[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13483-13484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06369]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
Pebble Project

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to 
assess the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts 
associated with the proposed Pebble open pit mine in wetlands, streams 
and Ocean near Cook Inlet. The EIS will assess potential effects of a 
range of alternatives.

DATES: Public scoping meetings are tentatively scheduled in Anchorage, 
Homer, Dillingham, King Salmon (Naknek), Iliamna (Newhalen), Nondalton, 
and Kokhanok (Iguigig) will occur in mid-April 2018. Information about 
these meetings and meeting dates will be published locally, posted at 
http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com, and available by contacting the Corps.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box 6898, Joint Base 
Elmendorf Richardson, AK 99506-0898.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the Draft EIS should be referred to: Mr. Shane McCoy, Regulatory 
Division, telephone: (907) 753-2715 at http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com 
or by mail to the above address. To be added to the project mailing 
list and for additional information, please visit the following 
website: http://www.pebbleprojecteis.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An application for a Department of the Army 
permit was submitted by the Pebble Limited Partnership pursuant Section 
404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344) and Section 10 of the 
Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) on December 22, 2017, 
and was advertised in a Public Notice, POA-2017-271, on January 5, 
2018. The public notice is available on Alaska District's public 
website at: http://www.poa.usace.army.mil//Portals/34/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/2018/POA-2017-271%20Pebble_PN.pdf?ver=2018-01-05-153755-640.
    1. Description of the Proposed Project. Pebble Limited Partnership 
(PLP) is proposing to develop the Pebble copper-gold-molybdenum 
porphyry deposit as an open-pit mine, with associated infrastructure, 
in southwest Alaska, north of Lake Iliamna. The proposed project would 
require approximately four years to construct, with a projected mine 
life of approximately 20 years. Major project components include 
excavation of an open pit, that ultimately would be approximately 6,500 
feet long by 5,500 feet wide, with depths between 1,330 and 1,750 feet; 
a tailings impoundment with 1.1 billion tons storage volume; a low 
grade ore stockpile with the capacity to store up to 330 million tons; 
an open pit overburden stockpile; a mill facility processing 
approximately 160,000 tons of ore per day; a natural gas-fired power 
plant with a total connected load of 230 mega-watt (MW), supplied by a 
188-mile, 10 to 12-inch diameter, natural gas pipeline across Cook 
Inlet and Iliamna Lake to the Mine Site; and transportation 
infrastructure including a 30-mile road from the Mine Site to a ferry 
terminal on the north shore of Iliamna Lake, an 18-mile crossing with 
an ice-breaking ferry to a terminal on the south shore of Iliamna Lake, 
and a 35-mile road to the proposed Amakdedori Port on Cook Inlet. The 
proposed mine and related facilities would have a total footprint of 
approximately 5.9 square miles.
    The pipeline route would originate on the Kenai Peninsula, 
connecting to the existing gas pipeline infrastructure near Happy 
Valley. A metering station would be constructed at the off-take point 
and the pipeline would then follow south along the Sterling Highway for 
9 miles to a gas-fired compressor station north of Anchor Point. The 
compressor station would feed a 94-mile subsea pipeline from the east 
shore of Cook Inlet to Amakdedori Port on the west shore. A second gas-
fired compressor station would be located at the port site. The 
pipeline route would then follow a 30-mile mine access road to the 
south shore of Iliamna Lake, where the pipeline would enter Iliamna 
Lake for approximately 18 miles. The pipeline would come ashore at on 
the north shore of the lake, where it would follow the mine access road 
to the Mine Site.
    2. Alternatives. A range of alternatives of the proposed action 
will be identified, and those found to be reasonable and practicable 
will be fully evaluated in the DEIS, including: the no action 
alternative, the applicant's proposed alternative, alternative mine 
locations and mine plans, alternative mining methods and processes, 
alternatives that may result in avoidance and minimization of impacts, 
and mitigation measures not in the proposed action. However, this list 
is not exclusive and additional alternatives may be considered for 
inclusion.
    3. Scoping Process and Public Involvement. The scoping period will 
extend from April 1, 2018, through April 30, 2018. Scoping is conducted 
to assist in determining the scope of analysis, significant issues and 
alternatives to be analyzed in depth in the DEIS. Comments should be as 
specific as possible. Additional public involvement will be sought 
through the implementation of the public involvement plan and the 
agency coordination team.
    4. Significant Issues. Numerous issues will be analyzed in depth in 
the DEIS related to the effects of the proposed Pebble mine and 
associated infrastructure construction, operation, and closure. These 
issues will include, but will not be limited to, the following: 
wetlands, water quality, air quality, hazardous materials, fish and 
wildlife, vegetation, cultural resources, food production, land use, 
needs and welfare of the people (socioeconomics including commercial 
fishing and tourism), recreation, general environmental

[[Page 13484]]

concerns, historic properties, navigation, and safety.
    5. Additional Review and Consultation. Additional review and 
consultation which will be incorporated into the preparation of the 
DEIS will include, but are not necessarily limited to coordination 
under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, Essential Fish Habitat 
coordination; consultation under Section 7 of the Endangered Species 
Act; and consultation under the National Historic Preservation Act

Shelia Newman,
Deputy Chief, Regional Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Alaska District.
[FR Doc. 2018-06369 Filed 3-28-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P