[Federal Register: April 19, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 74)] [Notices] =20 [Page 20379] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr19ap10-57] =20 [[Page 20379]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLNVE02000 L51100000.GN0000 LVEMF1000570 241A; MO:4500011675; 10- 08807; TAS: 14X5017] =20 Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for=20 the Proposed Hollister Underground Mine Project, Elko County, NV 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) Tuscarora=20 Field Office, Elko, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact=20 Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the=20 scoping process to solicit public comments and to identify issues. DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.=20 Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until May 19, 2010. The=20 date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced at=20 least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM=20 Web site at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?fro= m=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en= /fo/elko_field_office.html.=20 In order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received=20 prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last=20 public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide additional=20 opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft=20 EIS. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Hollister Underground=20 Mine Project by any of the following methods:Web site: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?fro= m=3DleavingFR.html&log=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en= /fo/elko_field_office.html. E-mail: janice_stadelman@blm.gov. Fax: (775) 753-0255. Mail: BLM Tuscarora Field Office, Attn. Janice Stadelman,=20 3900 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada 89801. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Tuscarora=20 Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have=20 your name added to the mailing list, contact Janice Stadelman, Project=20 Lead, telephone (775) 753-0346; address 3900 Idaho St., Elko, Nevada=20 89801; e-mail janice_stadelman@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rodeo Creek Gold Inc. has proposed an=20 amendment to their plan of operations for the Hollister Underground=20 Mine Project. The proposed amendment would expand Rodeo Creek Gold=20 Inc.'s existing underground exploration activities into a full-scale=20 underground mining operation. Most of the necessary infrastructure to=20 support full-scale mining was authorized and built in conjunction with=20 the underground exploration activities. Currently, the project has=20 created 66 acres of approved surface disturbance on public lands, of=20 which approximately 75 percent of the existing facilities are located=20 on previously disturbed ground within an existing open pit mine. The=20 proposed expansion to full-scale mining would disturb an additional 58=20 acres of public land for a total of 124 acres of surface disturbance.=20 The proposed action consists of constructing a new production shaft;=20 improving existing roads; building a power transmission line to the=20 mine site; upgrading ancillary facilities including storage areas,=20 office, shop, and warehouse buildings; and continuing both surface and=20 underground exploration. The full-scale project would augment the=20 existing mine water management facilities that currently include a=20 reverse-osmosis and desilting water treatment plant and rapid=20 infiltration basins by adding underground dewatering wells and=20 obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to=20 authorize discharge of groundwater to Little Antelope Creek. The=20 Hollister Project would haul the mined ore using highway-legal trucks=20 to existing off-site milling facilities via existing roads that would=20 be improved as needed; no on-site processing facilities are proposed.=20 The project is expected to operate for 20 years. The proposed project=20 is located in and adjacent to the Tosawihi Quarries Archaeological=20 District and near the Tosawihi Quarries Traditional Cultural Properties=20 (TCP), 47 miles northwest of Elko, Nevada, in Elko County. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant=20 issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis,=20 including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS.=20 At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:=20 cultural resources, Native American religious concerns, hydrology, and=20 noise. The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to=20 satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National=20 Historic Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f, as provided for in 36 CFR=20 800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted and=20 Tribal concerns will be given due consideration, including impacts on=20 Indian trust assets, if any. Federal, State, and local agencies, along=20 with other stakeholders that may be interested or affected by the BLM's=20 decision on this project are invited to participate in the scoping=20 process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to=20 participate as a cooperating 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. Kenneth E. Miller, Manager, Elko District Office. [FR Doc. 2010-8906 Filed 4-16-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P