Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Spring Valley Mine Project, Pershing County, Nevada, 19343-19345 [2024-05702]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19343-19345]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05702]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLML_NV_FRN_MO4500177289]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Spring Valley Mine Project, Pershing County, Nevada

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) Humboldt River 
Field Office in Winnemucca, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of Solidus LLC's 
(Solidus) Spring Valley Mine Project (Project) in Pershing County, 
Nevada. By this notice, the BLM 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 no later than 30 days after the date of 
publication in the Federal Register. 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 30-day scoping period or 15 days 
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. Two in-person public 
scoping meetings will be held during the public scoping period, the 
dates of which are to be determined.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Spring Valley Mine 
Project by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030469/510.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM Humboldt River Field Office, Attn: Spring Valley 
Mine Project, 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home and at the Humboldt River 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sevon, Project Manager, 
address: 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445; email: 
[email protected]. Contact Mr. Sevon 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. Robert Sevon, Project Manager. 
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 (Plan), Solidus is proposing to construct, operate, close, 
and reclaim a new surface mine within Buena Vista Valley along the 
eastern part of the Humboldt Range, approximately 20 miles northeast of 
Lovelock, Nevada, and 70 miles southwest of Winnemucca, Nevada.
    The proposed Spring Valley Mine Plan boundary would encompass 
14,623 acres. The total disturbance associated with the proposed 
action, including exploration and the new mine operation, would be 
6,232 acres, with 4,123 acres on land administered by the BLM and 2,109 
acres on private land. The proposed surface mining activities for the 
Spring Valley Mine would include:
     One open pit and associated haul roads;
     Three waste rock facilities;
     A heap leach facility including a lined pad, process 
solution ponds, and carbon processing and refining facilities;
     Ancillary facilities including pit dewatering facilities 
with a rapid infiltration basin system; crushing circuit and an ore 
stockpile; secondary roads; stormwater controls and diversions; a mine 
fleet shop; explosives storage; truck shop and refueling area; mine 
offices and parking areas; laydown yards and storage areas; an 
aggregate plant; power distribution; a used-materials pad; freshwater 
distribution; potable water, fire water, and sewage systems; 
communications facilities; fuel storage and distribution facilities; 
monitoring wells; water pipelines; wildlife and range fencing; growth 
media stockpiles; and livestock water developments.
     Exploration activities of up to 50 acres would occur 
anywhere within the proposed Plan boundary.
    Two plans of development (PODs) have been submitted by NV Energy 
and the Pershing County Road Department (Pershing County) to support 
the Plan. The Pershing County POD proposes to modify the existing 
Spring Valley Road with removal of a portion of the road, realignment 
around the proposed mining operation, and improvement of portions of 
the existing road. The NV Energy POD proposes to realign portions of 
two 345 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines and to construct a new 120-kV 
transmission line. Combined, these two PODs would disturb an additional 
164 acres, with 102 acres on land administered by the BLM and 62 acres 
on private land.
    As proposed, the Project would employ a contractor workforce of 
approximately 130 employees during the initial two-year construction 
period and approximately 250 full-time employees for the operations 
period. The Project would operate 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. 
The total life of the Project would be 29 years, including 2 years of 
construction, 11 years of mining, 3 additional years of ore processing, 
and 13 years of reclamation and closure activities. Reclamation of

[[Page 19344]]

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 Solidus's proposal as described 
in the Plan and two associated PODs and to analyze the environmental 
effects associated with the proposed action and alternatives. NEPA 
mandates that the BLM evaluate the effects of the proposed action and 
develop alternatives.
    The BLM's need for the action is established by the BLM's 
responsibilities, under section 302 of the Federal Land Policy and 
Management Act and the BLM Surface Management Regulations at 43 CFR 
3809, to respond to a Plan submitted by an applicant to exercise their 
rights under the General Mining Law of 1872, and to prevent unnecessary 
or undue degradation of public lands as a result of the actions taken 
to prospect, explore, assess, develop, and process locatable minerals 
resources on public lands.

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The proposed action consists of the Plan as submitted by Solidus 
and the associated PODs as submitted by Pershing County and NV Energy. 
Additional identified alternatives to be considered at this time 
include the No Action Alternative.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the development of the Spring 
Valley Mine Plan and associated ROWs would not be authorized and 
Solidus would not construct, operate, and close a new surface mine. 
Solidus would continue its current authorized Spring Valley Exploration 
Project.
    The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well 
as suggestions for additional alternatives.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    Primary impacts from the Spring Valley 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 traffic generation. A summary of potential 
impacts include:
     Cultural Resource Concerns: Up to 20 National Register of 
Historic Places-eligible or unevaluated cultural properties could be 
physically altered, resulting in adverse impacts effect to these 
cultural sites.
     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.
     BLM Sensitive Species: For greater sage-grouse, the 
proposed action could remove a total of 2,538 acres of mapped habitat, 
including 1,360 acres of General Habitat Management Areas, and 1,178 
acres of Other Habitat Management Areas habitat. For golden eagles, the 
proposed action could result in the removal of approximately 6,328 
acres of foraging habitat. Additionally, two golden eagle territories 
occur within one mile of the proposed Project disturbance and blasting 
area.
     Visual Aesthetics: Potential impacts to visual resources 
include the addition of form, line, texture, and color to the existing 
landscape.
     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 (HAPs) are estimated to be 0.76 tons per year (tpy), with 
0.12 tpy of the highest single HAP, Cobalt. 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 0.13 million metric tons 
CO2eq per year. Mercury emissions are estimated to be 0.017 
tons per year.
     Water Resources (Surface and Groundwater): Potential 
impacts to surface and groundwater resources. Potential impacts to 
seep, spring, and stream flow may occur from proposed dewatering 
operations. Dewatering operations would also result in a lowering of 
the local groundwater table, and a permanent pit lake would form post-
mining in the open pit. Sedimentation and erosion may also occur due to 
Project-related disturbance.
     Traffic: Traffic on transportation routes within the area 
of analysis could potentially increase by up to 117 Annual Average 
Daily Traffic (AADT) during construction, 107 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 could result in new 
surface disturbance of 6,396 acres, which would impact forage utilized 
by livestock. Approximately 313 Animal Unit Months would be impacted in 
the Coal Canyon-Poker, Rawhide, and Star Peak Allotments, and two stock 
water rights would be impacted.
     Vegetation and Soils: Potential impacts on vegetation 
communities and soil productivity. The proposed action would result in 
disturbance to soil and removal of vegetation on 6,396 acres.
     Environmental Justice: Communities may benefit from 
additional high paying jobs; however, the proposed action may reduce 
available affordable housing.

Anticipated Permits and Authorizations

 Plan of Operations/Record of Decision--Bureau of Land 
Management
 Plans of Development/Record of Decision--Bureau of Land 
Management
 Golden Eagle Take Permit--United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service
 Air Quality Operating Permit--Nevada Division of Environmental 
Protection (Bureau of Air Pollution Control)
 Explosives Permit--United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms, and Explosives
 Industrial Artificial Pond Permit--Nevada Department of 
Wildlife (Habitat Division)
 Jurisdictional Delineation Report Concurrence--United States 
Army Corps of Engineers
 Liquefied Petroleum Gas License--Nevada Board of the 
Regulation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
 Notification of Commencement of Operations--Mine Safety and 
Health Administration
 Permit to Appropriate Water--Nevada Division of Water 
Resources
 Registration Form Submittal--Division of Minerals
 Potable Water System Permit--Nevada Bureau of Safe Drinking 
Water
 Reclamation Permit and Reclamation Cost Determination--Nevada 
Division of Environmental Protection (Bureau of Mining Regulation and 
Reclamation)
 Septic Treatment Permit, Holding Tank Permit, Sewage Disposal 
System Permit--Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (Bureau of 
Water Pollution Control)
 Water Pollution Control Permit--Nevada Division of 
Environmental Protection (Bureau of Mining Regulation and Reclamation)

[[Page 19345]]

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 Summer 2024 and the Final EIS is 
anticipated to be released Winter 2025 with a Record of Decision in 
Winter 2025.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will be 
holding two in-person public scoping meetings. The specific date(s) and 
location(s) of these scoping meetings will be announced in advance 
through local newspaper publications and the Bureau of Land Management 
National NEPA Register project page at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The BLM Humboldt River Field Office is serving as the lead federal 
agency for preparing this EIS. The United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Nevada Department of 
Conservation and Natural Resources Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team, 
and United States Environmental Protection Agency are cooperating 
agencies for the Project.

Responsible Official

Sam Burton, District Manager, Winnemucca District Office
John Mitchell, Field Manager, Humboldt Field Office

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The BLM's decision relative to the EIS that will be prepared for 
the Spring Valley Mine Project will consider the following: (1) 
approval of the proposed Project Plan and associated PODs to authorize 
the proposed activities without modifications or additional mitigation 
measures; (2) approval of the proposed Project Plan and associated PODs 
with additional mitigation measures that the BLM deems necessary to 
prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands; (3) approval 
of the Spring Valley Mine Project Plan of Operations and associated 
PODs with one of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS; or (4) denial of 
the proposed Project Plan and associated PODs if the BLM determines 
that the proposal does not comply with 43 CFR 3809 regulations and 43 
CFR 2800 regulations.

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 it 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 project 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 Manual 
section 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 
Spring Valley 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 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)

Amber LeLoup,
Acting District Manager, Winnemucca District Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-05702 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
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