[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71150-71151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24206]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-310-7122-PH-8023; DDG-07-0010]


Notice of Availability, Three Rivers Stone Quarry Expansion Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102 (2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, notice is hereby given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 
Challis Field Office, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) to consider whether to approve an Amended Plan of 
Operations for L&W Stone Corporation to continue mining flagstone from 
its Three Rivers Stone Quarry.

DATES: Written comments will be accepted for 45 days following the date 
that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM intends to hold two 
public meetings during the 45-day comment period, in Boise and Challis, 
Idaho. BLM will announce the public meeting times and locations at 
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media news releases, 
and/or newsletter mailings.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the DEIS are available upon request from the BLM 
Idaho Falls District Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 
83401, phone 208-524-7530. You may request either a hard copy or a 
computer disk (CD). A copy of the DEIS will be posted on the Internet 
at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/fo/challis/nepa/Three_Rivers.html. To 
receive full consideration, comments must be postmarked no later than 
the last day of the written comment period. (The last day of the 
written comment period may be identified at the Internet address above, 
after publication of the EPA Notice of Availability in the Federal 
Register.)
    You may submit comments on the DEIS using any of the following 
methods:
    Mail: Charles Horsburgh, Project Manager, BLM Idaho Falls District 
Office, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401.
    Fax: 208-524-7505.
    E-mail: [email protected].
    All public comments, including the names and mailing addresses of 
respondents, will be available for public review at the Idaho Falls 
District Office in Idaho Falls, Idaho, during regular business hours 
from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, 
and may be published as part of the Final EIS. Individual respondents 
may request confidentiality. Before including your address, phone 
number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in 
your

[[Page 71151]]

comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal 
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we 
will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations and 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be 
available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Horsburgh, Project Manager, 
BLM Idaho Falls District, 1405 Hollipark Drive, Idaho Falls, Idaho 
83401, phone 208-524-7530, or fax 208-524-7505.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: L&W Stone Corporation mines locatable 
flagstone on public lands administered by the BLM's Challis Field 
Office in Custer County, Idaho. L&W Stone submitted an Amended Plan of 
Operations for its quarry under the 43 CFR part 3809 Regulations in 
December 2002. In 2004, the BLM completed an Environmental Assessment 
(EA) regarding the Amended Plan of Operations, signed a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), and approved the project. As a result of a 
lawsuit that was filed objecting to that approval, the BLM was ordered 
by the Federal District Court to prepare an EIS for the Amended Plan of 
Operations.
    The DEIS analyzes and discloses the effects of four alternatives, 
including the No Action and BLM's Preferred Alternative. Alternative A, 
the No Action Alternative, would result in the cessation of quarrying 
activities and the implementation of reclamation measures that would 
stabilize disturbed areas. Alternative B would be a continuation of the 
interim mining plan that was developed by L&W Stone and approved by the 
District Court, which has allowed L&W Stone to mine while the EIS is 
being prepared. Alternative C would be a continuation of mining under 
the Preferred Alternative from BLM's 2004 EA. Alternative D, the BLM's 
Preferred Alternative described in the DEIS, would be similar to 
Alternative C, but would allow for the expansion of quarrying 
operations into two new areas that contain flagstone resources.
    All Alternatives are consistent with the Challis Resource 
Management Plan and would protect public health, protect surface and 
groundwater resources, meet post-mining land use requirements, and 
minimize view-shed impacts.
    L&W Stone will be required to submit an updated Plan of Operation 
that would incorporate the requirements of the Alternative that is 
selected by the BLM Authorized Officer.

David Rosenkrance,
BLM Challis Field Manager.
[FR Doc. E7-24206 Filed 12-13-07; 8:45 am]
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