82_FR_14796 82 FR 14742 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine and Reclamation Plan, Caribou County, Idaho

82 FR 14742 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine and Reclamation Plan, Caribou County, Idaho

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 54 (March 22, 2017)

Page Range14742-14744
FR Document2017-05679

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) Pocatello Field Office, Pocatello, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of approving the proposed Caldwell Canyon mine and reclamation plan (MRP). The EIS will also consider the effects of lease modifications that are part of the proposed project. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues to be addressed in the EIS.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14742-14744]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05679]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[16XL LLIDI00200 L71220000.EO0000.LVTFDX602300; 4500101185]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine and Reclamation Plan, Caribou County, 
Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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) Pocatello 
Field Office, Pocatello, Idaho, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of approving 
the proposed Caldwell Canyon mine and reclamation plan (MRP). The EIS 
will also consider

[[Page 14743]]

the effects of lease modifications that are part of the proposed 
project. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to 
solicit public comments and identify issues to be addressed in the EIS.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until April 21, 2017. 
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://bit.ly/2eoKYV8. In order to be addressed in the 
Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-
day scoping period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever 
is later. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Caldwell Canyon Mine 
Project by any of the following methods:

     Web site: http://bit.ly/2eoKYV8.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 208-478-6376.
     Mail: Caldwell Canyon Mine EIS, C/O Tetra Tech, 2525 
Palmer Street, Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Pocatello Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Alderman, BLM Pocatello Field 
Office, telephone (208) 478-6369; address 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, 
Idaho 83204; [email protected]. Information is also available at the 
BLM's Web site at http://bit.ly/2eoKYV8. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during 
normal business hours. The FRS 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: P4 Production, LLC (P4), a subsidiary of 
Monsanto Company, has developed and submitted a mine and reclamation 
plan (MRP) for the Caldwell Canyon Phosphate Mine. The proposed mine is 
located along Schmid Ridge, approximately 13 air miles northeast of 
Soda Springs, Idaho. The BLM will serve as the lead agency for 
conducting the necessary environmental analysis. The Idaho Department 
of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Lands, and the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers will be cooperating agencies. Although a small 
amount of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) surface land is within the 
proposed project area, the USFS will not participate as a cooperating 
agency. The affected USFS lands are located on BLM-administered 
phosphate leases owned by Agrium, Inc. (Agrium) and managed as part of 
the Dry Valley Mine. Dry Valley Mine has been mined and fully reclaimed 
per the existing MRP for that project.
    The proposed action includes a haul road across the reclaimed 
surface of the Dry Valley Mine and the partial filling in of the open 
Panel D pit with waste rock from Caldwell Canyon. A modification of the 
Dry Valley MRP to allow construction of the haul road and backfilling 
of the Dry Valley D Pit is necessary and will be evaluated as part of 
this EIS. No USFS special use permits or other decisions are needed to 
permit the project. The USFS will be routinely apprised regarding the 
progress of the environmental analysis and will be consulted regarding 
project aspects affecting USFS lands.
    Operations at Caldwell Canyon would consist of open pit mining on 
the Federal Phosphate Leases IDI-02, IDI-014080, and IDI-13738. The 
mine would also include State of Idaho Mineral Lease E07959. P4 is 
requesting modifications to phosphate lease boundaries for each of 
these leases. All of the proposed lease modifications contain part of 
the proposed mine pit and are necessary to maximize ore recovery. 
Issuing these lease modifications is a discretionary decision that will 
be analyzed in the EIS. New mining operations at the Caldwell Canyon 
Mine would occur on Federal phosphate leases and public lands 
administered by the BLM, on National Forest System lands administered 
by the USFS, on a State of Idaho phosphate lease and state lands 
administered by Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), and on private lands. 
The public lands lie in the BLM Pocatello Field Office. The leases 
grant exclusive rights to the leaseholder to mine and otherwise dispose 
of the phosphate resource at the sites. Through development of this 
EIS, the BLM will analyze environmental impacts of the proposed mining 
and reclamation operations and reasonable alternatives to the proposed 
action. Appropriate mitigation measures will also be formulated by the 
BLM in conjunction with the proponent.

Agency Decisions

    The BLM Idaho State Director, or delegated official, will make a 
decision regarding approval of the MRP and appropriate mitigation 
measures, the proposed Federal phosphate lease modifications and other 
appropriate land use authorizations for activities that take place off 
leased lands. Decisions will be based on BLM's authority, the EIS 
analysis, and any recommendations the cooperating agencies may have 
related to their jurisdiction, expertise, or permitting actions.
    The proposed action has been reviewed for consistency with the 2012 
Pocatello Field Office Resource Management Plan and, at this time, the 
project is generally consistent with the management direction in the 
Resource Management Plan. It is unlikely that any amendments to the 
Resource Management Plan will be needed.
    The IDL will make an independent decision on approving a mine plan 
for state lease EO7959. IDL is a cooperating agency for the EIS and 
will consider the BLM's EIS in its decision making.
    The Army Corps of Engineers may also make decisions related to 
permits under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

Background

    The MRP for Caldwell Canyon includes development of two open mine 
pits: North Pit and South Pit. Mining operations would be conducted 
over an estimated 40-year period using a pit panel mining method. 
Mining would be initiated in the mid-point of the South Pit and proceed 
southward. Approximately six million tons of initial overburden 
materials would be hauled to the inactive Dry Valley Mine Panel D and 
placed as backfill. All other overburden generated from each new panel 
would be used to backfill a previously mined panel. Once mining reaches 
the south end of the South Pit, mining would resume at the mid-point of 
the South Pit and proceed northward in the same fashion.
    Ore would be transported via a two mile-long haul road linking the 
mine pit areas to an ore stockpile located off-lease at the East 
Caldwell Area. The haul road is mostly on lease or on private land but 
a small section is off lease on BLM land and will require a right of 
way. The ore stockpile would be located adjacent to an ore loadout 
facility, which would be used to load ore into a train for rail 
transport by existing rail line to P4's processing plant at Soda 
Springs. The proposed stockpile and ore loadout site was previously 
used by Agrium during active mining operations at the Dry Valley Mine. 
Selected materials generated from development of the initial pit panel 
would be used for the construction of haul roads. Once P4 has hauled 
the initial overburden to the Dry Valley Pit

[[Page 14744]]

(estimated to occur during the third year of production at Caldwell 
Canyon), overburden generated from each subsequent pit panel would be 
used to backfill pit panels in sequence in the South and North pits of 
the Caldwell Canyon Mine.
    Hauling overburden from the Caldwell Canyon South Pit to the open 
pit at Dry Valley Mine would require construction of an additional two-
mile long haul road from the ore stockpile area to the Dry Valley Pit 
(Panel D Pit) across reclaimed areas of the Dry Valley Mine. 
Construction, operation, maintenance, grading, and reclamation of this 
haul road would be the responsibility of P4 and are addressed in the 
MRP for Caldwell Canyon. Agrium, as the Dry Valley mine owner, is 
ultimately responsible for the final reclamation at Dry Valley. Agrium 
would place the final cover/growth media on the partially backfilled 
Panel D pit and haul road and revegetate the reclaimed surface.
    Mining below the water table would occur at the south and north 
ends of the Caldwell Canyon South Pit; mining in these areas is 
expected to occur during years 6-8 and 14-16 of production, 
respectively. In these locations, P4 would install ground water 
interception wells to draw down the water table to an elevation below 
the planned pit bottom. This would reduce the amount of ground water 
flowing into the pit. The water would be stored in water management 
ponds until water quality meets infiltration criteria at which point it 
would be infiltrated into the ground water. The sequestered water would 
not be allowed to leave the mine site other than by infiltration or 
evaporation. With the exception of one culverted haul road crossing, 
P4's MRP proposes to avoid Caldwell Creek, which is a small non-
connected/non-fish bearing stream that runs between the north and south 
pits.
    All overburden and waste material would be backfilled into mine pit 
panels and reclaimed using an earthen cap to reduce infiltration of 
precipitation, groundwater and surface water, and to support 
establishment of vegetation to meet post-closure land use goals. The 
proposed cap is a capillary break design consisting of 1.5 feet of 
topsoil and 2.5 feet of alluvium and colluvium over two feet of cherty 
material taken from overburden at the site.
    Mining operations at Caldwell Canyon would disturb approximately 
1,530 acres. Some mine facilities (ore stockpile, tipple, water 
management infrastructure, offices, shop and storage facilities) would 
be located in the East Caldwell Area in Dry Valley. Additional 
facilities located at the Caldwell Canyon mine site include service and 
haul roads, water pipelines, water management ponds, sediment control 
ponds, infiltration galleries, growth media stockpiles, and other 
facilities.
    P4 and Agrium would obtain governmental agency approvals necessary 
to allow placement of overburden into the Dry Valley Pit in accordance 
with a proposed Dry Valley Mine Plan Modification. The mine plan 
modification would be analyzed as part of this EIS.

Alternatives and Schedule

    The EIS will analyze the Proposed Action (approving the MRP and 
lease modifications) and the No Action Alternative. Other mining 
alternatives may be considered that could resolve important issues or 
provide mitigation of potential impacts.
    The tentative EIS project schedule is as follows:

     Begin public scoping period and meetings: Early 2017.
     Estimated date for draft EIS and associated comment 
period: Fall 2017.
     Final EIS publication: Spring 2018.
     Record of Decision: Spring 2018.

Scoping

    The purpose of the public scoping process is to identify relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
The BLM has identified some preliminary issues associated with the 
Caldwell Canyon Mine Project:
     Potential impacts to groundwater and surface water 
quantity and quality;
     Impacts to vegetation including rare species and species 
important to Native Americans;
     Impacts to soil and mineral resources;
     Impacts to air quality from vehicle emissions and fugitive 
dust;
     Potential reductions of wildlife and their habitats, 
including the Greater Sage-Grouse;
     Potential reductions in livestock grazing;
     Impacts to wetlands and riparian habitat;
     Impacts to recreation including hunting and camping;
     Socio-economic effects such as increased employment and 
the continued operation of an elemental phosphorous plant and support 
businesses;
     Impacts to Native American rights, treaties, and land 
uses;
     Impacts to visual resources from the development of the 
mine; and
     Impacts to resources from the cumulative effects of the 
multiple mines in southeast Idaho.
    The BLM will continue to refine these issues during the scoping 
process.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help 
fulfill the public involvement requirements under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
treaty rights and potential impacts to cultural resources, will be 
given due consideration.
    Federal, State, and local agencies, along with Tribes and other 
stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
Caldwell Canyon Mine are invited to participate in the scoping process. 
Agencies with regulatory authority or special expertise, if eligible, 
may request or be requested by the BLM to participate in the 
development of the environmental analysis as a cooperating agency.
    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 1501.7.

Mary D'Aversa,
District Manager, BLM Idaho Falls District.
[FR Doc. 2017-05679 Filed 3-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P



                                                    14742                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices

                                                    of Executive Departments and Agencies                   ambiguus), to enhance species                         the Dallas World Aquarium, Dallas,
                                                    of January 21, 2009—Transparency and                    propagation or survival. This                         Texas, and John Bornemann, Dover,
                                                    Open Government (74 FR 4685; Jan. 26,                   notification covers activities to be                  Florida.
                                                    2009), which call on all Federal                        conducted by the applicant over a 5-                    If approved, the program will be
                                                    agencies to promote openness and                        year period.                                          overseen by the Zoological Association
                                                    transparency in Government by                                                                                 of America, Punta Gorda, Florida.
                                                                                                            Applicant: Dr. Frank Paladino, Indiana-
                                                    disclosing information to the public, we                Purdue University Fort Wayne, IN;                     IV. Public Comments
                                                    invite public comment on these permit                   PRT–06369C
                                                    applications before final action is taken.                                                                      You may submit your comments and
                                                                                                              The applicant requests a permit to                  materials concerning this notice by one
                                                    III. Permit Applications                                collect skin, scute, and blood samples                of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We
                                                    A. Endangered Species                                   from hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys              will not consider comments sent by
                                                                                                            imbricata) for the purpose of                         email or fax or to an address not listed
                                                    Applicant: Ruth Linsky, Ellensburg,                     enhancement of the survival of the                    in ADDRESSES.
                                                    WA; PRT–15011C                                          species/scientific research. This                       If you submit a comment via http://
                                                      The applicant requests a permit to                    notification covers activities to be                  www.regulations.gov, your entire
                                                    import saliva samples obtained                          conducted by the applicant over a 5-                  comment, including any personal
                                                    noninvasively from wild Bornean                         year period.                                          identifying information, will be posted
                                                    orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) within                      Multiple Applicants                                   on the Web site. If you submit a
                                                    Cape Leaky, Tanjung Puting National                                                                           hardcopy comment that includes
                                                    Park for the purpose of enhancement of                    The following applicants each request               personal identifying information, you
                                                    the survival of the species through                     a permit to import the sport-hunted                   may request at the top of your document
                                                    scientific research.                                    trophy of one male bontebok                           that we withhold this information from
                                                                                                            (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled                 public review. However, we cannot
                                                    Applicant: Alex Cisneros, Graham, TX;                   from a captive herd maintained under                  guarantee that we will be able to do so.
                                                    PRT–07645C                                              the management program of the                           We will post all hardcopy comments
                                                      The applicant requests a permit to                    Republic of South Africa, for the                     on http://www.regulations.gov.
                                                    import a shoulder mount and skin of a                   purpose of enhancement of the survival
                                                                                                            of the species.                                       V. Authority
                                                    cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra
                                                    zebra) for the purpose of enhancement                   Applicant: Ronald Price, Mesa, AZ;                      Wild Bird Conservation Act of 1992
                                                    of the survival of the species. This                    PRT–15386C                                            (16 U.S.C. 4901–4916); Endangered
                                                    notification covers activities to be                                                                          Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531).
                                                    conducted by the applicant over a 5-                    Applicant: Gary Cooper, Oakwood, OH;
                                                                                                            PRT–16709C                                            Joyce Russell,
                                                    year period.                                                                                                  Government Information Specialist, Branch
                                                                                                            Applicant: John Watson, Richardson,                   of Permits, Division of Management
                                                    Applicant: Adalgisa Caccone, New
                                                                                                            TX; PRT–11484C                                        Authority.
                                                    Haven, CT; PRT–209142
                                                      The applicant requests a permit to                    B. Wild Bird Conservation Act                         [FR Doc. 2017–05726 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                  BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                    import biological samples from wild                       The public is invited to comment on
                                                    giant Galapagos tortoise (Geochelone                    the following applications for approval
                                                    nigra), for the purpose of scientific                   to conduct certain activities with bird
                                                                                                                                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                    research. This notification covers                      species covered under the Wild Bird
                                                    activities to be conducted by the                       Conservation Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C.                   Bureau of Land Management
                                                    applicant over a 5-year period.                         4901–4916). This notice is provided
                                                                                                            pursuant to section 112(4) of the Wild                [16XL LLIDI00200
                                                    Applicant: Jack Phillips, Gladewater,                   Bird Conservation Act of 1992 (50 CFR                 L71220000.EO0000.LVTFDX602300;
                                                    TX; PRT–195823                                          15.26(c)).
                                                                                                                                                                  4500101185]
                                                      The applicant requests a permit to                                                                          Notice of Intent To Prepare an
                                                                                                            Applicant: Vernon Brett Padgett,
                                                    renew his application for red lechwe                                                                          Environmental Impact Statement for
                                                                                                            Atlanta, GA; PRT–12087C
                                                    (Kobus leche), for the enhancement of                                                                         the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine
                                                    the survival of the species. This                         The applicant wishes to establish a
                                                                                                                                                                  and Reclamation Plan, Caribou
                                                    notification covers activities to be                    cooperative breeding program for
                                                                                                                                                                  County, Idaho
                                                    conducted by the applicant over a 5-                    Papuan hornbill (Rhyticeros plicatus),
                                                    year period.                                            knobbed hornbill (Aceros cassidix),                   AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,
                                                                                                            wreathed hornbill (Rhyticeros                         Interior.
                                                    Applicant: Turtle Back Zoo, West                        undulatus), wrinkled hornbill (Aceros                 ACTION: Notice of intent.
                                                    Orange, NJ; PRT–09742C                                  corrugatus), writhed hornbill (Aceros
                                                       The applicant requests a permit to                   leucocephalus), Asian pied hornbill                   SUMMARY:   In compliance with the
                                                    import one female captive-bred amur                     (Anthracoceros albirostris), Palawan                  National Environmental Policy Act of
                                                    leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)                    hornbill (Anthracoceros marchei), black               1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
                                                                                                            hornbill (Anthracoceros malayanus),                   Federal Land Policy and Management
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    from the Parken Zoo, Sweden, for the
                                                    purpose of enhancement of the survival                  rufous hornbill (Buceros hydrocorax),                 Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
                                                    of the species.                                         rhinocerous hornbill (Buceros                         Land Management (BLM) Pocatello
                                                                                                            rhinoceros), tarictic hornbill                        Field Office, Pocatello, Idaho, intends to
                                                    Applicant: Jude Lagarde, Baton Rouge,                   (Penelopides panini), Pesquet’s parrot                prepare an Environmental Impact
                                                    LA; PRT–04151C                                          (Psittrichas fulgidus) and gang-gang                  Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential
                                                      The applicant requests a captive-bred                 cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum).                  impacts of approving the proposed
                                                    wildlife registration under 50 CFR                        The applicant wishes to be an active                Caldwell Canyon mine and reclamation
                                                    17.21(g) for the Great green macaw (Ara                 participant in this program along with                plan (MRP). The EIS will also consider


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:14 Mar 21, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00070   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22MRN1.SGM   22MRN1


                                                                                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices                                             14743

                                                    the effects of lease modifications that                 a small amount of U.S. Forest Service                 modifications and other appropriate
                                                    are part of the proposed project. This                  (USFS) surface land is within the                     land use authorizations for activities
                                                    notice announces the beginning of the                   proposed project area, the USFS will not              that take place off leased lands.
                                                    scoping process to solicit public                       participate as a cooperating agency. The              Decisions will be based on BLM’s
                                                    comments and identify issues to be                      affected USFS lands are located on                    authority, the EIS analysis, and any
                                                    addressed in the EIS.                                   BLM-administered phosphate leases                     recommendations the cooperating
                                                    DATES: This notice initiates the public                 owned by Agrium, Inc. (Agrium) and                    agencies may have related to their
                                                    scoping process for the EIS. Comments                   managed as part of the Dry Valley Mine.               jurisdiction, expertise, or permitting
                                                    on issues may be submitted in writing                   Dry Valley Mine has been mined and                    actions.
                                                    until April 21, 2017. The date(s) and                   fully reclaimed per the existing MRP for                The proposed action has been
                                                    location(s) of any scoping meetings will                that project.                                         reviewed for consistency with the 2012
                                                    be announced at least 15 days in                           The proposed action includes a haul                Pocatello Field Office Resource
                                                    advance through local media,                            road across the reclaimed surface of the              Management Plan and, at this time, the
                                                    newspapers, and the BLM Web site at:                    Dry Valley Mine and the partial filling               project is generally consistent with the
                                                    http://bit.ly/2eoKYV8. In order to be                   in of the open Panel D pit with waste                 management direction in the Resource
                                                    addressed in the Draft EIS, all comments                rock from Caldwell Canyon. A                          Management Plan. It is unlikely that any
                                                    must be received prior to the close of                  modification of the Dry Valley MRP to                 amendments to the Resource
                                                    the 30-day scoping period or 15 days                    allow construction of the haul road and               Management Plan will be needed.
                                                                                                            backfilling of the Dry Valley D Pit is                  The IDL will make an independent
                                                    after the last public meeting, whichever
                                                                                                            necessary and will be evaluated as part               decision on approving a mine plan for
                                                    is later. We will provide additional
                                                                                                            of this EIS. No USFS special use permits              state lease EO7959. IDL is a cooperating
                                                    opportunities for public participation                                                                        agency for the EIS and will consider the
                                                                                                            or other decisions are needed to permit
                                                    upon publication of the Draft EIS.                                                                            BLM’s EIS in its decision making.
                                                                                                            the project. The USFS will be routinely
                                                    ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                      apprised regarding the progress of the                  The Army Corps of Engineers may
                                                    related to the Caldwell Canyon Mine                     environmental analysis and will be                    also make decisions related to permits
                                                    Project by any of the following methods:                consulted regarding project aspects                   under Section 404 of the Clean Water
                                                       • Web site: http://bit.ly/2eoKYV8.                   affecting USFS lands.                                 Act.
                                                       • Email: blm_id_caldwell_canyon_                        Operations at Caldwell Canyon would                Background
                                                    mine_eis@blm.gov.                                       consist of open pit mining on the
                                                       • Fax: 208–478–6376.                                 Federal Phosphate Leases IDI–02, IDI–                    The MRP for Caldwell Canyon
                                                       • Mail: Caldwell Canyon Mine EIS,                    014080, and IDI–13738. The mine                       includes development of two open mine
                                                    C/O Tetra Tech, 2525 Palmer Street,                     would also include State of Idaho                     pits: North Pit and South Pit. Mining
                                                    Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.                            Mineral Lease E07959. P4 is requesting                operations would be conducted over an
                                                                                                            modifications to phosphate lease                      estimated 40-year period using a pit
                                                       Documents pertinent to this proposal
                                                                                                            boundaries for each of these leases. All              panel mining method. Mining would be
                                                    may be examined at the Pocatello Field
                                                                                                            of the proposed lease modifications                   initiated in the mid-point of the South
                                                    Office.
                                                                                                            contain part of the proposed mine pit                 Pit and proceed southward.
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                              Approximately six million tons of initial
                                                                                                            and are necessary to maximize ore
                                                    David Alderman, BLM Pocatello Field                                                                           overburden materials would be hauled
                                                                                                            recovery. Issuing these lease
                                                    Office, telephone (208) 478–6369;                                                                             to the inactive Dry Valley Mine Panel D
                                                                                                            modifications is a discretionary decision
                                                    address 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello,                                                                         and placed as backfill. All other
                                                                                                            that will be analyzed in the EIS. New
                                                    Idaho 83204; dalderman@blm.gov.                         mining operations at the Caldwell                     overburden generated from each new
                                                    Information is also available at the                    Canyon Mine would occur on Federal                    panel would be used to backfill a
                                                    BLM’s Web site at http://bit.ly/                        phosphate leases and public lands                     previously mined panel. Once mining
                                                    2eoKYV8. Persons who use a                              administered by the BLM, on National                  reaches the south end of the South Pit,
                                                    telecommunications device for the deaf                  Forest System lands administered by the               mining would resume at the mid-point
                                                    (TDD) may call the Federal Relay                        USFS, on a State of Idaho phosphate                   of the South Pit and proceed northward
                                                    Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to                      lease and state lands administered by                 in the same fashion.
                                                    contact the above individual during                     Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), and                     Ore would be transported via a two
                                                    normal business hours. The FRS is                       on private lands. The public lands lie in             mile-long haul road linking the mine pit
                                                    available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,                the BLM Pocatello Field Office. The                   areas to an ore stockpile located off-
                                                    to leave a message or question with the                 leases grant exclusive rights to the                  lease at the East Caldwell Area. The
                                                    above individual. You will receive a                    leaseholder to mine and otherwise                     haul road is mostly on lease or on
                                                    reply during normal business hours.                     dispose of the phosphate resource at the              private land but a small section is off
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: P4                           sites. Through development of this EIS,               lease on BLM land and will require a
                                                    Production, LLC (P4), a subsidiary of                   the BLM will analyze environmental                    right of way. The ore stockpile would be
                                                    Monsanto Company, has developed and                     impacts of the proposed mining and                    located adjacent to an ore loadout
                                                    submitted a mine and reclamation plan                   reclamation operations and reasonable                 facility, which would be used to load
                                                    (MRP) for the Caldwell Canyon                           alternatives to the proposed action.                  ore into a train for rail transport by
                                                    Phosphate Mine. The proposed mine is                    Appropriate mitigation measures will                  existing rail line to P4’s processing plant
                                                    located along Schmid Ridge,                                                                                   at Soda Springs. The proposed stockpile
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            also be formulated by the BLM in
                                                    approximately 13 air miles northeast of                 conjunction with the proponent.                       and ore loadout site was previously
                                                    Soda Springs, Idaho. The BLM will                                                                             used by Agrium during active mining
                                                    serve as the lead agency for conducting                 Agency Decisions                                      operations at the Dry Valley Mine.
                                                    the necessary environmental analysis.                     The BLM Idaho State Director, or                    Selected materials generated from
                                                    The Idaho Department of Environmental                   delegated official, will make a decision              development of the initial pit panel
                                                    Quality, Idaho Department of Lands,                     regarding approval of the MRP and                     would be used for the construction of
                                                    and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers                    appropriate mitigation measures, the                  haul roads. Once P4 has hauled the
                                                    will be cooperating agencies. Although                  proposed Federal phosphate lease                      initial overburden to the Dry Valley Pit


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                                                    14744                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 22, 2017 / Notices

                                                    (estimated to occur during the third year               stockpile, tipple, water management                      • Socio-economic effects such as
                                                    of production at Caldwell Canyon),                      infrastructure, offices, shop and storage             increased employment and the
                                                    overburden generated from each                          facilities) would be located in the East              continued operation of an elemental
                                                    subsequent pit panel would be used to                   Caldwell Area in Dry Valley. Additional               phosphorous plant and support
                                                    backfill pit panels in sequence in the                  facilities located at the Caldwell Canyon             businesses;
                                                    South and North pits of the Caldwell                    mine site include service and haul                       • Impacts to Native American rights,
                                                    Canyon Mine.                                            roads, water pipelines, water                         treaties, and land uses;
                                                       Hauling overburden from the                          management ponds, sediment control
                                                                                                                                                                     • Impacts to visual resources from the
                                                    Caldwell Canyon South Pit to the open                   ponds, infiltration galleries, growth
                                                                                                                                                                  development of the mine; and
                                                    pit at Dry Valley Mine would require                    media stockpiles, and other facilities.
                                                    construction of an additional two-mile                    P4 and Agrium would obtain                             • Impacts to resources from the
                                                    long haul road from the ore stockpile                   governmental agency approvals                         cumulative effects of the multiple mines
                                                    area to the Dry Valley Pit (Panel D Pit)                necessary to allow placement of                       in southeast Idaho.
                                                    across reclaimed areas of the Dry Valley                overburden into the Dry Valley Pit in                    The BLM will continue to refine these
                                                    Mine. Construction, operation,                          accordance with a proposed Dry Valley                 issues during the scoping process.
                                                    maintenance, grading, and reclamation                   Mine Plan Modification. The mine plan                    The BLM will use and coordinate the
                                                    of this haul road would be the                          modification would be analyzed as part                NEPA scoping process to help fulfill the
                                                    responsibility of P4 and are addressed                  of this EIS.                                          public involvement requirements under
                                                    in the MRP for Caldwell Canyon.                                                                               the National Historic Preservation Act
                                                                                                            Alternatives and Schedule
                                                    Agrium, as the Dry Valley mine owner,                                                                         (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36
                                                    is ultimately responsible for the final                   The EIS will analyze the Proposed                   CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about
                                                    reclamation at Dry Valley. Agrium                       Action (approving the MRP and lease                   historic and cultural resources within
                                                    would place the final cover/growth                      modifications) and the No Action                      the area potentially affected by the
                                                    media on the partially backfilled Panel                 Alternative. Other mining alternatives                proposed action will assist the BLM in
                                                    D pit and haul road and revegetate the                  may be considered that could resolve                  identifying and evaluating impacts to
                                                    reclaimed surface.                                      important issues or provide mitigation                such resources.
                                                       Mining below the water table would                   of potential impacts.
                                                                                                                                                                     The BLM will consult with Indian
                                                    occur at the south and north ends of the                  The tentative EIS project schedule is
                                                                                                                                                                  tribes on a government-to-government
                                                    Caldwell Canyon South Pit; mining in                    as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                  basis in accordance with Executive
                                                    these areas is expected to occur during                   • Begin public scoping period and                   Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal
                                                    years 6–8 and 14–16 of production,                      meetings: Early 2017.                                 concerns, including impacts on Indian
                                                    respectively. In these locations, P4                      • Estimated date for draft EIS and                  trust assets and treaty rights and
                                                    would install ground water interception                 associated comment period: Fall 2017.                 potential impacts to cultural resources,
                                                    wells to draw down the water table to                     • Final EIS publication: Spring 2018.               will be given due consideration.
                                                    an elevation below the planned pit                        • Record of Decision: Spring 2018.
                                                    bottom. This would reduce the amount                                                                             Federal, State, and local agencies,
                                                    of ground water flowing into the pit.                   Scoping                                               along with Tribes and other
                                                    The water would be stored in water                                                                            stakeholders that may be interested in or
                                                                                                               The purpose of the public scoping
                                                    management ponds until water quality                                                                          affected by the proposed Caldwell
                                                                                                            process is to identify relevant issues that
                                                    meets infiltration criteria at which point                                                                    Canyon Mine are invited to participate
                                                                                                            will influence the scope of the
                                                    it would be infiltrated into the ground                                                                       in the scoping process. Agencies with
                                                                                                            environmental analysis, including
                                                    water. The sequestered water would not                                                                        regulatory authority or special expertise,
                                                                                                            alternatives, and guide the process for
                                                    be allowed to leave the mine site other                                                                       if eligible, may request or be requested
                                                                                                            developing the EIS. The BLM has
                                                    than by infiltration or evaporation. With                                                                     by the BLM to participate in the
                                                                                                            identified some preliminary issues
                                                    the exception of one culverted haul road                                                                      development of the environmental
                                                                                                            associated with the Caldwell Canyon
                                                    crossing, P4’s MRP proposes to avoid                                                                          analysis as a cooperating agency.
                                                                                                            Mine Project:
                                                    Caldwell Creek, which is a small non-                      • Potential impacts to groundwater                    Before including your address, phone
                                                    connected/non-fish bearing stream that                  and surface water quantity and quality;               number, email address, or other
                                                    runs between the north and south pits.                     • Impacts to vegetation including rare             personal identifying information in your
                                                       All overburden and waste material                    species and species important to Native               comment, you should be aware that
                                                    would be backfilled into mine pit panels                Americans;                                            your entire comment—including your
                                                    and reclaimed using an earthen cap to                      • Impacts to soil and mineral                      personal identifying information—may
                                                    reduce infiltration of precipitation,                   resources;                                            be made publicly available at any time.
                                                    groundwater and surface water, and to                      • Impacts to air quality from vehicle              While you can ask us in your comment
                                                    support establishment of vegetation to                  emissions and fugitive dust;                          to withhold your personal identifying
                                                    meet post-closure land use goals. The                      • Potential reductions of wildlife and             information from public review, we
                                                    proposed cap is a capillary break design                their habitats, including the Greater                 cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                    consisting of 1.5 feet of topsoil and 2.5               Sage-Grouse;                                          do so.
                                                    feet of alluvium and colluvium over two                    • Potential reductions in livestock
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                                                                                                                                                                    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
                                                    feet of cherty material taken from                      grazing;
                                                    overburden at the site.                                    • Impacts to wetlands and riparian                 Mary D’Aversa,
                                                       Mining operations at Caldwell                        habitat;                                              District Manager, BLM Idaho Falls District.
                                                    Canyon would disturb approximately                         • Impacts to recreation including                  [FR Doc. 2017–05679 Filed 3–21–17; 8:45 am]
                                                    1,530 acres. Some mine facilities (ore                  hunting and camping;                                  BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P




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Document Created: 2017-03-22 03:59:12
Document Modified: 2017-03-22 03:59:12
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 of intent.
DatesThis notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until April 21, 2017. 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
ContactDavid Alderman, BLM Pocatello Field
FR Citation82 FR 14742 

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