[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28468-28469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13036]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sierra National Forest; California; Try Me Placer Mining Project

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Unites States Forest Service (USFS), Sierra National 
Forest, proposes to approve the Notice of Intent (NOI) and Plan of 
Operations (PoO) submitted by the Torosians to mine gold bearing 
alluvial gravels along an un-named perennial stream channel, tributary 
to West Fork Chiquito Creek.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by July 24, 2017. The draft environmental impact statement is expected 
August 2018 and the final environmental impact statement is expected 
October 2018.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 1600 Tollhouse Road, Clovis, CA 
93611. Comments may also be sent via email to [email protected], or via facsimile to 559-294-4809. A 
public meeting is planned for late summer or early fall 2017 at the 
Bass Lake Ranger District office. If you are interested in being 
notified when this meeting is scheduled, please contact Alan Gallegos 
whose contact information is listed below.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of 
the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the close of 
the comment period and should clearly articulate the reviewer's 
concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Gallegos, 559-297-0706 extension 
4862 or [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project is located in Madera County, CA 
in T. 6 S.; R. 23E, 24E, Sections 13, 18, 19. Dave and Steve Torosian 
have one lode claim (Try Me 1) and three placer claims (Try Me 2, 3, & 
5) along an un-named perennial stream channel tributary to West Fork 
Chiquito Creek, above Soda Springs. Dave and Steve Torosian have 
submitted a proposal to mine gold bearing alluvial gravels primarily in 
their Try Me 2 claim. The Try Me 2 Claim is located along 
approximately, 1,350 feet of perennial stream channel. The Sierra 
National Forest received a Notice of Intent (NOI) from Dave and Steve 
Torosian to mine gravels along an un-named perennial stream channel, 
tributary to West Fork Chiquito Creek. Upon review of the NOI, it was 
determined that the proposal would likely result in significant impacts 
to the stream channel and associated surface resources and a Plan of 
Operation (PoO with details of their proposal was requested. The role 
of the USFS regarding mining activities on National Forest system lands 
is to ensure that mining activities minimize adverse environmental 
effects to surface resources, and comply with all applicable 
environmental laws. Congress has not given the USFS authority to 
unreasonably circumscribe

[[Page 28469]]

or prohibit activities under the 1872 General Mining Law that are 
otherwise lawful. Therefore it is the intent of the Sierra National 
Forest to conduct an environmental analysis of the Torosian's proposal, 
determine the impacts to the environment, identify appropriate 
mitigation measures, establish a reclamation plan, and issue an 
approved plan of operation to authorize the proposal.

Purpose and Need for Action

    The purpose of the project from the USFS perspective is to comply 
with the agency responsibility to comply with the 1872 Mining Act and 
the 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 228 requiring the USFS to 
authorize a proposed PoO submitted by Dave and Steve Torosian, with the 
appropriate mitigation measures and to reclaim the mining disturbance 
to pre-existing conditions. The purpose of the project from the 
proponent's perspective is to mine gold bearing gravels along 1350 feet 
of channel, as a pilot project to determine the most practical, 
economically efficient and viable future mining method.

Proposed Action

    The mining PoO proposes to excavate alluvial gold bearing gravels 
along the stream channel in three locations. Mining activity would 
consist of excavating the entire width of the stream channel and 
floodplain down to a depth of approximately 5 feet. Each excavation 
would be 200 to 300 feet long with the total volume of excavated stream 
channel estimated to be 4,000-5,000 cubic yards. Design criteria set 
forth in the California Storm Water Best Management Practices handbook 
and be approved by a Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan 
Designer would be implemented as part of the project.
    Other activities associated with the mining operation include 
setting up a camp, adjacent to the West Fork Chiquito Creek and moving 
in a small storage container to store equipment and supplies. Shallow 
samples of soil would be collected throughout the 120 acres of the Try 
Me Claims. Samples would be taken in a grid pattern for assay and 
geochemical assessment of the area.
    All lands disturbed by this proposal would be reclaimed and 
restored to a condition that is consistent with the Sierra National 
Forest Land Management Plan, as amended, USFS Region 5 and national 
USFS native plant policy as well as applicable State air and water 
quality requirements.
    A USFS approved re-vegetation plan would be developed and 
implemented. The plan specifies site-specific locally native species 
sown from seed, or propagated from cuttings or other vegetative methods 
to be planted. Introduction prevention and spread of invasive non-
native plants would be built into all stages of the project.

Responsible Official

    Sierra National Forest Supervisor, Dean A. Gould.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether or not to approve and authorize 
the proposed mining PoO submitted by Dave and Steve Torosian.

Preliminary Issues

    Preliminary issues include diversion of water from the small 
tributary where mining is proposed and stream bed alteration of a 
perennial stream channel where mining will occur; management of 
invasive weeds; impacts to riparian habitat; and soil and vegetation 
disruption resulting in habitat disturbance and erosion.

Permits or Licenses Required

    Several permits will be required including (1) permit from 
California Fish and Game (401) and possible Migratory Bird Take Permit; 
(2) discharge permit from California Water Quality Control Board; (3) 
stream alteration permit (404) from the Army Corp of Engineers; and (4) 
reclamation permit from the California Department of Mines.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
the development of the environmental impact statement. It is important 
that reviewers provide their comments at such times and in such manner 
that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental 
impact statement. Therefore, comments should be provided prior to the 
close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the 
reviewer's concerns and contentions.

Cynthia D. West,
Acting Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2017-13036 Filed 6-21-17; 8:45 am]
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