From: Subject: FR Doc 07-3307 Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:17:10 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/07-3307.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3138 FR Doc 07-3307 
[Federal Register: July 9, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 130)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 37182-37183]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jy07-25]                        =20

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Notices
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules =

or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings =

and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,=20
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and =
agency=20
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents=20
appearing in this section.

=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D



[[Page 37182]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

=20
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest; Mountain City Ranger District,=20
Big Springs Exploration Drilling Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement.

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

SUMMARY: Gateway Gold Corporation has submitted a Plan of Operations to=20
explore for, locate, and delineate precious metals on National Forest=20
System lands within the Big Springs Mine area. In response to that=20
proposed plan of operations, the Mountain City Ranger District of the=20
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest will prepare an Environmental Impact=20
Statement for the Big Springs Exploration Drilling Project. This=20
proposal is for the drilling on up to 1000 drill sites over a five year=20
period on National Forest System (NFS) lands. The Project Area is=20
located in Elko County, Nevada. Analysis for this project was initiated=20
in 2005 with the preparation of an Environmental Assessment. In late=20
October 2006, two lakes that had formed in existing mine pits (pit=20
lakes) and the surrounding aquifer began draining. The pit lakes are=20
now dry and the aquifer level has dropped about 150 feet below previous=20
levels measured prior to October 2006. It is unknown where the aquifer=20
is draining to or what the impacts, if any, would be to water quality=20
and surface and groundwater resources. Based upon these changed=20
environmental conditions of the hydrology at the site, the Forest=20
Service has decided to document the analysis in an Environmental Impact=20
Statement.

DATES: To be most effective, comments concerning the scope of the=20
proposed analysis should be received within 30 days from the date that=20
this Notice of Intent is published in the Federal Register. The draft=20
EIS is expected to be completed in October 2007, and the final EIS is=20
expected to be completed in March 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written scoping comments to: District Ranger, Mountain=20
City Ranger District, 2035 Last Chance Road, Elko, NV 89801.
    Electronic scoping comments may be sent via e-mail to: 
comments-intermtn-humboldt-toiyabe-mtncity@fs.fed.us. Please put =
``Big Springs=20

EIS'' in the subject line of e-mail transmissions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will Wilson, Project Coordinator,=20
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 2035 Last Chance Road, Elko, NV=20
89801, Telephone: 775-778-6132.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for this proposed action is to authorize=20
occupancy and use to Gateway Gold to explore for, locate, and delineate=20
precious metals on National Forest System lands within the Big Springs=20
Mine area. The statutory right of Gateway Gold to explore for and=20
develop mineral resources on federally administered lands is recognized=20
in the General Mining Law of 1872, and is consistent with the Humboldt=20
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan of 1986.

Proposed Action

    The operator proposes construction of up to 1000 drill sites and=20
associated temporary roads over a 5-year period. Approximately 200=20
drill sites would be constructed each year, with the drilling of up to=20
three drill holes per drill site. Each drill site would occupy=20
approximately 0.2 acres. Up to thirty miles of new exploration road (90=20
acres) would be constructed in total over five years. Each year, the=20
operator would keep approximately 5 to 7 miles of the newly constructed=20
road (15 to 21 acres) open to provide primary access to exploration=20
targets within the area. In addition, the operator would annually=20
construct 3 to 5 additional miles (9 to 15 acres) of drill site access=20
road that would be slated for reclamation each year. Overland travel=20
would be 2 miles in length; at least one-mile of overland access would=20
be slated for reclamation at the end of each drilling season. Total=20
acreage disturbed over five years would not exceed 220 acres. Seasonal=20
reclamation would be completed each year, along with concurrent=20
reclamation to stabilize and reduce the overall amount of disturbance.=20
Final reclamation would require that all disturbances by the operator=20
be recontoured to natural slope, and seeded with native weed-free seed=20
species.

Other Possible Alternatives

    Currently, two alternatives have been identified to be analyzed in=20
detail with further analysis potentially generating other alternatives:
    No Action Alternative: The plan of operations submitted by Gateway=20
Gold would not be approved. Conditions at the project area would remain=20
as they are now.
    Proposed Action with Additional Mitigation and Monitoring: This=20
alternative is identical to the Proposed Action Alternative with the=20
exception of added mitigation and monitoring measures for protection of=20
wildlife and water quality. These additional measures were identified=20
during scoping, issue development, and identification of potential=20
impacts during the initial analysis. These measures are in addition to=20
the environmental protection measures already included in the Proposed=20
Action Alternative and include Best Management Practices, Forest=20
Service standard operating procedures for mineral exploration projects,=20
and mitigation measures tailored specifically for this Project.
    Responsible Official: The responsible official is: Forest=20
Supervisor, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 1200 Franklin Way,=20
Sparks, NV 89431.
    Nature of Decision To Be Made: Based on the environmental analysis=20
presented in the EIS, the Forest Supervisor will decide (1) Whether or=20
not to approve actions as proposed or modified, or as described in an=20
alternative; (2) what mitigation measures are needed; and (3) what=20
monitoring is required.

Scoping Process

    Scoping of the Proposed Action commenced in 2005 and is continuing=20
at this time. Initial public input was invited through the mailing of a=20
scoping letter on January 13, 2005. Letters initiating consultation=20
were also sent to American Indian tribes. The Forest Service will again=20
mail information to interested and/or affected parties. The project has=20
been listed in the Humboldt-

[[Page 37183]]

Toiyabe National Forest Schedule of Proposed Actions since April of=20
2005. In 2005 the Forest Service received scoping responses, including=20
letters from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, Nevada=20
Historic Preservation Office, Nevada Department of Wildlife and Western=20
Watersheds Projects. Comments were also received from Elko County=20
Commissioners and Elko County Roads Department. Relevant responses were=20
used to synthesize and develop issues. There are currently no scoping=20
meetings planned for the EIS.

Preliminary Issues

    The following are the significant issues identified through the=20
analysis conducted to date. We are asking you to help us further refine=20
the existing issues, as well as identify other issues or concerns=20
relevant to the Proposed Action.
    Water Quality--Drilling and associated activities could result in=20
(1) Cross contamination of aquifers by providing conduits; (2) impacts=20
to existing engineered mine features (embankments); (3) interactions=20
and effects to water quality; and (4) increased sedimentation and=20
erosion from ground disturbing activities.
    Water Quantity and Flows--Drilling through geologic structures can=20
intercept aquifers and alter groundwater flow.
    Wildlife--Exploration activities have the potential to disrupt=20
seasonal use by a variety of wildlife species (mule deer, sage grouse,=20
various raptors and other species) in and around the project area, and=20
to affect quality and quantity of habitat for these species.
    Special Status Species (Wildlife)--Proposed surface disturbance and=20
human activity associated with exploration activities may cause short-=20
and long-term adverse effects to habitats used by Northern goshawk,=20
sage-grouse, neo-tropical migratory birds, pygmy rabbit, and several=20
species of bats with potential to occur in the Project area.
    Special Status Species (Aquatics and Fisheries)--Increased sediment=20
from disturbance by the proposed exploration could adversely affect=20
threatened Lahontan cutthroat trout and Columbia spotted frog=20
(candidate species), which inhabit the North Fork Humboldt River.
    Recreation--Exploration activities and effects including noise,=20
increased traffic on the access road, and road maintenance could affect=20
recreation opportunities and the quality of the recreational=20
experience.
    Livestock--Surface disturbance would alter the vegetation, which=20
has the potential to change the carrying capacity within the pasture in=20
both the short-term and long-term.
    Vegetation--Surface disturbance may (1) Affect specific plant=20
communities, such as aspen, riparian vegetation and sub-alpine fir; (2)=20
promote the spread and establishment of noxious weeds, such as hoary=20
cress and Canada thistle, and other non-native invasive species, and=20
(3) affect sensitive plants).
    Other issues that will also be addressed in the analysis include=20
the potential impacts this project may have on the McAffee Peak=20
Inventoried Roadless Area which is partly within the project area. As=20
proposed a small amount of exploration activities would be within this=20
roadless area. Approximately 12 drill sites and less than 1,000 feet to=20
the drill road are located slightly within or on the northern boundary=20
of the McAffee Peak Inventoried Roadless Area. The portion of the=20
roadless area impacted is a small ``finger'' that was created through a=20
mapping error in 1998/1999 when the latest inventory for roadless areas=20
was adopted. This is the inventory that was made part of the 2001=20
Roadless Area Conservation Rule. This finger in question has reclaimed=20
mining and exploration roads within its boundaries and lacks roadless=20
characteristics. This type of activity fits within an exemption=20
category for allowing road construction within the IRA tied to=20
outstanding or existing valid rights. Because no portion of the project=20
area within or adjacent to the McAffee IRA exhibits roadless=20
characteristics, effects of the Proposed Action upon the McAffee IRA=20
have not been identified as a significant issue.

Comment Requested

    This NOI continues the scoping process which will guide the=20
development of the Environmental Impact Statement. The public is=20
invited to submit scoping comments, stating concerns and issues=20
relevant to the proposed project. These comments will be used to help=20
establish the scope of study and analysis for the EIS.

Early Notice of Importance of Public Participation in Subsequent=20
Environmental Review

    A draft EIS will be prepared for comment. The comment period on the=20
draft EIS will be 45 days from the date that the Environmental=20
Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the notice of availability (NOA) in=20
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes that, at this early stage, it is=20
important to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to=20
public participation in the environmental review process. First,=20
reviewers of draft EISs must structure their participation in the=20
environmental review of the proposal so that it is meaningful and=20
alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and contentions [Vermont=20
Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978)]. Also,=20
environmental objections that could have been raised at the draft EIS=20
stage but that are not raised until after completion of the final EIS=20
may be waived or dismissed by the courts [City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803=20
F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v.=20
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (e.D. Wis. 1980)]. Because of these=20
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this=20
Proposed Action participate by the close of the 45 day comment period=20
so that comments and objections are made available to the Forest=20
Service at a time when it can consider them and respond to them in a=20
meaningful manner within the final EIS.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues=20
and concerns regarding the Proposed Action, comments on the draft EIS=20
should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if the comments=20
refer to specific pages, sections, or chapters of the draft document.=20
Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft EIS or the merits=20
of the alternatives formulated and discussed in the document. Reviewers=20
may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)=20
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National=20
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these=20
points.
    Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who=20
comment, will be considered part of the public record of this proposal=20
and will be available for public inspection

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook=20
1909.15, Section 21)

    Dated: June 27, 2007.
Edward C. Monnig,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 07-3307 Filed 7-6-07; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410-11-M