[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 134 (Thursday, July 13, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36156-36157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17169]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-060-1990-01; N64-95-001P]


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Ruby Hill Mining Plan of Operation

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Homestake Mining Company of California (HMC) Ruby Hill Project 
Plan of Operation for mining in Eureka 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 (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, and to 43 Code of Federal 
Regulations Part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain 
District (BLM) will be directing the preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed development of an open pit mine 
and associated facilities, in Eureka County, Nevada. The EIS will be 
prepared by a third party consultant and funded by the proponent, HMC. 
The BLM invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis.

DATES: Scoping meetings will be held on August 7, 1995, from 6-8 p.m. 
at the Opera House in Eureka, Nevada, 10201 Main St.; and on August 9, 
1995, from 7-9 p.m. at the Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way, in 
Reno, Nevada. The purpose of these meetings is to identify issues to be 
addressed in the EIS, and to encourage public participation in the NEPA 
process. BLM representatives will present an overview of the NEPA 
process, public involvement, and anticipated environmental impacts 
resulting from the project. HMC representatives will be summarizing the 
Plan of Operations. Additional briefing meetings will be held as 
necessary. Written comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted 
through September 5, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be sent to: BLM, Battle Mountain 
District Manager, 50 Bastian Rd., P.O. Box 1420, Battle Mountain, NV 
89820 ATTN: John Noneman.


[[Page 36157]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Noneman or Lynn Pettit, Project 
Managers, at (702) 635-4000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: HMC has recently submitted a proposal to 
develop a mining facility to be located just North of the historic Ruby 
Hill Mine, South of Highway 50, approximately 1.5 miles Northwest of 
the town of Eureka, Nevada. The project would consist of construction, 
operation, reclamation, and closure of an open pit mine including waste 
rock dump, heap leach facilities, mine office/warehouse, truck shop, 
haul roads, ore stockpiles, access road, diversion ditches, power 
transmission lines, water supply wells and pipelines, process solution 
transmission pipelines and a landfill. The project area is located 
within portions of Township 19 North, Range 53 East MDM, sections 2 to 
11, inclusive, 14 to 18, inclusive, and 20-23 inclusive and portions of 
Township 20 North, Range 53 East sections 28 and 31 to 35, inclusive. 
Under the proposed action, an estimated total disturbance of 731 acres 
would occur. The area described includes about 729 acres of public land 
administered by the BLM, and 2 acres of private land owned by HMC. 
Project access will be via an improved gravel road from Highway 50. 
Current estimates call for mining 3,000-4,000 tons of ore and 30,000-
40,000 tons of waste rock per day with front end loaders and off-
highway haulage trucks.
    Potentially significant and significant direct, indirect, 
cumulative and residual impacts from the proposal will be analyzed in 
the EIS. Significant issues to be addressed in the EIS include those 
relating to air quality, cultural resources, and social and economic 
values. Additional significant issues to be addressed may arise during 
the scoping process. Federal, state, and local agencies and other 
individuals or organizations who may be interested in or affected by 
the BLM's decision on this plan of operation are invited to participate 
in the scoping process.

    Dated: July 7, 1995.
Michael C. Mitchel,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-17169 Filed 7-12-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P