83 FR 13483 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Pebble Project
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 61 (March 29, 2018)
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 61 (March 29, 2018)
| Page Range | 13483-13484 | |
| FR Document | 2018-06369 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 13483-13484] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-06369] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Pebble Project AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with the proposed Pebble open pit mine in wetlands, streams and Ocean near Cook Inlet. The EIS will assess potential effects of a range of alternatives. DATES: Public scoping meetings are tentatively scheduled in Anchorage, Homer, Dillingham, King Salmon (Naknek), Iliamna (Newhalen), Nondalton, and Kokhanok (Iguigig) will occur in mid-April 2018. Information about these meetings and meeting dates will be published locally, posted at http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com, and available by contacting the Corps. ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 6898, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, AK 99506-0898. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action and the Draft EIS should be referred to: Mr. Shane McCoy, Regulatory Division, telephone: (907) 753-2715 at http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com or by mail to the above address. To be added to the project mailing list and for additional information, please visit the following website: http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for a Department of the Army permit was submitted by the Pebble Limited Partnership pursuant Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) on December 22, 2017, and was advertised in a Public Notice, POA-2017-271, on January 5, 2018. The public notice is available on Alaska District's public website at: http://www.poa.usace.army.mil//Portals/34/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/2018/POA-2017-271%20Pebble_PN.pdf?ver=2018-01-05-153755-640. 1. Description of the Proposed Project. Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) is proposing to develop the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry deposit as an open-pit mine, with associated infrastructure, in southwest Alaska, north of Lake Iliamna. The proposed project would require approximately four years to construct, with a projected mine life of approximately 20 years. Major project components include excavation of an open pit, that ultimately would be approximately 6,500 feet long by 5,500 feet wide, with depths between 1,330 and 1,750 feet; a tailings impoundment with 1.1 billion tons storage volume; a low grade ore stockpile with the capacity to store up to 330 million tons; an open pit overburden stockpile; a mill facility processing approximately 160,000 tons of ore per day; a natural gas-fired power plant with a total connected load of 230 mega-watt (MW), supplied by a 188-mile, 10 to 12-inch diameter, natural gas pipeline across Cook Inlet and Iliamna Lake to the Mine Site; and transportation infrastructure including a 30-mile road from the Mine Site to a ferry terminal on the north shore of Iliamna Lake, an 18-mile crossing with an ice-breaking ferry to a terminal on the south shore of Iliamna Lake, and a 35-mile road to the proposed Amakdedori Port on Cook Inlet. The proposed mine and related facilities would have a total footprint of approximately 5.9 square miles. The pipeline route would originate on the Kenai Peninsula, connecting to the existing gas pipeline infrastructure near Happy Valley. A metering station would be constructed at the off-take point and the pipeline would then follow south along the Sterling Highway for 9 miles to a gas-fired compressor station north of Anchor Point. The compressor station would feed a 94-mile subsea pipeline from the east shore of Cook Inlet to Amakdedori Port on the west shore. A second gas- fired compressor station would be located at the port site. The pipeline route would then follow a 30-mile mine access road to the south shore of Iliamna Lake, where the pipeline would enter Iliamna Lake for approximately 18 miles. The pipeline would come ashore at on the north shore of the lake, where it would follow the mine access road to the Mine Site. 2. Alternatives. A range of alternatives of the proposed action will be identified, and those found to be reasonable and practicable will be fully evaluated in the DEIS, including: the no action alternative, the applicant's proposed alternative, alternative mine locations and mine plans, alternative mining methods and processes, alternatives that may result in avoidance and minimization of impacts, and mitigation measures not in the proposed action. However, this list is not exclusive and additional alternatives may be considered for inclusion. 3. Scoping Process and Public Involvement. The scoping period will extend from April 1, 2018, through April 30, 2018. Scoping is conducted to assist in determining the scope of analysis, significant issues and alternatives to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS. Comments should be as specific as possible. Additional public involvement will be sought through the implementation of the public involvement plan and the agency coordination team. 4. Significant Issues. Numerous issues will be analyzed in depth in the DEIS related to the effects of the proposed Pebble mine and associated infrastructure construction, operation, and closure. These issues will include, but will not be limited to, the following: wetlands, water quality, air quality, hazardous materials, fish and wildlife, vegetation, cultural resources, food production, land use, needs and welfare of the people (socioeconomics including commercial fishing and tourism), recreation, general environmental [[Page 13484]] concerns, historic properties, navigation, and safety. 5. Additional Review and Consultation. Additional review and consultation which will be incorporated into the preparation of the DEIS will include, but are not necessarily limited to coordination under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, Essential Fish Habitat coordination; consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act; and consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act Shelia Newman, Deputy Chief, Regional Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District. [FR Doc. 2018-06369 Filed 3-28-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3720-58-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2018 / Notices 13483
Individuals are required to self-report about these meetings and meeting dates Amakdedori Port on Cook Inlet. The
any arrests, charges or convictions that will be published locally, posted at proposed mine and related facilities
would keep the individual from http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com, and would have a total footprint of
obtaining or maintaining a favorable available by contacting the Corps. approximately 5.9 square miles.
suitability or fitness determination. ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of The pipeline route would originate on
Programs impacted are referenced Engineers, P.O. Box 6898, Joint Base the Kenai Peninsula, connecting to the
within the 42 U.S. Code § 13041 and Elmendorf Richardson, AK 99506–0898. existing gas pipeline infrastructure near
include impacted individuals such as FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Happy Valley. A metering station would
employees, DoD contractors, providers, Questions about the proposed action be constructed at the off-take point and
adults residing in a family child care and the Draft EIS should be referred to: the pipeline would then follow south
home, volunteers, and others with Mr. Shane McCoy, Regulatory Division, along the Sterling Highway for 9 miles
regular reoccurring contact with telephone: (907) 753–2715 at http:// to a gas-fired compressor station north
children. www.pebbleprojecteis.com or by mail to of Anchor Point. The compressor station
Affected Public: Individuals or the above address. To be added to the would feed a 94-mile subsea pipeline
Households. project mailing list and for additional from the east shore of Cook Inlet to
Annual Burden Hours: 1,250. information, please visit the following Amakdedori Port on the west shore. A
Number of Respondents: 5,000. website: http://www.pebble second gas-fired compressor station
Responses per Respondent: 1. projecteis.com. would be located at the port site. The
Annual Responses: 5,000. pipeline route would then follow a 30-
Average Burden per Response: 15 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An
application for a Department of the mile mine access road to the south shore
minutes. of Iliamna Lake, where the pipeline
Frequency: On occasion. Army permit was submitted by the
Pebble Limited Partnership pursuant would enter Iliamna Lake for
Respondents are DoD contractors, approximately 18 miles. The pipeline
family child care providers, family child Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33
U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the would come ashore at on the north
care adult family members residing in shore of the lake, where it would follow
the home, and specified volunteers who Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33
U.S.C. 403) on December 22, 2017, and the mine access road to the Mine Site.
provide child care services for children
was advertised in a Public Notice, POA– 2. Alternatives. A range of alternatives
under age 18. This form will be initiated
2017–271, on January 5, 2018. The of the proposed action will be
by DoD staff and will be maintained in
public notice is available on Alaska identified, and those found to be
the initiating DoD offices and/or
District’s public website at: http:// reasonable and practicable will be fully
appropriate Human Resources or
www.poa.usace.army.mil//Portals/34/ evaluated in the DEIS, including: the no
Security Offices.
docs/regulatory/publicnotices/2018/ action alternative, the applicant’s
Dated: March 23, 2018. POA-2017-271%20Pebble_ proposed alternative, alternative mine
Aaron T. Siegel, PN.pdf?ver=2018-01-05-153755-640. locations and mine plans, alternative
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison 1. Description of the Proposed Project. mining methods and processes,
Officer, Department of Defense. Pebble Limited Partnership (PLP) is alternatives that may result in avoidance
[FR Doc. 2018–06284 Filed 3–28–18; 8:45 am] proposing to develop the Pebble copper- and minimization of impacts, and
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P gold-molybdenum porphyry deposit as mitigation measures not in the proposed
an open-pit mine, with associated action. However, this list is not
infrastructure, in southwest Alaska, exclusive and additional alternatives
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE north of Lake Iliamna. The proposed may be considered for inclusion.
project would require approximately 3. Scoping Process and Public
Department of the Army, Corps of four years to construct, with a projected Involvement. The scoping period will
Engineers mine life of approximately 20 years. extend from April 1, 2018, through
Major project components include April 30, 2018. Scoping is conducted to
Intent To Prepare an Environmental
excavation of an open pit, that assist in determining the scope of
Impact Statement (EIS) for the Pebble
ultimately would be approximately analysis, significant issues and
Project
6,500 feet long by 5,500 feet wide, with alternatives to be analyzed in depth in
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, depths between 1,330 and 1,750 feet; a the DEIS. Comments should be as
Department of Defense. tailings impoundment with 1.1 billion specific as possible. Additional public
ACTION: Notice of intent. tons storage volume; a low grade ore involvement will be sought through the
stockpile with the capacity to store up implementation of the public
SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. to 330 million tons; an open pit involvement plan and the agency
Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) overburden stockpile; a mill facility coordination team.
intends to prepare a Draft processing approximately 160,000 tons 4. Significant Issues. Numerous issues
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) of ore per day; a natural gas-fired power will be analyzed in depth in the DEIS
to assess the potential social, economic, plant with a total connected load of 230 related to the effects of the proposed
and environmental impacts associated mega-watt (MW), supplied by a 188- Pebble mine and associated
with the proposed Pebble open pit mine mile, 10 to 12-inch diameter, natural gas infrastructure construction, operation,
in wetlands, streams and Ocean near pipeline across Cook Inlet and Iliamna and closure. These issues will include,
Cook Inlet. The EIS will assess potential Lake to the Mine Site; and but will not be limited to, the following:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
effects of a range of alternatives. transportation infrastructure including a wetlands, water quality, air quality,
DATES: Public scoping meetings are 30-mile road from the Mine Site to a hazardous materials, fish and wildlife,
tentatively scheduled in Anchorage, ferry terminal on the north shore of vegetation, cultural resources, food
Homer, Dillingham, King Salmon Iliamna Lake, an 18-mile crossing with production, land use, needs and welfare
(Naknek), Iliamna (Newhalen), an ice-breaking ferry to a terminal on of the people (socioeconomics including
Nondalton, and Kokhanok (Iguigig) will the south shore of Iliamna Lake, and a commercial fishing and tourism),
occur in mid-April 2018. Information 35-mile road to the proposed recreation, general environmental
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![13484 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2018 / Notices
concerns, historic properties, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For available to the U.S. Department of
navigation, and safety. specific questions related to collection Education (ED). Specifically, under the
5. Additional Review and activities, please contact Patricia Kilby- current data collection, ED collects CSP
Consultation. Additional review and Robb, 202–260–2225. grant award information from grantees
consultation which will be incorporated SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The (State agencies, charter management
into the preparation of the DEIS will Department of Education (ED), in organizations, and some schools) to
include, but are not necessarily limited accordance with the Paperwork create a new database of current CSP-
to coordination under Section 401 of the Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. funded charter schools. Together, these
Clean Water Act, Essential Fish Habitat 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general data allow ED to monitor CSP grant
coordination; consultation under public and Federal agencies with an performance and analyze data related to
Section 7 of the Endangered Species opportunity to comment on proposed, accountability for academic purposes,
Act; and consultation under the revised, and continuing collections of financial integrity, and program
National Historic Preservation Act information. This helps the Department effectiveness.
Shelia Newman, assess the impact of its information Dated: March 23, 2018.
Deputy Chief, Regional Regulatory Division,
collection requirements and minimize Tomakie Washington,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District. the public’s reporting burden. It also Acting Director, Information Collection
[FR Doc. 2018–06369 Filed 3–28–18; 8:45 am]
helps the public understand the Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Department’s information collection Officer, Office of Management.
BILLING CODE 3720–58–P
requirements and provide the requested [FR Doc. 2018–06244 Filed 3–28–18; 8:45 am]
data in the desired format. ED is BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
soliciting comments on the proposed
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION information collection request (ICR) that
[Docket No.: ED–2018–ICCD–0030] is described below. The Department of FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
Education is especially interested in COMMISSION
Agency Information Collection public comment addressing the
Activities; Comment Request; following issues: (1) Is this collection [OMB 3060–0819]
Expanding Opportunity Through necessary to the proper functions of the
Quality Charter Schools Program: Department; (2) will this information be Information Collection Being Reviewed
Technical Assistance To Support processed and used in a timely manner; by the Federal Communications
Monitoring, Evaluation, Data (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; Commission
Collection, and Dissemination of Best (4) how might the Department enhance AGENCY: Federal Communications
Practices the quality, utility, and clarity of the Commission.
information to be collected; and (5) how ACTION: Notice and request for
AGENCY: Office of Innovation and might the Department minimize the
Improvement (OII), Department of comments.
burden of this collection on the
Education (ED). respondents, including through the use SUMMARY: As part of its continuing effort
ACTION: Notice. of information technology. Please note to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
that written comments received in required by the Paperwork Reduction
SUMMARY: In accordance with the response to this notice will be Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is considered public records. Communications Commission (FCC or
proposing an extension of an existing Title of Collection: Expanding the Commission) invites the general
information collection. Opportunity through Quality Charter public and other Federal agencies to
DATES: Interested persons are invited to Schools Program: Technical Assistance take this opportunity to comment on the
submit comments on or before May 29, to Support Monitoring, Evaluation, Data following information collection.
2018. Collection, and Dissemination of Best Comments are requested concerning:
ADDRESSES: To access and review all the Practices. whether the proposed collection of
documents related to the information OMB Control Number: 1855–0016. information is necessary for the proper
collection listed in this notice, please Type of Review: An extension of an performance of the functions of the
use http://www.regulations.gov by existing information collection. Commission, including whether the
searching the Docket ID number ED– Respondents/Affected Public: State, information shall have practical utility;
2018–ICCD–0030. Comments submitted Local, and Tribal Governments. the accuracy of the Commission’s
in response to this notice should be Total Estimated Number of Annual burden estimate; ways to enhance the
submitted electronically through the Responses: 102. quality, utility, and clarity of the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// Total Estimated Number of Annual information collected; ways to minimize
www.regulations.gov by selecting the Burden Hours: 136. the burden of the collection of
Docket ID number or via postal mail, Abstract: This request is for an information on the respondents,
commercial delivery, or hand delivery. extension of OMB approval to collect including the use of automated
Please note that comments submitted by data for the Expanding Opportunity collection techniques or other forms of
fax or email and those submitted after through Quality Charter Schools information technology; and ways to
the comment period will not be Program: Technical Assistance to further reduce the information
accepted. Written requests for Support Monitoring, Evaluation, Data collection burden on small business
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
information or comments submitted by Collection, and Dissemination of Best concerns with fewer than 25 employees.
postal mail or delivery should be Practices formerly titled Charter Schools The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a
addressed to the Director of the Program (CSP) Grant Awards Database. collection of information unless it
Information Collection Clearance This current data collection is being displays a currently valid control
Division, U.S. Department of Education, coordinated with the EDFacts Initiative number. No person shall be subject to
400 Maryland Avenue SW, LBJ, Room to reduce respondent burden and fully any penalty for failing to comply with
216–44, Washington, DC 20202–4537. utilize data submitted by States and a collection of information subject to the
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Document Created: 2018-03-29 00:26:12
Document Modified: 2018-03-29 00:26:12
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent. | |
| Dates | Public scoping meetings are tentatively scheduled in Anchorage, Homer, Dillingham, King Salmon (Naknek), Iliamna (Newhalen), Nondalton, and Kokhanok (Iguigig) will occur in mid-April 2018. Information about these meetings and meeting dates will be published locally, posted at http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com, and available by contacting the Corps. | |
| Contact | Questions about the proposed action and the Draft EIS should be referred to: Mr. Shane McCoy, Regulatory Division, telephone: (907) 753-2715 at http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 13483 |
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