83 FR 61668 - Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sevier Playa Potash Project, Utah
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 231 (November 30, 2018)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 231 (November 30, 2018)
| Page Range | 61668-61670 | |
| FR Document | 2018-26076 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 231 (Friday, November 30, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 61668-61670] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-26076] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUTW02000-L51010000-ER0000-LVRWJ18J5120-18X--UTU-90095] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sevier Playa Potash Project, Utah AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and Secretarial Order 3355, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is releasing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Crystal Peak Minerals Inc.'s (CPM) Sevier Playa Potash Project (Project), and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period. DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Project Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will [[Page 61669]] announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Draft EIS for the Project by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Fax: (435) 743-3136. Mail: Bureau of Land Management Fillmore Field Office, Attn: Clara Stevens--Sevier Playa Potash Project Comments, 95 East 500 North, Fillmore, UT 84631. Electronic versions of the Project Draft EIS, appendices, and supporting documents can be downloaded from ePlanning at https://bit.ly/2CZPeWy. Paper and digital copies of the Project Draft EIS and supporting documents are available for review at: (1) The BLM Fillmore Field Office at the above address; (2) The BLM West Desert District Office at 2370 South Decker Lake Blvd., West Valley City, UT; (3) The Fillmore City Library at 75 West Center, Fillmore, UT; and (4) The Delta City Library at 76 North 200 West, Delta, UT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clara Stevens, Project Manager, telephone (435) 743-3119; address 95 East 500 North, Fillmore, UT 84631; email [email protected]. 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: On March 12, 2014, the BLM published a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register (79 FR 14078). The Project would be located in central Millard County in southwestern Utah. The Sevier Playa is a large terminal playa that is normally dry on the surface and contains subsurface potassium-bearing saline brines. The playa is approximately 26 miles long and averages 8 miles wide. CPM holds or through agreement controls the rights to develop and operate potassium mineral leases on 117,814 acres of Federal lands administered by the BLM and an additional 6,409 acres of state lands. CPM proposes to exercise their lease rights by constructing and operating the Project, which would produce at its peak approximately 372,000 tons per year of potassium sulfate (K 2 SO4 ), also known as sulfate of potash (SOP), and related minerals over the 32-year lifetime of the Project. The Project is a potash mine proposed on 124,223 acres of Federal and State mineral leases. The proposal includes mining facilities located on-lease with off-lease supporting infrastructure. On-lease facilities include evaporation ponds; a brine extraction system (trenches, wells, and conveyance canals); a recharge system (trenches, canals, and Sevier River diversion); a waste product storage area (purge brine and tailings); access roads, and processing facilities. The off-lease ROW facilities, proposed on approximately 4,135 acres, include power and communication lines, a natural gas pipeline, a rail loadout facility and rail spur; water supply wells; communication towers; preconcentration ponds; segments of recharge canals and the playa perimeter road; and access roads. Three gravel pits would also be developed. Potassium-bearing brines would be extracted from trenches and wells on the Sevier Playa, and routed through a series of ponds, using solar evaporation to concentrate the brine. The preconcentration ponds would concentrate the brine causing halite (NaCl, table salt) and other non- commercial salts to precipitate. These salts would be stored in the preconcentration ponds. The saturated brine would be transferred to the production ponds for further evaporation, causing potassium-rich salts to precipitate. The production ponds would be harvested year-round, with the potassium-rich salts moved directly to a facility for processing into SOP. The SOP would be trucked to the rail loadout facility for distribution. Purge brine containing primarily magnesium chloride (MgCl2 ) would be removed from the production ponds before harvesting begins and would be piped to an on-playa purge brine storage pond. Process by-products (solid tailings) from the processing facility would be trucked to the on-playa tailings storage area. The Draft EIS analyzes CPM's Mining Plan, prepared for development of Federal potassium mineral leases acquired in 2011 and potash mineral leases acquired on State lands. These leases were amalgamated under BLM casefile number UTU-88387. In addition, the Draft EIS analyzes CPM's request for rights-of-way (ROWs) to construct various ancillary facilities on public lands in the vicinity of the mineral leases, but outside the lease boundary. CPM prepared a Plan of Development (POD) for the ROWs that they have requested. The Draft EIS also analyzes CPM's request to purchase mineral materials for gravel to support construction and operation of the Project. Although the BLM may only make decisions pertaining to public lands managed by the BLM, the EIS analyzes the complete Project including portions located on state and private lands. This Draft EIS evaluates, in detail, the no action alternative, the proposed action, and five action alternatives. Alternative 1 would route a cross-country segment of the off-lease 69-kV power and communication line to an alignment along existing roads, including SR 257 and SR-257 Cutoff Road. Alternative 2 would route a cross-country segment of the off-lease 69-kV power and communication line to a more southern orientation along existing roads, including Crystal Peak Road and Crystal Peak Spur Road. Alternative 3 would route a segment of the off-lease natural gas pipeline entirely on BLM land to avoid crossing private lands. Alternative 4 would route a cross-country segment of the off-lease natural gas pipeline to a similar alignment as Alternative 2 along existing roads, including Crystal Peak Road and Crystal Peak Spur Road. Alternative 5 is an alternative method of diverting flows from the Sevier River into the recharge system. This alternative would relocate the on-lease Sevier River diversion facilities, including diversion channel, recharge canal, diversion culvert and sump, and perimeter and access roads slightly to the west, within the boundary of the playa. Based on public scoping and internal review, the principal issues analyzed in the Draft EIS include: (1) Impacts to water resources and water quality including adverse effects to surface water and groundwater basins, as well as impacts to existing water rights holders; (2) adverse effects to air quality in the form of fugitive dust produced during construction and operation of the mine facilities; (3) impacts to cultural resources and historic properties, including rock art and subsurface features; (4) impacts to migratory bird populations; and (5) the socioeconomic effects of water right acquisition for recharge water. Analysis also includes impacts to the following resources: Visual, wildlife, access, range management, recreation, and soils. The BLM published a Notice of Intent for the Project on March 12, 2014. Scoping was extended through August 31, 2015, due to Project delays. A public scoping meeting was held in Delta, Utah, on August 5, 2015. The public [[Page 61670]] was offered the opportunity to provide written comments throughout the scoping process. In 2015, pursuant to Executive Order 13175, the BLM initiated government-to-government consultation with interested tribes, including the Confederated Tribes of the Goshute Reservation, the Hopi Tribe, the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, the Kanosh Band of Paiute Indians, the Navajo Nation, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, the Skull Valley Band of Goshute, and the Ute Indian Tribe. Beginning in 2015, the BLM coordinated with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office and seven other consulting parties that requested to participate in the Section 106 process, to develop a Programmatic Agreement to outline a process to be used to avoid, mitigate, or treat adverse effects to historic properties. In August 2015, the BLM invited agencies to participate as Cooperating Agencies in the Project. The following agencies accepted the invitation: The U.S. Department of Defense (Utah Test and Training Range), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State of Utah, and Millard and Beaver Counties. These agencies and governments reviewed the Draft EIS before it was available to the public and their comments have been incorporated into the document. 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Anita Bilbao, Associate State Director. [FR Doc. 2018-26076 Filed 11-29-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P
![61668 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 231 / Friday, November 30, 2018 / Notices
Authority: 5 U.S.C. Appendix 2. provide the requested data in the Institutions: U.S. nonfuel minerals
David Hoskins,
desired format. producers and consumers of industrial
A Federal Register notice with a 60- minerals. Public sector: State and local
Co-Chair, Aquatic Nuisance Species Task
day public comment period soliciting governments.
Force, Assistant Director for Fish and Aquatic
Conservation. comments on this collection of Total Estimated Number of Annual
information was published on July 9, Responses: 17,533.
[FR Doc. 2018–26019 Filed 11–27–18; 11:15 am]
2018, 83 FR 31767. We did not receive Total Estimated Number of Annual
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
any public comments in response to that Burden Hours: 12,055 hours.
notice. Total Estimated Number of Annual
We are again soliciting comments on Respondents: 14,957.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
the proposed ICR that is described Estimated Completion Time per
Geological Survey below. We are especially interested in Response: 10 minutes to 5 hours.
public comment addressing the Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
[GX18LR000F60100; OMB Control Number following issues: (1) Is the collection Frequency of Collection: Monthly,
1028–0062] necessary for the USGS to perform its Quarterly, Semiannually, or Annually.
duties, including whether the Total Estimated Annual Nonhour
Agency Information Collection information is useful; (2) the accuracy of Burden Cost: There are no ‘‘nonhour
Activities; Submission to the Office of the agency’s estimate of the burden of cost’’ burdens associated with this IC.
Management and Budget for Review the proposed collection of information; The authorities for this action are the
and Approval; Industrial Minerals (3) ways to enhance the quality, Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
Surveys usefulness, and clarity of the U.S.C. 3501, et seq.), the National
information to be collected; and (4) how Materials and Minerals Policy, Research
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), to minimize the burden of this and Development Act of 1980 (30 U.S.C.
Interior. collection on the respondents, including 1601 et seq.), and the National Mining
ACTION: Notice of information collection; through the use of information and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 (30
request for comment. technology. U.S.C. 21(a)).
Comments that you submit in
SUMMARY: In accordance with the response to this notice are a matter of Michael Magyar,
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the public record. Before including your Associate Director, National Minerals
U.S. Geological Survey is proposing to address, phone number, email address, Information Center.
renew an information collection. or other personal identifying [FR Doc. 2018–26053 Filed 11–29–18; 8:45 am]
DATES: Interested persons are invited to information in your comment, you BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
submit comments on or before should be aware that your entire
December 31, 2018. comment—including your personal
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on identifying information—may be made DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
this information collection request (ICR) publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to Bureau of Land Management
to the Office of Management and
Budget’s Desk Officer for the withhold your personal identifying [LLUTW02000–L51010000–ER0000–
Department of the Interior by email at information from public review, we LVRWJ18J5120–18X—UTU–90095]
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via cannot guarantee that we will be able to
facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please do so. Notice of Availability of the Draft
provide a copy of your comments to An agency may not conduct or Environmental Impact Statement for
U.S. Geological Survey, Information sponsor and a person is not required to the Sevier Playa Potash Project, Utah
Collections Officer, 12201 Sunrise respond to a collection of information AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Valley Drive MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; unless it displays a currently valid OMB Interior.
or by email to gs-info_collections@ control number.
Abstract: Respondents to these forms ACTION: Notice of availability.
usgs.gov. Please reference OMB Control
Number 1028–0062 in the subject line of supply the USGS with domestic SUMMARY: In accordance with the
your comments. production and consumption data of National Environmental Policy Act
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
industrial mineral commodities, some of (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the
request additional information about which are considered strategic and Federal Land Policy and Management
this ICR, contact Elizabeth S. Sangine by critical to assist in determining National Act of 1976, as amended, the Mineral
email at escottsangine@usgs.gov, or by Defense Stockpile goals. These data and Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, and
telephone at 703–648–7720. You may derived information will be published Secretarial Order 3355, the Bureau of
also view the ICR at http:// as chapters in Minerals Yearbooks, Land Management (BLM) is releasing
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. monthly Mineral Industry Surveys, the Draft Environmental Impact
annual Mineral Commodity Summaries, Statement (EIS) for Crystal Peak
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
and special publications, for use by Minerals Inc.’s (CPM) Sevier Playa
accordance with the Paperwork Government agencies, industry
Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the Potash Project (Project), and by this
education programs, and the general notice is announcing the opening of the
general public and other Federal public.
agencies with an opportunity to comment period.
Title of Collection: Industrial Minerals
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
comment on proposed, revised, and Surveys. DATES: To ensure comments will be
continuing collections of information. OMB Control Number: 1028–0062. considered, the BLM must receive
This helps us assess the impact of our Form Number: Various, 38 forms. written comments on the Project Draft
information collection requirements and Type of Review: Extension of a EIS within 45 days following the date
minimize the public’s reporting burden. currently approved collection. the Environmental Protection Agency
It also helps the public understand our Respondents/Affected Public: publishes its Notice of Availability in
information collection requirements and Business or Other-For-Profit the Federal Register. The BLM will
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![61670 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 231 / Friday, November 30, 2018 / Notices
was offered the opportunity to provide ACTION: Notice of availability. Department of Lands, the U.S. Army
written comments throughout the Corps of Engineers, and the Idaho
scoping process. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral
In 2015, pursuant to Executive Order National Environmental Policy Act of Resources are cooperating agencies.
13175, the BLM initiated government- 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land P4 Production, LLC (P4), a subsidiary
to-government consultation with Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft of Bayer AG, developed and submitted
interested tribes, including the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) a Mine and Reclamation Plan (M&RP),
Confederated Tribes of the Goshute for the proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine the Proposed Action, for the Caldwell
Reservation, the Hopi Tribe, the Kaibab Project, and by this notice is Canyon Mine. The Proposed Action
Band of Paiute Indians, the Kanosh announcing the opening of the comment consists of mining Federal Phosphate
Band of Paiute Indians, the Navajo period. Leases IDI–02, IDI–014080, and IDI–
Nation, the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, DATES: To ensure the BLM considers all 13738 and State of Idaho Mineral Lease
the Skull Valley Band of Goshute, and comments, the BLM must receive E07959. Portions of the mine’s waste
the Ute Indian Tribe. Beginning in 2015, written comments on the Draft EIS for rock would be placed into the nearby
the BLM coordinated with the Utah the proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine inactive Dry Valley Mine on Federal
State Historic Preservation Office and Project within 45 days following the Phosphate Lease IDI–014184. P4 will
seven other consulting parties that date the Environmental Protection request modifications to enlarge the
requested to participate in the Section Agency publishes this Notice of phosphate lease boundaries for the
106 process, to develop a Programmatic Availability in the Federal Register. The Caldwell Canyon leases, and obtain
Agreement to outline a process to be BLM will announce public comment authorization for a haul road across
used to avoid, mitigate, or treat adverse meetings at least 15 days in advance BLM public land as outlined in the Draft
effects to historic properties. through public notices, media release, EIS. The BLM has fully evaluated
In August 2015, the BLM invited and/or mailings. To assist the BLM in alternatives to the Proposed Action,
agencies to participate as Cooperating identifying issues and concerns related including a No Action Alternative, in
Agencies in the Project. The following to this project and the Draft EIS, the Draft EIS and addressed issues
agencies accepted the invitation: The comments should be as specific as identified during scoping and analysis.
U.S. Department of Defense (Utah Test possible. The BLM will make decisions to
and Training Range), the U.S. either approve, approve with
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
Environmental Protection Agency, the modifications, or deny the Caldwell
related to the Caldwell Canyon Mine Canyon Mine M&RP and modification of
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the State Project Draft EIS by any of the following
of Utah, and Millard and Beaver the Dry Valley Mine M&RP. In addition,
methods: the BLM will determine whether to
Counties. These agencies and • Website: https://bit.ly/2SaxWcO. modify the lease boundaries, and
governments reviewed the Draft EIS • Email: blm_id_caldwell_canyon_
before it was available to the public and whether to issue a right-of-way or
mine_eis@blm.gov.
their comments have been incorporated • Mail: Caldwell Canyon Mine EIS, phosphate use permit for a haul road on
into the document. BLM lands. These decisions will
c/o Tetra Tech, 2525 Palmer Street,
Before including your address, phone consider public and agency input
Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.
number, email address, or other Please reference ‘‘Caldwell Canyon received on the Draft and Final EISs.
personal identifying information in your The BLM published a Notice of Intent
Mine Draft EIS’’ on all correspondence.
comment, you should be aware that (NOI) to prepare this EIS in the Federal
The BLM has made CD–ROM and print
your entire comment—including your Register on March 22, 2017, initiating a
copies of the Caldwell Canyon Mine
personal identifying information—may 30-day public scoping period for the
Draft EIS available in the BLM Pocatello
be made publicly available at any time. Proposed Action during which the BLM
Field Office at the following address:
While you can ask us in your comment accepted written comments. Public
4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204. In scoping identified concerns related to
to withhold your personal identifying addition, the BLM has made an
information from public review, we the following topics: The potential
electronic copy of the Draft EIS impacts to water quantity from
cannot guarantee that we will be able to available online at the BLM Land Use dewatering; potential impacts to water
do so. Planning and NEPA Register website: quality from elevated levels of selenium
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. http://bit.ly/2zuZ8Mn. and other constituents of concern;
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For potential effects of increased noise on
Anita Bilbao,
further information contact Bill Volk, wildlife, safety, and socioeconomics;
Associate State Director. Planning and NEPA Specialist, phone effects to tribal interests; cultural
[FR Doc. 2018–26076 Filed 11–29–18; 8:45 am] (208) 236–7503; address, BLM Pocatello resources; wildlife; vegetation, visual
BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, quality; reclamation and financial
Pocatello, ID 83204; email, wvolk@ assurance; and mitigation and
blm.gov; and fax, (208) 478–6376. monitoring of mine operations.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Persons who use a telecommunications Before including your phone number,
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the email address, or other personal
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Information Relay Service (FRS) identifying information in your
[18XL LLIDI00000.L71220000.EO0000. at (800) 877–8339 to contact Mr. Volk. comment, you should be aware that
LVTFDX402300 241A 4500129252] The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 your entire comment—including your
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
days a week, to leave a message or personal identifying information—may
Notice of Availability of the Draft question for Mr. Volk. You will receive be made publicly available at any time.
Environmental Impact Statement for a reply during normal business hours. While you can ask us in your comment
the Proposed Caldwell Canyon Mine
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM, to withhold your personal identifying
Project, Caribou County, Idaho
as the Federal lease administrator, is the information from public review, we
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, lead agency. The Idaho Department of cannot guarantee that we will be able to
Interior. Environmental Quality, Idaho do so.
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Document Created: 2018-11-30 04:35:33
Document Modified: 2018-11-30 04:35:33
| 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 availability. | |
| Dates | To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive written comments on the Project Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. | |
| Contact | Clara Stevens, Project Manager, | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 61668 |
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