[Federal Register: January 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 7)] [Notices] =20 [Page 1650-1651] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr12ja10-73] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNMP02000 L71220000.EX0000 LVTFGX9G4200] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Proposed HB Potash, LLC--``In-Situ'' Solution Mine Project, Eddy=20 County, NM AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of=20 1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act=20 of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carlsbad Field=20 Office, Carlsbad, New Mexico, intends to prepare an Environmental=20 Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning=20 of the scoping process to solicit public comments and to identify=20 issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.=20 Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 11, 2010.=20 The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced=20 at least 15 days in advance through the local media, including=20 newspapers and the BLM Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi= ?from=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/nm/s= t/en/fo/Carlsbad_Field_Office.html. In order to be included in the = Draft EIS,=20 all comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period=20 or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will=20 provide additional opportunities for public participation upon=20 publication of the Draft EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the HB Potash, LLC--``In- Situ'' Solution Mine Project by any of the following methods:E-mail: Rebecca_Hunt@blm.gov. Fax: (575) 885-9264. Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Carlsbad Field Office,=20 Attention: [[Page 1651]] Rebecca Hunt, 620 E. Greene St., Carlsbad, NM 88220. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Carlsbad=20 Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20 your name added to our mailing list, contact Rebecca Hunt, Planning and=20 Environmental Coordinator, telephone (575) 234-5995; address: Carlsbad=20 Field Office, Attention: Rebecca Hunt, 620 E. Greene St., Carlsbad, NM=20 88220; e-mail Rebecca_Hunt@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HB Potash, LLC, (Intrepid) is proposing to=20 construct and operate an ``in-situ'' solution mining project that would=20 involve injecting saline water into previously mined, existing potash=20 mine workings, dissolving the potash and creating a mineral-rich=20 solution, and pumping that solution back to the surface. This solution,=20 called ``pregnant'' solution, would be routed to a solar evaporation=20 pond system where the potassium-bearing salts would be separated out.=20 The solid potassium-bearing salts would be harvested from the ponds and=20 routed to a flotation plant for ore refinement. This solution mining=20 operation would occur on or within Federal, State, and private surface=20 lands and mineral leases. The proposed action consists of the=20 following: Extracting and conditioning groundwater from four wells=20 that draw from the Rustler Formation to create the saline water=20 injectate; Injecting this saline water via six injection wells and a=20 surface piping system into the topographically lower portion of the=20 former underground workings; Extracting the pregnant brine from five extraction wells; Pumping the brine via a surface piping system to solar=20 evaporation ponds; Harvesting precipitated potash at the solar evaporation=20 ponds and transporting it to a new flotation mill; Refining the ore into a marketable product; Recycling the leftover sodium chloride to condition the=20 injection source groundwater; and Reclaiming all project components when the ore is depleted=20 and the infrastructure and equipment are no longer needed. The expected lifespan of the proposed HB ``In-Situ'' Solution Mine=20 Project is approximately 28 years. HB Potash, LLC, estimates the=20 project will consume approximately 1,774 acre-feet of saline, non- potable water each year. The proposed HB ``In-Situ'' Solution Mine=20 Project is located in Eddy County, New Mexico. The area includes=20 portions of Township 19 South, Range 30 and 31 East, Township 20 South,=20 Ranges 29, 30 and 31 East and Township 21 South, Ranges 29 and 30 East,=20 New Mexico Principal Meridian. The project area is located within the=20 Carlsbad Potash Mining District and is part of the Secretary's Potash=20 Area, designated under the 1986 Secretarial Order. The Secretarial=20 Order was issued by the Secretary of the Interior and is titled Oil,=20 Gas, and Potash Leasing and Development Within the Designated Potash=20 Area of Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, 51 FR 39425 (October 28,=20 1986), as corrected at 52 FR 32171 (August 26, 1987). The proposed HB ``In-Situ'' Solution Mine Project area encompasses=20 approximately 38,453 acres (60.08 square miles). The surface ownership=20 of these lands is approximately as follows: Federal Lands: 31,439 acres. State Lands: 4,954 acres. Private Lands: 2,060 acres. Of the 38,453-acre proposed project area, the actual extent of the open=20 mine workings and proposed flood zone is only a small portion of the=20 project area as follows: Project Area: 38,453 acres. Targeted Open Mine Workings: 11,100 acres. Flood Zone within the Open Mine Workings: 4,330 acres. A number of alternatives in addition to the proposed action, including=20 the no action alternative, will be evaluated in the EIS in accordance=20 with NEPA. Alternatives may include consideration of conventional=20 underground mining of remaining reserves; more extensive in-situ=20 mining; smaller in-situ flood extent; and alternatives of the project=20 components (e.g., pipeline burial, alternative pipeline routes,=20 alternative water supplies, using existing facilities for ore=20 processing, and alternative solar pond locations). The purpose of the=20 public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will=20 influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including=20 alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. At present,=20 the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: Oil and gas=20 resources, land subsidence, hydrology, air quality, water quality and=20 quantity, underground mine workings, socioeconomics, migratory birds,=20 rangeland resources, recreation and cultural resources. You may submit comments on issues, the project as proposed, other=20 feasible alternatives, possible mitigation measures, and any other=20 information relevant to the proposed action by writing to the BLM, or=20 attending a public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM=20 using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above.=20 Comments, including the names and addresses of the commenter, will be=20 available for public inspection at the BLM's Carlsbad Field Office=20 during business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday,=20 except Federal holidays. The minutes and list of attendees for each=20 scoping meeting will also be available to the public after each meeting=20 and to any participant who wishes to clarify the views he or she=20 expressed. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting=20 process to satisfy the public involvement process required for Section=20 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470f)=20 as provided for in 36 CFR Sec. 800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal=20 consultations also will be conducted and Tribal concerns will be given=20 due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal,=20 State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be=20 interested in or affected by the BLM's decision on this project, are=20 invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may=20 request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating=20 agency. 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. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. Jesse Juen, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. 2010-306 Filed 1-11-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-OX-P