[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 18, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 36824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17664]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
Analyzing the Impacts of a Proposed Expansion of Castle Mountain Mine,
San Bernardino County, California
SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management will be directing
preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in conjunction with San Bernardino
County's administration of the California Environmental Quality Act.
The EIS/EIR will be prepared by a third party contractor on the impacts
of the proposed mine expansion and ten year extension of mining and
processing activities at the Castle Mountain open pit, heap leach gold
mine located in northeastern San Bernardino County, California. Public
scoping meetings will be held in connection with the document's
preparation.
DATES: The public is invited to participate in defining the scope of
analysis. Public meetings will be held at the following times and
locations: 7 p.m., Wednesday, August 2, 1995, at the Searchlight
Community Center, Parks and Recreation Department, 200 Michael Wendall
Way, Searchlight, Nevada; 7 p.m., Thursday, August 3, 1995, at the
Holiday Inn, 1511 East Main Street, Barstow, California. Written
comments will be accepted through August 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to U.S.D.I., Bureau of
Land Management, Needles Resource Area, 101 W. Spikes Road, Needles,
California 92363.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George R. Meckfessel, Planning and
Environmental Coordinator, telephone (619) 326-3896.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Viceroy Gold Corporation has proposed
expanded development of additional ore deposits adjacent to deposits
currently being mined at the Castle Mountain open-pit, heap-leach gold
mine. Under the mine's present permits, mining and processing
activities could continue through December 31, 2010. Under the proposed
expansion, these activities could continue through December 31, 2020.
The proposal consists of expanding existing and planned open pit areas,
consolidating two heap leach pads and eliminating two others, creating
a new overburden storage area as well as expanding existing overburden
piles, expanding growth media storage areas and partially backfilling
the Jumbo South/Lesley Ann open pits. The proposed ten-year extension
of the mining and processing phases of the mine would ultimately affect
up to 1,437 acres of public and private lands, as compared to a total
of 890 acres presently authorized.
The EIS/EIR will consider alternative sitings of heap-leach pads
and waste dumps, and backfilling alternatives. The EIS/EIR will examine
potentially significant impacts to visual resources, air quality,
cultural resources, groundwater quality/quantity, land use, vegetation,
wildlife and cumulative effects.
Richard E. Fagan,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-17664 Filed 7-17-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-M
