[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 234 (Wednesday, December 6, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62473-62474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29662]



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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--
Second Notice.

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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.
    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 surface is privately owned and the minerals are 
federally owned and administered by the BLM. The project is subject to 
approval of a Surface Mining Permit and environmental analysis in 
accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The 
County of Los Angeles is the Lead Agency for preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) which will be prepared separate from 
the EIS.
    Comments from members of the public are being requested to help 
identify significant issues or concerns related to the proposed action 
to determine the scope of the issues and 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.
    A Notice of Intent announcing BLM's intent to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed project, was previously 
published in the Federal Register October 16, 1995. The public comment 
period closed November 15, 1995. Per public request, 

[[Page 62474]]
the comment period for the Notice of Intent has been extended another 
30-days. Comments submitted during the previous public comment period 
will be considered.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted no later than January 5, 1996 
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: November 29, 1995.
Julia Dougan,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-29662 Filed 12-5-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P