80 FR 74794 - Notice of Availability of the Copper Flat Copper Mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Sierra County, NM

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 229 (November 30, 2015)

Page Range		74794-74795
FR Document		2015-30293

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the Copper Flat Copper Mine and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 229 (Monday, November 30, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 229 (Monday, November 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74794-74795]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30293]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNML03010 L51100000.GN0000 LVEMG11CG230 XXXL5017AR]


Notice of Availability of the Copper Flat Copper Mine Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement, Sierra County, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the Copper Flat 
Copper Mine and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment 
period.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Copper Flat Copper Mine Draft EIS within 45 
days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will 
announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement 
activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media 
releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Copper Flat Copper 
Mine by any of the following methods:
     Email: BLM_NM_LCDO_Comments@blm.gov.
     Fax: (575) 525-4412.
     Mail: BLM Las Cruces District Office, Attention: Doug 
Haywood, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
    Copies of the Copper Flat Copper Mine Draft EIS are available at 
the Las Cruces District Office at the above address and public 
libraries in Hillsboro, New Mexico, at 158 Elenora Street, and Truth or 
Consequences, New Mexico, at 325 Library Lane. The Draft EIS and 
supporting documents are also available electronically on the Copper 
Flat Project (Project) Web site at: www.blm.gov/nm/copperflateis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Haywood, telephone (575) 525-
4498; address 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005; email 
dhaywood@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the 
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-
800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business 
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a 
message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply 
during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Copper Flat Copper Mine is the proposed 
reestablishment of a poly-metallic mine and processing facility located 
near Hillsboro, New Mexico, that would produces copper, gold, silver, 
and molybdenum. The Proposed Action is to approve the Project as 
proposed, consisting of an open pit mine, flotation mill, tailings 
impoundment, waste rock disposal areas, a low-grade ore stockpile, and 
ancillary facilities. In most respects, the facilities, disturbance, 
and operations would be similar to the former operation. The Project is 
owned and operated by the New Mexico Copper Corporation (Copper 
Corporation), a wholly owned subsidiary of THEMAC Resources Group 
Limited. The Project is comprised of 963 acres (841 acres of proposed 
disturbance and 122 acres undisturbed) of private land and 1,227 acres 
(745 acres of proposed disturbance and 482 acres undisturbed) of public 
land, for a total of 2,190 acres. The proposed mining plan of 
operations was submitted by the Copper Corporation to the BLM in June 
2011and is based upon the plan of development that Quintana Mineral 
Corporation used in the previous operation of Copper Flat mining 
activities in 1982. The Project includes upgrades and modifications 
based on current engineering designs and regulations and was 
intentionally developed to re-use the existing foundations, production 
wells, and water pipeline that were employed by the previous Quintana 
operation. Four Alternatives are analyzed: No Action, Proposed Action, 
Alternative A, and Alternative B. The Preferred Alternative 
(Alternative B) is different than the Proposed Action in that ore would 
be processed at a faster rate, therefore shortening the mine life of 
the Project.
    Under the Proposed Action, the BLM would approve the Copper 
Corporation's plan to process 17,500 tons per day of copper ore over a 
mine operations period of 16 years, resulting in 100 million tons of 
ore processed over the mine life. Alternative A would process 25,000 
tons per day of copper ore over a mine operations period of 11 years, 
resulting in 103 million tons of ore processed over the mine life. 
Alternative B would process 30,000 tons per day of copper ore over a 
mine operations period of 12 years, resulting in 125 million tons of 
ore processed over the mine life.
    Mitigation of impacts are proposed in the mining plan of operations 
for reducing water quality effects; reducing the effects of the spread 
of nonnative vegetation and noxious weeds; providing protection to 
special-status bird species; pre-development surveying for bat species; 
developing measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse effects 
to historic properties; reducing adverse impacts on historic 
properties; informational signing for mining as a resource to reduce 
visual impacts; fencing to prevent injury or loss of livestock from 
mining operations; reducing ``boom and bust'' socioeconomic impacts; 
reducing public concerns about potential company bankruptcy; and 
reducing effects to environmental justice populations.
    The scoping period began on January 9, 2012, and ended on March 9, 
2012. Scoping meetings were held in Hillsboro and Truth or 
Consequences, New Mexico, on February 22 and 23,

[[Page 74795]]

2012, respectively. During the open house portion of the meeting, the 
public had opportunities to speak with representatives of the BLM, the 
State of New Mexico, and the Copper Corporation. Several display 
stations were featured with exhibits, maps, fact sheets, and other 
informational materials. The key issues identified from public scoping 
focused on water, biological resources, traffic, and social and 
economic concerns.
    The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS in conjunction with its four 
Cooperating Agencies: The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, New 
Mexico Environment Department, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural 
Resources Department, and New Mexico Office of the State Engineer.
    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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Aden L. Seidlitz,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2015-30293 Filed 11-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P

74794 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 229 / Monday, November 30, 2015 / Notices

Brief Description of Collection: EIS) for the Copper Flat Copper Mine Resources Group Limited. The Project is
Generally trust and restricted land may and by this notice is announcing the comprised of 963 acres (841 acres of
be leased by Indian land owners, with opening of the comment period. proposed disturbance and 122 acres
the approval of the Secretary of the DATES: To ensure comments will be undisturbed) of private land and 1,227
Interior, except when specified by considered, the BLM must receive acres (745 acres of proposed disturbance
statute. Submission of this information written comments on the Copper Flat and 482 acres undisturbed) of public
allows BIA to review applications for Copper Mine Draft EIS within 45 days land, for a total of 2,190 acres. The
obtaining, modifying and assigning following the date the Environmental proposed mining plan of operations was
leases and permits of land that the Protection Agency publishes its Notice submitted by the Copper Corporation to
United States holds in trust or restricted of Availability in the Federal Register. the BLM in June 2011and is based upon
status for individual Indians and Indian The BLM will announce future meetings the plan of development that Quintana
Tribes. The information is used to or hearings and any other public Mineral Corporation used in the
determine approval of a lease, involvement activities at least 15 days previous operation of Copper Flat
amendment, assignment, sublease, in advance through public notices, mining activities in 1982. The Project
mortgage or related document. A media releases, and/or mailings. includes upgrades and modifications
response is required to obtain or retain ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
based on current engineering designs
a benefit. related to the Copper Flat Copper Mine and regulations and was intentionally
Type of Review: Revision of a by any of the following methods: developed to re-use the existing
currently approved collection. • Email: foundations, production wells, and
Respondents: Individual Indians and BLM_NM_LCDO_Comments@blm.gov. water pipeline that were employed by
Indian Tribes seeking to lease their trust • Fax: (575) 525–4412. the previous Quintana operation. Four
or restricted land and businesses that • Mail: BLM Las Cruces District Alternatives are analyzed: No Action,
lease trust and restricted land. Office, Attention: Doug Haywood, 1800 Proposed Action, Alternative A, and
Estimated Number of Respondents: Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005. Alternative B. The Preferred Alternative
99,340. Copies of the Copper Flat Copper (Alternative B) is different than the
Frequency of Response: In general, Mine Draft EIS are available at the Las Proposed Action in that ore would be
once per approval per lease. Some Cruces District Office at the above processed at a faster rate, therefore
collections occur upon request for address and public libraries in shortening the mine life of the Project.
modification or assignment or upon a Hillsboro, New Mexico, at 158 Elenora Under the Proposed Action, the BLM
trespass violation, which occur, on Street, and Truth or Consequences, New would approve the Copper
average, fewer than once per lease. Mexico, at 325 Library Lane. The Draft Corporation’s plan to process 17,500
Additionally, rent payments occur, on EIS and supporting documents are also tons per day of copper ore over a mine
average, once per month. available electronically on the Copper operations period of 16 years, resulting
Obligation To Respond: Response Flat Project (Project) Web site at: in 100 million tons of ore processed
required to obtain a benefit. www.blm.gov/nm/copperflateis. over the mine life. Alternative A would
Estimated Time per Response: Ranges process 25,000 tons per day of copper
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
from 15 minutes to 3 hours. ore over a mine operations period of 11
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: Doug Haywood, telephone (575) 525–
years, resulting in 103 million tons of
82,913 hours. 4498; address 1800 Marquess Street, Las
ore processed over the mine life.
Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Cruces, NM 88005; email
Alternative B would process 30,000 tons
Dollar Cost: $1,813,000. dhaywood@blm.gov. Persons who use a
per day of copper ore over a mine
telecommunications device for the deaf operations period of 12 years, resulting
Elizabeth K. Appel, (TDD) may call the Federal Information in 125 million tons of ore processed
Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 over the mine life.
Collaborative Action—Indian Affairs. to contact the above individual during Mitigation of impacts are proposed in
[FR Doc. 2015–30330 Filed 11–27–15; 8:45 am] normal business hours. The FIRS is the mining plan of operations for
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, reducing water quality effects; reducing
to leave a message or question with the the effects of the spread of nonnative
above individual. You will receive a vegetation and noxious weeds;
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR reply during normal business hours. providing protection to special-status
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The bird species; pre-development surveying
Bureau of Land Management
Copper Flat Copper Mine is the for bat species; developing measures to
[LLNML03010 L51100000.GN0000 proposed reestablishment of a poly- avoid, minimize, or mitigate the adverse
LVEMG11CG230 XXXL5017AR] metallic mine and processing facility effects to historic properties; reducing
located near Hillsboro, New Mexico, adverse impacts on historic properties;
Notice of Availability of the Copper Flat that would produces copper, gold, informational signing for mining as a
Copper Mine Draft Environmental silver, and molybdenum. The Proposed resource to reduce visual impacts;
Impact Statement, Sierra County, NM Action is to approve the Project as fencing to prevent injury or loss of
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, proposed, consisting of an open pit livestock from mining operations;
Interior. mine, flotation mill, tailings reducing ‘‘boom and bust’’
ACTION: Notice of availability. impoundment, waste rock disposal socioeconomic impacts; reducing public
areas, a low-grade ore stockpile, and
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

concerns about potential company
SUMMARY: In accordance with the ancillary facilities. In most respects, the bankruptcy; and reducing effects to
National Environmental Policy Act of facilities, disturbance, and operations environmental justice populations.
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land would be similar to the former The scoping period began on January
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as operation. The Project is owned and 9, 2012, and ended on March 9, 2012.
amended, the Bureau of Land operated by the New Mexico Copper Scoping meetings were held in
Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Corporation (Copper Corporation), a Hillsboro and Truth or Consequences,
Environmental Impact Statement (Draft wholly owned subsidiary of THEMAC New Mexico, on February 22 and 23,

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Document Created: 2018-03-01 11:12:48
Document Modified: 2018-03-01 11:12:48

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability.
Dates		To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Copper Flat Copper Mine Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.
Contact		Doug Haywood, telephone (575) 525-
FR Citation		80 FR 74794

80 FR 74794 - Notice of Availability of the Copper Flat Copper Mine Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Sierra County, NM

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 229 (November 30, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management