[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50835-50836]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-18047]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLNVW01000.L51100000.GN0000. LVEMF1907180.19X; MO#4500145888]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Proposed Gold Acquisition Corporation, Relief Canyon 
Mine--Phase II Mine Expansion Amendment, Pershing County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Humboldt River 
Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential impacts of the proposed 
expansion to the Relief Canyon gold mining operation in Pershing 
County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues to be considered 
in the EIS, and serves to initiate public consultation, as required 
under the National Historic Preservation Act.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues to be considered in the EIS may be submitted in 
writing until September 17, 2020. The dates and locations of two 
virtual scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance 
through local media, newspapers and the BLM website at: https://www.blm.gov/office/winnemucca-district-office. In order to be included 
in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received prior to the close of 
the 30-day scoping period. We will provide additional opportunities for 
public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Project by any of the 
following methods:
     Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2000567/510.
     Email: [email protected], include Relief Canyon Mine--Phase 
II Expansion EIS Comments in the subject line.
     Fax: (775) 623-1503.
     Mail: 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, NV 89445.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Black, telephone: (775) 623-
1500, email: [email protected]; address: 5100 E. Winnemucca Blvd., 
Winnemucca, NV 89445. Contact Ms. Black 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. Black during normal business hours. The FIRS 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: Gold Acquisition Corporation (GAC), a wholly 
owned subsidiary of Pershing Gold Corporation, itself a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Americas Gold and Silver Corporation, proposes an 
expansion to the existing Relief Canyon Gold Mine. The mine is located 
in Pershing County, Nevada, approximately 16 miles east-northeast of 
Lovelock, Nevada. The proposed expansion is located within GAC's 
authorized plan boundary and proposes to modify the existing plan as 
follows:
     Create roughly 576 acres of new surface disturbance on 
public and private land including re-disturbance of about 137 acres of 
previously disturbed vegetation communities.
     Expand the footprint of the existing approved pit area by 
approximately 84 acres (68 acres of public land and 16 acres of private 
land) with resultant elimination of a portion of existing Waste Rock 
Storage Facility (WRSF) 4.
     Mine to final pit bottom elevation of 4,420 feet above 
mean sea level (ft amsl), which will involve continued mining below the 
water table, and result in a post-mining pit lake that is predicted to 
reach an equilibrium elevation of 4,887 ft amsl roughly 50 years after 
completion of mining.
     Construct a dewatering conveyance pipeline and Rapid 
Infiltration to re-infiltrate up to 900 gallons per minute of mine 
dewatering water during the last 3 months of proposed Phase II mining.
     Install up to 50 vertical and horizontal drains in the pit 
wall to ensure pit slope stability and supplement pit dewatering 
operations.
     Convert up to 50 exploration drill holes located in and 
adjacent to the pit as vertical or near vertical drains and/or 
piezometer to monitor water levels to ensure pit slope stability and 
supplement pit dewatering operations.
     Expand WRSFs, heap leach pads, and construct process 
ponds, new growth media stockpiles, diversion ditches for stormwater 
control, and ancillary facilities.
     Expand yard and crusher-conveyor areas, roads, and fences.
     Close and reclaim all project facilities at the completion 
of Phase II.

Scoping Process

    The purpose of the public scoping process is to identify relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
The BLM has identified some preliminary issues associated with the 
Project:
    (a) Formation of a pit lake and associated groundwater sink after 
completion of mining activities: The average pre-mining water table 
elevation was estimated to be 5,130 feet ft amsl, and the resultant pit 
lake is predicted to have a recovered surface elevation of 4,887 ft 
amsl;

[[Page 50836]]

    (b) Potential impacts to wildlife habitat: The extended mine life 
and increased disturbance could affect wildlife including Golden 
Eagles. The BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will work 
cooperatively to analyze the affects the proposed project may have to 
Golden Eagle nests and territories.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to help 
fulfill the public involvement process under the NHPA as provided in 42 
CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources 
within the area potentially affected by the proposed project will 
assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources 
in the context of both NEPA and the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Native American tribes on a government-
to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration.
    Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other 
stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed 
project that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the 
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the 
BLM to participate in the development of the EIS as a cooperating 
agency. Comments and materials, we receive, as well as supporting 
documentation that we use in preparing the EIS, will be available for 
public inspection during normal business hours at the Winnemucca 
District Office (see ADDRESSES section previously).
    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 may 
request in your comment that your personal identifying information be 
withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.

Ester McCullough,
District Manager, Winnemucca District Office.
[FR Doc. 2020-18047 Filed 8-17-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P