[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 47516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23751]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NV-030-1992-02]


Notice of Availability for the Olinghouse Mine Project Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Comment Period and Public 
Open-Houses

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

COOPERATING AGENCIES: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs, Washoe County, Pyramid Lake 
Paiute Tribe, Lyon County-Town of Fernley.

ACTION: Notice of availability for the Olinghouse Mine Project Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Washoe County, Nevada; and Notice 
of Comment Period and Public Open-Houses.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508, and 43 CFR part 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 
Olinghouse Mine 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 November 14, 1997. Oral and/or 
written comments may also be presented at two public open-houses, to be 
held:
October 20, 1997, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Washoe Co. Commissioners Chambers--
Reno, NV
October 21, 1997 5:00-8:00 p.m., Fernley Town Complex--Fernley, NV

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft EIS should be addressed to: 
Bureau of Land Management, Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill 
Road, Carson City, NV 89701, Attn.: Terri Knutson, Olinghouse Mine 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, Olinghouse Mine EIS 
Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, 
Carson City, NV 89701, (702) 885-6156.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Alta Gold Company has submitted a Plan of 
Operations for the development of the Olinghouse Mine located 
approximately 6 miles west of Wadsworth, NV and 33 miles east of Reno, 
NV. The proposed operation includes: development and condemnation 
drilling necessary for development of future operations; development of 
two open-pits and a waste rock disposal area; construction of a heap 
leach pad and plant for ore processing; construction of a haul road and 
other mine facilities. The proposal would disturb a total of 503 acres 
of public and private land.
    This Draft EIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with 
the proposed development of the Olinghouse Mine, an alternate access 
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 June 13, 1996, and an 
open scoping period was held until August 23, 1996. Two public scoping 
open-houses to solicit comments and ideas were held on July 3, 1996 in 
Reno, NV and August 8, 1996 in Fernley, NV. 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: August 29, 1997.
John O. Singlaub,
District Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-23751 Filed 9-8-97; 8:45 am]
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