[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 20379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8906]
[[Page 20379]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVE02000 L51100000.GN0000 LVEMF1000570 241A; MO:4500011675; 10-
08807; TAS: 14X5017]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Hollister Underground Mine Project, Elko County, NV
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) Tuscarora
Field Office, Elko, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public comments and to identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until May 19, 2010. The
date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at
least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM
Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html.
In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received
prior to the close of the 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 Hollister Underground
Mine Project by any of the following methods:
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html.
E-mail: [email protected].
Fax: (775) 753-0255.
Mail: BLM Tuscarora Field Office, Attn. Janice Stadelman,
3900 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada 89801.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tuscarora
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the mailing list, contact Janice Stadelman, Project
Lead, telephone (775) 753-0346; address 3900 Idaho St., Elko, Nevada
89801; e-mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rodeo Creek Gold Inc. has proposed an
amendment to their plan of operations for the Hollister Underground
Mine Project. The proposed amendment would expand Rodeo Creek Gold
Inc.'s existing underground exploration activities into a full-scale
underground mining operation. Most of the necessary infrastructure to
support full-scale mining was authorized and built in conjunction with
the underground exploration activities. Currently, the project has
created 66 acres of approved surface disturbance on public lands, of
which approximately 75 percent of the existing facilities are located
on previously disturbed ground within an existing open pit mine. The
proposed expansion to full-scale mining would disturb an additional 58
acres of public land for a total of 124 acres of surface disturbance.
The proposed action consists of constructing a new production shaft;
improving existing roads; building a power transmission line to the
mine site; upgrading ancillary facilities including storage areas,
office, shop, and warehouse buildings; and continuing both surface and
underground exploration. The full-scale project would augment the
existing mine water management facilities that currently include a
reverse-osmosis and desilting water treatment plant and rapid
infiltration basins by adding underground dewatering wells and
obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to
authorize discharge of groundwater to Little Antelope Creek. The
Hollister Project would haul the mined ore using highway-legal trucks
to existing off-site milling facilities via existing roads that would
be improved as needed; no on-site processing facilities are proposed.
The project is expected to operate for 20 years. The proposed project
is located in and adjacent to the Tosawihi Quarries Archaeological
District and near the Tosawihi Quarries Traditional Cultural Properties
(TCP), 47 miles northwest of Elko, Nevada, in Elko County.
The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:
cultural resources, Native American religious concerns, hydrology, and
noise.
The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f, as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted and
Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on
Indian trust assets, if any. Federal, State, and local agencies, along
with other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's
decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping
process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to
participate as a cooperating agency.
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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Kenneth E. Miller,
Manager, Elko District Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-8906 Filed 4-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P