[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 26, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-18143]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 26, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NV-020-4191-03]

 

Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for a mining Plan of Operations (POO) for the Twin Creeks Mine 
project, Humboldt County, Nevada; and notice of scoping period and 
public meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, and to 43 CFR 3809, the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) will be directing the preparation of an EIS for the proposed 
expansion of a gold mine in Humboldt County, Nevada. This EIS will be 
prepared by contract and funded by the proponent, Santa Fe Pacific Gold 
Corporation. Public meetings will be held to identify issues to be 
addressed in the EIS, and to encourage public participation in the 
review process. Representatives of the BLM and Santa Fe Pacific Gold 
Corporation will be summarizing the POO and accepting comments from the 
audience. The BLM invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the 
analysis.

DATES: Scoping meetings will be held August 9, 1994 at the Humboldt 
County Library in Winnemucca, Nevada; and on August 10, 1994 at the 
Airport Plaza Hotel on 1981 Terminal Way, Reno, Nevada. Both meetings 
will be held from 7-9 p.m. each night. Written comments on the Plan of 
Operations and the scope of the EIS will be accepted until September 9, 
1994. The Draft EIS is expected to be completed by spring of 1995, at 
which time the document will be made available for public review and 
comment.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be sent to: District Manager, 705 E. 
4th Street, Winnemucca, NV 89445; ATTN: Gerald Moritz, Project 
Coordinator.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gerald Moritz, 705 E. 4th Street, Winnemucca, NV 89445, (702) 623-1500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation of 
Albuquerque, New Mexico has submitted to the Winnemucca District Office 
of the BLM, a POO for expansion of their existing gold mine, the Twin 
Creeks Mine (TCM). The POO describes proposed expansion and 
consolidation of TCM mining operations in Humboldt County, 
approximately 35 miles northeast of Winnemucca, Nevada. This mining 
operation had previously been divided into Goldfields Operating 
Company's Chimney Creek Mine and Santa Fe's Rabbit Creek Mine. A total 
of approximately 931 million tons of oxide overburden and interburden; 
534 million tons of sulfide overburden and interburden; 737 million 
tons alluvium overburden; 60 million tons of subgrade ore; 33 million 
tons of sulfide mill grade ore; 9 million tons oxide mill grade ore; 
and 60 million tons leach grade material may be excavated during the 20 
year mine life. These amounts may vary depending on the price of gold 
during mining operations. The proposed expansion would result in an 
additional disturbance on approximately 1,500 acres. Existing surface 
disturbance for all mine facilities would be about 4,144 acres. 
Existing key production facilities include mine pits, barren rock 
piles, ore crushing, grinding, heap leach pads, solution ponds, gold 
extraction and refining equipment, and tailings disposal facilities. 
Nonprocessing ancillary facilities to support the mining activities 
include administration, laboratory, warehouse, maintenance shop 
buildings, fuel, oil, reagent and water storage facilities and other 
small structures required for operations.
    The EIS will address the issues of geology, minerals, soils, water 
resources, vegetation, wildlife, grazing management, wild horses, air 
quality, aesthetic resources, cultural resources, paleontological 
resources, land use, access, recreation, social and economic values 
related to expansion.
    Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or 
organizations who may be interested in or affected by the BLM's 
decision on the POO are invited to participate in the scoping process. 
The Authorized Officer will respond to public input and comment as part 
of the final EIS. The decision regarding the proposal will be recorded 
as a Record of Decision, which is subject to appeal under 43 CFR part 
4.

    Dated: July 18, 1994.
Robert J. Neary,
Acting District Manager, Winnemucca.
[FR Doc. 94-18143 Filed 7-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-M