vegetation and
soil resources, livestock grazing, and
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traffic generation. A summary of
potential impacts include:
• Cultural Resources Native
American Concerns: Up to 17 National
Register of Historic Places-eligible or
unevaluated cultural properties would
be physically altered, resulting in an
adverse effect to these cultural sites.
Vegetation communities important to
Native American traditional values may
be impacted by the proposed action.
• Wildlife Resources: Potential
impacts include habitat change, habitat
loss, alterations to water sources,
fatalities as a result of collisions with
vehicles, displacement due to human
activity and disturbance, and
impediments to movement through
corridors.
• BLM Sensitive Species: For greater
sage-grouse, the proposed action would
remove a total of 2,514 acres of the
mapped habitat, including 486 acres of
General Habitat Management Areas,
1,983 acres of Other Habitat
Management Areas, and 3,521 acres of
Non-habitat. For golden eagles, the
proposed action would result in the
removal of approximately 3,998 acres of
foraging habitat. Additionally, one
golden eagle territory occurs within one
mile of the proposed project disturbance
and blasting area.
• Aesthetics (visual and noise):
Potential impacts to visual resources
include the addition of form, line,
texture, and color to the existing
landscape. Potential impacts include an
increase in noise generation.
• Air Quality: Air quality modeling
has determined that impacts from the
proposed action would not exceed
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for PM10, PM2.5, CO, NOX, and SO2.
Total facility-wide Hazardous Air
Pollutants (HAP) are estimated to be
10.32 tons per year (tpy), with 3.24 tpy
of the highest single HAP, hydrogen
cyanide. The facility-wide HAP
emissions are within U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
thresholds. Greenhouse gas emissions
from operations, including off-site ore
transport, are estimated to be 148,542
tpy CO2e. Mercury emissions are
estimated to be 2.87 pounds per year.
• Water Resources (Surface and
Groundwater): Potential impacts to
seep, spring, and stream flow may occur
from proposed dewatering operations if
the source of the water is connected to
the regional aquifer. Dewatering
operations would also result in a
lowering of the local groundwater table,
and a pit lake would form post mining
in the Gold Pan pit. Sedimentation and
erosion may also occur due to projectrelated disturbance.
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• Traffic: Traffic on transportation
routes within the area of analysis would
potentially increase by up to 300
Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
during construction, 190 AADT during
operations, and 20 AADT during
closure. The addition of project traffic is
not anticipated to lower the level of
service of the roadways and
intersections.
• Livestock Grazing: The proposed
action would result in new surface
disturbance of 4,606 acres, which would
impact forage utilized by livestock.
Approximately 219 Animal Unit
Months would be impacted in the
Carico Lake Allotment.
• Vegetation and Soils: The proposed
action would result in disturbance to
soil and removal of vegetation on 3,998
acres.
Schedule for the Decision-Making
Process
The BLM will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
consistent with the NEPA process,
including a 45-day comment period on
the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is
anticipated to be available for public
review Fall 2023 and the Final EIS is
anticipated to be released in Spring
2024 with a Record of Decision in
Spring 2024.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping period. The BLM will be
holding two virtual public scoping
meetings. The specific dates and times
of these scoping meetings will be
announced in advance through local
newspaper publications and the BLM
National NEPA Register project page at
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/
project/2023088/510.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Mount Lewis Field Office is
serving as the lead federal agency for
preparing the EIS. Cooperating agencies
for this analysis include the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada
Department of Wildlife, Eureka County,
and Lander County.
Responsible Official
Douglas W. Furtado, District Manager,
Battle Mountain District Office
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM’s decision relative to the EIS
that will be prepared for the Robertson
Mine Project will consider the
following: (1) approval of the proposed
Project Plan to authorize the proposed
activities without modifications or
additional mitigation measures; (2)
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56651
approval of the proposed Project Plan
with additional mitigation measures
that the BLM deems necessary to
prevent unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands; (3)
approval of the Robertson Mine Project
Plan of Operations with one of the
alternatives analyzed in the EIS; or (4)
denial of the proposed Project Plan and
associated activities.
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 NHPA (54 U.S.C.
306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including public
involvement requirements of Section
106. 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 will consult with Indian
Tribal Nations on a government-togovernment 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. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal
Nations and other stakeholders that may
be interested in or affected by the
proposed Robertson Mine 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.
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
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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)
Douglas W. Furtado,
District Manager, Battle Mountain District.
[FR Doc. 2023–17779 Filed 8–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500170457]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Bald Mountain Mine Plan of
Operations Amendment, Juniper
Project, White Pine County, Nevada
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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)
announces the availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Bald Mountain Mine Plan of
Operations Amendment.
DATES: To afford the BLM the
opportunity to consider comments in
the Final EIS, please ensure that the
BLM receives your comments within 45
days following the date the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes its Notice of Availability of
the Draft EIS in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: The Draft EIS is available
for review on the BLM ePlanning project
website at https://go.usa.gov/xAm2g.
Written comments related to the Bald
Mountain Mine Plan of Operations
Amendment may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
• ePlanning website: https://
go.usa.gov/xAm2g
• Email: blm_nv_eydo_juniper_eis@
blm.gov
• Mail: BLM Bristlecone Field Office,
ATTN: BMM EIS Project, 702 North
Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada 89301
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined online at https://
go.usa.gov/xAm2g and at the
Bristlecone Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Concetta Brown, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, telephone
(775) 289–1885; address 702 North
Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada 89301;
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:26 Aug 17, 2023
Jkt 259001
KG
Mining (Bald Mountain) Inc. (KG–BM)
owns and operates the Bald Mountain
Mine (BMM), a large-scale, open-pit
gold mine primarily on public lands
administered by the BLM Bristlecone
Field Office. The BMM is in
northwestern White Pine County,
Nevada, approximately 60 miles
southeast of the city of Elko, Nevada,
and 60 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada.
The BMM is on patented and
unpatented Federal mining claims
owned, leased, or otherwise controlled
by KG–BM. The BMM has been in
continuous operation for more than 40
years; therefore, mine areas and
facilities are in various stages of
development, operation, and
reclamation. The BMM is subdivided
into two plan of operation areas: the
North Operations Area (NOA) and
South Operations Area. KG–BM is
proposing to amend its plan of
operations for the NOA (NOA Plan) to
enable continued mining, processing,
exploration, and reclamation of the
open pit mining operations and to
reestablish underground mining. This is
referred to as the Juniper Project.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Bureau of Land Management
SUMMARY:
email ccbrown@blm.gov. 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. Brown. 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.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed
Action
The BLM’s purpose for this Federal
action is to evaluate and respond to KG–
BM’s proposed amendment to the NOA
Plan in accordance with all applicable
laws, regulations, and policies. The
need for the action is established by the
BLM’s responsibility under FLPMA, the
Mining Law of 1872, the BLM’s surface
management regulations (43 CFR 3809),
and its use and occupancy regulations
(43 CFR 3715), to respond to KG–BM’s
proposal while preventing unnecessary
or undue degradation of public land.
As a cooperating agency for this EIS,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
(USFWS) purpose for this Federal action
is to evaluate and respond to KG–BM’s
proposed golden eagle nest removal and
incidental take permit application in
accordance with applicable laws,
regulations, and policies. The USFWS’s
need for this action is established by the
USFWS’s responsibility under the Bald
PO 00000
Frm 00065
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and Golden Eagle Protection Act to
respond to KG–BM’s request for a nest
removal and incidental take permit
authorization, while maintaining stable
or increasing breeding populations in all
golden eagle management units and the
persistence of local populations
throughout their geographic range.
BLM Proposed Action and Alternatives
KG–BM’s proposed NOA Plan
Amendment would develop, expand,
modify, reconfigure, reclassify, realign,
or eliminate select mine components or
portions thereof in the NOA.
Specifically, this action involves the
expansion or modification (i.e., pit floor
elevation change, backfill) of 7
authorized open pits (Redbird, Rat, Top,
Poker Flats, Bida, Saga, and Winrock
South), the development of the Royale
and South Duke pits, the development
of 3 rock disposal areas (RDAs) (Royale,
South Duke RDA 2, and Bida), the
modification of 13 authorized RDAs,
and the elimination of a portion of the
authorized but not yet constructed
Poker Flats RDA. Modification or
development is proposed for heap leach
facilities, haul roads, interpit areas,
process areas, ancillary areas, and
support facilities (infrastructure).
Other aspects of the Juniper Project
include conducting planned concurrent
reclamation activities, implementing a
growth media stockpile management
program, applying a road design strategy
to select haul roads, creating haul road
placement zones for three haul roads,
reestablishing the Top Pit underground
mine, creating a sequencing and backfill
schedule for the Poker Flats Pit,
increasing the height of the Poker Flats
heap, and reusing spent heap leach ore.
Proposed non-surface disturbing
activities involve administrative actions
such as renaming authorized mine
components or recategorizing
authorized surface disturbance. The
Juniper Project would extend the
authorized NOA Plan boundary in 5
areas totaling 3,425 acres. Life-of-mine
surface disturbance in the NOA would
increase from 10,782 acres to 14,752
acres, resulting in a net surface
disturbance increase of about 3,969
acres. Mine life would extend for an
additional 11 years.
Alternative A
Alternative A was developed to
address refinements to two designated
mule deer migration corridors through
the western portion of the NOA. Under
Alternative A, some of the surface
disturbance described in the Proposed
Action would not be developed, some of
the authorized but not constructed
disturbance would be canceled, some
E:\FR\FM\18AUN1.SGM
18AUN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56649-56652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17779]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500169100]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Robertson Mine Project, Lander County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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) Mount
Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of Nevada
Gold Mines LLC's (NGM's) Robertson Mine Project (Project) in Lander
County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping
process to solicit public comments and identify issues and
alternatives; it also serves to initiate public consultation, as
required, under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS,
which will run through September 18, 2023. Scoping comments may be
submitted in writing until September 18, 2023. The date(s) and
location(s) of the scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days
in advance through local media and newspapers and the project's website
at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2023088/510. In order
to be considered during the preparation of the Draft EIS, all scoping
[[Page 56650]]
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-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 Robertson Mine
Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2023088/510.
Email: [email protected].
Fax: (775) 635-4034.
Mail: BLM Battle Mountain District Office, Attn: Robertson
Mine Project, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2023088/510 and at the
Mount Lewis Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Gilseth, Project Manager,
telephone (775) 635-4020; address BLM Battle Mountain District Office,
Attn: Robertson Mine Project, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV
89820; email [email protected]. Contact Mr. Gilseth 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 Mr. Gilseth. 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: Based on the submitted proposed Plan of
Operations, NGM is proposing to construct, operate, close, and reclaim
a new surface mine within the Shoshone Range approximately 58 miles
southeast of Battle Mountain, Nevada, and 70 miles southwest of Elko,
Nevada.
The proposed Robertson Mine Plan of Operations boundary would
encompass 5,990 acres. The total disturbance associated with the
proposed action, including existing, reclassified, and exploration,
would be 4,306 acres, with 4,127 acres on land administered by the BLM
and 179 acres on private land. The proposed surface mining activities
for the Robertson Mine would include:
Three open pits (Gold Pan, Porphyry, and Altenburg Hill)
and associated haul roads;
A waste rock facility;
A heap leach facility including a lined pad, process
solution ponds and vaults, and a carbon-in-column plant;
Ancillary facilities including a three-stage crushing
system with associated conveyors; ore stockpiles; growth media
stockpiles; a gravel borrow source; secondary roads; stormwater
controls and diversions; truck scale; power lines and electrical
substations; water production, dewatering, and monitoring wells; water
pipelines and loadouts; ready lines; fuel and reagent storage; fueling
facilities; laydown yards; wildlife and range fencing; an assay
laboratory; trailers; buildings; and communications sites;
Shared facilities with the Pipeline Complex at the Cortez
Mine, including but not limited to haul roads; a potable water well;
water pipelines; warehousing and maintenance shops; hazardous waste
storage; a petroleum-contaminated soils facility; ore stockpiles; the
Pipeline Mill; carbon handling; refinery; laboratory; and Pipeline Area
28 tailings storage facility; and
Modifying the authorized Robertson Exploration Plan (NVN-
067688) (Exploration Plan) boundary.
Additionally, the proposed action would result in changes to the
boundaries of the authorized Exploration Plan boundary, the Cortez Mine
Plan boundary, and the Pipeline-South Pipeline-Gold Acres Exploration
Plan boundary. These authorized plans would be modified subsequent to
the approval of the Project Plan.
The project would employ a contractor workforce of approximately
150 employees during the initial two-year construction period, and
approximately 415 full-time employees, comprised of approximately 370
existing Cortez Mine employees and 45 new hires, for the operations
period.
The proposed project would operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per
year. The total life of the project would be 15 years, including nine
years of mining, three additional years of ore processing, and three
additional years of reclamation. Reclamation of disturbed areas
resulting from mining operations would be completed in accordance with
BLM and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection regulations.
Concurrent reclamation would take place where practicable and safe.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The BLM's purpose is to respond to NGM's proposal as described in
the Plan of Operations and to analyze the environmental effects
associated with the proponent's proposed action and alternatives to the
proposed action, consider reasonable alternatives, and develop and
consider mitigation when necessary to mitigate environmental impacts.
The NEPA mandates that the BLM evaluate the effects of the proposed
action and develop alternatives and mitigation, when necessary, to
lessen any effects to environmental resources.
The need for the action is established by the BLM's
responsibilities under the Mining Law of 1872, Section 302 of FLPMA,
and the BLM Surface Management Regulations at 43 CFR 3809. Under these
statutes and regulations, BLM is required to review the Project and
ensure that the NGM activities include appropriate reclamation and do
not cause unnecessary or undue degradation of the public lands.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The proposed action consists of the Plan of Operations as submitted
by NGM. Additional alternatives to be considered include the No Action
Alternative and a Partial Pit Backfill Alternative.
The Partial Pit Backfill Alternative would include a partial
backfill of the Gold Pan pit to prevent a pit lake from forming while
maintaining a terminal pit lake system through capillary evaporation
from the backfill surface. Approximately 16 million tons of additional
waste rock would be moved from the waste rock facility back into the
Gold Pan pit. No additional disturbance is anticipated to be required
for this alternative, and backfilling would occur during final
reclamation but is not anticipated to increase the reclamation
schedule.
Under the No Action Alternative, the development of the Robertson
Mine Project would not be authorized, and NGM would not construct,
operate, and close a new surface mine. Modifications to the Exploration
Plan boundary, the Cortez Mine Plan boundary, and the Pipeline-South
Pipeline-Gold Acres Exploration Plan boundary would not occur.
The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well
as suggestions for additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Primary impacts from the Robertson Mine Project that will be
analyzed in the EIS include potential impacts to surface and
groundwater resources (water quality and quantity), aesthetics (visual
and noise), air quality including greenhouse gases and climate change,
cultural resources and historic properties, wildlife resources
including special status species, vegetation and soil resources,
livestock grazing, and
[[Page 56651]]
traffic generation. A summary of potential impacts include:
Cultural Resources Native American Concerns: Up to 17
National Register of Historic Places-eligible or unevaluated cultural
properties would be physically altered, resulting in an adverse effect
to these cultural sites. Vegetation communities important to Native
American traditional values may be impacted by the proposed action.
Wildlife Resources: Potential impacts include habitat
change, habitat loss, alterations to water sources, fatalities as a
result of collisions with vehicles, displacement due to human activity
and disturbance, and impediments to movement through corridors.
BLM Sensitive Species: For greater sage-grouse, the
proposed action would remove a total of 2,514 acres of the mapped
habitat, including 486 acres of General Habitat Management Areas, 1,983
acres of Other Habitat Management Areas, and 3,521 acres of Non-
habitat. For golden eagles, the proposed action would result in the
removal of approximately 3,998 acres of foraging habitat. Additionally,
one golden eagle territory occurs within one mile of the proposed
project disturbance and blasting area.
Aesthetics (visual and noise): Potential impacts to visual
resources include the addition of form, line, texture, and color to the
existing landscape. Potential impacts include an increase in noise
generation.
Air Quality: Air quality modeling has determined that
impacts from the proposed action would not exceed National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for PM10, PM2.5, CO,
NOX, and SO2. Total facility-wide Hazardous Air
Pollutants (HAP) are estimated to be 10.32 tons per year (tpy), with
3.24 tpy of the highest single HAP, hydrogen cyanide. The facility-wide
HAP emissions are within U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
thresholds. Greenhouse gas emissions from operations, including off-
site ore transport, are estimated to be 148,542 tpy CO2e.
Mercury emissions are estimated to be 2.87 pounds per year.
Water Resources (Surface and Groundwater): Potential
impacts to seep, spring, and stream flow may occur from proposed
dewatering operations if the source of the water is connected to the
regional aquifer. Dewatering operations would also result in a lowering
of the local groundwater table, and a pit lake would form post mining
in the Gold Pan pit. Sedimentation and erosion may also occur due to
project-related disturbance.
Traffic: Traffic on transportation routes within the area
of analysis would potentially increase by up to 300 Annual Average
Daily Traffic (AADT) during construction, 190 AADT during operations,
and 20 AADT during closure. The addition of project traffic is not
anticipated to lower the level of service of the roadways and
intersections.
Livestock Grazing: The proposed action would result in new
surface disturbance of 4,606 acres, which would impact forage utilized
by livestock. Approximately 219 Animal Unit Months would be impacted in
the Carico Lake Allotment.
Vegetation and Soils: The proposed action would result in
disturbance to soil and removal of vegetation on 3,998 acres.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public
participation consistent with the NEPA process, including a 45-day
comment period on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be
available for public review Fall 2023 and the Final EIS is anticipated
to be released in Spring 2024 with a Record of Decision in Spring 2024.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will be
holding two virtual public scoping meetings. The specific dates and
times of these scoping meetings will be announced in advance through
local newspaper publications and the BLM National NEPA Register project
page at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2023088/510.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Mount Lewis Field Office is serving as the lead federal
agency for preparing the EIS. Cooperating agencies for this analysis
include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Eureka County, and
Lander County.
Responsible Official
Douglas W. Furtado, District Manager, Battle Mountain District
Office
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM's decision relative to the EIS that will be prepared for
the Robertson Mine Project will consider the following: (1) approval of
the proposed Project Plan to authorize the proposed activities without
modifications or additional mitigation measures; (2) approval of the
proposed Project Plan with additional mitigation measures that the BLM
deems necessary to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public
lands; (3) approval of the Robertson Mine Project Plan of Operations
with one of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS; or (4) denial of the
proposed Project Plan and associated activities.
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 NHPA (54
U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public
involvement requirements of Section 106. 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 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. Federal, State, and local agencies, along
with Indian Tribal Nations and other stakeholders that may be
interested in or affected by the proposed Robertson Mine 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.
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
[[Page 56652]]
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)
Douglas W. Furtado,
District Manager, Battle Mountain District.
[FR Doc. 2023-17779 Filed 8-17-23; 8:45 am]
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