[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 245 (Friday, December 19, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77605-77606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30167]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Superior National Forest Federal Hardrock Mineral Prospecting 
Permits Project.

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: This analysis would address federal hardrock mineral 
exploration in terms of 32 current permit applications, future permit 
applications, current and future operating plans, and future use and 
occupancy authorizations (Special Use Permits) on the Superior National 
Forest (SNF) over the next 20 years. The project area covers all SNF 
managed lands available to mineral exploration. In accordance with the 
SNF Land and Resource Mangement Plan, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area 
Wilderness, Mining Protection Area, and Eligible Wild River Segments 
are not available to mineral exploration. The Forest Service is the 
lead agency for this EIS and the United States Department of the 
Interior (USDI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is a cooperating 
agency. As a cooperating agency, the BLM will adopt the EIS to support 
their own Record of Decision. Federal laws and policies will be 
outlined in the EIS that will require the SNF, as the agency managing 
the surface, and the BLM, as the agency responsible for managing sub-
surface minerals resources, to consider the Prospecting Permit 
applications. Based on the Forest Service's recommendations and 
consent, the BLM will review those recommendations and decide whether 
to authorize the prospecting permits and operating plans.

DATES: Scoping for this project is planned for January 2009. When the 
scoping package is completed, it will be sent out for public review and 
comment. At that time, it will also be available for review, along with 
supplemental large scale maps, on the Internet at the following Web 
site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/superior/projects/. The draft 
environmental impact statement is expected February 2010 and the final 
environmental impact statement is expected June 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to James W. Sanders, Forest 
Supervisor, 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you would like additional 
information or have questions regarding this action, contact Patty 
Beyer, Project Coordinator at 906-226-1499 or Michael Jimenez, Forest 
Planner at 218-626-4383.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose and need for this project is three-fold.
    First: Analyze the effects to the environment from 32 permit 
applications and any future prospecting permit applications for 
hardrock mineral prospecting, and, determine: (a) If the lands 
requested under the 32 permit applications are available for mineral 
prospecting and what lands are available for future prospecting permit 
applications; (b) If activities carried out

[[Page 77606]]

under such permits are consistent with the purpose for which the land 
was acquired; and (c) What stipulations will be required for 
prospecting permits to be issued. The stipulations will include 
requirements for the protection of surface resources, and for access, 
construction, or use and protection of existing roads.
    Second: Analyze the effects to the environment from future 
prospecting permit exploration operating plan activities associated 
with the 32 prospecting permit applications and future prospecting 
permit applications and to define the terms and conditions and best 
management practices (BMPs) that would be included in the Forest 
Service's consent to the BLM for approval of the operating plans. The 
terms and conditions and BMPs will include requirements for the 
protection of surface resources, and for access, construction, or use 
of existing roads.
    Third: Analyze effects of special uses located outside of 
prospecting permit areas (off-permit areas). These activities will be 
administered under Forest Service Special Use Permits. This includes 
the need to evaluate the effects from road construction and road 
reconstruction on off-permit areas. Although specific proposals have 
not been made, estimates can be made regarding access needs to sites 
based on previous experience.

Proposed Action

    The BLM has received 32 prospecting permit applications from four 
companies for federal hardrock mineral prospecting on the SNF. The 
applications cover approximately 43,446 acres and are located within 
the geologic complex call the Duluth Complex. The main target minerals 
include copper, nickel, cobalt, lead, zinc, silver, gold, titanium, 
Platinum Group Elements (PGE) and other associated minerals. In 
addition, all lands available for mineral exploration within the SNF 
will be analyzed for future prospecting permit applications and 
associated operating plans. Prospecting permits, if issued, include 
various exploration activities under operating plans such as drilling 
to obtain core samples and air-or-ground based geophysical surveys to 
determine the location and extent of mineralization, and where ore 
deposits may be located.

Responsible Official and Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The Responsible Official for the Forest Service, the Forest 
Supervisor for the Superior National Forest, will decide the following 
three items based on the environmental analysis:
    1. What consent recommendations and stipulations will be provided 
to the Regional Forester so that he may advise the BLM whether the 
Forest Service consents to the issuance of: (a) The 32 federal hardrock 
mineral prospecting permit applications, and (b) future hardrock 
mineral prospecting permits.
    2. What advice will be provided to the BLM including terms and 
conditions and best management practices required for the protection of 
surface resources, and for access, construction, or use and protection 
of existing roads for: (a) Operating plans associated with the current 
32 federal hardrock mineral prospecting permit applications, and (b) 
future operating plans associated with future hardrock minerals 
prospecting permits.
    3. Whether to issue future special use and occupancy authorizations 
for off-prospecting permit areas activities associated with mineral 
exploration operating plans and what terms and conditions will be 
required for the protection and management of surface resources. The 
responsible official for the BLM, the Deputy State Director, will 
decide in a Record of Decision, whether to approve pending and future 
hardrock prospecting permits and associated operating plans.

Scoping Process

    Public scoping will include notices in the newspaper of record, 
mailing of the scoping package (detailed information of the purpose and 
need for the project, the proposed action, description of the project 
area, maps, and proposed stipulations, terms and conditions, and best 
management practices) to interested and affected publics and posting of 
the project on the agency's project planning Web page and notice in the 
agency's quarterly Schedule of Proposed Actions.

Comment Requested

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping proces which guides the 
development of the environmental impact statement. Comments received, 
including the names and addresses of those who comment, will be 
considered part of the public record on this proposal and will be 
available for public inspection.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook 
1909.15, Section 21.

    Dated: November 19, 2008.
James W. Sanders,
Forest Supervisor.
 [FR Doc. E8-30167 Filed 12-18-08; 8:45 am]
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