[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 24152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11875]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[MT-090-1990EX-01]


Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 
Reclamation of the Zortman and Landusky Mines in Phillips County, 
Montana. This is a supplement to the 1996 Final EIS on Reclamation Plan 
Modifications and Mine Life Extensions at the Zortman and Landusky 
Mines. The Draft Supplemental EIS addresses 12 reclamation 
alternatives, six for the Zortman Mine and six for the Landusky Mine. 
The BLM and Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are co-
lead agencies for the preparation of the Supplemental EIS. The 
Environmental Protection Agency and the Fort Belknap Indian Community 
Council are participating agencies.

DATES: The comment period on the Draft Supplemental EIS will end on 
July 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Address all written comments to Zortman/Landusky Mine 
Reclamation Plan SEIS, c/o Bureau of Land Management, Lewistown Field 
Office, P.O. Box 1160, Lewistown, MT 59457-1160. Comments may also be 
sent electronically to: [email protected]. Please include your 
name and complete mailing address on all comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Haight, 406-538-1930.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This EIS is a draft supplement to the March 
1996 Final EIS Zortman and Landusky Mines Reclamation Plan 
Modifications and Mine Life Extensions. With the bankruptcy of the 
mines' operator, Zortman Mining, Inc., the BLM and DEQ are overseeing 
reclamation at the mines. The Draft Supplemental EIS has been prepared 
to analyze additional reclamation alternatives developed by the 
agencies that may constitute a substantial change from those presented 
in the 1996 Final EIS. The Draft Supplemental EIS presents 12 
reclamation plans, six for reclamation of the Zortman Mine and six for 
reclamation of the Landusky Mine. The reclamation plans were developed 
based upon public scoping comments and through consultation with the 
Fort Belknap government and the Environmental Protection Agency. The 
Draft Supplemental EIS discloses the environmental consequences of each 
alternative. Alternative Z6 is identified in the Draft Supplemental EIS 
as the DEQ and BLM preferred reclamation alternative for the Zortman 
Mine, and Alternative L4 is identified as the preferred reclamation 
alternative for the Landusky Mine. The identification of the preferred 
alternatives does not constitute an agency decision but is intended to 
help focus public comment on the alternatives more likely to be 
selected.

    Authority:  Sec. 102, Pub. L. 91-190, 83 Stat. 853 (42 U.S.C. 
4332).

    Dated: May 1, 2001.
Bruce W. Reed,
Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 01-11875 Filed 5-10-01; 8:45 am]
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