[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53292-53293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22979]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVB0l000.L 71220000.EX0000.LVTFF1486020 MO# 4500101184]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Deep South Expansion Project, Lander and 
Eureka Counties, Nevada

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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Mount 
Lewis Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada, has prepared a Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and is announcing the beginning 
of the public comment period to solicit public comments on the DEIS. 
Barrick Cortez, Inc. (BCI) is proposing to expand its existing Cortez 
Hills Project mining operations, which would require a modification to 
the Plan of Operations to increase the plan boundary by 4,279 acres: 
From 58,093 acres to 62,372 acres.

DATES: To ensure comments will be considered, the BLM must receive 
written comments on the Draft EIS within 45 days following the date the 
Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register. The date(s) and location(s) of any public 
meetings or other public involvement activities will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, local 
media, newspapers, mailings, and the BLM website at: goo.gl/JwgwXA.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Project by any of the 
following methods:
     Website: https://aecom.wetransfer.com/downloads/ae11a0597ec409ff8ae048db96df62b020180803215410/1fd982a652f79e37f3e601b88767537120180803215411/a09201.
     Email: [email protected].
     Fax: 775-635-4034.
     Mail: BLM 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: Kevin Hurrell, Project Manager; 
telephone: 775-635-4000; address: 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, 
Nevada 89820; or email: [email protected]. Contact Kevin 
Hurrell to have your name added to BLM's mailing list. Persons who use 
a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual 
during normal business hours. The FRS 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: Barrick Cortez, Inc. (BCI) is proposing to 
expand its existing Cortez Hills Project mining operations, which is 
located southeast of Battle Mountain in Eureka and Lander Counties, 
Nevada. There are 54,825 acres of public lands within the Plan of 
Operations boundary that are administered by the BLM Mount Lewis Field 
Office, and 3,268 acres of private lands controlled by BCI. BCI was 
previously authorized to disturb 16,700 acres within their Plan of 
Operations boundary.
    The proposed mine expansion, named the Deep South Expansion Project 
(Proposed Project) would require a modification to the Plan of 
Operations to increase the plan boundary by 4,279 acres: From 58,093 
acres to 62,372 acres. The proposed modification would result in 
approximately 3,798 acres of new disturbance inside the new proposed 
plan boundary, of which 2,768 acres are public lands.
    BCI currently employs about 1,250 people from the northern Nevada 
towns of Elko, Battle Mountain, Winnemucca, Eureka, Carlin, and 
surrounding areas. If the Deep South Expansion Project is approved, the 
company expects to extend the mine life and employment opportunities 
for its workforce by another 12 years.
    BCI's purpose for the Deep South Expansion Project is to continue 
to profitably recover gold and silver from reserves and resources on 
federal mining claims in the Project Area utilizing, to the extent 
practical, existing facilities at BCI's currently permitted operations 
within the Project Area. The project need is to meet the prevailing 
market demand for gold. The prevailing market demand is adjusted on a 
daily basis on commodity exchanges throughout the world. This 
adjustment results from buyers and sellers agreeing

[[Page 53293]]

on a specific transaction price, which reflects the current supply and 
demand for the commodity and other factors.
    Under the Gold Acres Pit Partial Backfill Alternative, the proposed 
expansion of the existing Gold Acres Pit would be completed prior to 
development of the proposed satellite pits (Alta, Bellwether, and 
Pasture), with the waste rock from the satellite pits (30 million tons) 
placed as backfill in the Gold Acres Pit to an approximate elevation of 
5,440 feet amsl (Figures 2-18 and 2-19). This would result in a 72-acre 
reduction in the proposed new disturbance for the Gold Acres North 
Waste Rock Facility. The pit bottom elevations for the expanded Gold 
Acres Pit and proposed satellite pits would be the same as described 
for the Proposed Action. No dewatering would be required for the 
proposed expansion of open pit operations at the Gold Acres Complex as 
the proposed pit bottom elevations would be above the groundwater 
table. Therefore, proposed dewatering and water management operations 
would be the same as under the Proposed Action.
    Under the No Action Alternative the proposed facilities and 
facility modifications, as well as the proposed operations 
modifications, that comprise the Deep South Expansion Project would not 
be developed or implemented. Under this alternative, the existing 
mining and processing operations in the Project Area and the current 
off site transport of refractory ore to the Goldstrike Mill for 
processing and backhaul of Arturo Mine oxide ore to the Pipeline 
Complex for processing would continue under the terms of current 
permits and approvals as authorized by the BLM and State of Nevada.
    The DEIS describes and analyzes the Proposed Project's direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition 
to the Proposed Project, one additional alternative was analyzed, 
including the Gold Acres Pit Partial Backfill alternative, and the No 
Action Alternative.
    On March 29, 2017, a Notice of Intent was published in the Federal 
Register (80 FR 58501) inviting scoping comments on the Proposed 
Action. The BLM held a public scoping meeting in Battle Mountain on 
April 18, 2017, Crescent Valley on April 19, 2017 and Elko, Nevada on 
April 20, 2017. The BLM received six scoping comment submittals during 
the scoping period. Concerns raised included impacts to water 
resources, air quality, wildlife, and recreation.
    The BLM has utilized and coordinated the NEPA scoping and comment 
process to help fulfill the public involvement requirements under the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. 306108) as 
provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), and the agency continues to do so. The 
information about historical and cultural resources within the area 
potentially affected by the Proposed Project has assisted the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources in the context of 
both NEPA and the NHPA.
    The BLM has consulted and continues to consult with Indian tribes 
on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 
13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts to Indian 
trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources have been 
analyzed in the DEIS. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by 
the Proposed Project, are invited to participate in the comment 
process.
    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. 2018-22979 Filed 10-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P