[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 199 (Monday, October 16, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53636-53637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25483]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CA-066-96-1300-00; CACA-20139 and CACA-22901]


Proposed Sand and Gravel Mining Operation in Soledad Canyon, Los 
Angeles County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior, Palm 
Springs--South Coast Resource Area, Desert District, California.

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 and 40 CFR 1508.22, notice is hereby given that the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Transit Mixed Concrete (TMC) Surface Mining 
Project (Project) proposed for construction and operation in Soledad 
Canyon, Los Angeles County, California. TMC acquired the rights to 
develop the Project through a competitive bid process. The BLM granted 
the mineral material contract to TMC in March 1990. The BLM complied 
with NEPA for the sale of sand and gravel for the Project site by 
preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) and issuing a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI) in 1989. 

[[Page 53637]]

    The Project plans to mine a total of 83 million tons of materials 
and sell approximately 56 million tons of sand and gravel, also known 
as Portland cement concrete sand and gravel (PCC aggregates), over a 
20-year period to fulfill contracts entered into with the BLM. The 
Project includes plans to operate a concrete batch plant to produce and 
deliver ready-mixed concrete to the local market. All proposed mining 
and operations will be located north of Soledad Canyon Road and the 
Santa Clara River. The 500-acre site represents one of the westernmost 
reserves for PCC aggregate production in the Saugus-Newhall Production-
Consumption Region that is located outside the floodplain of the Santa 
Clara River or a tributary wash.
    The general mining plan is to mine on the south side of the ridge 
through a series of four excavation cuts. Each cut will progress from a 
higher elevation and proceed downslope. Fill areas for excess natural 
fines will be established on both the south and north sides of the 
ridge. Reclamation will be concurrent with mining operations and 
measures have been incorporated into Project design to minimize 
erosion, provide watershed control, and protect water quality in the 
Santa Clara River. A full range of alternatives to the proposed action 
will be considered in the EIS.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Project site is on ``split-estate'' 
lands where the minerals are federally owned and administered by the 
BLM, and where the surface is privately owned. Because the Project is 
located in the County of Los Angeles (County), it is also subject to 
approval of a Surface Mining Permit through preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in accordance with the California 
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The County has been the Lead Agency 
for preparation of an EIR that has been prepared as a document separate 
from the EIS.
    Public participation is an integral part of the review process. 
Comments are being requested to help identify significant issues or 
concerns related to the proposed action to determine the scope of the 
issues (including alternatives) that need to be analyzed, and to 
identify and eliminate from detailed study the issues that are not 
significant. All comments recommending that the EIS address specific 
environmental issues should contain supporting documentation and 
rationale.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted no later than November 15, 
1995, to the following address: Ms. Julia Dougan, Area Manager, Bureau 
of Land Management, Palm Springs--South Coast Resource Area Office, 
P.O. Box 2000, North Palm Springs, California 92258-2000.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Patty Cook, BLM, Palm Springs--
South Coast Resource Area, P.O. Box 2000, North Palm Springs, CA 92258-
2000, telephone 619-251-4853.

    Dated: October 4, 1995.
Joan Oxendine,
Acting Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-25483 Filed 10-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P