[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 166 (Monday, August 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 51029]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17143]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment Supporting 
the Department of Energy's Application to the Department of the 
Interior for a Public Land Order To Withdraw Public Lands Within and 
Around the Caliente Rail Corridor, Nevada, From Surface Entry and New 
Mining Claims

AGENCY: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability, and opportunity for 
public review and comment, of the environmental assessment (EA) that 
supports the Department of Energy's (DOE) application to the Department 
of the Interior, filed with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), for a 
Public Land Order to withdraw public lands within and surrounding the 
Caliente Rail Corridor. As applied for, the withdrawal would preclude 
surface entry and new mining claim locations for a 20 year period.

DATES: Comments should be received by DOE no later than September 28, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments, or requests for copies of the draft EA, should be 
sent to Lee Bishop, EA Document Manager, United States Department of 
Energy, 1551 Hillshire Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89134. Requests for copies 
of the draft EA may also be made by calling 1-800-225-6972. The draft 
EA and electronic comment forms are available at http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov. Comments may also be faxed to 1-800-967-0739.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lee Bishop, EA Document Manager, at 
the address above or at 1-800-225-6972.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A notice of proposed withdrawal was 
published in the Federal Register on December 29, 2003 (68 FR 74965-
74968), stating that the Bureau of Land Management had received an 
application from DOE to withdraw for 20 years approximately 308,600 
acres of public land from surface entry and mining locations while DOE 
evaluates the land for the potential construction, operation, and 
maintenance of a branch rail line. The rail line would be used for the 
transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste 
as provided under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 10101 et seq.). BLM held public meetings on the application in 
June 2004.
    In accordance with 43 CFR 2310.3-2(b)(3), DOE has prepared a draft 
EA to support its application, with the BLM participating as a 
cooperating agency. The application seeks a Public Land Order for the 
purpose of precluding surface entry and the location of new mining 
claims which could interfere with the evaluation of the land. The 
proposed Public Land Order would not affect existing mining claims or 
other activities such as grazing rights, water rights, and recreational 
uses.
    The draft EA may be reviewed on the Internet at http://www.ocrwm.doe.gov. Copies of the EA may also be obtained by contacting 
Mr. Lee Bishop (see address above). Comments may be submitted to Mr. 
Bishop or through the comment form at the above website, and should be 
received by September 28, 2005.
    Three public meetings on the draft EA will be held as follows:
    Monday, September 12, 2005, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Longstreet Inn & 
Casino, Highway 373, Amargosa Valley, NV;
    Tuesday, September 13, 2005, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Goldfield School 
Gymnasium, 233 Ramsey, Goldfield, NV; and
    Thursday, September 15, 2005, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Caliente Youth 
Center, U.S. Highway 93, Caliente, NV.
    Comments received will be considered in finalizing the EA. After 
the EA is finalized it will be formally submitted to the BLM. The BLM 
will subsequently make a recommendation to the Secretary of the 
Interior, who will make a final determination regarding DOE's 
application for a Public Land Order.

    Issued in Washington, DC.
Paul M. Golan,
Principal Deputy Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste 
Management.
[FR Doc. 05-17143 Filed 8-26-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P