[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 150 (Thursday, August 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47800-47801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19658]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[Docket No. 4310-DN]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, for the Zortman 
and Landusky Mines Reclamation Plan Modifications and Mine Life 
Extensions

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 203(b) of the Federal Land Policy 
and Management Act of 1976 and Section 102(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management will 
prepare a supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
on the Zortman and Landusky Mines Reclamation Plan Modifications to 
consider final reclamation and closure of the Zortman and Landusky 
mines in Northcentral Montana. The Supplemental EIS will address 
additional reclamation alternatives that would constitute a substantial 
change in the proposed action presented in the Final EIS.

DATES: Comments and recommendations on this notice should be received 
by September 30, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Scott Haight, Team 
Lead, Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown Field Office, P.O. Box 1160, 
Lewistown, Montana 59457-1160.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bruce Reed, Field Manager, Bureau of 
Land Management, Malta Field Office, 501 S. 2nd St. E., Malta, MT 
59538-0047 (406-654-1240); or Scott Haight, Lewistown Field Office, 
P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, Montana 59457-1160 (406-538-1930).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April 1996, the BLM and Montana 
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the Final EIS for the 
Zortman and Landusky Mines Reclamation Plan Modifications and Mine Life 
Extensions. The purpose of the EIS was to analyze the need for modified 
reclamation plans in response to acid rock drainage conditions at the 
mines and to consider the operator's proposal for additional mining. In 
October 1996, the BLM and DEQ issued a Record of Decision (ROD) for the 
approval of expanded mining and modified reclamation plans. Subsequent 
to the issuance of the ROD, the operator decided not to proceed with 
the mine expansion and filed for bankruptcy. In June 1998, BLM and DEQ 
issued a second ROD that selected an alternative from the Final EIS for 
reclamation without mine expansion, using agency-developed mitigating 
measures. In November 1998, the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) 
vacated the BLM's June 1998, ROD and ordered additional consultation 
with the Fort Belknap Indian Community Council. As a result of the 
bankruptcy proceeding the DEQ reached an agreement with the operator's 
surety companies to fund reclamation up to the limits of the surety 
bond amount. Subsequent evaluations of reclamation costs have 
identified a shortfall in funding to implement the agency preferred 
reclamation plan in the Final EIS. In addition, consultation between 
Fort Belknap, BLM and DEQ have identified additional reclamation 
alternatives which should be considered for implementation because they 
are either more cost effective, more protective of

[[Page 47801]]

the environment, or both. BLM and DEQ have determined that selection of 
one of these additional reclamation alternatives may constitute a 
substantial change in the proposed action and that a Supplemental EIS 
is should be prepared. The Supplemental EIS will address alternative 
reclamation plans for the Zortman and Landusky mines that have been 
developed through the consultation process. The Supplemental EIS will 
be the basis for a new ROD to select a final reclamation plan for the 
Zortman and Landusky mines. Interim reclamation will continue at the 
mines during preparation of the Supplemental EIS in order to prevent 
unnecessary or undue degradation. The BLM and DEQ will be co-lead 
agencies for the preparation of the Supplemental EIS. The agencies 
anticipate holding informational meetings in September of 2000 and 
requesting public comments on the draft supplemental EIS in the spring 
of 2001.

    Dated: July 24, 2000.
Bruce W. Reed,
Field Office Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-19658 Filed 8-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P