82_FR_47023 82 FR 46830 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Gold Bar Mine Project, Eureka County, Nevada

82 FR 46830 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Gold Bar Mine Project, Eureka County, Nevada

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)

Page Range46830-46831
FR Document2017-21599

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) Mount Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Gold Bar Mine Project (Project) in Eureka County, Nevada, and by this Notice is announcing its availability.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46830-46831]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21599]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB00000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF1703550.211B.17XMO#4500108947]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Gold Bar Mine Project, Eureka County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

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) Mount Lewis 
Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Gold Bar Mine Project 
(Project) in Eureka County, Nevada, and by this Notice is announcing 
its availability.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS for the Project and other documents 
pertinent to this proposal may be reviewed at the Mount Lewis Field 
Office: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820. The document is 
available for download at http://bit.ly/2gyfZms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Gabriel--Project Manager, 
telephone 775-635-4000; address 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, 
Nevada 89820; email [email protected]. 
Contact Christine Gabriel to have your name added to the project 
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: McEwen Mining Inc. (MMI) proposes to develop 
a gold mine in the southwest portion of the Roberts Mountains 
approximately 30 miles northwest of Eureka, Nevada. The mine plan 
boundary encompasses 5,362 acres of public lands and 199 acres of 
private lands located in Eureka County, Nevada. The proposed Project 
would include four open pits; waste rock dump areas (WRDAs); crushing, 
screening, and agglomeration facilities; heap leach pads (HLP), an 
associated process solution pond, and an event pond; an adsorption, 
desorption, and recovery (ADR) plant including barren and pregnant 
solution tanks; ancillary and other facilities including an explosive 
storage area, ammonium nitrate prill silos, liquid natural gas (LNG) 
Cryostorage or compressed natural gas (CNG) generators with a switch 
station, a truck shop and wash bay, a ready line, landfill, laydown 
areas, water and power infrastructure, buildings, yards, parking, 
storage, growth media stockpiles, production water wells (GBPW-210 and 
GBPW-211) and an associated water supply pipeline, groundwater 
monitoring wells (GBMW-01, GBMW-03, and GBMW-04), communication 
facilities, potable water and fire water facilities, septic systems, 
and fencing; and mine access roads (Three Bars Road, Atlas Haul Road, 
North Roberts Creek Road, Bypass Road [NVN-91566], and Roberts Creek 
Road). The Project would disturb 1,154 acres, including re-disturbing 
420 acres of existing, non-reclaimed disturbance from a previous 
abandoned mining operation; 718 acres of new disturbance; and 16 acres 
of new disturbance as a result of exploration. Of the 1,154 acres, 185 
acres would be on private land, and 969 acres would be on public land.
    The proposed pit depths would not intercept groundwater. No pit 
dewatering would be necessary and no pit lakes are anticipated to form 
after mining operations end. The Final EIS, through scoping and a 45-
day public comment period, has identified and analyzed impacts to the 
following resources areas: Water resources, air quality, vegetation 
resources, wildlife, grazing management, land use and access, 
aesthetics (noise and visual), cultural resources, paleontological 
resources, geological resources (including minerals and soils), 
recreation, social and economic values, hazardous materials, Native 
American cultural concerns, and wild horses. The proposed project area 
does not have any lands with wilderness characteristics (LWCs). The 
Pony Express National Historic Trail crosses existing Three Bars and 
North Roberts Creek Roads; however, public and recreational access to 
the National Historic Trail would not be affected by mining activities.
    The FEIS describes and analyzes the proposed Project's direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition 
to the proposed Project, four alternatives were analyzed including the 
25kV Overhead Distribution Line Alternative, the Three Bars Road/Atlas 
Haul Road as Only Access Alternative, the Mount Hope and North Roberts 
Creek Road for Light Vehicle Traffic Alternative, and the No Action 
Alternative. The Draft EIS was released for a 45-day public comment 
period, which ended April 17, 2017. A public meeting was held in 
Eureka, Nevada on March 22, 2017. A total of 2,178 comment letters were 
received from the general public, agencies, special interest groups, 
businesses and organizations. The FEIS responds to all comments 
received. These public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying 
text, but did not significantly change the analysis. Based on the 
analysis in the FEIS, the BLM has determined that the preferred 
alternative is the approval of the Project, with accompanying 
mitigation measures and voluntary applicant-committed

[[Page 46831]]

environmental protection measures. The BLM has used and coordinated the 
NEPA scoping and comment process to help fulfill the public involvement 
process under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 
306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)--and continues to do so. The 
information about historic 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 Title 54 of 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 potential impacts 
to areas of critical cultural and spiritual significance and potential 
impacts to cultural resources have been analyzed in the Final EIS.
    Following a 30-day Final EIS availability and review period, a 
Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued. The decision reached in the 
ROD is subject to appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals. The 30-
day appeal period begins with the issuance of the ROD.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.

Joseph S. Moskiewicz,
Acting Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-21599 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P



                                                    46830                               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices

                                                                                                                                                             Receipt of application                                 Permit issuance
                                                     Permit number                                    Applicant                                             Federal Register notice                                      date

                                                    26612C .............      U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preven-                    82 FR 28348; June 21, 2017 .............................          July 26, 2017.
                                                                                 tion.
                                                    19878C    .............   Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center ....................          82   FR   25615;   June 2, 2017 ...............................   July 17, 2017.
                                                    24212C    .............   University of Alaska Fairbanks ...........................      82   FR   25616;   June 2, 2017 ...............................   July 27, 2017.
                                                    64163A    .............   NH&S Holdings, LLC ..........................................   82   FR   24382;   May 26, 2017 ..............................    July 27, 2017.
                                                    93674B    .............   International Crane Foundation ..........................       82   FR   28348;   June 21, 2017 .............................    July 28, 2017.
                                                    71315A    .............   Arizona Tortoise Compound ...............................       79   FR   65981;   November 6, 2014 ......................        February 5, 2015.



                                                      Authority: We issue this notice under the                    Christine Gabriel to have your name                             185 acres would be on private land, and
                                                    authority of the ESA, as amended (16 U.S.C.                    added to the project mailing list.                              969 acres would be on public land.
                                                    1531 et seq.).                                                 Persons who use a telecommunications                               The proposed pit depths would not
                                                    Joyce Russell,                                                 device for the deaf (TDD) may call the                          intercept groundwater. No pit
                                                    Government Information Specialist, Branch                      Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–                           dewatering would be necessary and no
                                                    of Permits, Division of Management                             877–8339 to contact the above                                   pit lakes are anticipated to form after
                                                    Authority.                                                     individual during normal business                               mining operations end. The Final EIS,
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–21556 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am]                    hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a                          through scoping and a 45-day public
                                                    BILLING CODE 4333–15–P                                         day, 7 days a week, to leave a message                          comment period, has identified and
                                                                                                                   or question with the above individual.                          analyzed impacts to the following
                                                                                                                   You will receive a reply during normal                          resources areas: Water resources, air
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                     business hours.                                                 quality, vegetation resources, wildlife,
                                                                                                                                                                                   grazing management, land use and
                                                    Bureau of Land Management                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:       McEwen                         access, aesthetics (noise and visual),
                                                                                                                   Mining Inc. (MMI) proposes to develop                           cultural resources, paleontological
                                                    [LLNVB00000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF                             a gold mine in the southwest portion of
                                                    1703550.211B.17XMO#4500108947]
                                                                                                                                                                                   resources, geological resources
                                                                                                                   the Roberts Mountains approximately                             (including minerals and soils),
                                                    Notice of Availability of the Final                            30 miles northwest of Eureka, Nevada.                           recreation, social and economic values,
                                                    Environmental Impact Statement for                             The mine plan boundary encompasses                              hazardous materials, Native American
                                                    the Gold Bar Mine Project, Eureka                              5,362 acres of public lands and 199                             cultural concerns, and wild horses. The
                                                    County, Nevada                                                 acres of private lands located in Eureka                        proposed project area does not have any
                                                                                                                   County, Nevada. The proposed Project                            lands with wilderness characteristics
                                                    AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,                           would include four open pits; waste                             (LWCs). The Pony Express National
                                                    Interior.                                                      rock dump areas (WRDAs); crushing,                              Historic Trail crosses existing Three
                                                    ACTION: Notice of availability.                                screening, and agglomeration facilities;                        Bars and North Roberts Creek Roads;
                                                                                                                   heap leach pads (HLP), an associated                            however, public and recreational access
                                                    SUMMARY:   In compliance with the                              process solution pond, and an event                             to the National Historic Trail would not
                                                    National Environmental Policy Act of                           pond; an adsorption, desorption, and                            be affected by mining activities.
                                                    1969, as amended (NEPA), and the                               recovery (ADR) plant including barren                              The FEIS describes and analyzes the
                                                    Federal Land Policy and Management                             and pregnant solution tanks; ancillary                          proposed Project’s direct, indirect, and
                                                    Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of                         and other facilities including an                               cumulative impacts on all affected
                                                    Land Management (BLM) Mount Lewis                              explosive storage area, ammonium                                resources. In addition to the proposed
                                                    Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada,                         nitrate prill silos, liquid natural gas                         Project, four alternatives were analyzed
                                                    has prepared a Final Environmental                             (LNG) Cryostorage or compressed                                 including the 25kV Overhead
                                                    Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Gold                           natural gas (CNG) generators with a                             Distribution Line Alternative, the Three
                                                    Bar Mine Project (Project) in Eureka                           switch station, a truck shop and wash                           Bars Road/Atlas Haul Road as Only
                                                    County, Nevada, and by this Notice is                          bay, a ready line, landfill, laydown                            Access Alternative, the Mount Hope and
                                                    announcing its availability.                                   areas, water and power infrastructure,                          North Roberts Creek Road for Light
                                                    DATES: The BLM will not issue a final                          buildings, yards, parking, storage,                             Vehicle Traffic Alternative, and the No
                                                    decision on the proposal for a minimum                         growth media stockpiles, production                             Action Alternative. The Draft EIS was
                                                    of 30 days after the date that the                             water wells (GBPW–210 and GBPW–                                 released for a 45-day public comment
                                                    Environmental Protection Agency                                211) and an associated water supply                             period, which ended April 17, 2017. A
                                                    publishes its Notice of Availability in                        pipeline, groundwater monitoring wells                          public meeting was held in Eureka,
                                                    the Federal Register.                                          (GBMW–01, GBMW–03, and GBMW–                                    Nevada on March 22, 2017. A total of
                                                    ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS for the                          04), communication facilities, potable                          2,178 comment letters were received
                                                    Project and other documents pertinent                          water and fire water facilities, septic                         from the general public, agencies,
                                                    to this proposal may be reviewed at the                        systems, and fencing; and mine access                           special interest groups, businesses and
                                                    Mount Lewis Field Office: 50 Bastian                           roads (Three Bars Road, Atlas Haul                              organizations. The FEIS responds to all
                                                    Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                   Road, North Roberts Creek Road, Bypass                          comments received. These public
                                                    The document is available for download                         Road [NVN–91566], and Roberts Creek                             comments resulted in the addition of
                                                    at http://bit.ly/2gyfZms.                                      Road). The Project would disturb 1,154                          clarifying text, but did not significantly
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                               acres, including re-disturbing 420 acres                        change the analysis. Based on the
                                                    Christine Gabriel—Project Manager,                             of existing, non-reclaimed disturbance                          analysis in the FEIS, the BLM has
                                                    telephone 775–635–4000; address 50                             from a previous abandoned mining                                determined that the preferred
                                                    Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada                          operation; 718 acres of new disturbance;                        alternative is the approval of the Project,
                                                    89820; email blm_nv_bmdo_mlfo_gold_                            and 16 acres of new disturbance as a                            with accompanying mitigation measures
                                                    bar_project_eis@blm.gov. Contact                               result of exploration. Of the 1,154 acres,                      and voluntary applicant-committed


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                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices                                                 46831

                                                    environmental protection measures. The                  5. Outstanding action jackets: None.                  INTERNATIONAL TRADE
                                                    BLM has used and coordinated the                                                                              COMMISSION
                                                                                                              In accordance with Commission
                                                    NEPA scoping and comment process to
                                                    help fulfill the public involvement                     policy, subject matter listed above, not              [Investigation Nos. 701–TA–585–586 and
                                                                                                            disposed of at the scheduled meeting,                 731–TA–1383–1384 (Preliminary)]
                                                    process under the National Historic
                                                    Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C.                      may be carried over to the agenda of the
                                                                                                                                                                  Stainless Steel Flanges From China
                                                    306108) as provided in 36 CFR                           following meeting.
                                                                                                                                                                  and India
                                                    800.2(d)(3)—and continues to do so.                       By order of the Commission.
                                                    The information about historic and                                                                            Determinations
                                                                                                              Issued: October 4, 2017.
                                                    cultural resources within the area                      William R. Bishop,                                       On the basis of the record 1 developed
                                                    potentially affected by the proposed                                                                          in the subject investigations, the United
                                                    Project has assisted the BLM in                         Supervisory Hearings and Information
                                                                                                                                                                  States International Trade Commission
                                                                                                            Officer.
                                                    identifying and evaluating impacts to                                                                         (‘‘Commission’’) determines, pursuant
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2017–21765 Filed 10–4–17; 4:15 pm]
                                                    such resources in the context of both                                                                         to the Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the Act’’),
                                                    NEPA and Title 54 of the NHPA.                          BILLING CODE 7020–02–P                                that there is a reasonable indication that
                                                      The BLM has consulted and continues                                                                         an industry in the United States is
                                                    to consult with Indian tribes on a                                                                            materially injured by reason of imports
                                                    government-to-government basis in                       INTERNATIONAL TRADE                                   of stainless steel flanges from China and
                                                    accordance with Executive Order 13175                   COMMISSION                                            India, provided for in subheadings
                                                    and other policies. Tribal concerns,                                                                          7307.21.10 and 7307.21.50 of the
                                                    including potential impacts to areas of                 [USITC SE–17–047]                                     Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
                                                    critical cultural and spiritual                                                                               United States, that are alleged to be sold
                                                    significance and potential impacts to                   Government in the Sunshine Act                        in the United States at less than fair
                                                    cultural resources have been analyzed                   Meeting Notice                                        value (‘‘LTFV’’) and to be subsidized by
                                                    in the Final EIS.                                                                                             the governments of China and India.
                                                      Following a 30-day Final EIS                          AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:  United
                                                    availability and review period, a Record                                                                      Commencement of Final Phase
                                                                                                            States International Trade Commission.                Investigations
                                                    of Decision (ROD) will be issued. The
                                                    decision reached in the ROD is subject                  TIME AND DATE:      October 13, 2017 at                  Pursuant to section 207.18 of the
                                                    to appeal to the Interior Board of Land                 11:00 a.m.                                            Commission’s rules, the Commission
                                                    Appeals. The 30-day appeal period                       PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW.,                    also gives notice of the commencement
                                                    begins with the issuance of the ROD.                    Washington, DC 20436, Telephone:                      of the final phase of its investigations.
                                                       Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.                            (202) 205–2000.                                       The Commission will issue a final phase
                                                                                                                                                                  notice of scheduling, which will be
                                                    Joseph S. Moskiewicz,                                   STATUS:    Open to the public.                        published in the Federal Register as
                                                    Acting Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field                                                                       provided in section 207.21 of the
                                                    Office.                                                 MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
                                                                                                                                                                  Commission’s rules, upon notice from
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–21599 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am]             1. Agendas for future meetings: None.                 the Department of Commerce
                                                    BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P                                  2. Minutes.                                           (‘‘Commerce’’) of affirmative
                                                                                                            3. Ratification List.                                 preliminary determinations in the
                                                                                                                                                                  investigations under sections 703(b) or
                                                    INTERNATIONAL TRADE                                     4. Vote in Inv. Nos. 731–TA–1186 and                  733(b) of the Act, or, if the preliminary
                                                    COMMISSION                                                  1187 (Review) (Stilbenic Optical                  determinations are negative, upon
                                                                                                                Brightening Agent from China and                  notice of affirmative final
                                                    [USITC SE–17–048]                                           Taiwan). The Commission is                        determinations in those investigations
                                                                                                                currently scheduled to complete                   under sections 705(a) or 735(a) of the
                                                    Government in the Sunshine Act
                                                    Meeting Notice                                              and file its determinations and                   Act. Parties that filed entries of
                                                                                                                views of the Commission by                        appearance in the preliminary phase of
                                                    AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING:   United                        October 27, 2017.                                 the investigations need not enter a
                                                    States International Trade Commission.                  5. Outstanding action jackets: None.                  separate appearance for the final phase
                                                    TIME AND DATE: October 16, 2017 at                                                                            of the investigations. Industrial users,
                                                    2:30 p.m.                                                 In accordance with Commission                       and, if the merchandise under
                                                    PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW.,
                                                                                                            policy, subject matter listed above, not              investigation is sold at the retail level,
                                                    Washington, DC 20436, Telephone:                        disposed of at the scheduled meeting,                 representative consumer organizations
                                                    (202) 205–2000.                                         may be carried over to the agenda of the              have the right to appear as parties in
                                                                                                            following meeting.                                    Commission antidumping and
                                                    STATUS: Open to the public.
                                                                                                              By order of the Commission.                         countervailing duty investigations. The
                                                    MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:
                                                                                                                                                                  Secretary will prepare a public service
                                                    1. Agendas for future meetings: None.                     Issued: October 4, 2017.
                                                                                                                                                                  list containing the names and addresses
                                                    2. Minutes.                                             William R. Bishop,                                    of all persons, or their representatives,
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    3. Ratification List.
                                                                                                            Supervisory Hearings and Information                  who are parties to the investigations.
                                                    4. Vote in Inv. Nos. 701–TA–480 and
                                                                                                            Officer.
                                                        731–TA–1188 (Review) (High                                                                                Background
                                                                                                            [FR Doc. 2017–21764 Filed 10–4–17; 4:15 pm]
                                                        Pressure Steel Cylinders from                                                                               On August 16, 2017, Core Pipe
                                                        China). The Commission is                           BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
                                                                                                                                                                  Products, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois and
                                                        currently scheduled to complete
                                                        and file its determinations and                                                                             1 The record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the
                                                        views of the Commission by                                                                                Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19
                                                        October 31, 2017.                                                                                         CFR 207.2(f)).



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Document Created: 2017-10-06 00:08:51
Document Modified: 2017-10-06 00:08:51
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 availability.
DatesThe BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
ContactChristine Gabriel--Project Manager,
FR Citation82 FR 46830 

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