[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 213 (Friday, November 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 56567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27519]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA-067-7122-6606; CACA-35511]
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Imperial Project, a proposed gold mining operation on public lands in 
Imperial County, California.

DATES: Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement must be 
postmarked no later than Tuesday, December 31, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Bureau of Land 
Management, El Centro Resource Area, 1661 South 4th Street, El Centro, 
CA 92243, Attention: Keith Shone.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Shone (619) 337-4412 or Thomas 
Zale (619) 337-4420.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: No hearings are presently planned, however, should 
public demand warrant, a hearing would be held by the BLM.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Imperial Project (Project) is a proposal 
by Chemgold, Inc. to develop an open-pit, precious metal mining 
operation utilizing heap leach processes. The proposed site is located 
in eastern Imperial County, California, approximately 45 miles 
northeast of El Centro, California and 20 miles northwest of Yuma, 
Arizona. The Project area is comprised of approximately 1,625 acres of 
unpatented mining claims on public lands administered by the BLM. Up to 
150 million tons of ore would be leached and 450 million tons of waste 
rock would be deposited at the proposed waste rock stockpiles or the 
mine-out portion of the three (3) planned open pits. The expected 
maximum average mining rate would be 130,000 tons per day. 
Approximately 1,392 acres of surface disturbance would occur as a 
result of the Proposed Action. Mining activities would be performed 24 
hours per day, seven (7) days per week, and are projected to commence 
in 1997 and terminate around the year 2016. The proposed mine would 
include a lined heap leach pad designed and constructed to support and 
contain the ore heap and to collect process fluid from the treated heap 
for precious metal recovery. Blasted ore rock would be mined and hauled 
directly to the heap without crushing (run-of-mine). Blasted waste rock 
would be hauled directly to a waste rock stockpile or to one of the on-
site pits to be backfilled. A ground water production well field, 
consisting of up to four (4) ground water production wells, would be 
completed and used to provide water for processing operations, dust 
control and domestic uses.

    Dated: October 21, 1996.
Terry A. Reed,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-27519 Filed 10-31-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P