[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7748-7750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3217]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Thompson Creek Supplemental Plan of Operation Challis National 
Forest, Custer County, Idaho

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare supplemental environmental impact 
statement.

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SUMMARY: The USDA, Forest Service, will prepare a supplement to the 
October 1980, Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Cyprus 
Thompson Creek Mine (CTC). The Supplement will disclose the 
environmental effects of a proposal submitted by Thompson Creek Mining 
Company (TCMC) to prevent, control and treat acid rock drainage (ARD) 
at the Thompson Creek Mine. The potential for acid rock drainage was 
evaluated in the 1980 EIS, however, the predictive modeling program did 
not project that acid generation would be sufficient to cause ARD. The 
occurrence of ARD is a new circumstance, relevant to environmental 
concerns and bearing on the impacts of the project, therefore, the 1980 
EIS will be supplemented to disclose the effects of these new 
circumstances. The proposal, as submitted by CTC, identifies 
modifications to the operating plan which would eliminate or control 
acid rock drainage. The modifications to the plan would: (1) Identify 
and isolate waste rock that has the potential for ARD, (2) limit 
infiltration and migration [[Page 7749]] of acid drainage within the 
identified waste rock and (3) modify the tailings disposal process by 
adding a pyrite reduction system to separate the residual pyrite from 
the tailings. The pyrite concentrate would be disposed of in a 
subaqueous environment where oxidation and acid generation would be 
prevented. The proposal also discusses measures to be taken should 
mining operations terminate prior to the construction of the pyrite 
reduction system outlined above. In that circumstance, TCMC proposes to 
place a cap of inert material on the tailings embankment and 
impoundment to alleviate acid generation.
    There are approximately 525 acres of patented land in the project 
area, including the open pit. The remainder, approximately 2,500 acres, 
is land administered by the Challis National Forest or the Salmon 
District of the Bureau of Land Management. The mine is located in 
Custer County, five miles north of the Salmon River and 30 miles 
southwest of Challis, Idaho.
    The proposal to develop and implement measures to prevent, control 
and treat ARD represents both connected or cumulative actions as 
defined by the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR 1508.25). The 
purpose of the proposal is to continue the development of a mineral 
resource while minimizing or preventing adverse effects resulting from 
ARD that were not predicted in the 1980 Thompson Creek EIS or approved 
Plan of Operations. Forest Service policy is to facilitate the orderly 
exploration, development and production of mineral resources within the 
National Forest System on lands open to these activities. At the same 
time, the Forest Service is charged to ensure that these activities are 
conducted in an environmentally sound manner, and that once completed, 
reclamation of the land to a stable and usable condition is 
accomplished.
    This supplement to the 1980 EIS will tier to the Challis National 
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) and Final EIS 
(June 1987) which provide overall guidance of all land management 
activities on the Challis National Forest, including mineral 
exploration and development. This document also tiers to the 1980 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Thompson Creek Molybdenum 
Project.

DATES: Written comments and suggestions must be submitted on or before 
March 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES AND FURTHER INFORMATION: Submit written comments and 
suggestions on the proposed activities to Liz McFarland, Project 
Coordinator, Salmon and Challis National Forests, Headquarters 
Building, P.O. Box 729, Salmon, Idaho, 83467, Phone (208) 756-5139. To 
be placed on the project mailing list or for additional information, 
contact the Project Coordinator identified above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Thompson Creek Mining Company submitted 
a Supplemental Plan of Operation for the Thompson Creek Molybdenum Mine 
to the Challis National Forest and the Salmon District of the Bureau of 
Land Management in February 1993. The Supplemental Plan was revised in 
February 1994. The Supplemental Plan was based on a sampling program 
initiated in 1990 to characterize ARD. The plan, as proposed by TCMC is 
summarized as follows:
    1. Minimize the amount of water and air coming into contact with 
sulfide minerals by encapsulating waste rock (determined to have the 
potential to generate ARD) with compacted volcanic material within the 
existing waste dumps. Final reclamation of the waste dumps would 
consist of shaping and covering surfaces with materials designed to 
prevent upward diffusion of acidity, limit the infiltration of water, 
protect cover materials from freeze-thaw damage and support growth of a 
vegetative cover.
    2. The existing milling process would be modified to remove a 
portion of the pyrite sufficient to produce an inert tailings. The 
pyrite removed would be disposed of in areas of the impoundment which 
will be saturated with water in order to limit exposure to oxygen. The 
inert tailings produced would be placed on the embankment, paddock and 
beach portion of the tailings facility. As proposed, this would result 
in approximately 140 feet of inert tailings, by close of mine. At final 
reclamation, the interior of the impoundment area would be regraded 
using inert material so that surface drainage is directed toward the 
west side of the embankment. This would produce a free water pond near 
the west side of the embankment and a minimum 10 foot layer of inert 
material over the interior of the impoundment. The remainder of the 
impoundment would be covered by 140 feet of inert tails or a low 
permeability soil cap or a layer of inert fill 15 to 30 feet thick.
    3. Hydrologic investigations indicate that the pit would fill at 
least partially with water when mining ends. Hydrogeologic studies and 
geochemical analyses would be conducted prior to mine closure and 
appropriate measures to preserve in-pit water quality would be 
developed.
    The Challis Forest Plan provides guidance for management activities 
within the potentially affected area through its goals, objectives, 
standards and guidelines, and management area direction. The proposal 
would occur within Management Areas 8 and 9. Management in these areas 
emphasize enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat, range 
administration, maintenance of water quality, timber production and 
dispersed recreation. It recognizes the potential for high-value, 
locatable mineral occurrence and probable development. It directs that 
exploration, location, leasing and development of energy and non-energy 
minerals resources be coordinated with other resources.
    The decision to be made is what should be done in relation to the 
proposal submitted by TCMC: (a) Approve the project as proposed, (b) 
approve the project with mitigation measures to address the issues, (c) 
deny approval of the proposal. Under the United States mining Laws of 
May 10, 1872, as amended (30 U.S.C. 22), United States citizens and 
corporations have the right to search for and develop minerals upon 
public lands, including National Forest Systems lands, open to mineral 
entry. Forest Service regulations (36 CFR 228, Subpart A) require that 
the agency work with mineral operators to minimize or eliminate adverse 
environmental impacts from mineral activities on National Forest System 
lands.
    The Supplement will analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental effects of the alternatives. Past, present, and projected 
activities on private Bureau of Land Management and National Forest 
lands will be considered. The Supplement will disclose the analysis of 
site-specific mitigation measures and their effectiveness.
    Public participation is an important part of the analysis process 
(40 CFR 1501.7). Scoping activities, to date, have included the 
following: Letter and scoping document, dated 2/15/94, to interested 
individuals, groups and organizations; press release and legal 
narrative in the ``Challis Messenger'' and the Salmon ``Recorder-
Herald,'' 2/17/94. The public is encouraged to visit with Forest 
Service officials at any time during the analysis and prior to the 
decision. In addition, the Forest Service is seeking information, 
comments, and assistance from federal, state, and local agencies and 
other individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected 
by the proposed action. No [[Page 7750]] additional public meetings are 
scheduled at this time.
    Comments from the public and other agencies will be used to prepare 
the Draft Supplemental EIS. The scoping process to date has identified 
the following preliminary issues:
    1. What is the potential for development of acid mine drainage and 
mobilization of heavy metals from geologic materials exposed by mining 
activities?
    2. How would existing mine facilities and activities be changed to 
prevent, control or treat ARD? What are the long term maintenance 
requirements of these facilities along with their predicted long-term 
viability and stability and how would bonding reflect these changes?
    3. What is the potential for adverse impacts to water quality 
downstream of project facilities due to ARD and how would water quality 
be maintained and beneficial uses protected?
    4. Would fish and their habitat be affected by ARD discharges into 
area streams? What are the potential impacts to fish species listed as 
threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act?
    5. Would water monitoring be adequate to detect and allow for the 
correction of any water quality problems resulting from the proposed 
action?
    This list may be verified, expanded, or modified based on 
additional scoping for this proposal.
    In order to implement the project, the proponent, TCMC, must obtain 
approval or consultation of their proposed modification from other 
regulatory agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (USFWS), Idaho Department of Lands (IDL), Idaho Department of 
Health and Welfare (IDHW) and the Idaho Department of Water Resources 
(IDWR). Implementation may take place through the selection of an 
alternative from the Supplemental EIS.
    The Challis National Forest is the lead agency in this 
environmental analysis and Supplemental EIS. The Salmon District office 
of the Bureau of Land Management is a cooperating agency.
    The Draft Supplemental EIS is expected to be filed with the 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and available for public review 
in late July 1995. At that time, the EPA will publish a Notice of 
Availability of the Draft Supplemental EIS in the Federal Register. The 
comment period on the Draft Supplemental EIS will be 45 days from the 
date the EPA's notice of availability appears in the Federal Register. 
It is very important that those interested in this proposal participate 
at that time. To be most helpful, comments on the Draft EIS should be 
as specific as possible. The Final Supplemental EIS is scheduled to be 
completed by December, 1995.
    The Forest Service believes, at this stage, it is important to give 
reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage, but that are not raised 
until after completion of the final environmental impact statement, may 
be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 
1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Ind. v. Harris, 490 
F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these court rulings, 
it is very important that those interested in this proposed action 
participate by the close of the 45-day comment period so that 
substantive comments and objections are made available to the Forest 
Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to 
them in the final environmental impact statement.
    To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues 
and concerns on the proposed action, comments should be as specific as 
possible. Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council on Environmental 
Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the 
National Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these 
points.
    I am the responsible official for this environmental impact 
statement. My address is Salmon and Challis National Forests, P.O. Box 
729, Salmon, Idaho 83467.

    Dated: February 3, 1995.
Charles C. Wildes,
Forest Supervisor, Challis National Forest.
[FR Doc. 95-3217 Filed 2-8-95; 8:45 am]
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