[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5115]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[OR-135-4191-03; GP4-048]

 

Availability of Draft Lamefoot Mine Environmental Impact 
Statement Supplement to the Kettle River Key Project Expansion FEIS

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft Lamefoot Mine environmental 
impact statement supplement to the Kettle River Key Project Expansion 
FEIS.

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SUMMARY: The proposed Lamefoot Mine project is located in north central 
Washington in Ferry County on the western slope of the Kettle River 
Mountain Range seven miles northeast of the town of Republic. The 
Proposed Action consists of extracting gold ore by a long hole open 
stoping mining technique, loading the ore into underground trucks and 
transporting it to the surface, transferring it to highway trucks, and 
hauling it to the existing Key Mill via State and county roads 
approximately 9 miles distant. The ore will be processed by the 
conventional carbon-in-leach method. The processed ore will be stored 
at an existing tailings impoundment located on private land.
    Waste rock will be deposited in temporary waste storage piles at 
the Lamefoot site. Upon completion of the commercial mining phase, the 
waste rock will be hauled underground and used as back fill to provide 
ground support and reduce impacts on groundwater quality.
    Reclamation plans include the use of topsoil, seeding and if 
necessary fertilization, to minimize erosion until vegetation has been 
successfully established. Reclamation objective is to restore wildlife 
habitat lost or disturbed as a result of the project. The proposed 
Action is BLM's preferred alternative.
    Copies of the Draft EISS will be available for review at the 
libraries in Coleville, Republic, Okanogan, Tonasket and Spokane, 
Washington. In addition, copies will also be available for review in 
the following BLM locations:

Office of Public Affairs, Main Interior Building, room 5600, 18th and C 
Streets, NW., Washington, DC 20240.
Public Affairs Office, 1300 NE. 44th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97213.
Spokane District Office, East 4217 Main Avenue, Spokane, Washington 
99202.
Wenatchee Resource Area, 1133 N. Western Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

    At the following Forest Service locations:

Colville National Forest, 695 S. Main Street--Federal Building, 
Colville, WA 99114.
Republic Ranger District, P.O. Box 468, 180 N. Jefferson, Republic, WA 
99166.
Tonasket Ranger District, P.O. Box 466, Tonasket, WA 98855.
Okanogan National Forest, P.O. Box 950, 1240 2nd Avenue S., Okanogan, 
WA 98840.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EISS must be submitted or 
postmarked no later than May 6, 1994. A public meeting will be held in 
Republic, Washington at the Frontier Inn on April 12, 1994 from 4 p.m. 
to 7 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the document should be sent to Ann 
Aldrich, Border Resource Area Manager, Spokane District, East 4217 Main 
Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99202.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ann Aldrich, Border Resource Area Manager, Spokane District Office, E. 
4217 Main Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three alternatives to the Proposed Action 
were analyzed for the Lamefoot Project. Alternative 1 is the No Action 
Alternative under which Echo Bay would not receive approval to develop 
the Lamefoot Project and would be required to carry out reclamation in 
accordance with the conditions specified in the approved Exploration 
Plan of Operations. Surface disturbance associated with the 
exploration/development program and existing surface facilities would 
not be increased.
    Alternative 2 is an alternate method for introducing back fill 
materials to the underground workings. Drop passes at the base of the 
back fill borrow area would allow underground access to the workings 
without crossing the Wolfe Camp Road. Front end loaders would dump back 
fill materials into the drop pass, by a grated loading chute, and into 
a truck. Following truck loading, back fill materials would be hauled 
down an access ramp to the underground workings and placed as described 
in the Proposal.
    Alternative 3 is an alternate ore transportation route utilizing 
Highway 21 and the Fish Hatchery Road. This route would provide a 
shorter haul distance than the proposed Old Kettle Falls Road (formerly 
the Cooke Mountain Road) route. However, local residents have expressed 
concerns about increased noise, dust, and traffic along the Fish 
Hatchery Road if it is used for mine-related traffic.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the RMP process. A 
Notice of Intent was filed in the Federal Register in May 1994. An open 
house was held in Republic, Washington on May 20, 1994 and mailings 
were conducted to solicit comments and ideas. Comments presented 
throughout the process have been considered in the Draft EISS.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1500; 43 CFR 3809.
Joseph K. Buesing,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-5115 Filed 3-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-M