From: Subject: FR Doc E8-2539 Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:25:33 -0800 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20081800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-2539.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198 FR Doc E8-2539 
[Federal Register: February 12, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 29)]
[Notices]              =20
[Page 8059-8060]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12fe08-54]                        =20

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-060-5110-GN-CF20; NVN-067930: 8-08807; TAS: 14X5017]

=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact=20
Statement for the Phoenix Copper Leach Project, Lander County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental=20
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 43 CFR 3809, the=20
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Battle Mountain Field Office will=20
prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the=20
Phoenix Copper Leach Project located in Lander County, Nevada. The=20
proposal includes expansion of the existing project boundary,=20
construction and operation of a copper beneficiation facility, and=20
development of new leaching facilities at the Phoenix Mine. This notice=20
initiates the public scoping process and announces a public meeting.

DATES: Written comments on the scope of the SEIS will be accepted until=20
March 13, 2008. A scoping meeting will be held on Wednesday, February=20
27, 2008 at the Battle Mountain Field Office from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed to the BLM Battle Mountain=20
Field Office, ATTN: Jon Sherve, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV=20
89820; faxed to ATTN: Jon Sherve at (775) 635-4034; or e-mailed to: 
phoenix_copper_SEIS@blm.gov.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Christopher Worthington (775) 635-4144 or e-
mail christopher_worthingto=
n@nv.blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Newmont Mining Corporation (Newmont) has=20
submitted an amended Plan of Operations (NVN-067930) to the BLM for the=20
proposed mining project. A third-party contractor will prepare the SEIS=20
under the direction of the BLM pursuant to Council on Environmental=20
Quality regulations 1502.14(a) and 1502.14(d). In addition to the=20
proposed action, the BLM will explore and objectively evaluate all=20
reasonable alternatives, including the alternative of no action.
    The proposed project area is located approximately 12 miles=20
southwest of Battle Mountain, Nevada.

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

    T. 30 and 31 N., R. 43 E.

    The Phoenix Mine is located in the Copper Canyon portion of the=20
Battle Mountain Mining District in Lander County, Nevada. The current=20
project area includes approximately 7,139 acres; 2,865 acres of public=20
land and 4,275 acres privately owned by Newmont. Most of the facilities=20
associated with this proposal will be located on lands previously=20
approved for surface disturbance. This proposed plan would increase the=20
project surface disturbance by approximately 910 acres (185 acres of=20
public land and 725 acres of private land), and includes construction=20
and operation of a new solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW)=20
facility, development of two copper leach facilities, construction of=20
four new process ponds, development of a new clay borrow area,=20
designation of an optional use area that would be used either as a=20
waste rock facility, a tailings facility, copper or gold leach=20
facility, and/or growth media borrow area, and

[[Page 8060]]

construction of a new 120-kV power line. Construction and operation of=20
the project is projected to begin in 2008. Active mining for the=20
Phoenix Copper leach project will last about 15 years and will not=20
increase the current life-of-mine for the Phoenix Mine.
    An interdisciplinary approach will be used to develop the SEIS, in=20
order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns=20
identified. Potential significant direct, indirect, residual, and=20
cumulative impacts from the proposed action will be analyzed in the=20
SEIS. Federal, state, and local agencies, as well as individuals or=20
organizations that may be interested in or affected by the BLM's=20
decision on this plan are invited to participate in the scoping=20
process. Federal, state, and local agencies may request or be requested=20
by the BLM to participate as a cooperating agency.
    The plan will be presented to the public during a scoping meeting=20
to be held Wednesday, February 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Battle=20
Mountain Field Office. The plan will be available for public review at=20
Battle Mountain Field Office. The BLM invites public comment on the=20
scope of the analysis, including issues to consider and alternatives to=20
the proposed action. The purpose of the public scoping process is to=20
determine relevant issues that will influence the scope of the=20
environmental analysis and SEIS alternatives. BLM personnel will be=20
present at the scoping meeting to explain the environmental review=20
process, the mining regulations, and other requirements for processing=20
the proposed plan amendment and the associated SEIS. Representatives of=20
Newmont will be available to describe the proposal.
    You may submit comments on issues in writing to the BLM at the=20
public scoping meeting or you may submit them to the BLM using one of=20
the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. Comments received=20
and a list of attendees at the scoping meeting will be available for=20
public inspection.
    Comments and documents pertinent to this proposal, including names=20
and addresses of respondents, may be viewed at the Battle Mountain=20
Field Office during regular business hours (7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday=20
through Friday, except holidays).
    Comments may be published as part of the SEIS. Before including=20
your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal=20
identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire=20
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made=20
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to=20
withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we=20
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from=20
organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying=20
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or=20
businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.

(Authority: 43 CFR part 3809)

    Dated: January 29, 2008.
Gerald M. Smith,
Field Manager, Battle Mountain Field Office.
 [FR Doc. E8-2539 Filed 2-11-08; 8:45 am]

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