[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 26 (Friday, February 7, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7329-7330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-02341]



[[Page 7329]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOF02000.L51100000.GL0000.LVEMC1700600.17X]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Competitive Mineral Materials Sale at 
Parkdale, Fremont County, CO

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 (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Field 
Office, Ca[ntilde]on City, Colorado, has prepared a Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS), for the Proposed Competitive Mineral Materials 
Sale (COC-078119) at Parkdale, Fremont County, CO and by this notice is 
announcing the opening of the comment period.

DATES: To ensure that 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 BLM will announce future meetings or hearings 
and any other public participation activities at least 15 days in 
advance through public notices, media releases and the BLM National 
NEPA Register at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/.

ADDRESSES: Comments related to the Proposed Competitive Mineral 
Materials Sale (COC-078119) at Parkdale, Fremont County, Colorado, must 
be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Electronic comments must be submitted via the BLM 
ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xy6tn.
     Hard copy comments must be submitted via mail or hand-
delivered to BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 East Main Street, Canon 
City, CO 81212.
    Copies of the Draft EIS are available at this same street address 
or on the BLM ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xy6tn. Click the 
``Documents & Reports'' link on the left side of the screen to find the 
electronic version of the document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Carter, Geologist, 719-269-
8551; 3028 East Main Street, Canon City, CO 81212; 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. Carter 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: The BLM has prepared a Draft EIS to evaluate 
an application submitted by Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. for a 
contract to mine 400-million net tons of aggregate reserves located on 
BLM-managed lands, adjacent to their existing hard rock quarry 
northwest of Ca[ntilde]on City, Colorado. The aggregate reserves 
consist of a granodiorite bedrock that will be mined utilizing 
blasting, crushing, and screening methods. The mining activity would be 
conducted on up to approximately 700 acres of BLM lands for up to 100 
years, at a production of 4-million tons annually. The aggregate would 
be used in the production of asphalt and concrete, as well as for a 
source of railroad ballast. The current mine is the only rail-served 
aggregate mine in Colorado. The BLM mineral material reserves would 
sustain uninterrupted supplies of aggregate to meet future demands in 
southern Colorado and adjacent areas.
    The formal public scoping process for the Draft EIS began July 31, 
2019, with the publication of a Notice of Intent in the Federal 
Register (84 FR 37334). The BLM held one open-house scoping meeting in 
Ca[ntilde]on City, Colorado, on August 15, 2019. The public-scoping 
comments helped the BLM identify relevant issues and frame the scope of 
analysis in the Draft EIS.
    Relevant issues considered in the Draft EIS include understanding 
the types and amounts of air pollutants that would be emitted and the 
potential effects to public health and the environment. In addition, 
the analysis focused on the proposal and its possible effects on the 
inventoried wilderness characteristics, water (quality and quantity), 
visual resources, as well as local and regional economies in the area. 
Evaluating the availability and quality of key wildlife and plant 
habitat, as possibly impacted by the proposal was also a key issue in 
the Draft EIS.
    The Draft EIS does not have a preferred alternative and evaluates 
in detail the Proposed Action (Alternative A), the No Action 
Alternative (Alternative B) and one action alternative (Alternative C). 
A preferred alternative will be identified after reviewing public 
comments and input from cooperating agencies. After the public comment 
period closes, the BLM will prepare the Final EIS, which may reflect 
changes or adjustments based on information received during public 
comment on the Draft EIS, new information, or changes in BLM policies 
or priorities. The Final EIS may include objectives and actions 
described in any of the alternatives analyzed in the Draft EIS.
    The requested sale is for aggregate material consisting of a 
granite bedrock that would be mined utilizing blasting, crushing, and 
screening methods. Reclamation would be ongoing, following mining 
activity in an area, as soon as conditions would be feasible. Details 
of Alternative A include: Mined material would be used for concrete, 
asphalt and railroad ballast products and would take place on 
approximately 700 acres of BLM-administered public lands for up to 100 
years; the southwestern boundary of the proposed mining area would 
border the Arkansas River Canyonlands Areas of Critical Environmental 
Concern (ACEC); surface mining would progress in five phases; mining 
direction for each phase would be from northwest to southeast, creating 
a ``mine from behind'' visual scenario from the Highway 50 corridor. 
Alternative B involves the continuation of surface mining on the 
existing private aggregate reserves, anticipated to last 15-30 years, 
with aggregate produced only for concrete and asphalt products. 
Alternative B consists of three phases, with the mining direction for 
phases 1 and 2 being west to east and phase 3 being north to south. 
Details on Alternative C include: Mined material would be used for 
concrete, asphalt and railroad ballast products and would take place on 
approximately 633 acres of BLM-administered public lands for up to 100 
years; the boundary of this footprint would not border the Arkansas 
River Canyonlands ACEC; surface mining would progress in six phases; 
mining direction for each phase would vary, so a ``mine from behind'' 
visual scenario from the Highway 50 corridor may not always be 
achieved.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the address listed previously during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 
4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    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.

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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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10, 43 CFR 1610.2.

Jamie E. Connell,
Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-02341 Filed 2-6-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P