[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5705]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 11, 1994]


                                                    VOL. 59, NO. 48

                                             Friday, March 11, 1994
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

 

Crown Jewel Mine, Okanogan National Forest, Okanogan County, WA

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revision of notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: On March 2, 1992, the USDA, Forest Service and the Washington 
State Department of Ecology, as joint lead agencies, issued a notice of 
intent (NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a 
proposal to develop a mine for precious mineral extraction on Buckhorn 
Mountain in the Federal Register (57 FR 7362). On April 15, 1993, the 
USDA, Forest Service and the Washington State Department of Ecology, as 
joint lead agencies, issued a revision to the notice of intent (NOI) to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in the Federal Register 
(58 FR 19646). The purpose of this revised notice of intent is to 
inform the interested publics, of the following:
    1. A revised release date for the draft-and final EIS;
    2. Forest Plan consistency wording;
    3. The availability of a revised Reclamation Plan;
    4. A revised list of where documents related to the Crown Jewel 
Mine proposal are available for public review.
    The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is now expected to 
be completed and available for public review in October 1994. The final 
EIS is expected to be available in April 1995.
    The original NOI stated that, ``* * * This project will be in 
consistent with the Forest Plan * * *''. This wording was changed in 
the April 15, 1993 revision of the notice of intent to read, ``* * * 
This project will be consistent with the Forest Plan * * *''. This 
statement is being revised to read, ``* * * All action alternatives 
will require several amendments to the Forest Plan. These amendments 
will create a new management area, MA 27; add a site specific amendment 
for Forest-wide Standards and Guidelines that can not be met by the 
project; and add a possible amendment to set aside several blocks of 
land, 150 total acres estimated, in perpetuity for wetlands mitigation 
* * *''.
    The initial plan of operations for the crown Jewel Mine was filed 
in January, 1992. As additional engineering and planning work was done, 
and in response to agency and public comments and suggestions, the 
proponent revised the initial plan on several occasions and on March 9, 
1993 submitted a single integrated plan of operations. Based on 
additional engineering and planning work and in response to additional 
agency and public comments and suggestions, the proponent revised 
chapter 6 of the Integrated Plan of Operations and published a stand 
alone Reclamation Plan in August 1993 which was further modified on 
November 29, 1993.
    Copies of the Reclamation Plan, Scoping Comment Summary document, 
the Integrated Plan of Operations, and other documents related to the 
Crown Jewel Mine proposal and EIS are available for public review at 
the following locations:

Forest Service District Ranger's office, Tonasket, Washington
Forest Service Supervisor's office, Okanogan, Washington
Washington Department of Ecology office, Olympia, Washington
Washington Department of Ecology office, Yakima, Washington
Bureau of Land Management office, Wenatchee, Washington
Public libraries in Oroville, Tonasket, Omak, and Seattle (Main 
Branch), Washington
Chesaw General Store, Chesaw, Washington
Environment Canada office, North Vancouver, B.C., Canada
B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks office, Victoria, B.C., 
Canada
Village office, Midway, B.C., Canada
City Hall, Grand Forks, B.C., Canada has been dropped from 
previously published lists.

    Dated: March 1, 1994.
Sam Gehr,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 94-5705 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M