[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 188 (Tuesday, September 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58501-58502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24432]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB01000.L71220000.EX0000.LVTFF15F6810 MO# 4500081505]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Greater Phoenix Mine Project, Lander County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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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) Mount Lewis 
Field Office, Battle Mountain, 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.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until October 29, 2015. 
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/nv/st/en/fo/battle_mountain_field.html. 
In order to be considered during the preparation of the Draft EIS, all 
comments must be received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping 
period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 
The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public participation 
upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed Greater 
Phoenix Mine Project by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]
     Fax: 775-635-4034
     Mail: Mount Lewis Field Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle 
Mountain, NV 89820.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Mount 
Lewis Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Worthington, Project Manager, 
telephone: 775-635-4144; address: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 
89820; email: [email protected]. Contact Mr. 
Worthington if you wish to add your name to our mailing list. 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: Newmont Mining Corporation, Inc. (NMC) 
proposes to amend the existing Phoenix Mine Plan of Operations to 
construct, operate, reclaim, and close an open pit, heap leach, gold 
and copper mining operation known as the Greater Phoenix Mine Project 
(Project) located 14 miles south of Battle Mountain, Nevada, in Lander 
County. The proposed Project would be located within all or portions of 
the following Townships, Ranges, and Sections relative to the Mount 
Diablo Baseline and Meridian: Township 30 North, Range 43 East, 
Sections 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 08, 09, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 
and 22; and Township 31 North, Range 43 East, Sections 15, 16, 20, 21, 
22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The proposed Plan of 
Operations amendment would include increasing the existing Phoenix Mine 
plan boundary by 10,429 acres to 18,657 acres, of which approximately 
9,950 acres is public land managed by the Mount Lewis Field Office. New 
surface disturbance would include approximately 3,245 acres, which 
includes approximately 2,285 acres of surface disturbance on public 
land administered by the BLM, and approximately 960 acres of surface 
disturbance on private land controlled by NMC.
    The proposed Project consists of a modification to an existing 
mining Plan of Operations and a new right-of-way (ROW) grant 
authorization to be analyzed in a single NEPA analysis document. The 
proposed Project would create one large pit encompassing the footprint 
of the existing Bonanza and Fortitude pit areas into one large Phoenix 
Pit, of approximately 1,912 acres, of which approximately 568 acres is 
public land administered by the BLM. The proposed pit depths would 
intercept groundwater and pit dewatering would be necessary. Following 
mine closure, pit water would be managed and treated to meet water 
quality standards and subsequently put to beneficial use. The primary 
components associated with the proposed Project would include the open 
pit, two new waste rock dump facilities (WRDF), an expansion of an 
existing WRDF, expansion of an existing heap leach pad, an expansion of 
an

[[Page 58502]]

existing tailings storage facility, and a new borrow area.
    NMC would continue to employ the existing workforce of 
approximately 500 employees for the construction, operation, 
reclamation, and closure of the proposed project expansion, which is 
anticipated to extend the mine life by approximately another 23 years 
from 2040 to 2063.
    The proposed Project surface disturbance affecting Greater Sage-
Grouse habitat on BLM administered land is 7 acres of Preliminary 
Priority Habitat (PPH) and 108 acres of Preliminary General Habitat 
(PGH). Since 2013, BLM biologists at the Mount Lewis Field Office have 
coordinated with the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) and the BLM 
State Office regarding NMC's disturbance to Greater Sage-Grouse 
habitat. Collectively, the organizations will formulate best management 
practices for Greater Sage-Grouse and other wildlife species and will 
agree on measures to mitigate the disturbance to Greater Sage-Grouse 
habitat through the EIS development.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including potential alternatives, and guide the process for developing 
the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary 
issues: Closure of the cyanide heap leach pad (s), water management, 
air quality impacts, wildlife (including migratory birds), special 
status species, noise and visual issues, soils, recreation, cultural 
resources, Native American cultural concerns, and grazing management.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to 
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 
800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources 
within the area potentially affected by the proposed Project will 
assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources 
in the context of both NEPA and the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets 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 the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by 
the BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis 
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.

Jon D. Sherve,
Field Manager, Mount Lewis Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-24432 Filed 9-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P