[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27798-27799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12628]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVE02000-L5110.0000-GN.0000-LV.EM.F1503680-15X; MO# 4500133725]
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Rossi Mine Expansion Project, Elko County, NV
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), 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 (EIS) for the Rossi Mine Expansion
Project and by this notice is announcing its availability.
DATES: The Final EIS will be available for a 30-day review period
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes
its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will not
issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days from
the date that the EPA publishes its notice in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS for the Rossi Mine Expansion Project
are available for public review and can be
[[Page 27799]]
obtained at the BLM Elko District Office, located at 3900 East Idaho
Street, Elko Nevada 89801, and at the BLM's NEPA eplanning website at
https://go.usa.gov/xnRCr or through eplanning on the BLM's website at
http://www.blm.gov/nv.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janice Stadelman, Project Manager, at
telephone 775-753-0346; address 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada
89801; email: [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 Ms.
Stadelman during normal business hours. FRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a
reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Final EIS is an abbreviated document
that presents updates to the Draft EIS resulting from public and
cooperating agency comments received during the 45-day public comment
period. Public comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text,
but did not significantly change the analysis. None of the public
comments received resulted in major changes or revisions to the Draft
EIS. Therefore, this abbreviated Final EIS must be read in conjunction
with the Draft EIS (September 2018), which is also located on BLM's
eplanning site at https://go.usa.gov/xnRCr.
The EIS analyzed the proposed modification submitted by Halliburton
Energy Services to their plan of operations for the Rossi Mine Project.
The proposal includes the continuation of the existing mine
infrastructure, but would expand the existing facilities and operation
to support the continuation of the open pit mining operation and
surface exploration activities for barite. The proposed action would
increase the disturbance to approximately a total acreage of 2,063
acres of public and private land, including 896 acres of previously
approved or existing disturbance and 1,167 acres of new land
disturbance. Of the 2,063 acres of surface disturbance, approximately
209 acres consist of private land and the remaining 1,854 acres are
public land administered by the BLM. The proposed expansion would
provide up to an estimated 433 jobs, some of which could be filled by
returning and new employees.
The proposed action includes the expansion of the existing plan of
operations boundary, the expansion of the existing open pits, the
development of new open pits, expansion of the existing waste rock
disposal facilities, construction of new waste rock disposal
facilities, expansion or modification of ancillary facilities,
expansion and development of new roads, re-alignment of segments of the
Boulder Valley Road and Antelope-Boulder Connector Road, installation
of new power distribution lines, the continuation of surface
exploration, and reclamation activities. The proposed expansion is
projected to add 8 years to the mine's life. The Project is located on
the northern end of the Carlin Trend in Elko County, approximately 25
miles north of the community of Dunphy and 28 aerial miles northwest of
the town of Carlin, Nevada.
The Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS for the Rossi Mine
Expansion Project published on September 14, 2018 (83 FR 46753), with a
45-day comment period. The BLM issued a news release and held two
public meetings during the comment period. A total of nine people
signed the attendance sheets available at the meetings. Those attending
the public meetings consisted of representatives from the BLM,
Halliburton, and the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and four members
from the general public. The BLM received a total of eight comment
submittals (e.g. letter, comment form, email) during the comment
period. Key issues identified by individuals, groups, and government
entities include potential impacts and mitigation for sage-grouse and
mule deer habitat; impacts, mitigation and monitoring related to
groundwater; direct, cumulative and socioeconomic impacts to livestock
grazing management; maintenance of the access road; minimizing night
lighting impacts; complying with State regulations and permitting with
the State agencies regarding air and water; and support for the
project.
The BLM is the lead Federal agency for this EIS. Cooperating
agencies included the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the Nevada
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Sagebrush Ecosystem
Technical Team, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Elko County
Board of Commissioners, and the EPA. The agency-preferred alternative
is the Reconfiguration Alternative, which consists of the Proposed
Action and the reconfiguration of the waste rock disposal facilities.
Following a 30-day Final EIS availability and review period, a
Record of Decision (ROD) will be issued. The decision reached in the
ROD is subject to appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals. The 30-
day appeal period begins with the issuance of the ROD.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10)
Jill C. Silvey,
District Manager, Elko District Office.
[FR Doc. 2019-12628 Filed 6-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P