82_FR_61781 82 FR 61533 - Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana Montanore Project

82 FR 61533 - Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana Montanore Project

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 248 (December 28, 2017)

Page Range61533-61534
FR Document2017-28060

The Kootenai National Forest (KNF) will prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on a proposed federal action, which is approval of a Plan of Operations for the Evaluation Phase of the Montanore Project (Project) The Project is a proposed underground copper and silver mine located about 18 miles south of Libby, near the Cabinet Mountains within the Libby Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana. The Montanore Project is proposed by Montanore Minerals Corp. (MMC), a subsidiary of Hecla Mining Co.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017) 
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 248 (Thursday, December 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61533-61534]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28060]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln County, Montana Montanore 
Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The Kootenai National Forest (KNF) will prepare a Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on a proposed federal action, 
which is approval of a Plan of Operations for the Evaluation Phase of 
the Montanore Project (Project) The Project is a proposed underground 
copper and silver mine located about 18 miles south of Libby, near the 
Cabinet Mountains within the Libby Ranger District, Kootenai National 
Forest, Lincoln County, Montana. The Montanore Project is proposed by 
Montanore Minerals Corp. (MMC), a subsidiary of Hecla Mining Co.

DATES: Scoping is not required for an SEIS (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). The 
Forest Service is not inviting comments at this time. The draft SEIS is 
expected to be available for public review and comment in the first 
quarter of 2018 and the final SEIS is expected to be issued in the 
second quarter of 2018. The comment period for the draft SEIS will be 
for 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes 
the notice of availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Kootenai National Forest, 31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, MT 
59923.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Hagarty, Project Coordinator, 
Kootenai National Forest, Supervisor's Office, 31374 U.S. Highway 2, 
Libby, MT 59923-3022. Inquiries can be made by phone at (406) 293-6211 
or via email at [email protected].

[[Page 61534]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This SEIS and related proposed federal 
action, which is the approval of a Plan of Operations for the 
Evaluation Phase of the Montanore Project, is being completed 
consistent with the Organic Administration Act, the Locatable Minerals 
Regulations (36 CFR 228 Subpart A), and the Multiple Use Mining Act. 
The KNF issued a Joint Final Environmental Impact Statement (JFEIS) in 
December 2015 and a Record of Decision (ROD) in February 2016. The 
Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) also issued a ROD in 
February 2016 that provided the State's approval of the Evaluation 
Phase of the project. In a U.S. District Court opinion issued on May 
30, 2017 in a consolidated case (Save Our Cabinets v. U.S. Dep't of 
Agric., No. CV-16-53-M-DWM and Libby Placer Mining Co. v. U.S. Forest 
Serv., No. CV 16-56-M-DWM), the U.S. District Court ruled that the 
Forest Service violated, in various respects, the Clean Water Act, the 
Organic Administration Act, the National Forest Management Act, and the 
National Environmental Policy Act by approving the Montanore Project. 
In a separate opinion in Save Our Cabinets v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife 
Serv. (No. CV 15-69-M-DWM) issued concurrently with the first, the 
Court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA) because the No Jeopardy conclusions 
regarding bull trout and grizzly bears were flawed and that the Forest 
Service violated the ESA by relying on the flawed Biological Opinions. 
The Court vacated the Forest Service decision approving the project and 
remanded the 2016 ROD and JFEIS back to the Forest Service for further 
action, ``either through issuing a new Record of Decision that approves 
only the Evaluation Phase or one that again addresses the entire 
project.'' Furthermore, the Court stated that the primary problem with 
the 2016 ROD was that it approved the entire project, not just the 
Evaluation Phase. The Court also remanded to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service its 2014 Biological Opinions. The SEIS will describe the 
activities that would occur during the Evaluation Phase of the 
Montanore Project, clarify what effects would occur as a result of 
those activities, and update resource analyses if there are significant 
new circumstances or information relevant to environmental concerns and 
bearing on the Evaluation Phase or its impacts in order to ensure a 
complete analysis of the environmental effects of the proposed federal 
action.
    Following is a brief summary of the Evaluation Phase of the 
Montanore Project, as it would occur under Alternative 3 selected by 
the KNF in its 2016 ROD. Detailed descriptions of the alternatives 
studied in detail are provided in the Joint FEIS and ROD, which can be 
can be viewed or downloaded from the following website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/kootenai/landmanagement/projects.

Evaluation Phase

    The purposes of the Evaluation Phase would be to: (1) Expand the 
knowledge of the mineralized zones of the deposit; (2) assess and 
define the mineralized zone within established valid existing rights; 
and (3) collect, provide, and analyze additional geotechnical, 
hydrological, and other information necessary for preparation of a mine 
plan for subsequent phases. An updated mine Plan of Operations would be 
required should MMC decide, based on the assessment of the orebody and 
other information collected during the Evaluation Phase, to pursue 
subsequent phases of the project. Information collected during the 
Evaluation Phase would be used to confirm and update the analysis for 
subsequent phases that was provided in the JFEIS, should the KNF 
receive an updated mine Plan of Operations for subsequent project 
phases.
    The Evaluation Phase is anticipated to last 18 to 24 months. MMC 
would dewater the full extent of the existing Libby Adit and develop an 
additional 10,500 feet of drifts and 35 drill stations above the 
currently defined ore zones. MMC would drill ahead of the drifts and 
keep all drill stations 300 feet from the Rock Lake Fault and 1,000 
feet from Rock Lake. The drill core would be used to support resource 
modeling, mine planning, metallurgical testing, preliminary hydrology 
assessment, and rock mechanic studies for the full Montanore Project. 
An estimated 287,000 tons (140,000 cubic yards) of waste rock would be 
generated and stored on private land at the Libby Adit Site. The waste 
rock storage areas would be lined to collect runoff from the area and 
seepage through the waste rock.
    Water from the Libby Adit and from the waste rock storage area 
would be treated before discharging to MPDES-permitted outfalls. The 
MPDES permit MT0030279, which the DEQ issued in 2017, sets effluent 
limits and establishes monitoring for wastewater discharges from the 
Libby Adit Water Treatment Plant. Treated water would be discharged to 
a percolation pond located at the Libby Adit Site.
    MMC would use Tier 4 generators, if available, or Tier 3 generators 
for all Evaluation Phase activities and would be subject to the limits, 
emission controls, and mitigations required by its Air Quality Permit 
(MAQP #3788-00). MMC would also use Tier 4 engines, if available, or 
Tier 3 engines on underground mobile equipment and use ultra-low sulfur 
diesel fuel in generator and underground mobile equipment engines 
during the Evaluation Phase.
    In addition to underground activities, MMC would conduct field 
studies on National Forest System lands between Poorman and Little 
Cherry Creeks. The field studies would include a site reconnaissance 
and a drilling and sampling program to evaluate site geology, 
groundwater conditions and water quality. Surface disturbances would be 
reclaimed.
    If MMC does not pursue subsequent phases of the project or if those 
phases are not approved by the Forest Service, MMC would install a 
concrete-reinforced hydraulic plug in the adit, reconstruct the 
original adit plug, remove all surface facilities, and regrade and 
revegetate the disturbed areas. Monitoring that would occur during the 
Evaluation Phase is described in Appendix C of the JFEIS.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The USDA Forest Service is the Lead Agency for this project. Other 
agencies may become a Cooperating Agency as the SEIS progresses.

Responsible Official

    Christopher Savage, Forest Supervisor Kootenai National Forest, 
31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923 is the Responsible Official for 
the Montanore Project.

    Dated: December 8, 2017.
Chris French,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-28060 Filed 12-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P

61533 Notices Federal Register Vol. 82, No. 248 Thursday, December 28, 2017 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER under the United States Grain Standards for designation to provide official contains documents other than rules or Act (USGSA), as amended. The services in the geographic areas proposed rules that are applicable to the realignment of offices within the U.S. presently serviced by Kankakee, State public. Notices of hearings and investigations, Department of Agriculture authorized Grain, Alabama, and Washington. committee meetings, agency decisions and by the Secretary’s Memorandum dated Applications were due by August 2, rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency November 14, 2017, eliminates the 2017. statements of organization and functions are Grain Inspection, Packers and Because the current official agencies, examples of documents appearing in this Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) as a Kankakee, State Grain, Alabama, and section. standalone agency. The grain inspection Washington, were the only applicants activities formerly part of GIPSA are for designation to provide official now organized under the Agricultural services in these areas, GIPSA did not DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Marketing Service (AMS). ask for additional comments. DATES: Applicable Date: January 1, GIPSA evaluated the designation Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 2018. criteria in section 7(f) of the USGSA (7 U.S.C. 79(f)) and determined that Designation for the Essex, Illinois; ADDRESSES: Jacob Thein, Compliance Kankakee, State Grain, Alabama, and Savage, Minnesota; Alabama; and Officer, USDA, AMS, FGIS, QACD, Washington are qualified to provide Washington Areas 10383 North Ambassador Drive, Kansas official services in the geographic areas City, MO 64153 specified in the Federal Register on July AGENCY: Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 3, 2017. These designations to provide Jacob Thein, 816–866–2223, official services in the specified areas of ACTION: Notice of designation. Jacob.D.Thein@usda.gov or Kankakee, Alabama, and Washington SUMMARY: AMS is announcing the FGIS.QACD@usda.gov. are effective January 1, 2018, to designations of Kankakee Grain Read Applications: All applications December 31, 2022. The designation to Inspection, Inc. (Kankakee); State Grain and comments are available for public provide official services in the specified Inspection, Inc. (State Grain); Alabama inspection at the office above during area of State Grain is effective January Department of Agriculture and regular business hours (7 CFR 1.27(c)). 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018. Industries (Alabama); and the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the July Interested persons may obtain official Washington Department of Agriculture 3, 2017, Federal Register (82 FR 30817– services by contacting this agency at the (Washington) to provide official services 30820), GIPSA requested applications following telephone number: Designation Designation Official agency Headquarters location and telephone start end Kankakee ......................................... Essex, IL, 815–365–2268 ......................................................................... 1/1/2018 12/31/2022 State Grain ....................................... Savage, MN, 952–808–8566 .................................................................... 1/1/2018 12/31/2018 Alabama ........................................... Montgomery, AL, 251–438–2549 .............................................................. 1/1/2018 12/31/2022 Washington ...................................... Olympia, WA, 253–820–3756 ................................................................... 1/1/2018 12/31/2022 Section 7(f) of the USGSA authorizes ACTION:Notice of intent to prepare a Service is not inviting comments at this the Secretary to designate a qualified supplemental environmental impact time. The draft SEIS is expected to be applicant to provide official services in statement. available for public review and a specified area after determining that comment in the first quarter of 2018 and the applicant is better able than any SUMMARY: The Kootenai National Forest the final SEIS is expected to be issued other applicant to provide such official (KNF) will prepare a Supplemental in the second quarter of 2018. The services (7 U.S.C. 79 (f)). Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) comment period for the draft SEIS will Dated: December 21, 2017. on a proposed federal action, which is be for 45 days from the date the Bruce Summers, approval of a Plan of Operations for the Environmental Protection Agency Acting Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Evaluation Phase of the Montanore publishes the notice of availability in Service. Project (Project) The Project is a the Federal Register. proposed underground copper and [FR Doc. 2017–28033 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am] ADDRESSES: Kootenai National Forest, silver mine located about 18 miles south BILLING CODE 3410–02–P of Libby, near the Cabinet Mountains 31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, MT within the Libby Ranger District, 59923. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: County, Montana. The Montanore Lynn Hagarty, Project Coordinator, Forest Service Project is proposed by Montanore Kootenai National Forest, Supervisor’s Minerals Corp. (MMC), a subsidiary of Office, 31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, Kootenai National Forest, Lincoln Hecla Mining Co. MT 59923–3022. Inquiries can be made County, Montana Montanore Project DATES: Scoping is not required for an by phone at (406) 293–6211 or via email AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. SEIS (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). The Forest at lhagarty@fs.fed.us. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Dec 27, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1

61534 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 248 / Thursday, December 28, 2017 / Notices SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This SEIS Following is a brief summary of the MMC would use Tier 4 generators, if and related proposed federal action, Evaluation Phase of the Montanore available, or Tier 3 generators for all which is the approval of a Plan of Project, as it would occur under Evaluation Phase activities and would Operations for the Evaluation Phase of Alternative 3 selected by the KNF in its be subject to the limits, emission the Montanore Project, is being 2016 ROD. Detailed descriptions of the controls, and mitigations required by its completed consistent with the Organic alternatives studied in detail are Air Quality Permit (MAQP #3788–00). Administration Act, the Locatable provided in the Joint FEIS and ROD, MMC would also use Tier 4 engines, if Minerals Regulations (36 CFR 228 which can be can be viewed or available, or Tier 3 engines on Subpart A), and the Multiple Use downloaded from the following website: underground mobile equipment and use Mining Act. The KNF issued a Joint https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in generator Final Environmental Impact Statement kootenai/landmanagement/projects. and underground mobile equipment (JFEIS) in December 2015 and a Record engines during the Evaluation Phase. Evaluation Phase of Decision (ROD) in February 2016. In addition to underground activities, The Montana Department of The purposes of the Evaluation Phase MMC would conduct field studies on Environmental Quality (DEQ) also would be to: (1) Expand the knowledge National Forest System lands between issued a ROD in February 2016 that of the mineralized zones of the deposit; Poorman and Little Cherry Creeks. The provided the State’s approval of the (2) assess and define the mineralized field studies would include a site Evaluation Phase of the project. In a zone within established valid existing reconnaissance and a drilling and U.S. District Court opinion issued on rights; and (3) collect, provide, and sampling program to evaluate site May 30, 2017 in a consolidated case analyze additional geotechnical, geology, groundwater conditions and (Save Our Cabinets v. U.S. Dep’t of hydrological, and other information water quality. Surface disturbances Agric., No. CV–16–53–M–DWM and necessary for preparation of a mine plan would be reclaimed. for subsequent phases. An updated If MMC does not pursue subsequent Libby Placer Mining Co. v. U.S. Forest mine Plan of Operations would be phases of the project or if those phases Serv., No. CV 16–56–M–DWM), the U.S. required should MMC decide, based on are not approved by the Forest Service, District Court ruled that the Forest the assessment of the orebody and other MMC would install a concrete- Service violated, in various respects, the information collected during the reinforced hydraulic plug in the adit, Clean Water Act, the Organic Evaluation Phase, to pursue subsequent reconstruct the original adit plug, Administration Act, the National Forest phases of the project. Information remove all surface facilities, and regrade Management Act, and the National collected during the Evaluation Phase and revegetate the disturbed areas. Environmental Policy Act by approving would be used to confirm and update Monitoring that would occur during the the Montanore Project. In a separate the analysis for subsequent phases that Evaluation Phase is described in opinion in Save Our Cabinets v. U.S. was provided in the JFEIS, should the Appendix C of the JFEIS. Fish & Wildlife Serv. (No. CV 15–69–M– KNF receive an updated mine Plan of DWM) issued concurrently with the Lead and Cooperating Agencies Operations for subsequent project first, the Court ruled that the U.S. Fish phases. The USDA Forest Service is the Lead and Wildlife Service violated the The Evaluation Phase is anticipated to Agency for this project. Other agencies Endangered Species Act (ESA) because last 18 to 24 months. MMC would may become a Cooperating Agency as the No Jeopardy conclusions regarding dewater the full extent of the existing the SEIS progresses. bull trout and grizzly bears were flawed Libby Adit and develop an additional and that the Forest Service violated the Responsible Official 10,500 feet of drifts and 35 drill stations ESA by relying on the flawed Biological above the currently defined ore zones. Christopher Savage, Forest Supervisor Opinions. The Court vacated the Forest MMC would drill ahead of the drifts and Kootenai National Forest, 31374 U.S. Service decision approving the project keep all drill stations 300 feet from the Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923 is the and remanded the 2016 ROD and JFEIS Rock Lake Fault and 1,000 feet from Responsible Official for the Montanore back to the Forest Service for further Rock Lake. The drill core would be used Project. action, ‘‘either through issuing a new to support resource modeling, mine Dated: December 8, 2017. Record of Decision that approves only planning, metallurgical testing, Chris French, the Evaluation Phase or one that again preliminary hydrology assessment, and Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest addresses the entire project.’’ rock mechanic studies for the full System. Furthermore, the Court stated that the Montanore Project. An estimated [FR Doc. 2017–28060 Filed 12–27–17; 8:45 am] primary problem with the 2016 ROD 287,000 tons (140,000 cubic yards) of BILLING CODE 3411–15–P was that it approved the entire project, waste rock would be generated and not just the Evaluation Phase. The Court stored on private land at the Libby Adit also remanded to the U.S. Fish and Site. The waste rock storage areas would Wildlife Service its 2014 Biological be lined to collect runoff from the area DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Opinions. The SEIS will describe the and seepage through the waste rock. Submission for OMB Review; activities that would occur during the Water from the Libby Adit and from Comment Request Evaluation Phase of the Montanore the waste rock storage area would be Project, clarify what effects would occur treated before discharging to MPDES- The Department of Commerce will as a result of those activities, and update permitted outfalls. The MPDES permit submit to the Office of Management and sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES resource analyses if there are significant MT0030279, which the DEQ issued in Budget (OMB) for clearance the new circumstances or information 2017, sets effluent limits and establishes following proposal for collection of relevant to environmental concerns and monitoring for wastewater discharges information under the provisions of the bearing on the Evaluation Phase or its from the Libby Adit Water Treatment Paperwork Reduction Act. impacts in order to ensure a complete Plant. Treated water would be Agency: U.S. Census Bureau. analysis of the environmental effects of discharged to a percolation pond Title: Annual Business Survey. the proposed federal action. located at the Libby Adit Site. OMB Control Number: 0607–XXXX. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Dec 27, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\28DEN1.SGM 28DEN1


Document Created: 2017-12-28 00:43:41
Document Modified: 2017-12-28 00:43:41
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 to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement.
DatesScoping is not required for an SEIS (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)). The Forest Service is not inviting comments at this time. The draft SEIS is expected to be available for public review and comment in the first quarter of 2018 and the final SEIS is expected to be issued in the second quarter of 2018. The comment period for the draft SEIS will be for 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability in the Federal Register.
ContactLynn Hagarty, Project Coordinator, Kootenai National Forest, Supervisor's Office, 31374 U.S. Highway 2, Libby, MT 59923-3022. Inquiries can be made by phone at (406) 293-6211 or via email at [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 61533 
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