[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5567-5568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3091]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-060-1990-01]
Notice of Availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings
Facility Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings
Facility final environmental impact statement (EIS), for the Smoky
Valley Common Operation, Nye County, Nevada.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 43 CFR 3809, notice is given that the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared and made available a Final
EIS on the proposed Round Mountain Mill and Tailings Facility.
DATES: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will publish a Notice
of Availability for this project in the Federal Register on February
16, 1996. That publication begins the official 30-day availability
period for a Final EIS as required by 40 CFR 1506.10.
ADDRESSES: Correspondence may be addressed to: Bureau of Land
Management, Battle Mountain District, Post Office Box 1420, Battle
Mountain, Nevada 89820, Attn.: Christopher J. Stubbs, Round Mountain
EIS Project Manager. A limited number of copies of the Final EIS may be
obtained at the same address or by calling Christopher J. Stubbs at
(702) 635-4000. In addition, the Final EIS and supporting documentation
are available for review at the following locations: BLM, Battle
Mountain District Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada; BLM, Nevada State
Office, Reno, Nevada; and the Getchell Library, University of Nevada,
Reno, Nevada.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher J. Stubbs, Round Mountain
EIS Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Post Office Box 1420,
Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820, (702) 635-4000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Smoky Valley Common Operation has
submitted a Plan of Operations Amendment for the construction,
operation, and reclamation of a mill and tailings facility at the Round
Mountain Mine. The mine currently consists of 4,767 acres of surface
disturbance: 3,659 acres of land administered by the BLM, 515 acres of
land administered by the Toiyabe National Forest, and 593 acres
[[Page 5568]]
of patented land owned by the Smoky Valley Common Operation. The
proposed facilities would comprise an expansion of the existing
operation at the Round Mountain Mine to improve the recovery of gold
from ore that is being mined from the existing open pit. Ancillary
facilities would include a new primary crusher; a power line; fresh
water, reclaim water, and tailings pipelines; and a septic system. The
proposed facilities would be located on approximately 757 acres of
public land administered by the BLM, Battle Mountain District Office,
Tonopah Resource Area. Construction is scheduled to begin in 1996;
operation of the mill and tailings facility would begin in 1997 and
continue until 2008.
This full-text Final EIS analyzes the environmental impacts
associated with the proposed mill and tailings facility and ancillary
facilities, a range management alternative, an alternative tailings
impoundment site, and the no action alternative. In addition, the Final
EIS analyzes potential impacts associated with pit dewatering and pit
water quality, and the leach offload piles. Issues analyzed in the
Final EIS include geology and minerals, water resources, soils and
watershed, vegetation, wildlife and fisheries, range resources,
paleontological resources, cultural resources and Native American
traditional and religious values, air quality, access and land use,
recreation and wilderness, social and economic values, visual
resources, noise, and hazardous materials.
Public participation has occurred throughout the EIS process. A
Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal
Register in August 1993, and an open scoping period was held for 120
days. Two public scoping meetings to solicit comments and ideas were
held in November 1993, and a newsletter was issued to keep the public
informed of the progress of the EIS. A Notice of Availability for the
Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register in September 1995. The
Draft EIS was issued to the public and agencies in September 1995, and
comments on the document were accepted during a 60-day comment period.
Comments were also accepted during two public comment meetings on the
Draft EIS, held in October 1995.
The Final EIS contains in its entirety the analyses originally
published in the Draft EIS as well as responses to public comments
received during the public comment period. The comments received
include 15 letters and 2 public meeting transcripts, which are
reproduced in the Final EIS. These comments have been responded to by
clarifying or updating the analyses, making factual revisions, or
explaining why a comment does not warrant further response.
Comments on the Final EIS, if any, will be reviewed to determine if
they have merit (i.e., if they identify significant issues not
previously addressed or introduce new significant information). If so,
the official responsible for preparing the EIS will determine whether
additional analysis is warranted. If not, a Record of Decision will be
issued following the 30-day availability period for this Final EIS.
A copy of the Final EIS will be sent to all individuals, agencies,
and groups who have expressed interest in the project or as mandated by
regulation or policy.
Dated: February 5, 1996.
Thomas H. Jury,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-3091 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am]
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