[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17139-17140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7729]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement To 
Disclose the Environmental Impacts of Proposed Changes to the Kennecott 
Greens Creek Mine Tailings Disposal Site; Tongass National Forest, 
Admiralty National Monument, Juneau, AK

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice, intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the USDA Forest Service, Tongass National Forest, 
under the direction of the Juneau Ranger District, will prepare a 
environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze and display the effects 
of proposed changes to the Kennecott Greens Creek Mine, located on 
public and private lands in southeastern Alaska. The Mine is operated 
by Kennecott Greens Mining Company and is located approximately 40 
miles southwest of downtown Juneau. An Environmental Impact Statement 
was completed and a Record of Decision signed on January 21, 1983 for 
operation of the Greens Creek Mine.

DATES: Comments will be accepted throughout the EIS process but, to be 
most useful during the analysis they should be received in writing by 
April 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and suggestions concerning the analysis 
should be sent to Eric Ouderkirk, Landscape Architect, Juneau Ranger 
District, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska; 99801 or e-mail to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Ouderkirk, Landscape 
Architect,Juneau Ranger District, 8465 Old Dairy Road, Juneau, Alaska 
99801; phone (907) 586-8800; fax (907) 586-8808 or e-mail to 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed operations are subject to 
approval of a Plan of Operations under 36 CFR, Part 228, which is 
intended to ensure that adverse environmental effects on National 
Forest System lands and resources are minimized. The United States 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS) proposes to approve an 
amendment to the Kennecott Greens Mining Company's (KGCMC) General Plan 
of Operations to authorize the construction of additional dry tailings 
storage beginning in the late spring of 2002. The additional disposal 
area would be designed to provide tailings storage for the remaining 
life of the mine (approximately 14 years), including development of 
potential new reserves. Permitting this expansion will require 
modifying the existing lease.
    The proposed action would include an 84.5 acre expansion of the 
boundaries of the existing tailings facility to the west/southwest, 
including additional area for rock quarries, water management pond, and 
a storage area for reclamation materials. The actual tailings placement 
area, as proposed, would occupy approximately 40 acres, with the 
remaining 44.5 acres used for infrastructure, quarry and borrow sources 
and potential long-term tailings disposal needs.
    In general, the proposed action would authorize the following:
    1. Expansion of the existing Pit 5 quarry to provide within the 
tailings disposal area.
    2. Development of two new quarries within bedrock ridges at the 
south end of the proposed lease boundary. These two quarries would be 
used as a source of construction materials for infrastructure 
development, and for road construction as needed.
    3. Construction of a new water management pond system for storm 
water storage and treatment/
    4. Installation of surface water and groundwater controls and 
diversions, for expansion of the tailings pile.
    5. Placement of tailings in a ``de-watered'' state to the maximum

[[Page 17140]]

elevation of 330 ft. with 3H:1V (horizontal to vertical) external 
slopes in the same manner currently used. Tailing will be on the dame 
material as is currently being placed.
    6. Use of the existing Containment pond No. 6 for containment and 
storage of sludge materials produced during tailings placement, and 
eventually placement of tailings.
    7. Development of a storage area for excavated reclamation 
materials (topsoil and organics).
    8. Development of borrow areas (sand and gravel) for infrastructure 
development and reclamation materials storage.
    The disposal facility would be designed to meet the following 
criteria:
    1. Interception and diversion systems would be designed and 
constructed to control non-contact water around the treatment facility.
    2. Approved containment structures either manmade or natural (e.g., 
liner, slurry walls, low permeability deposit) would be utilized to 
protect groundwater.
    3. Tailings contact water would be collected and treated during 
operations.
    4. To meet geotechnical requirements, appropriate phreatic levels 
will be maintained within the tailings pile by means of drainage 
infrastructure.
    5. Non-contact water will continue to be diverted around the 
tailings and contact water will be treated through the existing 
permitted discharge system.
    A reclamation plan, subject to approval by the Forest Service and 
agencies with permitting jurisdiction, would be required prior to 
implementation to set performance criteria for achieving water quality 
standards. As proposed, KGCMC would place an engineered cover on the 
tailings pile to minimize air and water infiltration. The final lift of 
tailings would be covered with a sequence of capillary breaks, 
compacted material and a growth media for concurrent reclamation, in 
compliance with the General Plan of Operations.
    The purpose and need for the Proposed Action is to consider changes 
to the 1983 approved Plan of Operations for the Greens Creek Mining 
Company regarding tailings disposal in order to allow for continued 
operations.
    In addition to the Forest Service, the Environmental Protection 
Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have jurisdiction and will 
participate as cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS. The 
Forest Service has agreed to be the lead agency. EPA will be 
responsible for assuring that the analysis provides sufficient 
information for revision of the National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System permit under authority of the Clean Water Act. The 
Corps will be responsible for ensuring that the analysis provides 
sufficient information for issuance of permits required under Section 
404 of the Clean Water Act permit and Section 10 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act of 1899 permit, and for compliance with Executive Order 
11990 and 11900 related to wetlands and floodplains. Memorandums of 
Understanding will be initiated with both of the cooperating agencies.
    The decision to be made is whether or not to approve the Plan of 
Operations as amended or require the operator to revise its proposal. 
The 1983 EIS analyzed the effects of developing the Greens Creek Mine 
and the Record of Decision approved the conditions under which the 
project could proceed. This EIS will analyze the effects of proposed 
changes to the Plan of Operations for expansion of the tailings 
facility that differ from those approved in the 1983 decision.
    Key resources to be analyzed include water quality; impacts to 
wetlands; impacts to fisheries from the discharge; and potential for 
impacts to the wilderness values of Admiralty National Monument.
    Fred S. Salinas, Assistant Forest Supervisor, Tongass National 
Forest, is the responsible official.
    The Forest Service is seeking information and comments from 
Federal, State, and local agencies as well as individuals and 
organizations who may be interested in, or affected by the proposed 
action. Public scoping meetings are planned in Juneau at Juneau 
Assembly Chamber Thursday, April 19 at 7 p.m.
    The draft environmental impact statement should be available for 
public review by July 30, 2001. The comment period on the draft 
environmental impact statement will be 45 days from the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice is availability in 
the Federal Register.
    The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important 
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public 
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of 
draft environmental impact statements must structure their 
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is 
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and 
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the 
draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not raised 
until after the completion of the final environmental impact statement 
may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 
F.2d. 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages, Inc. v. 
Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of these 
court rulings, it is very important that those interested in this 
proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day comment period 
so that substantive comments and objections are made available to the 
Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully consider them and 
respond to them in the final environmental impact statement. To assist 
the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues and concerns 
on the proposed action, comments on the draft environmental impact 
statement should be as specific as possible. It is also helpful if 
comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the draft statement. 
Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft environmental 
impact statement or the merits of the alternatives formulated and 
discussed in the statement. 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.
    The final environmental impact statement is scheduled to be 
completed by December 10, 2001. The Assistant Forest Supervisor for the 
Tongass National Forest will, as the responsible official for the EIS, 
make a decision regarding this proposal considering the comments, 
responses, and environmental consequences discussed in the Final EIS, 
and applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The decision and 
supporting reasons will be documented in a Record of Decision.

    Dated: March 22, 2001.
Fred S. Salinas,
Assistant Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 01-7729 Filed 3-28-01; 8:45 am]
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