[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 6861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3942]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NM-030-7122-03-8532]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Copper Flat 
Mine Project, Sierra County, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public hearings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, the BLM Las Cruces District has prepared a Draft EIS on 
the impacts of a proposed copper mine on private and Federal lands, 4 
miles northeast of Hillsboro in Sierra County, New Mexico.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS must be postmarked on or 
before April 15, 1996. Public hearings will be held at the times and 
places listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFROMATION.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to: Russell Jentgen, Copper 
Flat Team Leader, BLM, Las Cruces District, 1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, 
NM 88005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Russel Jentgen, Copper Flat Team Leader, (505) 525-4351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public hearings will be held at the 
following times and locations.


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            Date                Time          City           Location   
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March 26, 1996..............  7 p.m...  Hillsboro, New   Fire Station.  
                                         Mexico.                        
March 27, 1996..............  7 p.m...  Truth or         Civic Center,  
                                         Consequences,    400 West 4th  
                                         New Mexico.      Ave.          
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    Both oral and written comments may be given at the hearings. 
Written comments may also be submitted to the BLM, Las Cruces District, 
1800 Marquess, Las Cruces, NM 88005 on or before April 15, 1996.
    Oral testimony at the hearings will be limited to 10 minutes for 
each witness. Additional time may be granted at the discretion of the 
presiding officer based on the number of speakers registered. Written 
text of prepared speakers may be filed at the hearing whether or not 
the speaker has been able to complete the oral delivery in the allotted 
time.
    All oral and written comments on the adequacy of the Draft EIS will 
receive consideraiton in the Final EIS.
    Copies of the Draft EIS have been distributed to a mailing list of 
identified interested parties. Single copies of the Draft EIS may be 
obtained from the BLM Las Cruces District Office, 1800 Marquess, Las 
Cruces, New Mexico; the BLM New Mexico State Office, 1474 Rodeo Road, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico; and the Socorro Resource Area Office, 198 Neel 
Veneue, NW, Socorro, New Mexico. Public reading copies are available 
for review at public and university libraries in Las Cruces, 
Alamogordo, Truth or Consequences, Socorro, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe, 
New Mexico and El Paso, Texas.
    The Alta Gold Corporation of Henderson, Nevada submitted a proposed 
plan of operations to conduct mining activities on approximately 1,103 
acres at Copper Flat. The plan was prepared pursuant to Title 43 Code 
of Federal Regulations (CFR), subpart 3809 (suface management-
operations authorized by the mining laws). Four primary alternatives 
were assessed for the Copper Flat Project Draft EIS. These alternatives 
were the proposed action, a reduced stripping ratio alternative, a 
consolidated waste rock disposal alternative, and a no action 
alternative. Under the proposed action, approximately 537 acres of 
public land managed by the BLM and 566 acres of private land would be 
disturbed, a total of 1,103 acres. Under the reduced stripping ratio 
alternative, a total of 1.023 acres would be disturbed, and under the 
consolidated waste rock disposal alternative the total disturbance 
would be 1,080 acres. In the no action alternative, approximately 656 
acres of previously disturbed mine lands would remain in the existing 
partially reclaimed condition.
    During scoping, several issues were determined to require in-depth 
assessment. These issues were acid rock drainage from waste disposal 
areas, impacts to the water table from dewatering the mine pit, impacts 
to ground water from the tailings disposal area, and impacts to the 
water table from pumping up to 6,000 gallon of water per minute from 
the water supply well field. Other impacts were also assessed in the 
Draft EIS.

    Dated: February 14, 1996.
Linda S. C. Rundell,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-3942 Filed 2-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VC-M