[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 60115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30143]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[NV-060-1990-01; N64-93-001P (96-2A)]


Notice of intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the South Pipeline Mining Plan of Operations

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Cortez Gold Mines (Cortez) South Pipeline Project for mining in 
Lander County, Nevada, and notice of scoping period and public 
meetings.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, and to 43 Code of Federal 
Regulations Part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain 
Field Office (BLM) will be directing the preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed expansion and 
development of an open pit gold mine and associated facilities, in 
Lander County, Nevada. The EIS will be prepared by a third party 
consultant and funded by the proponent, Cortez. The BLM invites 
comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis.

DATES: There will be two public scoping meetings hosted by the BLM in 
order to solicit input from the public about the South Pipeline 
Project. The first meeting will be held at the BLM Battle Mountain 
Field Office, at 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada on Tuesday 
evening, December 10, 1996 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The second 
meeting will be held at the Crescent Valley Senior Center, 6024 Ruby 
Way, Crescent Valley, Nevada on Wednesday evening, December 11, 1996, 
from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The purpose of these meetings is to 
identify issues to be addressed in the EIS, identify viable possible 
alternatives, and to encourage public participation in the NEPA 
process. BLM representatives will present an overview of the NEPA 
process, public involvement, and anticipated environmental impacts 
resulting from the project. Cortez representatives will be summarizing 
the Plan of Operations. Additional briefing meetings will be held as 
necessary. Written comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted 
through January 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be sent to: BLM, Battle Mountain 
District Manager, 50 Bastian Rd., P.O. Box 1420, Battle Mountain, 
Nevada 89820 ATTN: Dave Davis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Davis, Project Manager, or Helen 
Mary Johnson, Geologist, at (702) 635-4000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cortez has recently submitted a proposal to 
expand their Pipeline mining facility located in southern Crescent 
Valley, Lander County, Nevada. The project will consist of an expansion 
of the current Pipeline Gold Mine Project. The South Pipeline Expansion 
will consist of a new open pit and associated dewatering facilities, 
new haul roads, expansion of the permitted Pipeline waste rock 
facility, a new heap leach facility, and soil stockpiles. Existing 
facilities will also be used. These facilities include the permitted 
reinfiltration ponds and conveyance systems, either the Cortez or 
Pipeline mills (or both), existing haul roads, the Pipeline tailings/
heap leach facility, the Cortez tailings facility, and ancillary 
facilities such as offices, shops, power lines, water lines, etc. Total 
disturbance for the South Pipeline Plan Amendment as currently proposed 
is estimated to be 3,162 acres.
    Potentially significant and significant direct, indirect, 
cumulative and residual impacts from the proposal will be analyzed in 
the EIS. Significant issues to be addressed in the EIS include those 
relating to: surface and ground water issues, air quality, cultural 
resources, and social and economic values. A significant issue that 
will be one of the focuses of the EIS will be the formation of a pit 
lake or pit lakes at the end of mining. Currently two large pit lakes 
separated by a common highwall or one large pit lake encompassing both 
the Pipeline and South Pipeline pits are possible post-mining 
scenarios. Partial backfilling of the Pipeline open pit with material 
from the South Pipeline Pit will also be evaluated. Additional 
significant issues to be addressed may arise during the scoping 
process. Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or 
organizations who may be interested in or affected by the BLM's 
decision on this plan of operation are invited to participate in the 
scoping process.

    Dated: November 19, 1996.
Wayne King,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-30143 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P