[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 185 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 51091-51092] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-25372] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AZ-040-7122-00-5513; AZA 28793; AZA 29640] Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Dos Pobres/San Juan Project Case Number AZA 28793 and AZA 29640, Safford Field Office, Graham County, AZ
Agency
Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
Action
Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
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Summary
The Safford Field Office, United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Dos Pobres/San Juan Project, as described in the mining plan of operations (MPO) submitted by Phelps Dodge Safford, Inc. The DEIS analyzes the anticipated impacts to the human environment resulting from the development of the Dos Pobres and San Juan copper ore deposits, located in Graham County near Safford, Arizona, by Phelps Dodge Safford, Inc. The proposed mining operation utilizes conventional open pits mining methods combined with solvent extraction electrowinning (SXEW) refining technology and is expected to produce 2.9 billion pounds of copper over the projected 16 year life of the mine. The proposed mining operation utilizes private lands owned by Phelps Dodge, Inc., and BLM-administered public lands. Surface disturbing impact are anticipated on 3,332 acres of land of which 1,935 acres are public lands administered by the BLM.
As an alternative to the mining plan of operations, Phelps Dodge has proposed a land exchange which involves trading 17,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands for 3,858 acres of private lands owned by Phelps Dodge, Inc. The BLM-administered public lands, Phelps Dodge, Inc., proposes to acquire, are located in the Safford Mining District in the vicinity of the Dos Pobres, San Juan and Lone Star ore deposits. They are expected to be utilized for mining-related purposes. The eleven private properties offered for exchange to the BLM by Phelps Dodge, Inc., are all located within the state of Arizona. All eleven- offered parcels are either in holdings within or adjacent to large blocks of federal lands. If the land exchange alternative were to be approved, the 325 acre Tavasci Marsh property would be administered by the National Park Service since it is within the boundaries of the Tuzigoot National Monument while the other ten-offered properties would be managed by the BLM. The offered lands either contain high value riparian and aquatic resources which provide habitat for fish and wildlife including threatened and endangered species, or will contribute to resolving public land management problems such as access to public lands in the Dos Cabezas Wilderness Area, Cienega Creek Resource Conservation Area and the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area. This DEIS was prepared to comply with the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, The Federal Land Exchange Facilitation Act of 1988, BLM regulations governing land exchanges (43 CFR Parts 2090 and 2200), The General Mining Law and the BLM regulations governing mining operations on public lands (43 CFR Part 3809).
Dates
Written comments relating to the DEIS will be accepted until November 25, 1998. Written or oral comments may also be presented at the three public open houses to be held:
October 27, 1998, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. BLM Safford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546 October 28, 1998, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. BLM Tucson Field Office, 12661 East Broadway, Tucson, Arizona 85748 October 29, 1998, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm., BLM Phoenix Field Office, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027
Addresses
Send written comments to the Bureau of Land Management, Safford Field Office, Attention: Tom Terry, Project Manager, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546.
Supplementary Information
The Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzes the impacts associated with four alternatives: (1) the Proposed Action (Phelps Dodge's Mining Plan of Operations); (2) a partial backfill alternative to the proposed mining plan of operations; (3) the land exchange alternative (BLM's preferred alternative) and; (4) the No Action Alternative. Phelps Dodge, Inc., holds 844 of the 844 mining claims that are currently on file for the 17,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands they have selected for acquisition in the land exchange alternative. 2,299 acres of the Phelps Dodge private lands to be acquired by BLM would be withdrawn from mineral entry by virtue of their location within BLM or National Park Service areas previously withdrawn from the operation of the mining laws.
1,599 acres of the offered lands to be acquired by BLM would remain open to mineral entry. The potential for the existence of locatable minerals on these lands is considered to be low and no future mining activities are anticipated to occur on these lands.
FOR FUTURE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Terry, Project Manager, at the Bureau of Land Management, Stafford Field Office, 711 14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546. Phone (520) 348-4400. Internet address is tterry@az.blm.gov
Dated: September 11, 1998. Frank L. Rowley, Acting Field Office Manager. [FR Doc. 98-25372 Filed 9-23-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-32-M