[Federal Register: December 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 245)]
[Notices]
[Page 77605-77606]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19de08-50]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Superior National Forest Federal Hardrock Mineral Prospecting
Permits Project.
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement
(EIS).
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SUMMARY: This analysis would address federal hardrock mineral
exploration in terms of 32 current permit applications, future permit
applications, current and future operating plans, and future use and
occupancy authorizations (Special Use Permits) on the Superior National
Forest (SNF) over the next 20 years. The project area covers all SNF
managed lands available to mineral exploration. In accordance with the
SNF Land and Resource Mangement Plan, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness, Mining Protection Area, and Eligible Wild River Segments
are not available to mineral exploration. The Forest Service is the
lead agency for this EIS and the United States Department of the
Interior (USDI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a cooperating
agency. As a cooperating agency, the BLM will adopt the EIS to support
their own Record of Decision. Federal laws and policies will be
outlined in the EIS that will require the SNF, as the agency managing
the surface, and the BLM, as the agency responsible for managing sub-
surface minerals resources, to consider the Prospecting Permit
applications. Based on the Forest Service's recommendations and
consent, the BLM will review those recommendations and decide whether
to authorize the prospecting permits and operating plans.
DATES: Scoping for this project is planned for January 2009. When the
scoping package is completed, it will be sent out for public review and
comment. At that time, it will also be available for review, along with
supplemental large scale maps, on the Internet at the following Web
site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/projects/. The draft
environmental impact statement is expected February 2010 and the final
environmental impact statement is expected June 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to James W. Sanders, Forest
Supervisor, 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like additional
information or have questions regarding this action, contact Patty
Beyer, Project Coordinator at 906-226-1499 or Michael Jimenez, Forest
Planner at 218-626-4383.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose and need for this project is three-fold.
First: Analyze the effects to the environment from 32 permit
applications and any future prospecting permit applications for
hardrock mineral prospecting, and, determine: (a) If the lands
requested under the 32 permit applications are available for mineral
prospecting and what lands are available for future prospecting permit
applications; (b) If activities carried out
[[Page 77606]]
under such permits are consistent with the purpose for which the land
was acquired; and (c) What stipulations will be required for
prospecting permits to be issued. The stipulations will include
requirements for the protection of surface resources, and for access,
construction, or use and protection of existing roads.
Second: Analyze the effects to the environment from future
prospecting permit exploration operating plan activities associated
with the 32 prospecting permit applications and future prospecting
permit applications and to define the terms and conditions and best
management practices (BMPs) that would be included in the Forest
Service's consent to the BLM for approval of the operating plans. The
terms and conditions and BMPs will include requirements for the
protection of surface resources, and for access, construction, or use
of existing roads.
Third: Analyze effects of special uses located outside of
prospecting permit areas (off-permit areas). These activities will be
administered under Forest Service Special Use Permits. This includes
the need to evaluate the effects from road construction and road
reconstruction on off-permit areas. Although specific proposals have
not been made, estimates can be made regarding access needs to sites
based on previous experience.
Proposed Action
The BLM has received 32 prospecting permit applications from four
companies for federal hardrock mineral prospecting on the SNF. The
applications cover approximately 43,446 acres and are located within
the geologic complex call the Duluth Complex. The main target minerals
include copper, nickel, cobalt, lead, zinc, silver, gold, titanium,
Platinum Group Elements (PGE) and other associated minerals. In
addition, all lands available for mineral exploration within the SNF
will be analyzed for future prospecting permit applications and
associated operating plans. Prospecting permits, if issued, include
various exploration activities under operating plans such as drilling
to obtain core samples and air-or-ground based geophysical surveys to
determine the location and extent of mineralization, and where ore
deposits may be located.
Responsible Official and Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official for the Forest Service, the Forest
Supervisor for the Superior National Forest, will decide the following
three items based on the environmental analysis:
1. What consent recommendations and stipulations will be provided
to the Regional Forester so that he may advise the BLM whether the
Forest Service consents to the issuance of: (a) The 32 federal hardrock
mineral prospecting permit applications, and (b) future hardrock
mineral prospecting permits.
2. What advice will be provided to the BLM including terms and
conditions and best management practices required for the protection of
surface resources, and for access, construction, or use and protection
of existing roads for: (a) Operating plans associated with the current
32 federal hardrock mineral prospecting permit applications, and (b)
future operating plans associated with future hardrock minerals
prospecting permits.
3. Whether to issue future special use and occupancy authorizations
for off-prospecting permit areas activities associated with mineral
exploration operating plans and what terms and conditions will be
required for the protection and management of surface resources. The
responsible official for the BLM, the Deputy State Director, will
decide in a Record of Decision, whether to approve pending and future
hardrock prospecting permits and associated operating plans.
Scoping Process
Public scoping will include notices in the newspaper of record,
mailing of the scoping package (detailed information of the purpose and
need for the project, the proposed action, description of the project
area, maps, and proposed stipulations, terms and conditions, and best
management practices) to interested and affected publics and posting of
the project on the agency's project planning Web page and notice in the
agency's quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping proces which guides the
development of the environmental impact statement. Comments received,
including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be
considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be
available for public inspection.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21.
Dated: November 19, 2008.
James W. Sanders,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. E8-30167 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
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