[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 172 (Thursday, September 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54674-54675]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-21591]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVL01000. L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1302520; N91957; MO 
4500053094; TAS: 14X5017]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Gold Rock Mine Project, White Pine County, NV

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 
(FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Egan 
Field Office, Ely, Nevada, 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. The 
proposed project is located in White Pine County, about 50 miles west 
of Ely, in the Upper Railroad Valley.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until October 7, 2013. 
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced 
at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers, the BLM 
Web site at http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/ely_field_office.html, 
and the BLM's ePlanning NEPA Register at https://www.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do. In order 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 comments related to the Gold Rock Mine 
Project by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]
     Fax: 775-289-1910
     Mail: BLM Ely District, Egan Field Office, HC 33 Box 
33500, Ely, NV 89301-9408
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Egan 
Field Office, 702 N. Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Netcher, Project Manager, 
telephone: 775-289-1872; email: [email protected]. If you want to add 
your name to our mailing list, please contact Mr. Netcher. 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: Midway Gold US, Inc. (Midway) proposes to 
construct and operate an open-pit gold mining operation, which would 
include an open pit; a heap leach pad and

[[Page 54675]]

associated ponds, process facility, and refinery; a mill; a carbon-in-
leach plant; waste rock dumps; a tailings storage facility; and 
ancillary facilities. The mine would be located on the eastern side of 
the Pancake Mountain Range, about 30 miles southeast of Eureka, 50 
miles west of Ely and 15 miles south of U.S. Route 50. Currently, 
Midway is authorized to disturb up to 267 acres for exploration 
purposes. The proposed operations and associated disturbance would 
increase disturbance to 3,749 acres of public land managed by the BLM. 
The projected mining period is 10 years. Associated construction, 
closure, reclamation, and post-closure monitoring periods would extend 
the project life for an additional estimated 38 years. Midway is 
currently conducting exploration activities in this area which were 
analyzed in two environmental assessments: The Midway Gold Rock Project 
Final Environmental Assessment (June 2012), and the Environmental 
Assessment for the Midway Gold Rock Project, Exploration Amendment 
(October 2012).
    A range of alternatives will be developed, including the no-action 
alternative, to address the issues identified during scoping. 
Mitigation measures will be considered to minimize environmental 
impacts and to assure the proposed action does not result in 
unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands.
    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:
    (a) Potential effects to wild horses, which would include loss of 
habitat from surface disturbance and which could include mortality from 
collision with project-related vehicles on existing roads.
    (b) Potential effects to Greater Sage-Grouse, which would include 
loss of habitat from surface disturbance and which could include 
impacts to the species created by construction and operation in 
proximity to active sage-grouse leks.
    (c) Potential effects to mule deer, which would include loss of 
habitat from surface disturbance habitat and which could include 
mortality from collision with project-related vehicles on existing 
access roads.
    (d) Potential effects to employment and housing availability.
    (e) Potential effects to archaeological resources in the area, 
which could include Carbonari (historical charcoal production) sites 
and the Lincoln Highway route.
    (f) Potential effects to air quality created by the initiation of 
mining at the Gold Rock Mine Project.
    (g) Potential effects to viewshed in and around areas of Visual 
Resources Management Classes III and IV from project construction and 
operation, including effects to night sky from nighttime operations.
    (h) Potential effects to recreational uses and users, which would 
include loss of access and loss of hunting areas.
    The BLM will use the NEPA commenting process to help fulfill the 
public involvement requirements of 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, including impacts on 
Indian trust assets, will be given due consideration. The BLM is in the 
process of determining the Cooperating Agencies. 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 part 1501 and 43 CFR part 3809.

Jill A. Moore,
Egan Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2013-21591 Filed 9-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P