[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 62 (Friday, March 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14159-14160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7713]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[MT-060-05-1990-01]


Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Zortman and Landusky Mines Reclamation Plan Modifications and Mine Life 
Extensions, Phillips County, Montana

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

ACTION: Notice of availability of the final environmental impact 
statement (EIS) for the Zortman and Landusky mines reclamation plan 
modifications and mine life extensions.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4327), and the Montana Environmental 
Policy Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Montana 
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as lead agencies, have 
prepared, through a third party contractor, a Final EIS on the impacts 
of the Zortman Mining, Inc. proposal to expand mining and processing of 
ore reserves at the Zortman and Landusky mines. The Zortman and 
Landusky mines are located in southwestern Phillips County about 50 
miles south of Malta, Montana, near the southern boundary of the Fort 
Belknap Indian Reservation. The Final EIS presents a preferred 
alternative and six other alternatives including the company proposed 
action. The Final EIS discloses the possible environmental consequences 
associated with each alternative.
    A number of changes have been made to the preferred alternative 
between the Draft EIS and Final EIS, largely in response to public 
comments. Major changes include: removal of the Peregrine Falcon 
reintroduction study for the pit highwalls, relocation of the limestone 
quarries to avoid impacts to northern drainages, routing of all post-
reclamation pit runoff to the south, updating of the water quality 
improvement plan, completion of a Programmatic Agreement for mitigation 
of impacts to cultural resources, and the inclusion of an aquatic 
ecosystem mitigation plan.

DATES: A record of decision will be prepared no earlier than 30 days 
after the Notice of Receipt of the Final EIS is published in the 
Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS are available from the Bureau of 
Land Management, Phillips Resource Area, HC 65 Box 5000, Malta, 
Montana, 59538 or the State of Montana, Department of Environmental 
Quality, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana 59620-0901. Public reading 
copies will be available for review at the following locations: Bureau 
of Land Management, Office of External Affairs, Main Interior Building, 
Room 5600, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, DC; Bureau of Land 
Management, External Affairs Office, Montana State Office, 222 North 
32nd Street, Billings, Montana; Bureau of Land Management, Phillips 
Resource Area, 501 South 2nd Street East, Malta, Montana; and the State 
of Montana, Department of Environmental Quality, Helena, Montana.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jim Robinson, Team Leader, Montana Department of Environmental Quality, 
Hard Rock Bureau, P.O. Box 200901, Helena, Montana, 59620-1601 (406-
444-2544) or Scott Haight, Team Leader, Bureau of Land Management, 
Lewistown District Office, P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, Montana 59457-1160 
(406-538-7461).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 11, 1992, Zortman Mining, Inc. (ZMI) 
filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown 
District Office, and the Montana Department of State Lands (part of the 
Montana Department of Environmental Quality as of July 1, 1995), to 
expand mining operations at the Zortman Mine in the Little Rocky 
Mountains, Montana. The

[[Page 14160]]
proposal includes: expansion of existing mine pits to access sulfide 
ore; a 150-acre, 60-million ton waste rock disposal area; crushing 
facilities; a 2.5-mile conveyor system; a 200-acre, 80-million ton 
capacity leach pad; a new processing plant and ponds; a limestone 
quarry; and other associated facilities. Total disturbance would 
increase from the existing 401 acres to about 1,292 acres. The 
operation is located on private and public land. Issues include Native 
American religious concerns, acid rock drainage, reclamation, and 
socioeconomic.
    In a March 9, 1994, Decision Record, the BLM and DEQ included the 
analysis of acid rock drainage corrective measures for the nearby 
Landusky Mine within the scope of the EIS for Zortman Mine expansion, 
since acid rock drainage has been a problem at both mines. The Final 
EIS addresses additional mining at the Landusky and Zortman mines, as 
well as modified reclamation plans for both facilities to address acid 
rock drainage.
    Public participation has occurred throughout the EIS process. A 
Notice of Intent was published in the Federal Register in November 1992 
followed by a supplemental notice in April 1994 expanding the scope of 
the EIS for the Landusky Mine. Public meetings, informational mailings, 
and briefings were conducted to solicit comments for the scope of the 
EIS. About 400 copies of the Draft EIS were distributed to the public 
and other federal and state agencies. A Notice of Availability of the 
Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on August 14, 1995. 
This was followed by a Notice of Receipt by the Environmental 
Protection Agency published in the Federal Register on August 18, 1995. 
The public comment period extended from August 18, 1995 through 
November 1, 1995 (75 days). During the public comment period the BLM 
and DEQ held five open houses/public hearings to receive oral and 
written comments. These meetings were also the forum for the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers to collect public comments on the Zortman Mining, 
Inc. 404 permit application for the Zortman and Landusky Mine 
expansions. In addition to oral comments, about 368 letters were 
received on the Draft EIS. All comments, written and oral, were 
reviewed and considered in preparation of the Final EIS.

    Dated: March 19, 1996.
David L. Mari,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-7713 Filed 3-28-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DN-M