[Federal Register: November 19, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 224)]
[Notices]
[Page 69675-69676]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19no08-109]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-010-07-1990-EX; N-78123]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Newmont Mining Corporation Proposed Emigrant Project Plan of
Operations, NV
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).
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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 43 CFR Part 3809, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Elko Field Office has prepared with the
assistance of a third party contractor, a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) on Newmont Mining Corporation's proposed Emigrant
Project Plan of Operations. The project area is located in Elko County
about ten miles south of Carlin, Nevada. The DEIS analyzes potential
environmental impacts that could result from the open pit mine project
during the projected 10-year operating period. This is the second DEIS
issued for this project. The original DEIS was issued March 25, 2005.
DATES: The DEIS is now available for comment. Written comments on the
DEIS will be accepted until January 5, 2009.
ADDRESSES: The public may submit comments by the following methods:
Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Elko Field Office, Attn: Emigrant
Mine Project Manager, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801;
Fax: (775) 753-0255.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Schmidt, Project Manager, Elko
Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801; (775) 753-0200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A DEIS for this project was originally
issued March 25, 2005. Substantive comments were received on that DEIS.
This new DEIS, which incorporates revisions made in response to those
comments, is being issued to replace the 2005 DEIS.
Newmont Mining Corporation has submitted a Plan of Operations to
open the Emigrant Mine about ten miles south of Carlin, Nevada.
Modifications to the proposed plan have been made based upon new
information pertinent to the proposed action and its effects. The mine
and associated facilities would be located in portions of Sections 24,
26, 34, 36 of T. 32 N., R. 53 E.; and Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, T. 31
N., R 53 E. Mt. Diablo Meridian, Nevada.
[[Page 69676]]
The revised proposal for the Emigrant Mine would include developing
and operating an open pit mine, constructing a waste rock disposal
facility, storing oxide waste in mined out areas of the pit, developing
an oxide heap leach pad, constructing ancillary facilities, temporarily
rerouting intermittent stream and flows in the pit area, and concurrent
reclamation. Proposed mining operations would last approximately 10
years through 2017. Approximately 1,172 acres of public land and 260
acres of private land would be disturbed.
The issues analyzed in the DEIS include potential direct, indirect,
and cumulative impacts to wildlife and cultural resources, the
potential for waste rock, heap leach, and pit walls to produce acid
rock drainage or heavy metals, and diversion of an unnamed drainage. In
addition, the following resources are analyzed: geology and minerals,
Native American religious concerns, air quality, paleontology, lands
and realty, fisheries and aquatic resources, range management,
vegetation, soils, visual resources, recreation and wilderness, weeds,
social and economic values, environmental justice, and threatened,
endangered, candidate, and sensitive species.
The DEIS analyzes the proposed action and no action alternatives.
Other alternatives considered and reasons why they were eliminated from
detailed analysis are discussed. Measures to avoid or minimize
environmental impacts and to assure the proposed action does not result
in undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands are included. This
DEIS can be reviewed and/or downloaded from the BLM Elko Web page at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html.
The BLM is asking the public to comment on the DEIS. Comments,
including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available
for public review at the above address during regular business hours
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may
be published as part of the DEIS. Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, be advised 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 from public
review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in
their entirety.
Gene Seidlitz,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. E8-27455 Filed 11-18-08; 8:45 am]