80_FR_8137 80 FR 8107 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gold Rock Mine Project, White Pine County, NV

80 FR 8107 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Gold Rock Mine Project, White Pine County, NV

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 30 (February 13, 2015)

Page Range8107-8108
FR Document2015-02950

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed Gold Rock Mine Project in White Pine County, NV, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the public comment period on the Draft EIS.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8107-8108]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-02950]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL01000. L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF1402520. 241A.14X; MO#4500069499]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Gold Rock Mine Project, White Pine County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan 
Field Office, Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (Draft EIS) for the proposed Gold Rock Mine Project in White 
Pine County, NV, and by this notice is announcing the opening of the 
public comment period on the Draft EIS.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the 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 any public meetings or 
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 Gold Rock Mine 
Project by any of the following methods:
     Web site: http://on.doi.gov/1zAxyW9.
     fax: 775-289-1910.
     mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 
33500, Ely, NV 89301-9408.
    Copies of the Draft EIS are available in the Egan Field Office at 
the above address and on the Ely District's Web page at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office/blm_programs/minerals/mining_projects/gold_rock_project.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information contact Dan 
Netcher, Project Manager, telephone 775-289-1872; address BLM Ely 
District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301-9408; email 
dnetcher@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: 
    Midway Gold US Inc. (Midway) proposes to construct and operate an 
open-pit gold mining operation on the eastern side of the Pancake 
Mountain Range, approximately 50 miles west of Ely in White Pine 
County, Nevada. The proposed location is 15 miles south of U.S. Route 
50 near Newark Valley and the northern Railroad Valley, in the same 
geographic area as the reclaimed and closed Easy Junior Mine. Midway 
submitted the Gold Rock Mine Project Plan of Operations on March 21, 
2013. The BLM's approval of the mine plan as proposed (the Proposed 
Action) would authorize approximately 3,946 acres of disturbance on 
land administered by the BLM. Under the Proposed Action, the proposed 
operations and associated disturbance would include a proposed power 
line extending south from the Pan Mine to the west side of the proposed 
Gold Rock Mine Project site. Also under the Proposed Action, a county 
road that currently passes through the Gold Rock Mine Project area 
would be re-located onto existing and new BLM and county roads. An 
updated inventory of lands with wilderness characteristics was 
completed and found no lands with wilderness characteristics in the 
project area.
    The projected life of the project is 48 years: 10 years of mining 
and additional time for associated construction, reclamation, closure, 
and post-closure monitoring periods. Midway is currently conducting 
exploration activities in the project area; which activities were 
analyzed in two separate environmental assessments (EAs): The Midway 
Gold Rock Project Final Environmental Assessment (June 2012), and the 
Environmental Assessment for the Midway Gold Rock Project, Exploration 
Amendment (October 2012).
    On September 5, 2013, a Notice of Intent (NOI) was published in the 
Federal Register inviting scoping comments on the Proposed Action. A 
legal notice was prepared by the BLM and published in the Ely Times, 
the Eureka Sentinel, the High Desert Advocate, and the Reno Gazette-
Journal informing the public of the BLM's intention to prepare the Gold 
Rock Mine EIS. Public scoping meetings were held in September 2013 in 
Ely, Eureka, and Reno, Nevada. On November 7, 2013, the BLM learned 
that the email account set up to receive scoping comments on the Gold 
Rock Mine Project EIS, along with all of its contents, had disappeared 
during the first week of October 2013 and was not recoverable. On March 
28, 2014, the BLM published a second Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS 
in the Federal Register, extending the scoping period for another 30-
day public input period, inviting the public to submit comments, and 
requesting that anyone who submitted scoping comments by email during 
the initial 30-day scoping period (September 5, 2013, through October 
7, 2013) resubmit their comments by mail, by fax, or through the 
ePlanning system during this 30-day extension of the public input 
period. No changes were made to the Proposed Action. No scoping 
meetings were held during this 30-day extension of the public input 
period, as these meetings were not affected by the technical 
difficulties with the email account. In total, 60 comment documents 
were received during scoping. The comments were incorporated in a 
Scoping Summary Report and were considered in the preparation of this 
Draft EIS.
    Concerns raised during scoping include: Positive and negative 
socioeconomic impacts on the communities of Ely and Eureka, and to 
White Pine County; changes to the quantity and quality of surface water 
and groundwater; potential occurrence of acid drainage from waste rock 
disposal areas into surface or groundwater; impacts to soils through 
reduced infiltration or increased erosion; potential occurrence of a 
release of pollutants and hazardous materials to the environment during 
operations or following closure; impacts to wild horses and their 
habitat; impacts to vegetation communities, and vegetative food 
resources for wildlife; short- and long-term impacts on wildlife 
population dynamics and habitats; potential impacts to population and 
habitat of greater sage-grouse; potential impacts to Native American 
traditional and religious values regarding greater sage-grouse, 
antelope traps and geologic and mineral resources; impacts to air 
quality through point (equipment) and non-point (site roads and 
facilities) pollution sources; potential impacts to

[[Page 8108]]

public health and safety resulting from increased traffic; impacts to 
general health of the rangeland resources; increase in light pollution 
in the area and direct visual impacts from mine facilities; potential 
impacts to cultural resource sites listed on or eligible for the 
National Register of Historic Places if they exist in or near the 
project area; and cumulative impacts to wildlife, wild horses, 
cultural, air, water, and vegetation resources, pine nut gathering, and 
Native American traditional and religious values.
    The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the proposed project's site-
specific impacts (including cumulative impacts) on all affected 
resources. The Proposed Action, six action alternatives, and the No 
Action Alternative were analyzed. Five of the six action alternatives 
were developed to help reduce impacts to greater sage-grouse: Two power 
line route alternatives, two main access route alternatives, and one 
county road re-route alternative. One tailings storage facility 
location alternative was also considered to minimize impacts to mule 
deer crucial winter range. Mitigation measures have also been 
identified to show how impacts on resources could be minimized.
    The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS in conjunction with its four 
Cooperating Agencies: The Duckwater Shoshone Tribe, Eureka County Board 
of Commissioners, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and the White Pine 
County Board of County Commissioners.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the above address during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 
p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    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

Jill A. Moore,
Egan Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 2015-02950 Filed 2-12-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices 8107 forestry, outdoor recreation, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For legal notice was prepared by the BLM archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and further information contact Dan and published in the Ely Times, the fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, Netcher, Project Manager, telephone Eureka Sentinel, the High Desert soils, sociology, and economics. 775–289–1872; address BLM Ely Advocate, and the Reno Gazette-Journal Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box informing the public of the BLM’s 1610.2 33500, Ely, NV 89301–9408; email intention to prepare the Gold Rock Mine dnetcher@blm.gov. Persons who use a EIS. Public scoping meetings were held Ruth Welch, telecommunications device for the deaf in September 2013 in Ely, Eureka, and BLM Colorado State Director. (TDD) may call the Federal Information Reno, Nevada. On November 7, 2013, [FR Doc. 2015–02946 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am] Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 the BLM learned that the email account BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P to contact the above individual during set up to receive scoping comments on normal business hours. The FIRS is the Gold Rock Mine Project EIS, along available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with all of its contents, had disappeared DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR to leave a message or question with the during the first week of October 2013 above individual. You will receive a and was not recoverable. On March 28, Bureau of Land Management reply during normal business hours. 2014, the BLM published a second [LLNVL01000. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF1402520. Midway Gold US Inc. (Midway) Federal Register, extending the scoping 241A.14X; MO#4500069499] proposes to construct and operate an period for another 30-day public input open-pit gold mining operation on the period, inviting the public to submit Notice of Availability of the Draft comments, and requesting that anyone eastern side of the Pancake Mountain Environmental Impact Statement for who submitted scoping comments by Range, approximately 50 miles west of the Gold Rock Mine Project, White Pine email during the initial 30-day scoping Ely in White Pine County, Nevada. The County, NV period (September 5, 2013, through proposed location is 15 miles south of AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Route 50 near Newark Valley and October 7, 2013) resubmit their Interior. the northern Railroad Valley, in the comments by mail, by fax, or through ACTION: Notice. same geographic area as the reclaimed the ePlanning system during this 30-day and closed Easy Junior Mine. Midway extension of the public input period. No SUMMARY: In accordance with the submitted the Gold Rock Mine Project changes were made to the Proposed National Environmental Policy Act of Plan of Operations on March 21, 2013. Action. No scoping meetings were held 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land The BLM’s approval of the mine plan as during this 30-day extension of the Policy and Management Act of 1976, as proposed (the Proposed Action) would public input period, as these meetings amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land authorize approximately 3,946 acres of were not affected by the technical Management (BLM) Egan Field Office, disturbance on land administered by the difficulties with the email account. In Ely, Nevada has prepared a Draft BLM. Under the Proposed Action, the total, 60 comment documents were Environmental Impact Statement (Draft proposed operations and associated received during scoping. The comments EIS) for the proposed Gold Rock Mine disturbance would include a proposed were incorporated in a Scoping Project in White Pine County, NV, and power line extending south from the Summary Report and were considered by this notice is announcing the Pan Mine to the west side of the in the preparation of this Draft EIS. opening of the public comment period proposed Gold Rock Mine Project site. Concerns raised during scoping on the Draft EIS. Also under the Proposed Action, a include: Positive and negative DATES: To ensure comments will be county road that currently passes socioeconomic impacts on the considered, the BLM must receive through the Gold Rock Mine Project area communities of Ely and Eureka, and to written comments on the Draft EIS would be re-located onto existing and White Pine County; changes to the within 45 days following the date the new BLM and county roads. An updated quantity and quality of surface water Environmental Protection Agency inventory of lands with wilderness and groundwater; potential occurrence publishes its Notice of Availability in characteristics was completed and of acid drainage from waste rock the Federal Register. The BLM will found no lands with wilderness disposal areas into surface or announce any public meetings or other characteristics in the project area. groundwater; impacts to soils through public involvement activities at least 15 The projected life of the project is 48 reduced infiltration or increased days in advance through public notices, years: 10 years of mining and additional erosion; potential occurrence of a media releases, and/or mailings. time for associated construction, release of pollutants and hazardous ADDRESSES: You may submit comments reclamation, closure, and post-closure materials to the environment during related to the Gold Rock Mine Project by monitoring periods. Midway is operations or following closure; impacts any of the following methods: currently conducting exploration to wild horses and their habitat; impacts • Web site: http://on.doi.gov/ activities in the project area; which to vegetation communities, and 1zAxyW9. activities were analyzed in two separate vegetative food resources for wildlife; • fax: 775–289–1910. environmental assessments (EAs): The short- and long-term impacts on wildlife • mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Midway Gold Rock Project Final population dynamics and habitats; Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV Environmental Assessment (June 2012), potential impacts to population and 89301–9408. and the Environmental Assessment for habitat of greater sage-grouse; potential tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Copies of the Draft EIS are available the Midway Gold Rock Project, impacts to Native American traditional in the Egan Field Office at the above Exploration Amendment (October and religious values regarding greater address and on the Ely District’s Web 2012). sage-grouse, antelope traps and geologic page at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ On September 5, 2013, a Notice of and mineral resources; impacts to air ely_field_office/blm_programs/ Intent (NOI) was published in the quality through point (equipment) and minerals/mining_projects/gold_rock_ Federal Register inviting scoping non-point (site roads and facilities) project.html. comments on the Proposed Action. A pollution sources; potential impacts to VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:56 Feb 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1

8108 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 30 / Friday, February 13, 2015 / Notices public health and safety resulting from DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR OKLAHOMA increased traffic; impacts to general Kay County health of the rangeland resources; National Park Service First Church of Christ, Scientist, 300 N. 3rd increase in light pollution in the area St., Ponca City, 15000063 and direct visual impacts from mine [NPS–WASO–NRNHL–17590; St. John Baptist Church and Rectory, 1009 S. facilities; potential impacts to cultural PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000] 11th St., Ponca City, 15000064 resource sites listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places; Pittsburg County National Register of Historic Places if they exist in or near the project area; Notification of Pending Nominations McAlester Downtown Historic District, and cumulative impacts to wildlife, and Related Actions Bounded by Business 69, E. Carl Albert Pkwy., N. 5th St. & RR tracks, McAlester, wild horses, cultural, air, water, and 15000065 vegetation resources, pine nut gathering, Nominations for the following and Native American traditional and properties being considered for listing Tulsa County religious values. or related actions in the National First National Bank, 123 E. W.C. Rogers Register were received by the National Blvd., Skiatook, 15000066 The Draft EIS describes and analyzes Park Service before January 24, 2015. Oklahoma Iron Works—Bethlehem Supply the proposed project’s site-specific Pursuant to section 60.13 of 36 CFR part Company Building, 118 N. Lansing Ave., impacts (including cumulative impacts) 60, written comments are being Tulsa, 15000067 on all affected resources. The Proposed accepted concerning the significance of [FR Doc. 2015–02995 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am] Action, six action alternatives, and the the nominated properties under the BILLING CODE 4312–51–P No Action Alternative were analyzed. National Register criteria for evaluation. Five of the six action alternatives were Comments may be forwarded by United developed to help reduce impacts to States Postal Service, to the National greater sage-grouse: Two power line INTERNATIONAL TRADE Register of Historic Places, National COMMISSION route alternatives, two main access Park Service, 1849 C St. NW., MS 2280, route alternatives, and one county road Washington, DC 20240; by all other [Investigation No. 337–TA–930] re-route alternative. One tailings storage carriers, National Register of Historic facility location alternative was also Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye Certain Laser Abraded Denim considered to minimize impacts to mule St. NW., 8th floor, Washington, DC Garments; Notice of Commission deer crucial winter range. Mitigation 20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written Decision Amending the Notice of measures have also been identified to or faxed comments should be submitted Investigation and Extending the Target show how impacts on resources could by March 2, 2015. Before including your Date be minimized. address, phone number, email address, AGENCY: U.S. International Trade The BLM has prepared the Draft EIS or other personal identifying Commission. in conjunction with its four Cooperating information in your comment, you ACTION: Notice. Agencies: The Duckwater Shoshone should be aware that your entire Tribe, Eureka County Board of comment—including your personal SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Commissioners, the Nevada Department identifying information—may be made the U.S. International Trade of Wildlife, and the White Pine County publicly available at any time. While Commission has determined not to Board of County Commissioners. you can ask us in your comment to review the presiding administrative law Please note that public comments and withhold your personal identifying judge’s (‘‘ALJ’’) initial determination information submitted including names, information from public review, we (‘‘ID’’) (Order No. 20) granting a motion cannot guarantee that we will be able to to amend the complaint and notice of street addresses, and email addresses of do so. investigation to add new respondents, persons who submit comments will be available for public review and Dated: January 30, 2015. and to extend the target date for disclosure at the above address during James Gabbert, completion of the above-captioned regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 investigation by four months. Acting Chief, National Register of Historic p.m.), Monday through Friday, except Places/National Historic Landmarks Program. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: holidays. Sidney A. Rosenzweig, Office of the COLORADO General Counsel, U.S. International Before including your address, phone Eagle County Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW., number, email address, or other Notch Mountain Shelter, Notch Mtn. Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) personal identifying information in your Summit, White River NF, Minturn, 708–2532. Copies of non-confidential comment, you should be aware that 15000059 documents filed in connection with this your entire comment—including your investigation are or will be available for Tigiwon Community House, FSR 707, Holy personal identifying information—may inspection during official business Cross Dist., White River NF, Minturn, be made publicly available at any time. 15000060 hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the While you can ask us in your comment Office of the Secretary, U.S. to withhold your personal identifying DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA International Trade Commission, 500 E information from public review, we District of Columbia Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, cannot guarantee that we will be able to telephone (202) 205–2000. General Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) do so. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Historic District, 6900 Georgia Ave. NW., information concerning the Commission Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6; 40 CFR 1506.10 Washington, 15000061 may also be obtained by accessing its FLORIDA Internet server at http://www.usitc.gov. Jill A. Moore, The public record for this investigation Egan Field Office Manager. Orange County may be viewed on the Commission’s [FR Doc. 2015–02950 Filed 2–12–15; 8:45 am] Gary-Morgan House, 1041 Osceola Ave., electronic docket (EDIS) at http:// BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P Winter Park, 15000062 edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:56 Feb 12, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\13FEN1.SGM 13FEN1


Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:17:47
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:17:47
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesTo ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the 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 any public meetings or other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.
ContactFor further information contact Dan
FR Citation80 FR 8107 
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