[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 224 (Wednesday, November 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69675-69676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27455]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV-010-07-1990-EX; N-78123]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Newmont Mining Corporation Proposed Emigrant Project Plan of 
Operations, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 102(2)(c) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 43 CFR Part 3809, the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) Elko Field Office has prepared with the 
assistance of a third party contractor, a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) on Newmont Mining Corporation's proposed Emigrant 
Project Plan of Operations. The project area is located in Elko County 
about ten miles south of Carlin, Nevada. The DEIS analyzes potential 
environmental impacts that could result from the open pit mine project 
during the projected 10-year operating period. This is the second DEIS 
issued for this project. The original DEIS was issued March 25, 2005.

DATES: The DEIS is now available for comment. Written comments on the 
DEIS will be accepted until January 5, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The public may submit comments by the following methods:
    Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Elko Field Office, Attn: Emigrant 
Mine Project Manager, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801;
    Fax: (775) 753-0255.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Schmidt, Project Manager, Elko 
Field Office, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801; (775) 753-0200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A DEIS for this project was originally 
issued March 25, 2005. Substantive comments were received on that DEIS. 
This new DEIS, which incorporates revisions made in response to those 
comments, is being issued to replace the 2005 DEIS.
    Newmont Mining Corporation has submitted a Plan of Operations to 
open the Emigrant Mine about ten miles south of Carlin, Nevada. 
Modifications to the proposed plan have been made based upon new 
information pertinent to the proposed action and its effects. The mine 
and associated facilities would be located in portions of Sections 24, 
26, 34, 36 of T. 32 N., R. 53 E.; and Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, T. 31 
N., R 53 E. Mt. Diablo Meridian, Nevada.

[[Page 69676]]

    The revised proposal for the Emigrant Mine would include developing 
and operating an open pit mine, constructing a waste rock disposal 
facility, storing oxide waste in mined out areas of the pit, developing 
an oxide heap leach pad, constructing ancillary facilities, temporarily 
rerouting intermittent stream and flows in the pit area, and concurrent 
reclamation. Proposed mining operations would last approximately 10 
years through 2017. Approximately 1,172 acres of public land and 260 
acres of private land would be disturbed.
    The issues analyzed in the DEIS include potential direct, indirect, 
and cumulative impacts to wildlife and cultural resources, the 
potential for waste rock, heap leach, and pit walls to produce acid 
rock drainage or heavy metals, and diversion of an unnamed drainage. In 
addition, the following resources are analyzed: geology and minerals, 
Native American religious concerns, air quality, paleontology, lands 
and realty, fisheries and aquatic resources, range management, 
vegetation, soils, visual resources, recreation and wilderness, weeds, 
social and economic values, environmental justice, and threatened, 
endangered, candidate, and sensitive species.
    The DEIS analyzes the proposed action and no action alternatives. 
Other alternatives considered and reasons why they were eliminated from 
detailed analysis are discussed. Measures to avoid or minimize 
environmental impacts and to assure the proposed action does not result 
in undue or unnecessary degradation of public lands are included. This 
DEIS can be reviewed and/or downloaded from the BLM Elko Web page at 
http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html.
    The BLM is asking the public to comment on the DEIS. Comments, 
including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available 
for public review at the above address during regular business hours 
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may 
be published as part of the DEIS. Before including your address, phone 
number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, be advised 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 from public 
review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that 
we will be able to do so.
    All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in 
their entirety.

Gene Seidlitz,
Field Manager.
[FR Doc. E8-27455 Filed 11-18-08; 8:45 am]
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