[Federal Register: April 13, 2010 (Volume 75, Number =
70)]
[Notices] =20
[Page 18875-18877]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLIDI02000. L71220000.EO0000.LVTFD0975750]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
=20
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20
the Proposed Dairy Syncline Mine and Reclamation Plan, Caribou County,=20
ID
AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; U.S. Forest Service,=20
Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Department of the Interior,=20
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Pocatello Field Office and the U.S.=20
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (FS), Caribou-Targhee=20
National Forest, will jointly prepare an Environmental Impact Statement=20
(EIS) to determine and analyze the effects of a proposed phosphate mine=20
and reclamation plan on people and the environment. The BLM will serve=20
as the lead agency. Plans have been developed and submitted for agency=20
review of proposed open pit mining operations at the Dairy Syncline=20
Phosphate Lease Area in Caribou County, Idaho by the J.R. Simplot=20
Company (Simplot). The Dairy Syncline Phosphate Lease Area is located=20
about 12 miles east of Soda Springs, Idaho.
The proposed new mining operations at the Dairy Syncline Phosphate=20
Lease Area lie within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest on lands=20
where the surface estate is administered by the FS, and the Federal=20
mineral estate is administered by the BLM. In 2000, the BLM completed=20
an EIS to support a decision to lease. The BLM issued Federal mineral=20
lease I-28115 to Simplot by competitive bid in 2000. The Federal=20
mineral lease I-0258 was transferred from P4 Production LLC to Simplot=20
in 2009. These leases grant the lease holder, Simplot in this case,=20
exclusive rights to mine and otherwise dispose of the Federally owned=20
phosphate deposit at the site. Through development of this EIS, the BLM=20
will analyze environmental impacts of the proposed mining operations,=20
land exchanges and reasonable alternatives. Appropriate mitigation=20
measures also will be formulated.
DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive=20
written comments on the scope of the analysis described in this Notice=20
by May 13, 2010. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and=20
any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance=20
through public notices, media news releases, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Dairy Syncline Mine EIS, Bureau of=20
Land Management, Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello,=20
Idaho 83204. E-mail: Dairy_Syncline_EIS@blm.gov=
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Myers, Bureau of Land=20
Management, Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, Idaho=20
83204, phone (208) 478-6369. Information is also available at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cg=
i-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp:/=
/www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/pocatello/planning/dairy_syncline_mine.html.=
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:=20
Agency Decisions: The BLM Idaho State Director or delegated=20
official will make a decision regarding approval of the proposed mine=20
and reclamation plan, proposed land sale with mitigation, proposed=20
lease modification and/or fringe acreage lease approvals (enlargement=20
of leased areas), appropriate land use authorizations on leased lands,=20
and an amendment to the current Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the=20
Pocatello Resource Area. Decisions will be based on the EIS and any=20
recommendations the FS may have regarding surface management of leased=20
National Forest System lands. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest=20
Supervisor makes:
1. Recommendations to the BLM concerning surface management and=20
mitigation on leased lands within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest;=20
and
2. Decisions on mine related activities which occur off-lease.
Special use authorizations from the FS will be necessary for all=20
off-lease support structures for the mine. A FS decision regarding the=20
proposed exchange of FS land for private holdings will be issued by the=20
Regional Director of Lands. The Army Corps of Engineers may also make=20
decisions related to permits under section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
Scoping Procedure: The scoping procedure to be used for this EIS=20
will involve: Notification in the Federal Register; a mailing to=20
interested and potentially affected individuals, groups, Federal,=20
State, and local government entities requesting comments, issues and=20
concerns; news releases or legal notices; and public scoping meetings.
Please note that public comments and information submitted,=20
including names, street addresses, and e-mail addresses of respondents,=20
will be available for public review and disclosure at the address=20
listed below during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday=20
through Friday, except holidays.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or=20
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be=20
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying=20
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can=20
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying=20
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be=20
able to do so.
Background: Simplot has operated the existing Smoky Canyon Mine=20
since 1983. Simplot has indicated that they will eventually complete=20
mining of currently permitted reserves, necessitating the proposed=20
expansion to the Dairy Syncline phosphate leases. Because of the=20
significant construction time associated with the infrastructure needed=20
for the proposed mine (i.e. new mill and tailings impoundment), this=20
proposal is being analyzed in advance of depleting the currently=20
permitted reserves at the Smoky Canyon Mine.
The Dairy Syncline Phosphate Lease Area represents a significant=20
phosphate ore deposit that is economically feasible for prolonged=20
development. In total, approximately 2,133 acres are proposed for=20
disturbance. The proposed project would include an open pit phosphate=20
mine, a new milling facility, installation of underground phosphate=20
slurry, tailings and water lines, a new tailings impoundment, a new=20
power line, and a land sale with mitigation (BLM) and a land exchange=20
(FS) of Federal lands for private holdings. The proposed mitigated land=20
sale would require an amendment to the 1988 Pocatello RMP.
The proposal also includes six lease modification or fringe acreage=20
lease areas that are contiguous with the existing leases that would=20
allow for optimum recovery of the existing phosphate ore body.=20
Disturbance on these proposed lease modification and/or fringe acreage=20
lease areas represent approximately 347 acres of the total
[[Page 18876]]
proposed disturbance. The development of the ore deposits would result=20
in six pits representing approximately 1,389 acres of pit disturbance.=20
Proposed sequencing for the Dairy Syncline mine plan would begin with=20
mining a portion of the west pit along with the north pit. Initial=20
overburden from the west pit would be placed directly to the east of=20
the initial disturbance in an external overburden storage facility on-
lease. Mining would continue within the north pit, followed by the=20
northeast pit, the east pit, south pit, and finally the southeast pit.=20
There would be some concurrent mining of pits to maintain a consistent=20
grade of ore available for milling purposes as well as maintaining an=20
economic mine pit stripping ratio.
In their mine and reclamation plan, Simplot has proposed management=20
practices to reduce environmental impacts. As mining progresses,=20
reclamation would begin concurrently. Simplot's plan emphasizes total=20
backfill of mine pits and limiting the amount of overburden placed=20
external to the pits. In addition, Simplot's mine plan contains=20
provisions aimed at limiting the amount of time seleniferous overburden=20
is exposed to the elements. To reduce the potential for contaminant=20
release to water or uptake into reclamation vegetation, Simplot is=20
proposing to cover over all seleniferous overburden with non-
seleniferous material consisting of approximately 2 feet of chert,=20
overlain by 2 feet of Dinwoody and/or Salt Lake Formation, and finally=20
a topsoil layer estimated at 6 to 12 inches, contingent upon the=20
baseline soil resources study.
Associated new facilities that are proposed include: Main office/
security building, mill and shop complex, support facilities, ore=20
stockpile, tailings pond, groundwater supply well(s), and pipelines.=20
The proposed location of the main office/security building is an area=20
southeast of the mouth of Wilde Canyon and west of the Slug Creek Road.=20
This location is on National Forest System lands off-lease and would=20
require a Special Use Authorization from the FS. Approximately 5 acres=20
would be disturbed for the office and parking areas.
The proposed location for the mill/shop complex is in the mining=20
area between the north and south pits. The complex would disturb about=20
20 acres. The mill would be required to process the ore into=20
concentrated slurry that would be pumped in a proposed 8-mile=20
underground pipeline to a currently existing pipeline that connects to=20
Simplot's Don Fertilizer Plant just outside of Pocatello, Idaho. The=20
proposed mill is assumed to be configured essentially the same as the=20
operating Smoky Canyon Mill. In addition, a shop would be required for=20
repairing and maintaining the mining equipment. The shop area would be=20
included in the mill/shop complex.
An ore stockpile (of 750,000 to 1,000,000 tons) is proposed for=20
supplying ore to the mill. The location of the stock pile would be on-
lease near the mill building at the mill/shop complex. The stockpile=20
would be approximately 13 acres in size. The simple milling process=20
would consist of crushing and grinding the phosphate ore to a fine=20
powder. Associated clay would be physically removed from the finely=20
ground ore and would then be mixed with water and pumped into another=20
new underground pipeline to the tailings impoundment. The product and=20
tailings pipelines would be installed next to each other. To facilitate=20
mobile equipment operation and personnel, some small support facilities=20
at the active mining sites would be required. Typically, these=20
facilities would consist of equipment ready lines (cold climate hot=20
starts), electrical power, fuel and grease storage within secondary=20
containment, communication, and safety structures. The location of=20
these facilities would vary during the mining process.
A new tailings pond is proposed for the mining operation. The=20
proposed location would be approximately 4.4 miles northwest of the=20
Dairy Syncline leases. A land sale with mitigation (BLM) and a land=20
exchange (FS) of Federal lands for private holdings are proposed for=20
the proposed tailings pond area. An earthen dam structure on the north=20
end of the pond would be constructed resulting in a design capacity of=20
20 million cubic yards of material. The proposed configuration would be=20
large enough to hold all of the tailings expected to be generated=20
during the life of the mine.
Three pipelines are proposed for the project; one each for delivery=20
of tailings, ore concentrate, and a water return line. The pipelines=20
would be buried in one earth covered trench. The ore concentrate=20
pipeline would transport ore in slurry form from the proposed mill site=20
to the existing pipeline. The buried 8-inch diameter steel pipe would=20
be about 8 miles long. The proposed pipeline route would originate at=20
the mill/shop complex, follow the access road on the north side of=20
Wilde Canyon, and then follow the western side of the Slug Creek Valley=20
where it would tie into the existing ore concentrate pipeline from=20
Smoky Canyon to the Conda Pump Station. This pipeline route represents=20
approximately 14 acres of off-lease disturbance.
The tailings pipeline would transport tailings from the mill/shop=20
complex to the proposed tailings pond. The pipeline would be=20
approximately 5 miles long. The proposed pipeline route would originate=20
at the mill/shop complex and be placed in the same trench as the ore=20
concentrate pipeline. At a location near the tailings pond, the=20
tailings line would go east to the southern end of the pond. A number=20
of pipeline branches would be installed around the pond to ensure even=20
distribution of tailings in the pond.
The water return line would transport water from the tailings pond=20
back to the mill and would be approximately 5 miles long. As noted=20
above, this line would be in the same trench as the tailings and=20
concentrate pipeline.
Off-lease facilities would include the main office/security=20
building, tailings pond, and portions of access roads, pipelines, a=20
power line, and storm water control features. The proposed power line=20
would run northeast to connect with an existing power line and existing=20
corridor in Upper Dry Valley. It is estimated that off-lease activities=20
would total about 337 acres of disturbance, which would include the=20
assumed disturbance for the power line.
Truck haulage would transport both ore to the proposed on-lease ore=20
stockpile and overburden to its permanent disposal site. Several=20
external pit roads would be required throughout the life of the mine=20
for both overburden and ore transportation. All of these roads are=20
located on-lease and would be constructed of chert or limestone with=20
cut side ditches, culverts as appropriate, and fill side berms where=20
necessary for safety. Access to the mine site for employees, equipment,=20
and supplies is proposed through Georgetown Canyon and along Slug Creek=20
via the existing FS road. Upgrades to this road will be necessary for=20
safe passage of two-way traffic.
Potential impacts to surface resources and water quality include=20
erosion, sediment, and dissolved contaminants such as selenium. Simplot=20
has proposed to implement practices designed to reduce, eliminate, or=20
mitigate these impacts. Suitable topsoil would be salvaged from=20
disturbed areas for use in reclamation. Reclamation of mining=20
disturbances would include: removal of facilities and equipment,=20
backfilling pits, regrading slopes, restoring drainages, spreading=20
topsoil, stabilizing surfaces, revegetation, testing and treatment for=20
remaining hydrocarbon contaminants, and environmental monitoring.
[[Page 18877]]
Issues initially identified for the proposed mining of the Dairy=20
Syncline phosphate leases include potential effects on: Groundwater and=20
surface water quantity and quality; wildlife and their habitats;=20
livestock grazing; wetlands and riparian habitat; recreation; socio-
economics; Native American rights, treaties, and land uses; inventoried=20
roadless areas; visual resources; and cumulative effects.
The EIS will analyze the Proposed Action and the No Action=20
Alternative. Other alternatives may consider: Alternative access=20
road(s); alternative tailings pond locations; alternatives to the land=20
sale with mitigation and land exchange; use of conveyors to transport=20
ore to the existing mill; revising the layout or sequencing of the=20
proposed mining facilities; different methods for reducing potential=20
impacts from overburden handling; and other alternatives that could=20
provide mitigation for potential impacts.
The tentative EIS project schedule is as follows:
Begin Public Scoping Period and Meetings: Winter/Spring=20
2010.
Estimated date for Draft EIS and associated comment=20
period: Fall 2011.
Final EIS Publication: June 2013.
Record of Decision: August 2013.
At least four ``open-house'' style public scoping meetings will be=20
held which will include displays explaining the project and providing a=20
forum for commenting on the project. Meetings are currently planned for=20
Pocatello, Fort Hall, Georgetown, and Soda Springs, Idaho. The dates,=20
times, and locations of the public scoping meetings will be announced=20
in mailings and public notices issued by the BLM (see contact=20
information above). The BLM and FS are seeking information and written=20
comments from Federal, State, and local agencies as well as Tribal=20
entities, individuals and organizations interested in, or affected by,=20
the Proposed Action or Alternatives. To assist the BLM and FS in=20
identifying issues and concerns related to the Proposed Action or=20
Alternatives, comments for scoping, and later for the Draft EIS, should=20
be as specific as possible.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
District Manager, Idaho Falls District, Bureau of Land Management.
Brent Larson,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2010-8391 Filed 4-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P