[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52005-52006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24614]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NV-1990-01; N46-83-004P]
Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability, final environmental impact statement
for the Placer Dome U.S. Bald Mountain Mine Expansion Project.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act, the Bureau of land Management has prepared, by a third party
contractor, and made available for a 30-day public review, the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the Placer Dome U.S. Bald Mountain
Mine Expansion Project, located in White Pine County, Nevada.
DATES: The Final Environmental Impact Statement will be distributed and
made available to the public on September 29, 1995. The period of
availability for public review for the Final Environmental Impact
Statement ends on October 30, 1995. At that time a Record of Decision
will be issued regarding the Proposed Action.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement can be
obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Ely District Office, 702 N.
Industrial Way, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301. The Final Environmental
Impact Statement is available for inspection at the following
locations: Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office (Reno); Bureau
of Land Management Ely District; Eureka, White Pine, and Elko County
Libraries; and the University of Nevada libraries in Reno and Las
Vegas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Netcher, EIS Team Leader, at the above address or telephone (702
289-1872.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final Environmental Impact Statement
analyses the potential environmental impacts from the expansion of the
current gold mining operations at Bald Mountain Mine and development of
the Horseshoe/Galaxy Mine (Proposed Action) and reasonable
alternatives. Alternatives analyzed consist of: No Action; haul road
design; waste rock dump configurations; and reclamation options. The
Bureau of Land Management's preferred alternative is described within
the The Final Environmental Impact Statement. The Final Environmental
Impact Statement also responds to the issues raised during the scoping
period and comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement. Issues analyzed of major concern involve potential impacts
to groundwater, visual resources, wildlife habitat, the economy and
social services of White Pine and Elko Counties, and cumulative
impacts. Twelve letters and two oral comments regarding the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement were received. All substantive comments
were incorporated for improving document clarity, further defining
issues, and improving analysis of potential impacts in the Final
Environmental Impact Statement. The primary concerns and issues
presented in these comments involved mine reclamation, long term
monitoring for toxic substances, and impacts to groundwater.
The Bald Mountain Mine expansion would consist of modification of
the processing circuit with a wet crushing that would produce a split
flow of ore. This processing facility would consist of both heap
leaching and carbon-in-leach facilities with associated tailings. The
Bald Mountain Mine expansion would also consist of expansion of the
current
[[Page 52006]]
Top Pit and development of the Sage Flats Pit with corresponding waste
rock dumps. The Horseshoe/Galaxy mine would involve construction and
operation of a new mine with open pits, crushing facilities, waste
dumps, conventional heap leaching facilities, and several ancillary
facilities.
Dated: September 19, 1995.
Gene A. Kolkman,
Ely District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-24614 Filed 10-3-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-M
