[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37843-37845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14983]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLIDI002000.13300000.EO0000]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Panels F and G Lease and Mine Plan Modification Project at 
Smoky Canyon Mine, Caribou County, ID

AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; United States Forest 
Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 
1976, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, notice is hereby 
given that the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land 
Management (BLM), Pocatello Field Office, and the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Forest Service (USFS), Caribou-Targhee National Forest 
(CTNF), will jointly prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to 
determine and analyze the effects of approving a proposed phosphate 
mine lease and mine plan modifications (the Proposed Action) on Federal 
mineral leases held by the J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot), in 
southeastern Idaho. The EIS will tier to the Final EIS prepared by the 
BLM and USFS for Panels F and G at Smoky Canyon Mine in 2007 and will 
consider the effects of the proposed lease and mine plan modifications.

DATES: To ensure that comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the scope of the analysis described in this notice 
by July 24, 2013. The BLM will announce future meetings and any other 
public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through 
public notices, media news releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted to: Panels F and G Lease 
and Mine Plan Modification Project EIS, C/O JBR Environmental, 8160 
South Highland Drive, Sandy, Utah 84093, or via email at: [email protected]. Please reference ``Panels F and G Lease and 
MinePlan Modification Project EIS'' on all correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Wheeler, Bureau of Land 
Management, Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, Idaho

[[Page 37844]]

83204, phone 208-557-5839. Scoping information will also be available 
at the BLM's Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do, or the USFS Web site at: http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects. 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: The BLM, as the Federal lease administrator, 
will serve as the lead agency and the USFS as the co-lead agency. The 
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is a cooperating agency. 
Simplot has submitted lease and mine plan modifications for agency 
review for the existing Panel F (lease IDI-27512) and Panel G (lease 
IDI-01441) leases at the Smoky Canyon Phosphate Mine within the CTNF, 
in Caribou County, Idaho. The proposed project that the agencies are 
considering approving includes: (1) Construction of an ore conveyor 
system from Panel F to the existing mill to allow for more economic and 
efficient ore transport; and (2) expansion of a previously approved 
overburden disposal area (ODA) in order to accommodate the overburden 
generated from mining Panel G.
    The Smoky Canyon Mine, operated by Simplot, is located 
approximately 10 air miles west of Afton, Wyoming, and approximately 8 
miles west of the Idaho/Wyoming border. The existing Smoky Canyon 
mining and milling operations were authorized in 1982 by a mine plan 
approval issued by the BLM and special use authorizations issued by the 
USFS for off-lease activities, supported by the Smoky Canyon Mine Final 
EIS and Record of Decision (ROD). Mining operations began in Panel A in 
1984 and have been continuing ever since with the mining of Panels A-E. 
In 2007, the BLM published a Final EIS and in 2008 RODs were issued 
approving the original mining and reclamation plan for Panels F and G 
(Final EIS and RODs available at: http://www.fs.fed.us/outernet/r4/caribou-targhee/phosphate/). Panel F is contiguous with the south end 
of the existing mine and Panel G is located approximately 1 mile 
southwest of Panel F. Mining activities associated with Panel F were 
initiated in 2008 and are ongoing. Mining activities associated with 
Panel G have been initiated through the early stages of haul road 
construction.
    The proposed lease and mine plan modifications at Panels F and G of 
the Smoky Canyon Mine area would occur on Federal phosphate leases 
administered by the BLM situated on National Forest System (NFS) lands 
and on unleased parcels of NFS lands. The NFS lands involved lie within 
the Montpelier and Soda Springs Ranger Districts of the CTNF. The 
existing leases grant the lessee, Simplot in this case, exclusive 
rights to mine and otherwise dispose of the federally-owned phosphate 
deposit at the site.
    Through development of this EIS, the BLM and the USFS will analyze 
environmental impacts of approving the proposed lease and mine plan 
modifications. Appropriate mitigation measures will also be formulated.
    Agency Decisions: The BLM Idaho State Director or delegated 
official will approve, approve with modifications, or deny the proposed 
lease and mine plan modifications. The decision will be based on the 
EIS and any recommendations the USFS may have regarding surface 
management of leased NFS lands.
    The USFS CTNF Supervisor will make recommendations to the BLM 
concerning surface management and mitigation on leased lands within the 
CTNF, and decisions on mine-related activities that occur off-lease 
within the CTNF. Special use authorizations from the USFS would be 
necessary for any off-lease structures located within the CTNF and 
associated with approval of the proposed lease and mine plan 
modifications by the BLM (e.g., portions of the ore conveyor system).
    The applicable land use plans have been reviewed relative to the 
Proposed Action and at this time it is not anticipated that any 
amendments would be needed.
    Background: Simplot submitted a proposal for lease and mine plan 
modifications for Panels F and G at the Smoky Canyon Mine in February 
2013. The proposed modifications to Panel F are related to the 
construction and use of an ore conveyance system between Panel F and 
the existing mill. The proposed conveyance system would generally 
follow the existing haul road and would deviate only where engineering 
constraints dictate (i.e., too tight a corner on the road to construct 
the conveyor due to vertical and/or horizontal design limitations), 
such as at the north end of Panel F where Simplot is requesting a 
special use authorization to construct a portion of the ore conveyor 
off lease. Construction of the conveyor would eliminate the need to 
haul ore to the mill via haul trucks, although the haul road would 
remain open so that equipment can be transported to the shop for 
maintenance. The proposed 4.5-mile conveyor system would include a 
crusher and stockpile location on lease in Panel F.
    There are three components to the proposed modification of Panel G: 
(1) Modification of lease IDI-01441 by 280 acres to accommodate the 
expansion of the previously approved east ODA; (2) increase in the on-
lease disturbance area of the previously approved south ODA by 20 acres 
for the temporary storage of chert to be used for reclamation; and (3) 
utilization of a geo-synthetic clay laminate liner (GCLL) instead of 
the currently approved geologic cover over the in-pit backfill and the 
east external ODA. The current lease area for Panel G is not large 
enough to allow for maximum ore recovery and the necessary overburden 
disposal. The lease modification is necessary to accommodate all of the 
overburden generated from mining Panel G as analyzed in the Final EIS. 
At the time the RODs for the 2007 FEIS were issued, neither the BLM nor 
the USFS had the regulatory authority to approve Simplot's original 
plan for overburden storage. This is detailed in the RODs, which are 
available at http://www.fs.fed.us/outernet/r4/caribou-targhee/phosphate/. In 2009, the rules were modified giving the BLM authority 
to approve a lease modification for the purpose of overburden storage.
    In an effort to mitigate for the increased footprint of the 
seleniferous ODA, Simplot is proposing to cover all seleniferous 
overburden in Panel G with a GCLL. They feel it is in the best interest 
of increased long-term environmental protection and may lend itself to 
a more expeditious review of the proposed modifications to the leases 
and mine plan. In addition, Simplot is proposing stormwater control 
features to address run-off from the proposed GCLL. It is estimated 
that up to 17 acres of new disturbance may be necessary for these 
stormwater features. Portions of these features could be situated on 
lease, within the proposed lease modification area, or off lease. Off-
lease disturbance would require USFS special use authorization.
    In total, approximately 160 acres are proposed for new disturbance. 
Compared to what was analyzed in the 2007 Final EIS, there would be an 
additional 10 acres disturbed for the ore conveyor system (mostly at 
the north end of Panel F); 20 acres for the Panel G south ODA expansion 
of temporary chert storage; up to 17 acres for storm

[[Page 37845]]

water control features to address run-off from the GCLL at Panel G; and 
113 acres for the Panel G east seleniferous ODA expansion.
    The EIS will tier to the 2007 Final EIS previously prepared for 
mining at Panels F and G and approved in 2008 by BLM and USFS RODs. 
Preliminary issues related to the proposed project that have already 
been identified and will be addressed in the EIS include: (1) An 
increase in the amount of disturbance of approximately 160 acres, or 
approximately 12 percent over what was analyzed in the 2007 Final EIS; 
(2) potential impacts to groundwater quantity because of a decrease in 
recharge area to the Wells Formation due to the GCLL; (3) potential 
impacts to surface water quality after reclamation due to the reduced 
infiltration of the GCLL, potentially increasing peak streamflows which 
have the potential to increase channel instability and cause stream 
bank and stream bed erosion; and (4) an increase in the amount of 
disturbance of approximately 70 acres within the Sage Creek Inventoried 
Roadless Area (General Forest Theme), which is 6 percent over what was 
analyzed in the 2007 Final EIS.
    The BLM and USFS will use the NEPA public participation 
requirements to assist the agency in satisfying public involvement 
under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 
U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about 
historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by 
the Proposed Action will assist in identifying and evaluating impacts 
to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the 
NHPA.
    The BLM and USFS will consult with Indian tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts to treaty rights and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed project that is being evaluated, are invited to participate in 
the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM or USFS to participate in the development of the environmental 
analysis as a cooperating agency.
    Alternatives and Schedule: At a minimum, the EIS will analyze the 
Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action 
Alternative, the proposed modifications to the leases, operating plan, 
and special use authorizations will not be approved, and mining will 
continue under the currently authorized mine plan as approved by the 
2008 RODs. Under the No Action Alternative, Simplot estimates that 
approximately 50 percent of the phosphate ore in Panel G, previously 
considered economically recoverable, would not be mined but the overall 
disturbance would remain the same. In addition, the proposed conveyor 
system would not be approved, thus no new disturbance associated with 
the conveyor would occur. The previously approved geologic cover would 
be used to limit or prevent the potential release of contaminants to 
the environment. Other alternatives may be considered that could 
provide mitigation of potential impacts.
    The tentative EIS project schedule is as follows:
     Begin public scoping period and meetings: Spring/Summer 
2013.
     Release draft EIS and associated comment period: Fall/
Winter 2013.
     Final EIS publication: Summer 2014.
     Record of Decision: Summer/Fall 2014.
    Scoping Procedure: The scoping procedure to be used for this EIS 
will involve notification in the Federal Register; a mailing to 
interested and potentially affected individuals, groups, Federal, 
State, and local government entities requesting input by way of 
comments, issues and concerns; news releases or legal notices; and 
public scoping meetings.
    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. Comments will be available for public review at the BLM 
address listed above during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    The BLM and the USFS are seeking information and written comments 
concerning the Proposed Action from Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
agencies, individuals, and organizations interested in, or affected by 
the Proposed Action or the No Action Alternative. To assist the BLM and 
the USFS in identifying issues and concerns related to the Proposed 
Action, scoping comments should be as specific as possible. This 
proposed project is subject to the objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 
part 218 subparts A and B. Only those who provide comment or otherwise 
express interest in the Proposed Action either during scoping or other 
designated opportunity for public comment will be eligible as objectors 
(36 CFR 218.5).
    At least three ``open-house'' style public scoping meetings will be 
held which will include displays explaining the project and a forum for 
asking questions and commenting on the project. Meetings are planned to 
be held in Pocatello and Fort Hall, Idaho, and Afton, Wyoming. The 
dates, times, and locations of the public scoping meetings will be 
announced in mailings and public notices issued by the BLM.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508; 43 
CFR Part 46; 43 U.S.C. 1701; and 43 CFR Part 3590.

    Dated: April 30, 2013.
Joe Kraayenbrink,
District Manager, Idaho Falls District, Bureau of Land Management.
Brent Larson,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2013-14983 Filed 6-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P