[Federal Register: August 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 159)]
[Notices]
[Page 47966-47967]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15au08-83]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[ID-410-1990-EX-069D-241A, DEG080007]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Buffalo Gulch Mining Project, Cottonwood Field Office, Idaho
County, ID
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact
statement.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management Cottonwood Field Office will
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) consistent with the
regulations pertaining to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Under the provisions of Section 102(2)(c) of the NEPA, the BLM
announces its intentions to prepare an EIS and solicit public comments
regarding issues and resource information for this project.
The BLM will analyze a proposal from Elk City Mining, LLC (ECM) to
advance the Buffalo Gulch Mining Project to full scale production near
Elk City, Idaho County, Idaho. This project was originally permitted in
1990 but never went into production. ECM's Plan of Operations includes
an open pit mining operation and a cyanide heap leach facility to
recover gold from the mined ore on their unpatented mining claims.
DATES: The public scoping period for the Buffalo Gulch Mining Project
will begin with publication of this NOI and end 30 days later. The
purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant issues
that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis and EIS
alternatives. BLM will ensure the public is notified of all
opportunities for involvement related to this proposal at least 15 days
prior to the event. A public meeting in Elk City, Idaho, and possible
field trip to the project site, is scheduled for August 28, 2008.
Additional information about this or additional meetings will be
announced through local news media outlets, individual mailings, and
the following BLM Web site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/
cottonwood.html.
The draft EIS is expected to be distributed for public review and
comment in the fall of 2009. The final EIS is expected to be completed
four to six months later.
ADDRESSES: More detailed information about this project is available at
the Cottonwood Field Office, 1 Butte Drive, Cottonwood, Idaho, 83522.
Please
[[Page 47967]]
submit written comments to the Cottonwood Field Office, Attn: Stephanie
Connolly, at the above address. Fax comments to (208) 962-3275. (Please
indicate Buffalo Gulch Mining Project Comments on the fax cover sheet.)
Electronic comments can be submitted to: Buffalo_Gulch_Mine_
Comments@blm.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Sanner, Project Leader, at (208)
769-5032 or e-mail: scott_sanner@blm.gov; or Stephanie Connolly,
Cottonwood Field Office Manager, at (208) 962-3256 or e-mail:
stephanie_connolly@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Plan of Operations for the Project was
submitted to the BLM by the former mine proponent, the Idaho Gold
Corporation, in December, 1989. The BLM prepared an Environmental
Assessment (EA) and permitted the Project in 1990 but the mine never
went into production. In December, 2007, ECM informed the BLM they had
gained control of the Project and intended to advance the Buffalo Gulch
Mining Project to full scale production under the 1989 Plan of
Operations. Since the original environmental analysis was completed
over 17 years ago, there are likely new or different issues relevant
today that were not previously addressed.
As proposed, the total surface area disturbed during the life of
the project is anticipated to be approximately 200 acres. This estimate
includes the open pit, heap leach pad, waste rock dumps, solution
ponds, and other ancillary mine facilities (e.g., shop, mine office,
roads, power line, etc.). Under this Plan, mining would occur for about
five years with simultaneous reclamation activities. Final reclamation
would be completed within six months to one year after completion of
mining and leaching operations.
The Buffalo Gulch Mine--Plan of Operations (as submitted in 1989)
and the Environmental Assessment for the original Plan of Operations
(completed in 1990) are posted on the Internet at: http://www.blm.gov/
id/st/en/fo/cottonwood.html.
On March 28 and May 16, 2008, scoping letters for the Buffalo Gulch
Mining Project were mailed to known interested groups and individuals.
Two public meetings were held on April 9, in Elk City, and on April 10,
2008, in Grangeville, Idaho. Based on the interdisciplinary team's
knowledge of the issues, comments that have been received and other
projects in this area, it has been determined that further analysis is
warranted and an EIS will be prepared.
The Cottonwood Field Office is seeking information, comments, and
assistance from other agencies, organizations, Tribes, and individuals
who may be interested in or affected by the Proposed Action. The
Cottonwood Field Office will issue local press releases notifying the
public of additional opportunities to meet with staff and to discuss
the project in more detail. Issues previously identified during public
scoping for this project as well as comments received as a result of
this Notice will be used to prepare the EIS.
Issues identified to date include the following:
Surface and ground water contamination.
Transportation of hazardous materials, traffic levels and
safety.
Economic and social values.
Air quality and noise.
Fisheries and wildlife habitat.
Cumulative impacts of past and likely future activities in
the Elk City area.
If you have specific issues or other concerns that BLM should
consider in the NEPA process, please identify them in writing. You may
send comments to the BLM by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail.
Comments may also be hand-delivered to the Cottonwood Field Office.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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.
Dated: August 11, 2008.
Gary D. Cooper,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. E8-18906 Filed 8-14-08; 8:45 am]
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