[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 58 (Friday, March 27, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13462-13463]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-6768]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNV010000.L19900000.EX0000; 09-08807; TAS: 14X1109]


Notice of Availability of Final Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Betze Pit Expansion Project, Eureka and Elko 
Counties, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. and 43 CFR 3809), the Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), Elko District Office has prepared a Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for Barrick 
Goldstrike Mine's proposed Betze Pit Expansion Project.

DATES: The BLM will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) on the proposed 
project after a minimum of 30 days following the Environmental 
Protection Agency's publication of a Notice of Availability of this 
Final SEIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the SEIS (compact disk or hard copy) are available 
at the BLM Elko District Office, 3900 E. Idaho, Elko, Nevada during 
regular business hours of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays. The SEIS is also available on-line at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html, Elko District Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirk Laird, (775) 753-0200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Betze Pit Expansion Project is an 
amendment to the mine plan for the Betze Project, an ongoing open pit 
gold mine on the Carlin Trend in Eureka and Elko counties. The proposed 
mine plan amendment includes expanding the existing open pit and 
constructing a new waste rock facility and a new tailings facility. 
Current mining operations at the Betze Project are expected to end in 
2011, with processing operations ending in 2020. The proposed Betze Pit 
Expansion Project would extend mining for 4 years and processing for an 
additional 5 years. Alternatives developed and analyzed in the SEIS 
include expanding the existing Bazza Waste Rock Facility (instead of 
constructing the proposed Clydesdale Waste Rock Facility) and the No 
Action alternatives. Alternatives considered but eliminated from 
detailed analysis include mining by underground methods rather than 
open pit, modifying the proposed Clydesdale Waste Rock Facility or 
constructing an offsite waste rock facility to reduce impacts to deer 
migration corridors, and a reduced tailings facility alternative. 
Mitigation measures, including reclamation scheduling to maintain a 
deer migration corridor, and designed landscape reclamation of the 
proposed Clydesdale Waste Rock Facility, were adopted by the proponent 
during the process, becoming part of the proposed action.
    The Draft SEIS was released for public review on August 22, 2008, 
for a 45-day

[[Page 13463]]

comment period, and a public comment meeting was held in Elko, Nevada 
on September 10, 2008. The Final SEIS is published in an abbreviated 
format, and includes comments on the Draft SEIS and BLM's responses 
along with resultant changes in the document.
    The documents will be available at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html, Elko District Office for at least 30-days, 
after which BLM will issue a Record of Decision on the proposed mine 
expansion.

(Authority: 43 CFR 3809)

Kenneth E. Miller,
District Manager, Elko.
[FR Doc. E9-6768 Filed 3-26-09; 8:45 am]
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