[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32665-32666]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-13229]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVE0000 L51100000.GN0000 LVEMF1000570; 12-08807; MO 
4500033252; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Hollister Underground Mine Project, Elko County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Hollister 
Underground Mine Project and by this notice is announcing the opening 
of the public comment period.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Hollister Underground Mine Project Draft EIS 
within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM 
will announce future meetings and any other public involvement 
activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, news 
media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Hollister Underground 
Mine Project by any of the following methods:

 Email: [email protected]
 Fax: 775-753-0255
 Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Hollister Underground Mine 
Project, Attention: Janice Stadelman, Project Manager, 3900 Idaho 
Street, Elko NV 89801

Copies of the Hollister Underground Mine Project Draft EIS are 
available in the BLM Elko District Office at the above address and 
online at: http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/elko_field_office.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice Stadelman, Project Manager; 
telephone 775-753-0346; address 3900 Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801; 
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, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Rodeo Creek Gold, Inc. proposed an amendment 
to its plan of operations for the Hollister Underground Mine Project. 
The proposed amendment would transition its existing underground 
exploration operations into an underground gold and silver mining 
operation. Most of the necessary infrastructure to support a mining 
operation was authorized and built in conjunction with the underground 
exploration activities. The proposed project would be located 47 miles 
northwest of Elko in Elko County, Nevada. The proposed project is 
estimated to provide approximately 200 jobs and to operate for 20 
years.

[[Page 32666]]

    The current exploration project created approximately 105 acres of 
surface disturbance, of which 95 acres occur on public land and 10 
acres occur on private land. About 75 percent of the existing 
facilities are located on previously disturbed ground within an 
existing open-pit mine. The proposed transition from an exploration 
project to a mining operation would disturb approximately 117 acres; an 
additional 106 acres of public land and an additional 11 acres of 
private land. If approved, the project total would be approximately 222 
acres of surface disturbance.
    The proposed project consists of constructing a new production 
shaft, improving existing roads, building an electrical power 
transmission line to the mine site, upgrading ancillary facilities, and 
continuing both surface and underground exploration. The proposed 
project would augment the existing mine water management facilities 
that currently include water treatment facilities and rapid 
infiltration basins by adding underground dewatering wells and 
obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to 
authorize discharge of groundwater to Little Antelope Creek. The 
Hollister Project would haul the mined ore using highway-legal trucks 
to existing off-site milling facilities via existing roads that would 
be improved as needed; no on-site processing facilities are proposed.
    The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal 
Register on April 19, 2010. Scoping meetings and mailings were 
conducted to solicit public input to identify issues to be analyzed. 
The BLM contacted tribal governments with interest in this project to 
learn their issues and concerns and to conduct government-to-government 
consultation. Cooperating agencies include the Nevada Division of 
Wildlife and the Elko County Board of Commissioners.
    During the public scoping period, the BLM received a total of 46 
written comment submittals containing approximately 288 individual 
items. Key issues identified by individuals, groups, and governmental 
entities include: Potential impacts to cultural resources and the 
traditional cultural properties; access; noise; discharge to surface 
water, hydrology, and seeps and springs resulting from the groundwater 
drawdown; special status species, including snails and sage-grouse; 
potentially acid-generating waste-rock material; air quality; and 
support for the project. The scoping comments were used to guide the 
development of the alternatives and analysis, and address issues and 
concerns raised in regards to the proposed project. The Draft EIS 
addresses the direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of 
the proposed action, which is approval of the project as proposed by 
Rodeo Creek Gold, and alternatives.
    Four alternatives, in addition to the proposed action, are analyzed 
in the Draft EIS. These alternatives include the No Action Alternative, 
Mud Springs Road Transmission Line Alternative, Mud Springs Waste Rock 
Storage Facility Alternative, and the Backfill Alternative. The project 
would continue as it is currently permitted under the No Action 
Alternative. The Mud Springs Road Transmission Line Alternative 
describes an alternative north and south route for the proposed 
electric transmission line. The Mud Springs Waste Rock Storage Facility 
Alternative describes an alternate location for a new waste rock 
storage facility. The Backfill Alternative describes an alternative 
means of closure for the proposed shafts, which is to completely 
backfill the shaft with rock and dirt material.
    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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Michael Herder,
District Manager, Elko District Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-13229 Filed 5-31-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P