[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 202 (Friday, October 18, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55979-55980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22707]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVW00000.L5110000.GN0000.LVEMF1805980.18X.MO#4500139740]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed POA11 Project--Modification to the Plan of 
Operations for the Coeur Rochester and Packard Mines, Pershing County, 
NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In compliance 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) Humboldt River 
Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada has prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice announces the beginning of 
the public comment period to solicit public comments on the Draft EIS. 
The BLM is the lead agency in development of the Draft EIS and will be 
evaluating Coeur Rochester, Inc.'s (CRI) request for the proposed 
expansion of its silver mining operations at the existing Coeur 
Rochester and Packard Mines.

DATES: This notice initiates the public comment period for the Draft 
EIS. Comments may be submitted in writing until December 2, 2019. The 
date(s) and location(s) of any comment meetings will be announced at 
least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM 
website at: https://go.usa.gov/xPdjC. In order to be included in the 
Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of the 45-
day public comment period. We will provide additional opportunities for 
public participation upon publication of the Final EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Coeur Rochester and 
Packard Mines Plan of Operations Amendment 11 (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) 623-1740.
     Mail: 5100 E Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the proposed mine 
expansion contact Kathleen Rehberg, telephone: (775) 623-1500, email: 
[email protected], address: 5100 East

[[Page 55980]]

Winnemucca Boulevard., Winnemucca, Nevada 89445. 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 Ms. Rehberg during normal 
business hours. The 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: CRI has requested to expand its operations 
at the Rochester and Packard mines by modifying its approved Plan of 
Operations. The mine is located approximately 26 miles northeast of 
Lovelock, Nevada. The mine is currently authorized to disturb up to 
2,203.1 acres (approximately 164.6 acres of private land and 2,038.5 
acres of public land), which was analyzed in a series of EISs and 
Environmental Assessments beginning in 1986 through the latest EIS in 
2015. The Proposed Action is to expand mining in both of CRI's 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 2,380.2 
acres on public land).
    Mining of the Rochester Pit would extend below the groundwater 
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 CRI's 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 this comment period is for the public to review and 
provide comments on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS, after scoping, has 
identified and analyzed impacts to the following resource areas: Air 
and atmospheric resources; cultural resources; noxious weeds, invasive 
species and non-native species; migratory birds; Native American 
religious concerns; wastes and materials (hazardous and solid); water 
quality (surface and ground); geology, minerals, and energy; lands and 
realty; paleontology; rangeland management; recreation; social values 
and economics; soils; special status species (plants and wildlife); 
transportation and access; vegetation; visual resources; and wildlife.
    The Draft EIS describes and analyzes the Proposed Action's direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts on all affected resources. In addition 
to the Proposed Action, the following alternatives are also analyzed in 
the document: (1) Alternative 1, which is an alternate method to manage 
and store potentially acid generating material; (2) Alternative 2, 
which was developed to address and manage pit lake development and 
water quality; and (3) The No Action Alternative.
    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 Draft EIS. Federal, State, and local agencies, along 
with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or 
affected by the Proposed Action that the BLM is evaluating, 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.

David Kampwerth,
Field Manager, Humboldt River Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2019-22707 Filed 10-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P