[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58686-58687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23027]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service

[212.LLIDI00000.L1330000.EO0000.241A]


Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, Caribou 
County, Idaho

AGENCY:  Bureau of Land Management, Interior; and United States Forest 
Service, Agriculture.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the 
Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) have 
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed 
Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, and by this Notice is 
announcing the opening of the public comment period.

DATES: To ensure consideration, the agencies must receive written 
comments on the Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Project Draft 
EIS by December 6, 2021. The BLM will hold a virtual public meeting on 
November 8, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time). 
Detailed information about how to participate in the meeting is 
available at: https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ (case sensitive).

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Husky 1 North Dry 
Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
     Website: https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ (case sensitive).
     Mail: Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft EIS, c/
o Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Mine EIS, C/O Tetra Tech, 2525 Palmer Street, 
Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.
    Please reference ``Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft 
EIS'' on all correspondence. A digital version of Husky 1 North Dry 
Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft EIS is available at the project websites:
     BLM Land Use Planning and NEPA Register: https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ (case sensitive).
     Caribou-Targhee National Forest Current and Recent 
Projects http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wes Gilmer, BLM Pocatello Field 
Office,

[[Page 58687]]

4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204; telephone (208) 478-6369; 
email: [email protected]; fax (208) 478-6376. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay 
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. Gilmer. The FRS is 
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question 
for Mr. Gilmer. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Itafos Conda LLC has submitted a Mine and 
Reclamation Plan (MRP) for agency review for Federal phosphate leases 
IDI-8289, IDI-05549, I-04 and IDI-0678 and a proposed modification 
(enlargement) of lease IDI-05549 at the proposed Husky 1 North Dry 
Ridge Phosphate Mine in Caribou County, Idaho. The BLM, as the Federal 
lease administrator, is the lead agency, and the USFS is the co-lead 
agency for preparing the EIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho 
Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Lands, and 
Idaho Governor's Office of Energy and Mineral Resources are cooperating 
agencies.
    The Proposed Action would mine the Federal phosphate leases as 
outlined in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS evaluates alternatives to the 
proposed action, including a no action alternative, and addresses 
issues identified during public scoping.
    The BLM and USFS will make separate but coordinated decisions 
related to the proposed project. The BLM will approve, approve with 
modifications, or deny the MRP and lease modification. The BLM will 
base its decisions on public and agency input, any recommendations the 
USFS may have regarding surface management of leased National Forest 
System lands, and the Final EIS. The USFS will make recommendations to 
the BLM concerning surface management and mitigation on leased lands 
within the CTNF and will issue decisions on Special Use Authorizations 
for off-lease mine support activities. A Forest Plan amendment would 
also be necessary as outlined in the Draft EIS.
    On December 23, 2020, the agencies published a Notice of Intent to 
prepare an EIS in the Federal Register initiating a 30-day public 
scoping period. The scoping process identified concerns related to 
impacts to water resources and watersheds from potentially elevated 
levels of selenium; effects to air quality, human health and safety, 
socioeconomics, and wildlife; reclamation and financial assurance; and 
mitigation and monitoring of mine operations.
    The agencies have planned a virtual public meeting to summarize the 
document and answer questions. The date, time, and instructions for 
attending the virtual public meeting will be announced on the project 
websites.
    Comments regarding the adequacy of the Draft EIS must be submitted 
by December 6, 2021. To assist the BLM and the USFS in identifying 
issues and concerns related to this project, comments should be as 
specific as possible.
    Note that the portion of the proposed project related to Special 
Use Authorizations for off-lease activities is subject to the USFS 
objection process. This proposed project may be subject to the pre-
decisional administrative review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 
subparts A and B because Forest Plan amendments may be needed. Only 
those who provide comment during this comment period or who have 
previously submitted specific written comments on the Proposed Action, 
either during scoping or other designated opportunity for public 
comment, will be eligible as objectors (36 CFR 218.5(a) and 219.53 
(a)). Appeal procedures found in 43 CFR 4 apply to any BLM decision on 
the MRP or lease modification related Federal mineral leases.
    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: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 1500 through 1508; 43 CFR 
46; 43 U.S.C. 1701; 43 CFR 3510; 43 CFR 3590.

Todd Kuck,
Acting District Manager, Idaho Falls District.
Melvin Bolling,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2021-23027 Filed 10-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P