[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 226 (Monday, November 27, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56046-56047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25523]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAD07000 L51010000 ER0000 16X LVRWB09B1670]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed United States Gypsum Company Mine Expansion/
Modernization Project, Imperial County, CA

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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) El Centro 
Field Office, with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as 
a cooperating agency, intends to prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) for the United States Gypsum Company (USG) Mine 
Expansion/Modernization Project. The Supplemental EIS will analyze 
additional alternatives and update technical information in the 2008 
USG Mine Expansion/Modernization Project Final Environmental Impact 
Report (EIR)/EIS. The USACE was not involved in the development of the 
EIR/EIS, but will be involved with the Supplemental EIS, based on 
USACE's jurisdiction by law and special expertise, pursuant to section 
404 of the Clean Water Act. Scoping is not usually required for 
preparation of a Supplemental EIS. However, since USACE was not a 
cooperating agency during scoping of the EIR/EIS, they have requested 
that public scoping be included for the Supplemental EIS.
    This notice announces the beginning of the public scoping process 
for input into the Supplemental EIS. The goal of the scoping process is 
to solicit public comments, for the purpose of identifying relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the 
Supplemental EIS.

DATES: Comments for input into the Supplemental EIS may be submitted in 
writing until January 11, 2018. A public scoping meeting will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local newspaper(s), the 
BLM Web site, BLM Newsbytes, and BLM social media. All comments 
received during the scoping period will be considered for input into 
the Supplemental EIS. In order to be included in the Supplemental EIS, 
all comments must be received prior to the close of the 45-day scoping 
period or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. 
Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided upon 
publication of a Draft Supplemental EIS. Upon completion of the public 
review and comment period of the Draft Supplemental EIS, a Final 
Supplemental EIS will be prepared and subsequently published for public 
review.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the 
Supplemental EIS by any of the following methods: Email: 
[email protected]; Fax: 530-224-2172; or Mail: Attn: Susie 
Greenhalgh, BLM Northern California District Office, 6640 Lockheed 
Drive, Redding, CA 96002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susie Greenhalgh, BLM Northern 
California District Office, 6640 Lockheed Drive, Redding, CA 96002; 
phone: 530-224-2142; email: [email protected]. Contact Ms. Greenhalgh 
to have your name added to our mailing list. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf

[[Page 56047]]

(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 to contact 
the above individual during normal business hours. The Service 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 USG's mine expansion/modernization 
project (Project) involves both the Plaster City Wallboard Plant 
(Plant) and Plaster City Quarry (Quarry). The Plant is located on Evan 
Hewes Highway in Plaster City, CA, approximately 18 miles west of the 
city of El Centro. The Quarry is located on Split Mountain Road 
approximately 26 miles northwest of Plaster City. Both sites are 
located within the BLM's California Desert Conservation Area. 
Components of the expansion project originally analyzed in the EIR/EIS 
included water delivery systems to the wallboard plant and quarry, a 
new electrical transmission line, and maintenance of an existing tram 
road using narrow gauge rail line between the Plant and Quarry. Certain 
aspects of the project have already been implemented under the 
conditions and approvals provided by Imperial County and may not be 
subject to the jurisdiction of the BLM or the USACE.
    The surface disturbance analyzed in the 2006 Draft EIR/EIS and the 
2008 Final EIR/EIS included operations on placer mining claims and mill 
sites on BLM land totaling 407.9 acres. Since then, 304.57 acres of 
these mining claims were patented, subject to regulations as may be 
prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior to protect the scenic, 
scientific, and environmental values of the public lands within the 
California Desert Conservation Area. Pursuant to 43 CFR 3809.2(c), 
lands patented with this stipulation must comply with the regulations 
at 43 CFR 3809.
    Consequently, the Supplemental EIS will update land ownership 
changes since completion of the 2006/2008 environmental documents, but 
the analysis of the applicable regulations and impacts will not need to 
be changed because of the change in land ownership.
    Additionally, USG submitted two right of way applications for the 
utility access across approximately 55.7 acres of BLM-managed land. 
BLM's involvement consists of responding to a plan of operations, the 
two right of way applications, and any other project needs that may be 
discovered during the scoping process. USG also submitted a request for 
a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 Permit to the USACE for expansion 
of operations into alluvial portions of the quarry. USACE's involvement 
consists of responding to the Section 404 Permit.
    At present, the following preliminary issues have been identified: 
hydrology and water resources, threatened and endangered species, 
realty/right-of-ways, mineral resources, and cultural resources. The 
BLM will identify, analyze, and require mitigation, as appropriate, to 
address the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the 
project. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help 
fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
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 USG 
Project that the BLM and USACE are evaluating, are invited to 
participate in the public 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.
    In December 2001, Imperial County, California, published the Notice 
of Preparation of the joint EIR/EIS for the USG Expansion/Modernization 
Project pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As 
the lead agency for the project under NEPA, the BLM issued a Notice of 
Intent to prepare a joint EIR/EIS in the Federal Register on May 1, 
2002 (67 FR 21713). A Draft EIR/EIS was prepared for the project and 
was circulated for comment by the public and other interested agencies 
from April 17, 2006, to July 17, 2006. The BLM also initiated 
consultation with the USFWS pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered 
Species Act (ESA). A Final EIR/EIS responding to comments was released 
in January of 2008.
    On March 18, 2008, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors 
certified the EIR and adopted findings of fact, a statement of 
overriding considerations, and a mitigation monitoring program in 
compliance with CEQA. The Imperial County Board of Supervisors filed a 
Notice of Determination on March 19, 2008. On March 14, 2008, the BLM 
published in the Federal Register the Notice of Availability of the USG 
Expansion/Modernization Project Final EIR/EIS (73 FR 13918). The BLM 
did not issue a ROD because its ESA Section 7 consultation requirements 
were still pending.
    USG proceeded to conduct quarrying operations within its private 
land at the Quarry under the conditions and approvals provided by 
Imperial County and the State of California consistent with 
stipulations outlined by the County. Under existing conditions, USG 
holds title to 2,032.2 acres of private land of which 1,118.7 acres are 
approved by Imperial County for mining. In order to proceed with phased 
quarry operations consistent with production demands and an approved 
Mine Reclamation Plan, USG proposes to initiate alluvial quarrying 
activities in undisturbed portions of its mine plan. Proposed project 
activities related to alluvial quarrying will require a CWA Section 404 
Permit from the USACE. The USACE was not a cooperating agency in the 
development of the USG Expansion/Modernization Project Final EIR/EIS.
    In March 2014, USG submitted a request for a Clean Water Act (CWA) 
Section 404 Permit to the USACE for expansion of operations into 
alluvial portions of the quarry, Phase 2 and 2P of the Quarry's mine 
plan. The USACE determined in its initial evaluation of the application 
that an EIS-level analysis may be required to evaluate impacts to 
waters of the U.S., including a CWA Section 404(b)(1) alternatives 
analysis (pursuant to 40 CFR part 230). The USACE could not adopt the 
USG Final EIR/EIS, per Federal regulations at 40 CFR 1506.3(c), because 
the USACE was not a cooperating agency at the time of the development 
of the EIR/EIS. Furthermore, the BLM did not complete its ESA Section 7 
consultation requirements or issue a Record of Decision (ROD) based on 
the Final EIR/EIS.
    Public Comments: Before including your address, phone number, email 
address, or other personally identifying information in your comment, 
you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personally 
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.

Thomas F. Zale,
El Centro Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 2017-25523 Filed 11-24-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P