[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 1, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18186-18187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-06791]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Locatable Minerals

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is initiating an 
environmental impact statement to inform a decision to revise agency 
regulations that minimize adverse environmental impacts on National 
Forest System surface resources in connection with operations 
authorized by the Mining Law of 1872, as amended (United States mining 
laws). These rules and procedures govern prospecting, exploration, 
development, mining, and processing operations conducted on National 
Forest System lands authorized by the United States mining laws, 
subsequent reclamation of the land, and any necessary long-term post-
closure resource management.

DATES: An advanced notice of proposed rulemaking was published in the 
Federal Register, Vol. 83, No. 178, Thursday, September 13, 2018. The 
Forest Service invited comments regarding challenges the public has 
experienced with respect to aspects of the agency's current regulations 
at 36

[[Page 18187]]

CFR 228, subpart A, and issues the public foresees with respect to 
potential revision of these regulations. Comments were due October 15, 
2018. The proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement are 
expected in 2020. The next public comment period will be announced when 
the proposed rule and draft environmental impact statement are 
available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Shoemaker, Minerals and Geology 
Management, 907-586-7886, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Alaska 
Standard Time, Monday through Friday. Individuals who use 
telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 
p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    The goals of the regulatory revision are to: (1) Increase Forest 
Service efficiency in the review of certain proposed mineral operations 
authorized by the United States mining laws, and, where applicable, 
Forest Service approval of some of these proposals by clarifying the 
regulations; (2) increase consistency with the U.S. Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) surface management 
regulations governing operations authorized by the United States mining 
laws, which will eliminate significant differences between the two land 
management agency's regulations, making it less confusing for those who 
conduct these operations on both BLM and National Forest System lands; 
and (3) increase the Forest Service's nationwide consistency in 
regulating mineral operations authorized by the United States mining 
laws by clarifying its regulations.
    Regulatory revisions are needed to better meet the regulation's 
purpose: ``to set forth the rules and procedures that govern 
prospecting, exploration, development, mining, and processing 
operations, and their reasonably incident uses (operations), on 
National Forest System lands, under the United States mining laws, in 
order to minimize, to the extent practicable, these operations' adverse 
impacts to surface resources'' (36 CFR 228.1). In addition, these 
revisions are needed to increase the efficiency of Forest Service 
review of certain proposed operations authorized by the United States 
mining laws and, where applicable, Forest Service approval of some of 
these proposals. Increasing efficiency includes being consistent, 
within the authorities of each agency, with the BLM surface management 
regulations governing operations authorized by the United States mining 
laws to assist those who conduct operations on lands managed by each 
agency. Increasing efficiency also means to increase the Agency's 
consistency in implementing the regulations across the agency.

Proposed Action

    Revise agency regulations at 36 CFR 228, subpart A that minimize 
adverse environmental impacts on National Forest System surface 
resources in connection with operations authorized by the United States 
mining laws. These rules and procedures govern prospecting, 
exploration, development, mining, and processing operations conducted 
on National Forest System lands authorized by U.S. mining laws, 
subsequent reclamation of the land, and any necessary long-term post-
closure resource management.

Possible Alternatives

    The existing regulations at 36 CFR 228, subpart A is the no-action 
alternative.

Responsible Official

    Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and 
Environment.

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The decision to be made is whether to revise 36 CFR 228, subpart A; 
and if so, what provisions should be changed, deleted, and added.

Scoping Process

    The scoping process was initiated and comments were solicited with 
the advanced notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal 
Register, Vol. 83, No. 178, Thursday, September 13, 2018.

Tina J. Terrell,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2020-06791 Filed 3-31-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3411-15-P