[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 160 (Friday, August 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20406]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Corps of Engineers

 

Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Proposed North Expansion of Kennecott Copper's Tailings 
Impoundment in Salt Lake County, UT

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: Kennecott Copper proposes to expand their current tailings 
impoundment by an additional 3,500 acres. The present tailings 
impoundment is reaching its storage capacity. Kennecott projects the 
need to store an additional 1.9 billion tons of tailings in order for 
operation and production to continue throughout the life of the mine. 
In addition, Kennecott has identified the need for a seismic upgrade of 
the existing impoundment. The intended location of the expanded 
facility and its design is projected to meet this need. Construction of 
the north expansion will require a Department of the Army permit 
pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Corps of Engineers, 
as the lead Federal agency for this project, has determined that an 
Environmental Impact Statement will be required prior to making a 
permit decision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Schwinn, Project Manager, 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District, Utah Field Office, 
1403 South 600 West, Suite A, Bountiful, Utah 84010, Telephone (801) 
295-8380.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Kennecott Copper owns and operates the 
Bingham Canyon Mine 30 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah within 
the Oquirrh Mountains. Copper ore is mined from an open pit mine and 
processed at the concentrator, smelter and refinery facilities. Annual 
production of copper from the facility is over 250,000 tons annually, 
Tailings, the end-product of the process, are disposed in a slurry to 
an existing impoundment.
    The existing impoundment's footprint covers approximately 5,700 
acres and contains 1.7 billion tons of tailings. The current 
impoundment is 190 feet high. It has the capacity for an additional 0.3 
to 0.4 billion tons of tailings which will raise its height to 250 
feet. Its capacity is projected to be reached by 1998. However, the 
expected life of the mine is estimated at an additional 30 years with a 
total production of 1.9 billion more tons of tailings.
    Construction of the North Expansion will occur in two phases. The 
Phase 1 design will provide for 1.1 billion tons of tailings storage. 
(An additional 0.3 to 0.4 billion tons of tailings will be deposited 
into the existing impoundment during the remaining years of service.) 
Related project elements for Phase 1 include construction of the North 
Expansion berm, expanded dewatering of select reaches of the existing 
impoundment, and modification of the process water system, all designed 
to enhance the seismic stability of the existing impoundment. Phase 1 
is expected to run from year 1999 to 2018.
    Phase 2 construction of the North Expansion will allow storage of 
an additional 0.4 to 0.5 billion tons of tailings, resulting in a final 
impoundment height of 250 feet by the year 2027.
    Construction of the North Expansion will require a new pipeline 
bridge and modification of the tailings distribution system. It will 
also involve relocating utility lines, powerlines, the C-7 ditch, the 
Union Pacific Railroad main lines, the construction of a new bridge for 
Highway 202 over the relocated railroad lines and the modification of 
Interstate 80 on and off ramps.
    In addition to the proposed North Expansion, other alternatives 
have tentatively been identified. These include both onsite and offsite 
alternatives. The onsite alternatives range from the proposed North 
Expansion to the continued raising and impounding of tailings within 
the existing impoundment. Offsite alternatives would involve separate 
sites capable of meeting the tailings storage capacity needs. Five have 
been identified: Barneys Canyon, Coon Canyon, Dry Fork/Carr Fork, 
Tooele/Carr Fork and Stockton. All sites are located in the Oquirrh 
Mountains and within Kennecott Copper's mine properties. Alternatives 
and their practicability will be analyzed by the Corps of Engineers 
pursuant to the 404(b)(1) Guidelines contained in 40 CFR Part 230.

Public Scoping Meeting

    A public scoping meeting will be held to help identify significant 
issues and alternatives for inclusion in the DEIS. Potentially 
significant issues to be analyzed in the DEIS include wetland impacts, 
impacts to surface and ground water, both in terms of quantity and 
quality; public safety, air quality, fish and wildlife impacts, 
transportation and traffic. A public scoping meeting will be held at 
the following time and location: 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 19, 1994: 
Main Auditorium, Utah Department of Natural Resources, 1636 West North 
Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah.
    Federal, state and local agencies as well as other interested 
parties are encouraged to attend the scoping meeting. In addition, 
written comments addressing relevant issues to be considered in the 
DEIS as per this NOI may be sent to Mr. Schwinn at the above address. 
Comments in response to this NOI will be received until the date of the 
scoping meeting.

    Dated: August 12, 1994.
Michael P. Stuhr,
Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Deputy District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 94-20406 Filed 8-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-EH-M