[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52005-52006]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24614]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NV-1990-01; N46-83-004P]


Final Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability, final environmental impact statement 
for the Placer Dome U.S. Bald Mountain Mine Expansion Project.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act, the Bureau of land Management has prepared, by a third party 
contractor, and made available for a 30-day public review, the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement for the Placer Dome U.S. Bald Mountain 
Mine Expansion Project, located in White Pine County, Nevada.

DATES: The Final Environmental Impact Statement will be distributed and 
made available to the public on September 29, 1995. The period of 
availability for public review for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement ends on October 30, 1995. At that time a Record of Decision 
will be issued regarding the Proposed Action.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Final Environmental Impact Statement can be 
obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Ely District Office, 702 N. 
Industrial Way, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301. The Final Environmental 
Impact Statement is available for inspection at the following 
locations: Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office (Reno); Bureau 
of Land Management Ely District; Eureka, White Pine, and Elko County 
Libraries; and the University of Nevada libraries in Reno and Las 
Vegas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Netcher, EIS Team Leader, at the above address or telephone (702 
289-1872.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final Environmental Impact Statement 
analyses the potential environmental impacts from the expansion of the 
current gold mining operations at Bald Mountain Mine and development of 
the Horseshoe/Galaxy Mine (Proposed Action) and reasonable 
alternatives. Alternatives analyzed consist of: No Action; haul road 
design; waste rock dump configurations; and reclamation options. The 
Bureau of Land Management's preferred alternative is described within 
the The Final Environmental Impact Statement. The Final Environmental 
Impact Statement also responds to the issues raised during the scoping 
period and comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement. Issues analyzed of major concern involve potential impacts 
to groundwater, visual resources, wildlife habitat, the economy and 
social services of White Pine and Elko Counties, and cumulative 
impacts. Twelve letters and two oral comments regarding the Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement were received. All substantive comments 
were incorporated for improving document clarity, further defining 
issues, and improving analysis of potential impacts in the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement. The primary concerns and issues 
presented in these comments involved mine reclamation, long term 
monitoring for toxic substances, and impacts to groundwater.
    The Bald Mountain Mine expansion would consist of modification of 
the processing circuit with a wet crushing that would produce a split 
flow of ore. This processing facility would consist of both heap 
leaching and carbon-in-leach facilities with associated tailings. The 
Bald Mountain Mine expansion would also consist of expansion of the 
current 

[[Page 52006]]
Top Pit and development of the Sage Flats Pit with corresponding waste 
rock dumps. The Horseshoe/Galaxy mine would involve construction and 
operation of a new mine with open pits, crushing facilities, waste 
dumps, conventional heap leaching facilities, and several ancillary 
facilities.

Dated: September 19, 1995.

Gene A. Kolkman,
Ely District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-24614 Filed 10-3-95; 8:45 am]
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