[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 2839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1514]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-030-96-1990-02]


Availability for Talapoosa Mining Inc.'s Talapoosa Mine Project 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Comment Period and 
Public Meeting

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

ACTION: Notice of availability for the draft environmental impact 
statement (EIS), for Talapoosa Mining Inc.'s Talapoosa Mine Project, 
Lyon 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 Talapoosa Mine 
Project, 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 April 2, 1996. Oral and/or written 
comments may also be presented at a public open-house meeting, to be 
held:

February 13, 1996

    4:00-7:00 p.m.
    McAtee Building, 2495 Ft. Churchill Rd., Silver Springs, NV.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to: 
Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office, 1535 Hot 
Springs Rd., Carson City, Nevada 89706, Attn.: Ron Moore, Talapoosa 
Mine 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, Carson City District Office, Carson City, Nevada; BLM, 
Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada; University of Nevada, Library, Reno, 
Nevada and the Silver Springs Library, Silver Springs, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ron Moore, Talapoosa Mine EIS Project 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 1535 Hot Springs Rd., Carson City, 
Nevada 89706, (702) 885-6155.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Talapoosa Mining Inc. has submitted a Plan 
of Operations for the construction, operation, and reclamation of a 
gold/silver heap leach mining operation at the historic Talapoosa mine 
site, north of Silver Springs, Nevada. The operation would include a 
new open pit mine, leaching facilities, haul and access roads, and 
utility corridors. Operations are expected to last from seven to ten 
years. The operations would be primarily on public lands administered 
by the Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office, Lahontan 
Resource Area, with a portion on private lands controlled by Talapoosa 
Mining Inc. The project area would encompass 2,673 acres, with 2,340 
acres of public land administered by the BLM, and 333 acres of private 
land. Approximately 596 acres of surface disturbance would result from 
the construction and operation of the proposed mine.
    This Draft EIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed mine and ancillary facilities, and the no action 
alternative. In addition, the Draft EIS focuses on the issues of water 
quality and quantity, social and economic values, noise and visual 
quality that were identified through public scoping.
    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 March 1995, and an open 
scoping period was held for 30 days. Two public scoping meetings to 
solicit comments and ideas were held in April 1995. 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: January 23, 1996.
John O. Singlaub,
District Manager, Carson City District Office.
[FR Doc. 96-1514 Filed 1-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P