[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 57 (Friday, March 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 11837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7004]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5414-5]


Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 
(SEIS) for the Alaska-Juneau (AJ) Mine Project, Juneau, AK

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an SEIS.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 511(c)(1) of the Clean Water Act 
(CWA) and Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) EPA has identified a need to prepare an SEIS and publishes this 
Notice of Intent in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO SEND SCOPING COMMENTS: William Riley, 
Office of Water Mining Coordinator OW-135, EPA, 1200 Sixth Avenue, 
Seattle, WA 98101, phone (206) 553-1412. Local contact is Steve Torok, 
EPA's Juneau office, phone (907) 586-7619.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed AJ Mine Project is subject to 
EPA authorization through CWA Section 402, including the National 
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. The 
project is a new source (40 CFR 122.2 and 122.29), and under CWA 
Section 511(c)(1) is subject to NEPA prior to the NPDES permit decision 
(40 CFR Part 6, Subpart F). The AJ Mine is an underground gold mine, 
located south of Juneau, Alaska, which closed in 1944. In 1988, Echo 
Bay, Alaska (Echo Bay) filed necessary permit applications to reopen 
the mine and an EIS was completed by the Bureau of Land Management in 
1992. During the permitting phase, EPA completed a technical assistance 
report which concluded there was a high potential for significant 
degradation of the waters of the United States. Echo Bay proposed 
modifications to address concerns raised and filed new permit 
applications. EPA also commenced a rule-making that would allow 
consideration of submarine tailings disposal. New field studies to 
characterize marine and other resources are ongoing.
    Project Description--The reopened AJ Mine would produce 15,000 tons 
per day of ore, and 80 million tons during the 13-year project life. 
Gold recovery would be by means of gravity separation and froth 
flotation processes in an underground mill. No cyanide would be used. 
Surface facilities would be located at the Rock Dump area south of 
Juneau. The tailings would be pumped through a pipeline in Gastineau 
Channel for discharge at depth in Stephens Passage. Power would be 
supplied by diesel-gas turbine generators. Staffing is estimated at 400 
personnel.
    Project alternatives currently considered include: (1) Douglas 
Island Dry Tailings--the tailings would be piped across Gastineau 
Channel, dewatered and conveyed to a dry tailings disposal area on 
Douglas Island, (2) Sheep Creek Subaqueous Tailings--similar to the 
proposed action in the 1992 FEIS except the impoundment would hold less 
tailings, no cyanide would be used, and the flows of Sheep Creek would 
be partially diverted around the impoundment, (3) Powerline Gulch 
Subaqueous Tailings--similar to an option in the 1992 FEIS, except the 
impoundment would hold less tailings, no cyanide would be used, and 
surface runoff would be diverted around the impoundment, (4) Mine 
Backfill and Douglas Island Dry Tailings--combining backfilling of 
cemented tailings with surface disposal at a reduced dry tailings site 
on Douglas Island, (5) Submarine Tailings Disposal Upland Pipeline--
similar to the proposal, except the tailings pipeline would follow an 
upland route along Gastineau Channel and to Stephens Passage for 
discharge.

SCOPING MEETING DATE AND COMMENT DEADLINE: On April 17, 1996, EPA will 
host an SEIS scoping open house at Centennial Hall in Juneau from 3:00 
to 9:00 p.m. Scoping comments from the public will be welcomed that 
day, or they may be submitted to EPA in writing. The scoping period 
comment deadline is April 30, 1996.

ESTIMATED DATE OF DRAFT SEIS RELEASE: September, 1996.

    Dated: March 20, 1996.
Richard E. Sanderson,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 96-7004 Filed 3-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U