[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 54650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27782]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[CACA 31137; FES 97-33]


Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Needles Resource Area.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the Castle Mountain Mine Expansion 
Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact 
Report.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended, and in coordination with the County of San Bernardino in its 
administration of the California Environmental Quality Act as amended, 
notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared, with the assistance of a third party consultant, a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report 
(EIR)on the proposed Castle Mountain Mine Expansion Project and has 
made copies available for public and agency review. The Final EIS/EIR 
addresses the potential environmental impacts associated with expansion 
and continued operation of an open pit heap leach gold mine in 
northeastern San Bernardino County, California.

DATES: Comments on the Final EIS/EIR must be received no later than 4 
p.m., November 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: George R. 
Meckfessel, U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management, Needles Resource Area, 
101 West Spikes Road, Needles California 92363.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George R. Meckfessel, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, telephone (760) 326-7000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Viceroy Gold Corporation has proposed to 
mine additional ore adjacent to deposits currently being mined at the 
Castle Mountain Mine, an open-pit heap-leach gold mine. Under the 
present operating permits, mining, processing and reclamation could 
continue through December 31, 2010. The mine operating period would be 
extended 10 years past the currently permitted time to 2010. Under the 
proposed expansion, these activities could continue through December 
31, 2020. The Proposed Action would increase areas of open pit, create 
an overburden storage site, and expand the heap leach pad, on 
approximately 485 acres. Mining and processing methods, and rates would 
not change. Previous permitted and proposed surface disturbances at the 
conclusion of mining would total 1,375 acres of the 3,910-acre project 
area.
Molly S. Brady,
Area Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-27782 Filed 10-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P