[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 213 (Friday, November 1, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56566-56567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28021]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NV-030-1992-02]


Notice of Availability for the Denton-Rawhide Mine Expansion 
Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Comment 
Period and Public Open-House

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

ACTION: Notice of availability for the Denton-Rawhide mine expansion 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Mineral County, Nevada; and 
notice of comment period and public open-house.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 43 CFR 3809, notice is given that the 
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared, with the assistance of a 
third-party consultant, a Draft EIS on the proposed Denton-Rawhide Mine 
Expansion Project, and has made copies available for public and agency 
review.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft EIS must be submitted or 
postmarked to the BLM no later than January 3, 1997. Oral and/or 
written comments may also be presented at a public open-house, to be 
held: November 20, 1996, 4:00-6:00 p.m., Carson City District BLM 
Office.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to: 
Bureau of Land Management, Carson City District Office, 1535 Hot 
Springs Road, Carson City, Nevada 89706, Attn.: Terri Knutson, Denton-
Rawhide EIS Project Manager. A limited number of copies of the Draft 
EIS and supporting documentation may be obtained at the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terri Knutson, Denton-Rawhide EIS 
Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 1535 Hot Springs Road, 
Carson City, Nevada 89706, (702) 885-6156.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Kennecott Rawhide Mining Company of Fallon, 
Nevada has submitted an amended Plan of Operations for the expansion of 
the existing Denton-Rawhide Mine located approximately 55 miles 
southeast of Fallon, Nevada. The proposed operation would include: 
development and

[[Page 56567]]

condemnation drilling necessary for development of future operations; 
expansion of the open-pit and waste rock disposal area; construction of 
an additional leach pad and solution ponds to accommodate processing of 
Run-of-Mine ore; and the relocation of the stormwater diversion channel 
beyond the limits of the active mine workings. Existing permitted 
surface disturbance within the project area is 1,005 acres. The 
proposal would disturb an additional 364 acres for a total of 1,369 
acres of public and private land within the project area.
    This Draft EIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed expansion of the existing Denton-Rawhide Mine, a partial 
pit backfill alternative, and the no action alternative. Issues 
analyzed in the Draft EIS include geology and minerals, water 
resources, soils, vegetation, wildlife and fisheries, range resources, 
paleontological resources, cultural resources and Native American 
concerns, air quality, access and land use, recreation and wilderness, 
social and economic values, visual resources, noise, and hazardous 
materials.
    A copy of the Draft EIS has been sent to all individuals, agencies, 
and groups who have expressed interest in the project or as mandated by 
regulation or policy. A limited number of copies are available upon 
request from the BLM at the address listed above.
    Public participation has occurred during the EIS process. A Notice 
of Intent was filed in the Federal Register on January 24, 1996, and an 
open scoping period was held until March 1, 1996. One public scoping 
open-house to solicit comments and ideas was held on February 15, 1996. 
All comments presented to the BLM throughout the EIS process have been 
considered.
    To assist the BLM in identifying and considering issues and 
concerns on the proposed action and alternatives, comments on the Draft 
EIS should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if comments 
refer to specific pages or chapters in the document. Comments may 
address the adequacy of the Draft EIS and/or the merits of the 
alternatives formulated and discussed in the document. Reviewers may 
wish to refer to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for 
Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. After the 
comment period ends on the Draft EIS, comments will be analyzed and 
considered by the BLM in preparing the Final EIS.

    Dated: October 18, 1996.
John O. Singlaub,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-28021 Filed 10-31-96; 8:45 am]
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