[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 6, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8106-8107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04058]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVW00000.L51100000.GN0000.LVEMF1805980.18X MO#4500131512]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed POA11 Project--Modification to the Plan of Operations for 
the Coeur Rochester and Packard Mines, Pershing County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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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) Humboldt River 
Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of approving an 
expansion to the existing Coeur Rochester and Packard silver mining 
operation in Pershing County, Nevada. This notice announces the 
beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and 
identify issues to be considered in the EIS, and serves to initiate 
public consultation, as required under the National Historic 
Preservation Act.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues to be considered in the EIS may be submitted in 
writing until April 5, 2019. The dates and locations of two scoping 
meetings, one in Lovelock and the other in Winnemucca, Nevada, will be 
announced at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers 
and the BLM website at: https://www.blm.gov/office/winnemucca-district-office. In order to be included in 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. We will provide 
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of 
the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Coeur Rochester and

[[Page 8107]]

Packard Mines POA11 Project by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://go.usa.gov/xPdjC.
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Coeur POA11 EIS 
Comments'' in the subject line.
     Fax: (775) 623-1503.
     Mail: BLM Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field 
Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, NV 89445.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the 
Humboldt River Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Rehberg, telephone 775-623-
1500; address BLM Winnemucca District, Humboldt River Field Office, 
5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard, Winnemucca, Nevada 89445; email 
[email protected]. Contact Ms. Rehberg to have your name added to our 
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: The applicant, Coeur Rochester Inc. has 
requested to modify its approved Plan of Operations at the Rochester 
and Packard mines to expand its mining operations. The mine is located 
approximately 26 miles northeast of Lovelock, Nevada. The mine is 
currently authorized to disturb up to 2203.1 acres (approximately 164.6 
acres of private land and 2038.5 acres of public land), as permitted 
under a series of Environmental Impacts Statements and Environmental 
Assessments beginning with the initial Plan of Operations in 1986 
through the latest EIS in 2015. Coeur Rochester Inc, is proposing to 
expand and optimize their current operations. Their proposed action 
would expand mining in both of their current pits (the Rochester and 
Packard pits) and move, relocate, or expand: Heap leach pads, waste 
rock dumps, haul roads, access road, water pipeline, and processing 
facilities. The proposal would increase disturbance by 2,815.4 acres 
(435.2 acres on private land and 2380.2 acres on public land).
    Mining of the Rochester Pit would extend below groundwater and 
require dewatering, resulting in a permanent pit lake after closure. 
Additional potentially acid generating material would be excavated and 
would be processed as ore or stored according to their Waste Rock 
Storage Plan. The plan would also necessitate an upgrade in power 
distribution lines and a substation. With the proposed expansion, mine 
life would be extended to 2033, and would be followed by mine closure 
and reclamation.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: 
(a) Dewatering during mining and the formation of a pit lake after 
completion of mining activities; (b) Production of acid forming rock 
and to waters of the state and public lands; (c) Potential impacts to 
visual resources; (d) Potential impacts to wildlife habitat; and (e) 
Potential impacts to the Rochester Historic Mining district.
    The BLM will use the procedures for public involvement under the 
NEPA process to also satisfy the public involvement requirements under 
the National Historic Preservation Act (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 action 
will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such 
resources in the context of both NEPA and the National Historic 
Preservation Act.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, Secretarial 
Order 3317, and other policies. Tribal concerns, including but not 
limited to 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 Coeur Rochester and 
Packard Mines Plan of Operations--POA11 Project are invited to 
participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be 
asked 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

David Kampwerth,
Field Manager, Humboldt River Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2019-04058 Filed 3-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P