[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-23077]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: September 19, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-020-04-4333-01]

 

Notice of Availability of the Draft Cyprus Tohono Corporation 
Proposed Mine Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Cyprus Tohono Corporation 
Proposed Mine Expansion Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Phoenix 
District.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, and The United States Department of the Interior Secretarial 
Order No. 3087, Section 5, Amendment No. 1, The Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM) has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Cyprus Tohono Corporation's proposed mine expansion on the Tohono 
O'odham Nation, Papago Indian Reservation. The proposed action 
(Alternate A) consists of the conversion from in situ to open pit 
mining operations at Cyprus, the creation of a new overburden storage 
site, and a new copper oxide ore heap leach pad. Cyprus proposes 
production of approximately one billion pounds of copper during the 
thirteen year life of the proposal. A description of existing 
facilities and a detailed proposed plan of operations is presented in 
the Mine Plan of Operations for Expanded Open Pit and Heap Leach 
Operations (Cyprus Casa Grande Corporation 1993). The project was 
developed in response to three underlying needs: mining lease 
compliance, continued industrial economic support for the Nation, and 
copper production.
    Implementation of Alternative A would result in the disturbance of 
a total of approximately 1,660 acres, or approximately 0.06 percent of 
total Nation lands. Alternative A involves the development, operation, 
performance and maintenance of the following major project components: 
open pit mine expansion, overburden disposal area, heap leach pads and 
ponds, stormwater collection and recycling, processing facilities, 
access and service roads, support facilities, utilities, spill 
prevention, health and safety plans, and reclamation and closure. There 
would be increases in royalties and employment. Scholarships would be 
established. Each of the major project components re described in the 
main body of the Draft EIS.
    Alternative B was developed to minimize potential impacts to 
biological and visual resources. Alternative B includes the same basic 
project components as Alternative A, however, some of the components 
would be moved south of an existing access road. Movement of the 
proposed project elements south of the existing mine access road serves 
to limit disturbance of natural drainages, reduce potential disturbance 
to bat colonies north of the site, and to provide a visual screen of 
existing mine plant site structures. Alternative B would disturb a 
total of approximately 1,850 acres.

DATES: The protest period will begin upon publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register and will run for 60 days after which public 
comments will be incorporated into a Final Document. These procedures 
can be found in the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR 1610.5-2).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A limited number of copies of the EIS are 
available upon request to the: Phoenix District Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027. There 
are also copies available for review at the above location.
    Public meetings will be held to receive comments on the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement. Location, dates, and times of these 
meetings will be announced in the local media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Paul 
J. Buff, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027 (602) 780-
8090.

    Dated: September 9, 1994.
G.L. Cheniae,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 94-23077 Filed 9-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-32-M