[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 117 (Wednesday, June 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33102-33103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15919]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NV-010-1990-09]


Elko District, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
on a mining Plan of Operations for Newmont Gold Company in Eureka 
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 of 1969 and 43 CFR Part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management 
will be directing the preparation of an EIS to be prepared by a third-
party contractor on the impacts of a proposed Plan of Operations for 
gold mining by Newmont Gold Company, in Eureka County, Nevada. The 
Bureau invites comments on the scope of the analysis.

EFFECTIVE DATES: A scoping meeting will be held July 9, 1997 at the 
Bureau of Land Management, Elko District Office, 3900 E. Idaho, Elko 
NV, to identify issues and concerns to be addressed in the EIS. The 
meeting is scheduled from 6:30 pm--8:30 pm. Representatives of Newmont 
Gold Company will be available to answer questions about the

[[Page 33103]]

Plan of Operations. Additional scoping meetings may be held as 
appropriate. Written comments on the Plan of Operations and the scope 
of the EIS will be accepted until July 18, 1997.
    A draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) is expected to be 
completed by the spring of 1998 and made available for public review 
and comment. At that time a notice of availability of the DEIS will be 
published in the Federal Register. The comment period on the DEIS 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, 3900 E. Idaho St., Elko, 
NV 89801. ATTN: South Operations Area Project Amendment EIS 
Coordinator. For additional information, write to the above address or 
call Roger Congdon at (702) 753-0200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Newmont Gold Company of Carlin, Nevada has 
submitted a Plan of Operations to expand and continue their Gold Quarry 
open pit mine, located approximately six miles northwest of the town of 
Carlin. The mine and associated facilities are located in portions of 
Sections 22, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36 of Township 34 North, Range 
51 East, Sections 29, 31, and 32 of Township 34 North, Range 52 East, 
Sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 of Township 33 North, Range 51 
East, and Sections 6 and 7 of Township 33 North, Range 52 East, MDM. 
Newmont developed the Gold Quarry open pit mine in 1980, when it was 
known as the Maggie Creek pit. It is currently permitted through the 
year 2001. The proposal is to continue operations at the Gold Quarry 
mine; expand existing waste rock dumps, and continue dewatering 
operations through the year 2013. Existing and approved operations have 
been analyzed through the year 2001 for impacts to 2,047 acres of 
public land and 5,913 acres of private land. Part of the proposed 
operation would be confined to previously disturbed areas. Additional 
surface disturbance is anticipated on approximately 855 acres of public 
land and 465 acres of private land. The issues expected to be analyzed 
in the EIS include potential impacts to ground water availability and 
quality, wildlife, pit water quality, and cultural resources. 
Cumulative impacts will also be addressed. In addition, the following 
resources will be analyzed: recreation and wilderness, geology, 
paleontology, air quality, soils, vegetation, range management, lands 
and realty, visual resources, land use planning, social and economic 
values, and hazardous materials. The analysis will be conducted by an 
interdisciplinary team.
    A range of alternatives (including but not limited to alternative 
reclamation measures and the no-action alternative) will be developed 
to address the issues. Mitigating measures will be considered to 
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 impact statement. 
These entities and individuals are also invited to submit comments on 
the DEIS.
    It is important that those interested in the Plan of Operations 
participate in the scoping and commenting process. Comments should be 
as specific as possible.
    The tentative project schedule is as follows:
    Begin Public Comment Period--June 1997.
    Issuance of Draft Environmental Impact Statement--Spring of 1998.
    File Final Environmental Impact Statement--Autumn of 1998.
    Record of Decision--Autumn of 1998.
    Begin Permitted Operation--Winter of 1998/1999.
    The Bureau of Land Management's scoping process for the EIS 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 11, 1997.
Helen Hankins,
Elko District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-15919 Filed 6-17-97; 8:45 am]
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