[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 156 (Monday, August 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41895-41896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19953]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[Docket No. 4310--DN; MT-060-05-1990-01]


Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Zortman and Landusky Mines Reclamation Plan Modifications and Mine Life 
Extensions, Phillips County, MT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the Zortman and Landusky mines reclamation plan 
modifications and mine life extensions.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347), and the Montana Environmental 
Policy Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Montana 
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as lead agencies, have 
prepared, through a third party contractor, a Draft EIS on the impacts 
of the Zortman Mining, Inc. proposal to expand mining and processing of 
ore reserves at the Zortman and Landusky mines. The Zortman and 
Landusky mines are located in southwestern Phillips County about 50 
miles south of Malta, Montana, near the southern boundary of the Fort 
Belknap Indian Reservation.
    The Draft EIS presents a preferred alternative and six other 
alternatives including the company proposed action. The preferred 
alternative is the agencies' attempt to reduce or avoid the potential 
environmental impacts of the proposed action. The Draft EIS discloses 
the possible environmental consequences associated with each 
alternative.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS will be accepted for 60 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the 
Notice of Filing of the draft in the Federal Register.
    Comments can also be presented at four open houses/public meetings 
to be held in: Lodgepole, Montana, September 18, 1995, at the Medicine 
Bear Lodge; Hays, Montana, September 19, 1995, at the John Capture 
Center; Malta, Montana, September 20, 1995, at the Guard Armory; and 
Landusky, Montana, September 21, 1995, at the Community Hall. All of 
these open houses/public meetings will begin at 5:00 p.m. with an open 
house to answer questions followed at 7:30 p.m. by a meeting to accept 
comments. These meetings will also be the forum for the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers to collect public comments on the Zortman Mining, Inc. 404 
permit application for the Zortman and Landusky mine expansions.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to David L. Mari, 
District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown District Office, 
P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, Montana 59457-1160.
    Copies of the Draft EIS will be available from the Bureau of Land 
Management, Lewistown District Office, P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, 
Montana 59457-1160 (406-538-7461) or the Montana Department of 
Environmental Quality, Hard Rock Bureau, P.O. Box 201601, Helena, 
Montana 50620-1601 (406-444-2074). Public reading copies will be 
available for review at the following locations: Bureau of Land 
Management, Office of External Affairs, Main Interior Building, Room 
5600, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, DC; Bureau of Land Management, 
External Affairs Office, Montana State Office, 222 North 32nd Street, 
Billings, Montana; Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown District 
Office, Airport Road, Lewistown, Montana; Bureau of Land Management, 
Phillips Resource Area, 501 South 2nd St East, Malta, Montana; and 
State of Montana, Department of Environmental Quality, 1625 11th Ave, 
Helena, Montana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Robinson, Team Leader, Montana 
Department of Environmental Quality, Hard Rock Bureau, P.O. Box 201601, 
Helena, Montana 59620-1601 (406-444-2074) or Scott Haight, Team Leader, 
Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown District Office, P.O. Box 1160, 
Lewistown, Montana 59457-1160 (406-538-7461).

 
[[Page 41896]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 11, 1992, Zortman Mining, Inc. (ZMI) 
filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown 
District Office, and the Montana Department of State Lands (part of the 
Montana Department of Environmental Quality as of July 1, 1995), to 
expand mining operations at the Zortman Mine in the Little Rocky 
Mountains, Montana. The proposal includes: expansion of existing mine 
pits to access sulfide ore; a 150-acre, 60-million ton waste rock 
disposal area; crushing facilities; a 2.5-mile conveyor system; a 200-
acre, 80-million ton capacity leach pad; a new processing plant and 
ponds; a limestone quarry; and other associated facilities. Total 
disturbance would increase from the existing 401 acres to about 1,292 
acres. The operation is located on private and public land. Issues 
include Native American religious concerns, acid rock drainage, 
reclamation, and socioeconomic.
    In a March 9, 1994, Decision Record, the BLM and DEQ included the 
analysis of acid rock drainage corrective measures for the nearby 
Landusky Mine within the scope of the EIS for the Zortman Mine 
expansion, since acid rock drainage has been a problem at both mines. 
The draft EIS addresses additional mining at the Landusky and Zortman 
mines, as well as modified reclamation plans for both facilities to 
address acid rock drainage.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the EIS process. A 
Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register in November 1992 
followed by a supplemental notice in April 1994 expanding the scope of 
the EIS for the Landusky Mine. Since that time, public meetings and 
informational mailings were conducted to solicit comments for the scope 
of the EIS. Any comments presented throughout the process have been 
considered.

    Dated: August 2, 1995.
B. Gene Miller,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-19953 Filed 8-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1430-DN-P