[Federal Register: August 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 169)]
[Notice]
[Page 50369]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31au07-103]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6690-6]
Notice of Intent: Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Red Dog Mine Extension--Aqqaluk Project
in Northwestern Alaska
AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Purpose: In accordance with Section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), EPA, as the lead federal agency, has
identified a need to prepare a supplemental EIS and therefore issues
this Notice of Intent in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7.
For a copy of the scoping document and to be placed on the project
mailing list contact: Patty McGrath, Project Manager, Office of Water
and Watersheds (OWW-135), U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue,
Seattle, Washington 98101, Telephone: (206) 553-0979, Fax: (206) 553-
0165, E-mail: mcgrath.patricia@epa.gov.
SUMMARY: The Red Dog Mine is an operating mine located in northwestern
Alaska, approximately 82 miles north of Kotzebue. The mine is operated
by Teck Cominco Alaska Incorporated (TCAK) under an Operating Agreement
with the NANA Regional Corporation, the landowner. The Red Dog Mine
includes an open pit lead-zinc mine, mill, tailings impoundment, waste
rock storage areas, and support facilities. Lead and zinc concentrates
are trucked 52 miles from the mine site to the DeLong Mountain Regional
Transportation System port facility located on the Chukchi Sea.
Nineteen miles of the road passes through Cape Krusenstern National
Monument. The mine has been operating since 1989. TCAK has proposed to
begin mining, by 2010, the Aqqaluk deposit which is an extension of the
existing mine. TCAK proposes to use the existing mill, tailings
impoundment, support facilities, road, and port site. The Aqqaluk
deposit would extend the life of the Red Dog Mine to approximately
2031.
The Red Dog Mine project was evaluated in a previous EIS that was
issued in 1984. Permits by the applicable state and federal regulatory
programs were issued and the mine proceeded to development and
operations. The 1984 EIS did not evaluate impacts from mining the
Aqqaluk deposit, therefore EPA determined that a supplemental EIS will
be prepared for the Aqqaluk proposal. In addition the supplemental EIS
will discuss whether significant impacts or changes occurred that were
not anticipated in the 1984 EIS.
The administrative actions that the supplemental EIS must address
include modifying an existing EPA Clean Water Act (CWA) National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) new source permit for
the mine site and issuing a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers CWA Section
404 permit. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park
Service, the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the
Northwest Arctic Borough, and nine tribal governments (Buckland, Kiana,
Kivalina, Kobuk, Kotzebue, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik, Shungnak) are
participating as cooperating agencies in the NEPA process. The Maniilaq
Association, a tribal consortium that provides health, social, and
tribal services to the region, will represent the nine tribal
governments throughout the NEPA process.
Alternatives: The supplemental EIS will evaluate the ``no action''
alternative. Additional alternatives will be developed in response to
issues raised during the scoping process. For example, there may be
waste rock and tailings disposal alternatives, water management
alternatives, and/or mine closure alternatives that will be evaluated.
Scoping: The public scoping period begins with the publication of
this Notice and concludes October 15, 2007. EPA invites Federal
agencies, Native Tribes, State and local governments, and members of
the public to comment on the scope of the supplemental EIS. Scoping
meetings for the purpose of identifying issues to be evaluated in the
supplemental EIS will be held in Anchorage on October 2, in Kotzebue on
October 3, in Noatak on October 4, and in Kivalina on October 5. The
exact locations and times of the meetings will be announced in local
papers. The public is invited to attend and identify issues that should
be addressed in the SEIS. A scoping document that explains in greater
detail the project and alternatives identified at this time will be
sent to known interested parties. The public can obtain a copy of the
scoping document at the project Web site, www.reddogseis.com, or by
contacting Patty McGrath at the phone number, e-mail address, and
mailing address listed above in this notice.
How to Comment: EPA invites public comment on the proposed scope of
this supplemental EIS. Comments may be submitted by mail, electronic
mail, or fax, to Patty McGrath at the contact information above, by
close of business October 15, 2007.
Estimated Date of EIS Release: Summer 2008.
Responsible Official: Elin D. Miller, Regional Administrator.
Dated: August 27, 2007.
Anne Norton Miller,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E7-17306 Filed 8-30-07; 8:45 am]
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