[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30091-30092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14956]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-030-96-1990-02, N36-96-001P]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on 
a Plan of Operations for Alta Gold Company in Washoe County, Nevada; 
and Notice of Scoping Period and Public Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and 43 CFR Part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management 
will be directing the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement 
to be produced by a third-party contractor on the impacts of a proposed 
Plan of Operations for development of the Olinghouse Gold Mine, an open 
pit, cyanide heap leach gold mine operated by Alta Gold Company, in 
Washoe County, Nevada. The Bureau invites comments on the scope of the 
analysis.

EFFECTIVE DATES: An open-house meeting will be held July 3, 1996, from 
5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Washoe County Commissioners Chambers, 1001 E. 
Ninth Street, Reno to allow the public an opportunity to identify 
issues and concerns to be addressed in the Environmental Impact 
Statement. This meeting will be a joint effort by the Bureau and Washoe 
County. Representatives of Alta Gold Company will be available to 
answer questions about the Plan of Operations. Additional scoping 
meetings may be held as appropriate. Written comments on the Plan of 
Operations and the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement will be 
accepted until July 19, 1996.
    A Draft Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be completed 
by November 1996 and made available for public review and comment. At 
that time a Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement will be published in the Federal Register. The comment period 
on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be 60 days from the 
date the Notice of Availability is published.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scoping comments may be sent to: 
District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 1535 Hot Springs Road, 
Carson City, NV 89706. ATTN: Olinghouse Environmental Impact Statement 
Project Manager.
    For additional information, write to the above address or call 
Terri Knutson at (702) 885-6156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alta Gold Company has submitted a Plan of 
Operations for development of their Olinghouse Gold Mine located 
approximately six miles west of Wadsworth, Nevada in Washoe County. The 
proposed operation includes; development and condemnation drilling 
necessary for development of future operations; construction of an open 
pit and associated overburden and interburden disposal areas; 
construction of a heap leach pad for ore processing; construction of 
recirculation and pregnant solution ponds; and construction of mine 
facilities. There are approximately 4300 acres within the proposed 
project area and 465 acres within the actual area of disturbance on the 
proposed mine site.
    The Environmental Impact Statement will address: surface and 
groundwater quantity and quality; geology and minerals; air quality; 
vegetation resources; soils; wildlife; threatened, endangered, or 
candidate animal and plant species; range resources; land uses and 
access; recreation; social and economic values; cultural resources; 
reclamation; hazardous materials; and cumulative impacts. These topics 
will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary team and will include review 
of the Plan of Operations as well as other pertinent environmental 
documents and studies. A range of alternatives (including but not 
limited to alternative reclamation measures and the no-action 
alternative), as well as mitigating measures, will be considered to 
evaluate and minimize environmental impacts and to assure that the 
proposed action does not result in undue or unnecessary degradation of 
public lands.
    Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or 
organizations who may be interested in or affected by the Bureau's 
decision on the Plan of Operations are invited to participate in the 
scoping process with respect to this environmental analysis. These 
entities and individuals are also invited to submit comments on the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
    It is important that those interested in the proposal participate 
in the scoping and commenting processes. Comments should be as specific 
as possible.
    The tentative project schedule is as follows:
    Begin Public Comment Period: June 1996.
    Issuance of Draft Environmental Impact Statement: November 1996.

[[Page 30092]]

    File Final Environmental Impact Statement: February 1997.
    Record of Decision: April 1997.
    Begin Expansion of Operation: Spring of 1997.
    The Bureau of Land Management's scoping process for the 
Environmental Impact Statement will include: (1) Identification of 
issues to be addressed; (2) Identification of viable alternatives; (3) 
Notification of interested groups, individuals, and agencies so that 
additional information concerning these issues, or other additional 
issues, can be obtained.

    Dated: June 6, 1996.
Karl Kipping,
Associate District Manager, Carson City District.
[FR Doc. 96-14956 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P