[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 115 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-14626]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 16, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[AZ-020-04-7122-02-5491]

 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
Cyprus Bagdad Copper Mine, Bagdad, Arizona.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix District Office, is 
preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the construction of a 
tailings facility expansion and south waste rock disposal facility for 
the existing open pit copper mine at Cyprus Bagdad. The mine is located 
near the Town of Bagdad, in Yavapai County, Arizona. Cyprus Bagdad 
Copper Corporation has submitted a proposed Mine Plan of Operations to 
the Bureau of Land Management, as required under the Code of Federal 
Regulations and title V of the Federal Land and Policy Management Act 
(FLPMA) of 1976. The Bureau of Land Management has responsibility for 
analysis, review, and approval of the mining plan. Preparation of the 
Environmental Impact Statement will follow the Code of Federal 
Regulations, title 40, subpart 1500.
    The mine plan proposes the expansion of the existing Mammoth 
tailings impoundment, the development of the Upper Mammoth tailings 
impoundment, and the expansion of the south waste rock disposal 
facility to continue mineral and mining operations at Cyprus Bagdad. 
The public is invited to participate in the NEPA process beginning with 
scoping and the identification of issues in July 1994.

DATES: Public Scoping Meetings to identify issues will be held as 
follows:

Tuesday, July 12 (7-9 p.m.)
Holiday Inn
3100 Andy Devine
Meeting room C
Kingman, AZ

Wednesday, July 13 (7-9 p.m.)
Yavapai College
1100 E. Sheldon St.
Bldg. 3, room 133
Prescott, AZ

    Written comments relating to the identification of issues will be 
accepted until August 13, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix 
District Office, Attn: Mary Johnson, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Johnson, Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix 
District Office, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027 
(Phone: (602) 780-8090).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cyprus Bagdad Copper Mine is located near 
the Town of Bagdad, about 60 miles northwest of Wickenburg on State 
Highway 96. The existing mine is an open pit copper mine with flotation 
mill tailings, low grade dump leaching, and a solvent extraction-
electro winning plant.
    Two tailings facilities currently contain mill wastes. The current 
tailings facilities are nearing capacity and will need to be closed and 
expanded in two years.
    The expansion of the Mammoth tailings would disturb approximately 
410 additional acres. The Upper Mammoth tailings impoundment would 
disturb approximately 1,440 acres. The south waste rock disposal area 
would be located in Bevering Gulch and its tributaries, and the south 
fork of Mineral Creek, and disturb approximately 660 acres. Planned 
activities would take place on a combination of lands including public 
and private surface and mineral lands. The proposed action involves a 
total of approximately 305 acres of federal surface overlying federal 
minerals lands, and 705 acres of state surface overlying federal 
minerals lands.
    Potential issues include surface and groundwater quality, air 
quality, cultural resources, biological resources, visual resources, 
and mine reclamation.
    The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be developed by a 
third party contractor who has been approved by the Bureau of Land 
Management. The contractor will use an interdisciplinary team to 
develop the document. The Bureau of Land Management will have the 
responsibility for the review of the EIS.
    Complete records of all phases of the environmental documentation 
process will be available for public review at the Bureau of Land 
Management, Phoenix District Office, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85027, and at the Bureau of Land Management, Kingman Resource 
Area, 2475 Beverly Ave., Kingman, Arizona 86401.

    Dated: June 9, 1994.
David J. Miller,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-14626 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M