82_FR_41816 82 FR 41647 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix Project, Lander County, NV

82 FR 41647 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix Project, Lander County, NV

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 169 (September 1, 2017)

Page Range41647-41648
FR Document2017-18696

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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and is announcing the beginning of the public comment period to solicit public comments on the Draft EIS. Newmont USA Limited (Newmont) is proposing to expand its existing Phoenix Mine, which is located approximately 12 miles southwest of the Town of Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. The Greater Phoenix Project (Project) includes expanding the life of the Phoenix mine from 2040 to 2063; expanding the boundary of the mine by 10,611 acres from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres; and increasing surface disturbance by 3,497 acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 acres, of which 5,896 acres involve public lands and 5,975 acres are private land.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 169 (Friday, September 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41647-41648]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-18696]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB00000.L51100000GN0000LVEMF1604460.211B.16XMO#4500106342]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Greater Phoenix Project, Lander County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount 
Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and is announcing the beginning of 
the public comment period to solicit public comments on the Draft EIS. 
Newmont USA Limited (Newmont) is proposing to expand its existing 
Phoenix Mine, which is located approximately 12 miles southwest of the 
Town of Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. The Greater Phoenix 
Project (Project) includes expanding the life of the Phoenix mine from 
2040 to 2063; expanding the boundary of the mine by 10,611 acres from 
8,228 acres to 18,839 acres; and increasing surface disturbance by 
3,497 acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 acres, of which 5,896 acres involve 
public lands and 5,975 acres are private land.

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 date(s) and location(s) of any public 
meetings or other public involvement activities will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, local 
media, newspapers, mailings, and the BLM Web site at: goo.gl/JwgwXA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Project by any of the 
following methods:
     Web site: goo.gl/JwgwXA.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 775-635-4034.
     Mail: BLM Mount Lewis Field Office, 50 Bastian Road, 
Battle Mountain, NV 89820.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Mount 
Lewis Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Gabriel, Project Manager; 
telephone: 775-635-4000; address: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, 
Nevada 89820; or email: [email protected]. 
Contact Christine Gabriel to have your name added to BLM's mailing 
list. 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: Newmont is proposing to expand its existing 
operations in the Phoenix Mine area, located approximately 12 miles 
southwest of the Town of Battle

[[Page 41648]]

Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. The existing authorized Phoenix Mine 
is a gold and copper mining and beneficiation operation. Mill-grade 
oxide gold ore is beneficiated to gold concentrate at the Phoenix Mill 
facility, which also produces small amounts of copper and silver 
concentrates as trace elements. Mill tailings are deposited in a 
tailings storage facility. Copper-containing ore is beneficiated using 
heap leaching followed by solvent extraction and electrowinning of 
copper from the leach solution. Current authorized facilities in the 
Phoenix Mine area include the following: Post-reclamation pit 
highwalls; pit backfills; ore stockpiles; Waste Rock Facilities (WRFs); 
a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF); growth media stockpiles; borrow 
areas; Heap Leach Facilities (HLF); evaporation and surge ponds; 
utility and haul roads; ancillary facilities; utility corridors; and 
other facilities.
    Newmont is proposing to expand the mine--called the Greater Phoenix 
Project--by amending its current Phoenix Mine Plan of Operations. 
Within the expanded area, surface disturbance would increase by 3,497 
acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 acres, which includes 5,896 acres located 
on public lands administered by the BLM Mount Lewis Field Office. If 
the BLM approves an amendment to the authorized Plan of Operations with 
its existing permits, mining activities at the Phoenix Mine would be 
extended approximately 24 years. Active closure and reclamation 
activities are anticipated to extend approximately 13 years beyond the 
operational phase. Additionally, more than 600 years of post-closure 
monitoring would follow final reclamation.
    The specific details of the Proposed Project include the following: 
Extension of mine life from 2040 to 2063; expansion of the Plan of 
Operations boundary by 10,611 acres, from 8,228 acres to 18,839 acres, 
of which 10,132 acres are BLM-managed public lands; expansion of the 
Phoenix Pit area through consolidation of existing pit areas and by 
increasing the depth of the pit by 380 feet, from 4,990 feet above mean 
sea level (amsl) to a lower depth of 4,610 feet amsl; expansion of the 
Natomas Waste Rock Facility by 347 acres, from 997 acres to 1,344 
acres; expansion of the Phoenix TSF by 1,801 acres, from 1,396 acres to 
3,197 acres; expansion of the Phoenix HLC by 79 acres, from 536 acres 
to 615 acres; expansion of the clay soil borrow area by 819 acres, from 
469 acres to 1,288 acres; development of an additional soil borrow area 
(483 acres); modification of the mine closure approach (including the 
management of pit water through treatment to meet applicable water 
quality standards and subsequently put to beneficial use in 
perpetuity); and realignment of Buffalo Valley Road, as well as 
realignment of a service power line, fiber optic line, and natural gas 
pipeline. Under the Proposed Project, four existing rights-of-way would 
require amendments to existing FLPMA grants.
    The Draft EIS, through scoping, has identified and analyzed impacts 
to the following resource areas: Water resources (including surface 
water, groundwater, and geochemistry); air quality; vegetation 
resources (including noxious weed species and special status species); 
wildlife (including migratory birds and special status species-Greater 
sage-grouse); livestock grazing management; land use and access; visual 
resources; cultural resources; Native American cultural concerns; 
geological resources (including minerals and soils); paleontological 
resources; recreation; social and economic values; hazardous materials; 
wetland and riparian zones. Not including existing disturbance, the 
Proposed Action would impact Greater sage-grouse (GSG) habitat 
including 200.1 acres in Priority Habitat Management Area; 1,900.1 
acres in General Habitat Management Area; 1,684.5 acres in Other 
Habitat Management Area; and 10,165.5 acres in Non-Habitat Area. 
Approximately half of the GSG habitat disturbance would be on private 
land.
    The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the Proposed Project's direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition 
to the Proposed Project, three alternatives were analyzed, including 
the Enhanced/Mechanical Evaporation Cell Alternative, Treat Water for 
Agricultural Cropping on Private Land Alternative, and the No Action 
Alternative.
    On September 29, 2015, a Notice of Intent was published in the 
Federal Register (80 FR 58501) inviting scoping comments on the 
Proposed Action. The BLM held a public scoping meeting in Battle 
Mountain on October 14, 2015. The BLM received a total of seven scoping 
comment letters during the scoping period. Concerns raised included 
impacts to water resources, air quality, wildlife, and recreation.
    The BLM has utilized and coordinated the NEPA scoping and comment 
process to help fulfill the public involvement requirements under the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as 
provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), and the agency continues to do so. The 
information about historical and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the Proposed Project has assisted the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of 
both NEPA and the NHPA.
    The BLM has consulted and continues to consult with Indian tribes 
on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 
13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts to Indian 
trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources have been 
analyzed in the Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local agencies, along 
with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or 
affected by the Proposed Project, are invited to participate in the 
comment process.
    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.

Jon D. Sherve,
Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-18696 Filed 8-31-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Notices 41647 Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2. Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800– and is announcing the beginning of the Michaela Noble, 877–8339 to contact the above public comment period to solicit public individual during normal business comments on the Draft EIS. Newmont Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance. hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a USA Limited (Newmont) is proposing to day, 7 days a week, to leave a message expand its existing Phoenix Mine, [FR Doc. 2017–18526 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] or question with the above individual. which is located approximately 12 miles BILLING CODE 4334–63–P You will receive a reply during normal southwest of the Town of Battle business hours. Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bridger The Greater Phoenix Project (Project) Coal Company has applied to the BLM includes expanding the life of the Bureau of Land Management for a coal exploration license on public Phoenix mine from 2040 to 2063; land to the northwest of the Jim Bridger expanding the boundary of the mine by [LLWY922000–L13200000–EL0000–17X, 10,611 acres from 8,228 acres to 18,839 WYW185631] power plant and underground coal mine. The purpose of the exploration acres; and increasing surface Notice of Invitation To Participate; Coal program is to obtain structural and disturbance by 3,497 acres, from 8,374 Exploration License Application quality information on the coal. The to 11,871 acres, of which 5,896 acres WYW185631, Wyoming BLM regulations at 43 CFR 3410.2 involve public lands and 5,975 acres are require the publication of an invitation private land. AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, to participate in the coal exploration in DATES: To ensure comments will be Interior. the Federal Register. The Federal coal considered, the BLM must receive ACTION: Notice. resources included in the exploration written comments on the Draft EIS license application are located in the within 45 days following the date the SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Mineral following described lands in Wyoming: Environmental Protection Agency Leasing Act of 1920, as amended by the publishes its Notice of Availability in Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming the Federal Register. The date(s) and of 1976, and the Bureau of Land T. 21 N., R. 101 W., location(s) of any public meetings or Management (BLM) regulations, all sec. 4; other public involvement activities will interested parties are hereby invited to sec. 8, NE1/4, E1/2NW1/4. be announced at least 15 days in participate with Bridger Coal Company T. 22 N., R. 101 W., advance through public notices, media on a pro rata cost-sharing basis, in its sec. 28, lots 5 thru 7, 10 thru 14, and NW1/ releases, local media, newspapers, program for the exploration of coal 4SE1/4; mailings, and the BLM Web site at: deposits owned by the United States of sec. 32, lots 1, 2, 7 thru 10, 14, and 15. goo.gl/JwgwXA. America in Sweetwater County, The area described contains 1,560.85 acres. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments Wyoming. The proposed exploration program is related to the Project by any of the DATES: This notice of invitation will be fully described and will be conducted following methods: published in the Rock Springs Rocket- pursuant to an exploration plan to be • Web site: goo.gl/JwgwXA. Miner once each week for two approved by the BLM. • Email: blm_nv_bmdo_ consecutive weeks beginning the week Authority: 43 CFR 3410.2–1(c)(1). GreaterPhoenixProject@blm.gov. of September 1, 2017. Any party • Fax: 775–635–4034. electing to participate in this Mary Jo Rugwell, • Mail: BLM Mount Lewis Field exploration program must send written State Director. Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle notice to both the BLM and Bridger Coal [FR Doc. 2017–18505 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] Mountain, NV 89820. Company, as provided in the ADDRESSES BILLING CODE 4310–22–P Documents pertinent to this proposal section below, no later than October 2, may be examined at the Mount Lewis 2017. Field Office. ADDRESSES: Copies of the exploration DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: plan are available for review during Christine Gabriel, Project Manager; normal business hours in the following Bureau of Land Management telephone: 775–635–4000; address: 50 offices (serialized under number [LLNVB00000.L51100000GN0000LVEMF Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada WYW185631): BLM, Wyoming State 1604460.211B.16XMO#4500106342] 89820; or email: blm_nv_bmdo_ Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, GreaterPhoenixProject@blm.gov. Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009; and, BLM, Notice of Availability of the Draft Contact Christine Gabriel to have your Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway Environmental Impact Statement for name added to BLM’s mailing list. 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming the Proposed Greater Phoenix Project, Persons who use a telecommunications 82901. The written notice should be Lander County, NV device for the deaf (TDD) may call the sent to the following addresses: Bridger AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800– Coal Company, c/o Interwest Mining Interior. 877–8339 to contact the above Co., Attn: Scott M. Child, 1407 W. North individual during normal business ACTION: Notice. Temple, #310, Salt Lake City, UT 84116 hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a and the BLM Wyoming State Office, SUMMARY: In compliance with the day, 7 days a week, to leave a message Branch of Solid Minerals, Attn: Jackie National Environmental Policy Act of or question with the above individual. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Madson, P.O. Box 1828, Cheyenne, 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the You will receive a reply during normal Wyoming 82003. Federal Land Policy and Management business hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Newmont Jackie Madson, Land Law Examiner, at Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to expand its existing 307–775–6258 or jmadson@blm.gov. Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle operations in the Phoenix Mine area, Persons who use a telecommunications Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Draft located approximately 12 miles device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) southwest of the Town of Battle VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:53 Aug 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM 01SEN1

41648 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 169 / Friday, September 1, 2017 / Notices Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. the management of pit water through within the area potentially affected by The existing authorized Phoenix Mine is treatment to meet applicable water the Proposed Project has assisted the a gold and copper mining and quality standards and subsequently put BLM in identifying and evaluating beneficiation operation. Mill-grade to beneficial use in perpetuity); and impacts to such resources in the context oxide gold ore is beneficiated to gold realignment of Buffalo Valley Road, as of both NEPA and the NHPA. concentrate at the Phoenix Mill facility, well as realignment of a service power The BLM has consulted and continues which also produces small amounts of line, fiber optic line, and natural gas to consult with Indian tribes on a copper and silver concentrates as trace pipeline. Under the Proposed Project, government-to-government basis in elements. Mill tailings are deposited in four existing rights-of-way would accordance with Executive Order 13175 a tailings storage facility. Copper- require amendments to existing FLPMA and other policies. Tribal concerns, containing ore is beneficiated using grants. including impacts to Indian trust assets heap leaching followed by solvent The Draft EIS, through scoping, has and potential impacts to cultural extraction and electrowinning of copper identified and analyzed impacts to the resources have been analyzed in the from the leach solution. Current following resource areas: Water Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local authorized facilities in the Phoenix resources (including surface water, agencies, along with tribes and other Mine area include the following: Post- groundwater, and geochemistry); air stakeholders that may be interested in or reclamation pit highwalls; pit backfills; quality; vegetation resources (including affected by the Proposed Project, are ore stockpiles; Waste Rock Facilities noxious weed species and special status invited to participate in the comment (WRFs); a Tailings Storage Facility species); wildlife (including migratory process. (TSF); growth media stockpiles; borrow birds and special status species-Greater Before including your address, phone areas; Heap Leach Facilities (HLF); sage-grouse); livestock grazing number, email address, or other evaporation and surge ponds; utility and management; land use and access; personal identifying information in your haul roads; ancillary facilities; utility visual resources; cultural resources; comment, you should be aware that corridors; and other facilities. Native American cultural concerns; your entire comment—including your Newmont is proposing to expand the geological resources (including minerals personal identifying information—may mine—called the Greater Phoenix and soils); paleontological resources; be made publicly available at any time. Project—by amending its current recreation; social and economic values; While you can ask us in your comment Phoenix Mine Plan of Operations. hazardous materials; wetland and to withhold your personal identifying Within the expanded area, surface riparian zones. Not including existing information from public review, we disturbance would increase by 3,497 disturbance, the Proposed Action would cannot guarantee that we will be able to acres, from 8,374 to 11,871 acres, which impact Greater sage-grouse (GSG) do so. includes 5,896 acres located on public habitat including 200.1 acres in Priority Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. lands administered by the BLM Mount Habitat Management Area; 1,900.1 acres Lewis Field Office. If the BLM approves in General Habitat Management Area; Jon D. Sherve, an amendment to the authorized Plan of 1,684.5 acres in Other Habitat Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office. Operations with its existing permits, Management Area; and 10,165.5 acres in [FR Doc. 2017–18696 Filed 8–31–17; 8:45 am] mining activities at the Phoenix Mine Non-Habitat Area. Approximately half BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P would be extended approximately 24 of the GSG habitat disturbance would be years. Active closure and reclamation on private land. activities are anticipated to extend The Draft EIS describes and analyzes DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR approximately 13 years beyond the the Proposed Project’s direct, indirect, operational phase. Additionally, more and cumulative impacts on all affected National Park Service than 600 years of post-closure resources. In addition to the Proposed [NPS–WASO–NRNHL–23947; monitoring would follow final Project, three alternatives were PPWOCRADI0, PCU00RP14.R50000] reclamation. analyzed, including the Enhanced/ The specific details of the Proposed Mechanical Evaporation Cell National Register of Historic Places; Project include the following: Extension Alternative, Treat Water for Agricultural Notification of Pending Nominations of mine life from 2040 to 2063; Cropping on Private Land Alternative, and Related Actions expansion of the Plan of Operations and the No Action Alternative. boundary by 10,611 acres, from 8,228 On September 29, 2015, a Notice of AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. acres to 18,839 acres, of which 10,132 Intent was published in the Federal ACTION: Notice. acres are BLM-managed public lands; Register (80 FR 58501) inviting scoping comments on the Proposed Action. The SUMMARY: The National Park Service is expansion of the Phoenix Pit area BLM held a public scoping meeting in soliciting comments on the significance through consolidation of existing pit Battle Mountain on October 14, 2015. of properties nominated before July 29, areas and by increasing the depth of the The BLM received a total of seven 2017, for listing or related actions in the pit by 380 feet, from 4,990 feet above scoping comment letters during the National Register of Historic Places. mean sea level (amsl) to a lower depth of 4,610 feet amsl; expansion of the scoping period. Concerns raised DATES: Comments should be submitted Natomas Waste Rock Facility by 347 included impacts to water resources, air by September 18, 2017. acres, from 997 acres to 1,344 acres; quality, wildlife, and recreation. ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent via expansion of the Phoenix TSF by 1,801 The BLM has utilized and U.S. Postal Service and all other carriers coordinated the NEPA scoping and to the National Register of Historic sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES acres, from 1,396 acres to 3,197 acres; expansion of the Phoenix HLC by 79 comment process to help fulfill the Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St. acres, from 536 acres to 615 acres; public involvement requirements under NW., MS 7228, Washington, DC 20240. expansion of the clay soil borrow area the National Historic Preservation Act SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The by 819 acres, from 469 acres to 1,288 (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided properties listed in this notice are being acres; development of an additional soil in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), and the agency considered for listing or related actions borrow area (483 acres); modification of continues to do so. The information in the National Register of Historic the mine closure approach (including about historical and cultural resources Places. Nominations for their VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:53 Aug 31, 2017 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01SEN1.SGM 01SEN1


Document Created: 2017-09-01 01:50:30
Document Modified: 2017-09-01 01:50:30
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 date(s) and location(s) of any public meetings or other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, local media, newspapers, mailings, and the BLM Web site at: goo.gl/JwgwXA.
ContactChristine Gabriel, Project Manager;
FR Citation82 FR 41647 
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