[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 138 (Thursday, July 17, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41031-41032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16314]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Rosemont Copper Project, Coronado National Forest, Pima County, 
AZ

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.6.

ACTION: Notice of Solicitation of Interest and Eligibility of Federal 
and Non-Federal Cooperating Agencies.

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SUMMARY: USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest is soliciting 
the interest and eligibility of potential federal and non-federal 
(tribal, state, and local governments and their agencies) in 
participating as cooperating agencies in the environmental study of the 
Mine Plan of Operation for the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine, Pima 
County, Arizona.

DATES: USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest requests written 
responses of interest and eligibility from potential federal and non-
federal cooperating agencies by August 29, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this 
notice, please contact Ms. Reta Laford, Deputy Forest Supervisor, at 
(520) 388-8300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed Rosemont Copper Mine would 
extract and process ores from the Rosemont Deposit located 
approximately 30 miles southeast of Tucson, Arizona. The mine and 
associated facilities would encompass approximately 4,500 acres in 
public and private ownerships in Pima County, Arizona.
    The Coronado National Forest, in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, published a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register (http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/rosemont/documents/rosemont-noi-022 82008.pdf) to prepare an environmental impact statement on 
Rosemont Copper Company's Mine Plan of Operations. In March 2008, 
several agencies also received a scoping notice about this project. 
Briefly, the proposed action is to construct and operate an open-pit 
copper mine and associated processing facilities, including access 
roads, required utilities, and to reclaim affected lands. A full 
description of the proposed action (Mine Plan of

[[Page 41032]]

Operation) may be viewed at: http://www.rosemontcopper.com/operations2.asp.
    The USDA Forest Service, Coronado National Forest is inquiring 
about federal and non-federal agency's interest and eligibility in 
serving as a cooperating agency. Federal and non-federal agencies 
interested in being a cooperating agency on this project should have 
jurisdiction by law (40 CFR 1508.15) and/or special expertise (40 CFR 
1508.26) to contribute to the environmental study.
    By August 29, 2008, federal and non-federal agency's desiring to 
cooperate in the environmental study of this Mine Plan of Operation 
should respond to this solicitation of interest with a written 
description of their interest and reasons for potential eligibility.
    Written responses should be sent to: USDA Forest Service, Coronado 
National Forest, Attn: Rosemont Copper Project, 300 West Congress 
Street, Tucson, Arizona 85701.
    Upon receipt of responses, the Coronado Forest Supervisor will make 
a determination of eligibility. Agencies that express interest, but for 
which eligibility is unclear, will be contacted for additional 
information. Agencies determined to be interested and eligible will 
receive a formal letter of invitation to be a cooperating agency. 
Additional information about the roles and responsibilities of 
cooperating agencies is available on the Council of Environmental 
quality Web site:
    Memorandum for the Heads of Federal Agencies from James 
Connaughton, Chair: http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepalregs/cooperating/cooperatingagenciesmemorandum.html.
    Attachment 1--Factors for Determining Whether to Invite, Decline or 
End Cooperating Agency Status: http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepalregs/cooperating/cooperatingagencymemofactors.html.
    Identifying Non-Federal Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the 
Procedural Requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act: 
http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepalregs/000925letter.html.
    Questions or concerns about the Mine Plan of Operation or agencies' 
respective roles and responsibilities during the preparation of this 
environmental study should be directed to Deputy Forest Supervisor, 
Reta Laford. Ms. Laford may be reached via telephone at (520) 388-8300.

    Dated: July 9, 2008,
Jeanine A. Derby,
Forest Supervisor.
 [FR Doc. E8-16314 Filed 7-16-08; 8:45 am]
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