[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 19, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48518-48519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-23129]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NV-060-1990-01]


Notice of Availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings 
Facility Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Comment 
Period and Public Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings 
Facility Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for the Smoky 
Valley Common Operation, Nye County, Nevada; and notice of comment 
period and public meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 43 CFR 3809, notice is given that the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared, with the assistance of a 
third-party consultant, a Draft EIS on the proposed Round Mountain Mill 
and Tailings Facility, and has made copies available for public and 
agency review.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS must be submitted or 
postmarked to the BLM no later than November 22, 1995. Oral and/or 
written comments may also be presented at two public meetings, to be 
held:

October 17, 1995; 7 p.m.; Donald Simpson Community Center, Hadley, 
Nevada
October 18, 1995; 7 p.m.; Airport Plaza Hotel, 1981 Terminal Way, 
Reno, Nevada

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to: 
Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain District, Post Office Box 
1420, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820, Attn.: Christopher J. Stubbs, 
Round Mountain EIS Project Manager. A limited number of copies of the 
Draft EIS may be obtained at the same address. In addition, the Draft 
EIS and supporting documentation are available for review at the 
following locations: BLM, Battle Mountain District Office, Battle 
Mountain, Nevada; BLM, Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada; and the 
Getchell Library, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada.


[[Page 48519]]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher J. Stubbs, Round Mountain 
EIS Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Post Office Box 1420, 
Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820, (702) 635-4000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Smoky Valley Common Operation has 
submitted a Plan of Operations Amendment for the construction, 
operation, and reclamation of a mill and tailings facility at the Round 
Mountain Mine. The mine currently consists of 4,767 acres of surface 
disturbance: 3,659 acres of land administered by the BLM, 515 acres of 
land administered by the Toiyabe National Forest, and 593 acres of 
patented land owned by the Smoky Valley Common Operation. The proposed 
facilities would comprise an expansion of the existing operation at the 
Round Mountain Mine to improve the recovery of gold from ore that is 
being mined from the existing open pit. Ancillary facilities would 
include a new primary crusher; a power line; fresh water, reclaim 
water, and tailings pipelines; and a septic system. The proposed 
facilities would be located on approximately 757 acres of public land 
administered by the BLM, Battle Mountain District Office, Tonopah 
Resource Area. Of this acreage, approximately 250 acres occur on public 
lands outside of the existing permit boundary. Construction is 
scheduled to begin in early 1996; operation of the mill and tailings 
facility would begin in 1997 and continue until 2008.
    This Draft EIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed mill and tailings facility and ancillary facilities, a 
range management alternative, an alternative tailings impoundment site, 
and the no action alternative. In addition, the Draft EIS analyzes 
potential impacts associated with pit dewatering and pit water quality, 
and the leach offload piles. Issues analyzed in the Draft EIS include 
geology and minerals, water resources, soils and watershed, vegetation, 
wildlife and fisheries, range resources, paleontological resources, 
cultural resources and Native American concerns, air quality, access 
and land use, recreation and wilderness, social and economic values, 
visual resources, noise, and hazardous materials.
    A copy of the Draft EIS has been sent to all individuals, agencies, 
and groups who have expressed interest in the project or as mandated by 
regulation or policy. A limited number of copies are available upon 
request from the BLM at the address listed above.
    Public participation has occurred during the EIS process. A Notice 
of Intent was filed in the Federal Register in August 1993, and an open 
scoping period was held for 120 days. Two public scoping meetings to 
solicit comments and ideas were held in November 1993, and a newsletter 
was issued to keep the public informed of the progress of the EIS. All 
comments presented to the BLM throughout the EIS process have been 
considered.
    To assist the BLM in identifying and considering issues and 
concerns on the proposed action and alternatives, comments on the Draft 
EIS should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments 
refer to specific pages or chapters in the document. Comments may 
address the adequacy of the Draft EIS and/or the merits of the 
alternatives formulated and discussed in the document. 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. After the 
comment period ends on the Draft EIS, comments will be analyzed and 
considered by the BLM in preparing the Final EIS.

    Dated: September 12, 1995.
Jeffrey A. Weeks,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-23129 Filed 9-18-95; 8:45 am]
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