[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53330-53331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22285]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-010-1990-EX]


Notice of Availability for the South Operations Area Project 
Amendment Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Comment 
Period and Public Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act, 40 CFR 1500-1508 and 43 CFR 3809, notice is given that the 
Bureau of Land Management has prepared, with the assistance of a third-
party consultant, a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Newmont's 
proposed South Operations Area Project Amendment in northeastern 
Nevada, and has made copies of the document available for public 
review. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzes the potential 
environmental impacts that could result from the expansion and 
deepening of the Gold Quarry open-pit mine and expansion of mine 
facilities and extension of mine dewatering for ten years beyond the 
current permit.

DATES: Written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
will be accepted until close of business on October 31, 2000. A public 
meeting for oral and written comments is scheduled to be held: 
September 26, 2000 in Elko, Nevada, at the Bureau of Land Management 
Office, 3900 E. Idaho Street at 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
should be addressed to: Bureau of Land Management, Elko Field Office, 
Attn: Roger Congdon, Environmental Impact Statement Coordinator, 3900 
E. Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801. The Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement is available for inspection at the following locations: 
Bureau of Land Management Nevada State Office (Reno), Bureau of Land 
Management Elko Field Office, Carson City and Elko County libraries, 
the University of Nevada libraries in Reno and Las Vegas, and the Great 
Basin College library in Elko. It is also available from the Bureau of 
Land Management, Elko Field Office internet site at www.nv.blm.gov/elko.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information, write to 
the above address or call Roger Congdon at (775) 753-0200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Newmont proposes to continue operations at 
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[[Page 53331]]

South Operations Area Project for an additional ten years. The mine 
expansion would involve an additional disturbance of 839 acres of 
public land and 553 acres of private land. The agency preferred 
alternative consists of the proposed action plus backfilling of the Mac 
pit, one of two small, inactive open pit mines within the project 
boundary.
    A copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement 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 Bureau of Land Management at 
the address listed above. The Environmental Impact Statement is also 
available at the Elko Bureau of Land Management website: 
www.nv.blm.gov/elko. Public participation has occurred during the 
Environmental Impact Statement process. A Notice of Intent was filed in 
the Federal Register in June 1997 and an open scoping period was held 
for 30 days. A public scoping meeting to solicit comments and ideas was 
held in July 1997. All comments presented to the Bureau of Land 
Management throughout the Environmental Impact Statement process have 
been considered.

    Dated: August 24, 2000.
Helen Hankins,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 00-22285 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
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