[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 130-131]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33664]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNMP02000 L51100000.GE0000.LVEMG11CG200]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Intercontinental Potash Corporation (ICP) (USA) Ochoa Mine 
Project, Lea County, NM

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carlsbad Field 
Office, Carlsbad, NM intends to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the 
scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 2, 2012. 
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM 
Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/fo/Carlsbad_Field_Office.html. To be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be 
received prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the 
last public meeting, whichever is later. We will provide additional 
opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft 
EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments on issues related to the ICP 
Ochoa Mine Project by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]
     Fax: (575) 885-9264
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Carlsbad Field Office, 
Attention: Ochoa Mine EIS Project Manager, 620 E. Greene St., Carlsbad, 
NM 88220.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Carlsbad Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact David Alderman, Planning 
and Environmental Coordinator; telephone (575) 234-6232; address, 
Carlsbad Field Office 620 E. Greene St., Carlsbad, NM 88220; email 
[email protected]. Persons who use a telecommunications device 
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service 
(FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-8339 to contact the above individual during 
normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a 
week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You 
will receive a reply during normal business hours

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Intercontinental Potash Corp. (USA) (ICP) 
holds BLM prospecting permits and has applied for preference right 
leases. ICP plans to develop an underground mine to extract polyhalite 
ore. These prospecting permits are located about 40 miles southeast of 
Carlsbad, New Mexico, and 20 miles west of Jal, New Mexico. The 
proposed project would occur on portions of the following townships and 
ranges:

New Mexico Prime Meridian

T. 22 S., R. 33 E.,
T. 22 S., R. 35 E.,
T. 23 S., R. 32 E.,
T. 23 S., R. 33 E.,
T. 23 S., R. 34 E.,
T. 23 S., R. 37 E.,
T. 24 S., R. 32 E.,
T. 24 S., R. 33 E.,
T. 24 S., R. 34 E.,
T. 24 S., R. 35 E.,
T. 24 S., R. 36 E.,
T. 24 S., R. 37 E.,
T. 25 S., R. 37 E.,

    The areas described, including Federal, State, and nonpublic lands, 
total 276,480 acres. ICP holds 17 State leases, totaling 25,889 acres 
in addition to the 26 prospecting permits totaling 77,884 acres. ICP 
has submitted a proposed Mine Plan of Operations to the BLM for the 
Ochoa Mine Project, to produce the fertilizer sulfate of potash, 
K2SO4, from polyhalite ore. ICP's proposed Mine 
Plan of Operations includes an underground mine accessed by a shaft and 
a ramp, and processing facilities, including the ore process plant, dry 
stack tailings pile, evaporation ponds, water wells, pipelines, power 
lines, and a railroad load-out facility. The polyhalite will be 
continuously mined using the conventional room and pillar retreat 
method. In order to mine in proximity to active oil and gas wells, ICP 
has elected to follow the rules and regulations of a Category IV gassy 
mine. Sulfate of potash production involves two separate operations. 
The first operation is to mine raw polyhalite

[[Page 131]]

approximately 1,500 feet underground in the Rustler Formation. Once 
mined, the polyhalite is hoisted to the surface, crushed, calcined, 
leached, and granulated to produce sulfate of potash, the saleable 
product. The final product will be moved via truck to a load-out 
facility near Jal, where it will be loaded on trains and shipped.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues:
     Water availability;
     Impacts from subsidence;
     Impacts to oil and gas exploration and operation in the 
project area;
     Impacts to air quality; and
     Impacts to wildlife and range.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
satisfy the public involvement process for Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). Native American tribal consultations will be conducted in 
accordance with policy, and tribal concerns will be given due 
consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. Federal, 
State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that may be 
interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are 
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may 
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating 
agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your 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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7

Jesse Juen,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-33664 Filed 12-29-11; 11:15 am]
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