[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11348]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 11, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NV-040-4191-03; 4-00154]

 

Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald 
Mountain/Alligator Ridge Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and scoping.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be directing the 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 
Bald Mountain/Alligator Ridge Project in White Pine County, Nevada. 
This EIS will be prepared by contract and funded by the proponent, 
Placer Dome U.S. The BLM invites comments and suggestions on the scope 
of the analysis.

DATES: Meetings to brief the public on the scope of the proposed 
project and to receive comments are scheduled for May 31 and June 1 and 
2, 1994. All meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. each evening.
    Written comments on the Plan of Operations (proposed action) and 
the scope of the EIS will be accepted until June 17, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments are to be sent to: District Manager, HC 33 
Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301 Attn: Dan Netcher, EIS Team Leader.
    Scoping meetings will be held at the following locations: May 31--
Ely BLM District Office, 702 Industrial Way, Ely, NV; June 1--Elko BLM 
District Office, 3900 E. Idaho St., Elko, NV; June 2--Holiday Inn, 6th 
Street, Reno, NV.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dan Netcher, EIS Team Leader, at the above Ely BLM District Office 
address or telephone (702) 289-4865.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Placer Domer U.S. has submitted to the Ely 
BLM District Office a Plan of Operations (POO). The POO describes 
proposed mining operations, including required access, for an area in 
White Pine County approximately 60 miles northwest of Ely, Nevada. The 
Buck and Bald Mining District has been active since 1984 with mineral 
exploration of the area and open pit/heap leach gold mining. There are 
currently six separate mining operations and five are operated by 
Placer Domer U.S. The other is Western State's White Pine Gold Mine at 
the northern end of the mining district. Placer Dome U.S. is proposing 
to expand their operation at Bald Mountain Mine by opening the Sage 
flats area and by establishing a new processing plant and heap/tailings 
facility. The Sage Flat area would be mined and ore transported to 
Placer Dome's current heap leach facility at the Bald Mountain Mine. 
The new heap/tailing facility operation would process 2.5 million tons 
per year and would consist of a new crushing facilities and tailing 
disposal area. The company also proposes to open a new open pit mine 
and heap leach facility in the Mooney Basin. This operation would 
consist of seven pits and would mine ore at a rate of 1.5 million tons 
per year. These modifications to the mine plan and new mine operations 
would allow Placer Dome U.S. to operate for seven more years.
    The issues expected to be analyzed in the EIS are impacts to: 
Surface and groundwater, threatened and endangered species, cultural 
resources, wildlife, wild horses and mine reclamation. Cumulative 
impacts for the mining district will be analyzed in detail and will 
cover the complete mining district.

    Dated: May 4, 1994.
Thomas V. Leshendok,
Acting Associate State Director, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 94-11348 Filed 5-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-M