[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 16532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07887]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNML03110 L14400000.ER0000 19XL1109AF]


Notice of Availability of the Copper Flat Copper Mine Final 
Environmental Impact Statement, Sierra County, New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the Copper Flat 
Copper Mine, and by this notice is announcing its availability.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Copper Flat Copper Mine Final EIS are 
available for public inspection at the BLM Las Cruces District Office 
at 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005; the public library in 
Hillsboro, New Mexico, at 158 Elenora Street; and the public library in 
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, at 325 Library Lane. Interested 
persons may also review the Final EIS at https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/planAndProjectSite.do?methodName=renderDefaultPlanOrProjectSite&projectId=75353&dctmId=0b0003e880e8ce0d.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leighandra Keeven, BLM geologist, at 
575-525-4337; 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005; or 
[email protected]. 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 Copper Flat Copper Mine is the proposed 
reestablishment of a poly-metallic mine and processing facility located 
near Hillsboro, New Mexico. The Proposed Action would consist of an 
open pit mine, flotation mill, tailings impoundment, waste rock 
disposal areas, a low-grade ore stockpile, and ancillary facilities. In 
most respects, the facilities, disturbance, and operations would be 
similar to the former operation. The project is owned and operated by 
the New Mexico Copper Corporation (Copper Corporation), a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of THEMAC Resources Group Limited. The Copper Flat Project 
(Project) is composed of 963 acres of private land and 1,227 acres of 
public land, for a total of 2,190 acres.
    The Proposed Action was submitted by the Copper Corporation to the 
BLM in June 2011 in the form of a Mine Plan of Operations that was 
based upon the plan of development that Quintana Mineral Corporation 
used in the previous operation of Copper Flat mining activities in 
1982. The Proposed Action included upgrades and modifications based on 
current engineering designs and regulations and was intentionally 
developed to re-use the existing foundations, production wells, and 
water pipeline that were employed by the previous Quintana operation. 
Four alternatives are analyzed: No Action, Proposed Action, Alternative 
1, and Alternative 2. The Preferred Alternative (Alternative 2) is 
different than the Proposed Action, as it proposes processing more ore 
at a faster rate, therefore, shortening the mine life of the Project.
    The Proposed Action for the Project would process 17,500 tons per 
day of copper ore over a mine operations period of 16 years, resulting 
in 100 million tons of ore processed over the mine life. Alternative 1 
would process 25,000 tons per day of copper ore over a mine operations 
period of 11 years, resulting in 103 million tons of ore processed over 
the mine life. Alternative 2 would process 30,000 tons per day of 
copper ore over a mine operations period of 12 years, resulting in 125 
million tons of ore processed over the mine life.
    The BLM prepared the Draft EIS in conjunction with its four 
cooperating agencies: The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; New 
Mexico Environment Department; New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural 
Resources Department; and New Mexico Office of the State Engineer.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Timothy R. Spisak,
BLM New Mexico State Director.
[FR Doc. 2019-07887 Filed 4-18-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-FB-P