[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 29, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73063-73064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33736]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[UT-030-1330-00]


Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the proposed 3R Minerals Coal Bed Canyon mine/operation plan 
modification, Garfield County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS and Notice of Scoping on the 
proposed 3R Minerals' Coal Bed Canyon mine/operation plan modification, 
Garfield County, UT.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2) (C) of the National Environmental 
Policy

[[Page 73064]]

Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Grand Staircase-
Escalante National Monument (GSENM) office, will be writing an EIS on 
the proposed Coal Bed Canyon Mine located within the GSENM. The 
proposed mine is located on 4.8 acres of BLM administered lands 
approximately 4 miles southwest of the town of Escalante along the 
Alvey Wash Road (T. 35 S., R. 2 E., Sec. 36, SE\1/4\, SLM, Garfield 
County, Utah). 3R Minerals proposes to mine and separate mineral sands 
(i.e. zirconium and titanium) from the active stream channel of Alvey 
Wash. Primary processing of the mineral sands would occur on-site in a 
fenced area of approximately 100 by 150 feet. The processing pad would 
accommodate gravity spiral mineral separation equipment, material 
stockpiles, loading and hauling equipment, a water well and storage 
pond, a generator, and personnel trailer. Reject material (non-mineral 
sands) would be placed back into the wash.
    Major issues include potential impacts on wildlife habitat, 
recreation, visual resources, and wilderness values. Alternatives 
identified at this time include the proposed action and the no action 
alternative.

DATES: Public scoping comments will be accepted on or before January 
28, 2000. A public scoping open house and information meeting will be 
held on January 13, 2000 from 4-7 p.m. at the Escalante Community 
Center, 65 North 100 West, Escalante, Utah. If you have any 
information, data or concerns related to potential impacts of the 
proposed action including the issues identified above, or have 
suggestions for additional alternatives, please submit them to the 
address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to: GSENM Manager, 
Bureau of Land Management, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, 
180 West 300 North, Kanab, Utah 84741, ATTN: Coal Bed Canyon Mine Plan.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will 
be available for public review at the BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante 
National Monument Office and will be subject to disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). They may be published as part of the 
EIS and other related documents. Individual respondents may request 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address 
from public review and disclosure under the FOIA, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests 
will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses will be made available for public 
inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Chapman (435) 644-4309 or e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 1, 1997, the Utah State 
Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) issued a metalliferous 
lease on lands located in T. 35 S. , R. 2 E. , Section 36, SLM, 
Garfield County, Utah. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to commence mining was 
submitted by 3R Minerals to SITLA on June 1, 1998. SITLA granted 
approval on October 5, 1998. A Notice of Intention to Commence Small 
Mining Operations was submitted and received by the Utah Division of 
Oil, Gas and Mining (UDOGM), on June 1, 1998 and accepted on July 1, 
1998. On October 31, 1998, the Utah Schools and Lands Exchange Act of 
1998 (Public Law 105-335) was signed by the President of the United 
States, in order to exchange certain federal and state lands and 
interests (including this parcel). This exchange was subject to valid 
existing rights. On January 7, 1999, the surface and mineral estate, 
along with the interest in the state lease was conveyed to the United 
States, Bureau of Land Management. BLM now administers the 3R Minerals 
lease under the terms and conditions set forth in the lease, the NOI 
approval, and SITLA rules pertaining to the lease. 3R Minerals may 
currently conduct operations under the terms of the original approval 
by SITLA and the acceptance by DOGM.
    On June 15, 1999, BLM received 3R Minerals' Notice of Intent to 
Revise Mining Operations. Under the lease and SITLA rules, BLM as the 
lessor, is required to approve any proposed changes to 3R Minerals' 
operations that are not covered by the original approval. Such a 
decision is a Federal action to which the National Environmental Policy 
Act applies. Based upon this review, an Environmental Impact Statement 
is being prepared to assess potential impacts to resources reflected in 
the Notice of Intent to Revise Mining Operations within the Grand 
Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
Linda S. Colville,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-33736 Filed 12-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1330-DQ-P