[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 69 (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24854-24857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-07423]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_NV_FRN_MO4500177954]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed North Bullfrog Mine Project, Nye County, Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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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 (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Tonopah Field Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada intends to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of Corvus 
Gold Nevada, Inc.'s (Corvus) North Bullfrog Mine Project (Project) in 
Nye County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping 
process to solicit public comments and identify issues and 
alternatives; it also serves to initiate public consultation, as 
required, under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the scope 
of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant 
information and studies, no later than 30 days after the date of 
publication in the Federal Register. To afford the BLM the opportunity 
to consider comments in the Draft EIS, please ensure your comments are 
received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days 
after the last public meeting, whichever is later. In-person public 
scoping meetings will be held during the public scoping period, the 
dates of which are to be determined.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the North Bullfrog Mine 
Project by any of the following methods:

 Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2031869/510
 Email: [email protected]
 Fax: (775) 635-4034
 Mail: BLM Battle Mountain District Office, Attn: North 
Bullfrog Mine Project, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at 
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2031869/510 and at 
the Tonopah Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gene Gilseth, Project Manager, 
telephone: (775) 635-4020; address: BLM Battle Mountain District 
Office, Attn: North Bullfrog Mine Project, 50 Bastian Road, Battle 
Mountain, NV 89820; email: [email protected]. Contact Mr. Gilseth to 
have your name added to our mailing list. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services for contacting Mr. Gilseth. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Based on the submitted proposed plan of 
operations (Plan), Corvus is proposing to construct, operate, close, 
and reclaim a new surface mine at the northern end of the Bullfrog 
Hills, south of Sarcobatus Flat, in Nye County, Nevada, approximately 
nine miles north of the Town of Beatty.
    The proposed North Bullfrog Mine Plan boundary would encompass 
6,298 acres, including approximately 5,402 acres of public lands and 
896 acres of private land. The total disturbance associated with the 
proposed action would be 3,518.4 acres, including 3,436.4 acres of new 
surface disturbance and 82 acres of existing exploration disturbance. 
Of the new surface disturbance, approximately 3,077.2 acres would occur 
on BLM-administered public lands, and 359.2 acres would occur on 
private lands. Of the existing exploration surface

[[Page 24855]]

disturbance, 61.2 acres is on BLM-administered public lands, and 20.8 
acres is on private lands. The proposed surface mining activities for 
the North Bullfrog Mine would include:
     Three open pits: the Sierra Blanca Open Pit (which would 
include the Sierra Blanca pit area, Yellow Jacket pit area, and Savage 
Valley pit area); the Jolly Jane Open Pit; and the Mayflower Open Pit;
     Four overburden storage areas (OSAs);
     An ore crushing and conveying system;
     A gravity mill circuit with cyanide tank leaching;
     Carbon-in-columns;
     Ore stockpiles;
     Growth media stockpiles;
     A power sub-station, solar field (located within the yard 
area), and associated distribution system;
     A heap leach facility (HLF) including the heap leach pad 
(HLP) with solution channels, associated process solution tanks, and 
ponds;
     A water supply well field and open pit dewatering system 
(wells, pipelines, and pipeline corridor);
     Stormwater diversion channels and stormwater sediment 
basins;
     An adsorption desorption and recovery plan, refinery, and 
an assay laboratory;
     Access and haul roads;
     Ancillary facilities including a septic and potable water 
supply system, and associated maintenance area; reagent and fuel 
storage; stormwater controls; parking areas; lighting; growth media 
stockpile; water truck refill stations; emergency helipads; fencing; 
communication trailers; storage and laydown yards; a meteorological 
station; a warehouse; a truck maintenance shop; a truck wash; offices; 
a metallurgical laboratory; change/lunch facilities; an administration/
security building; and solid and hazardous waste management facilities;
     Continued surface exploration; and
     Reclamation and closure, including the development of 
evapotranspiration cells.
    The Project would contract a short-term maximum of 530 employees 
during the 12- to 18-month construction period, and approximately 230 
employees during active mining and processing.
    As proposed, the project would operate 24 hours per day, 365 days 
per year. The total life of the project would be up to 20 years, 
including 1 year of pre-mining and construction, 12 years of mining, 2 
to 3 additional years of active gold recovery on the HLP, mine 
reclamation activities, and 3 to 4 additional years of heap rinsing, 
reclamation, and closure activities. Reclamation of disturbed areas 
resulting from mining operations would be completed in accordance with 
BLM and Nevada Division of Environmental Protection regulations. 
Concurrent reclamation would take place where practicable and safe.

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    The BLM's purpose is to respond to Corvus's proposal as described 
in the Plan and to analyze the environmental effects associated with 
the proposed action and alternatives. NEPA mandates that the BLM 
evaluate the effects of the proposed action and develop alternatives.
    The need for action is established by the BLM's responsibilities, 
under section 302 of FLPMA and the BLM Surface Management Regulations 
at 43 CFR 3809, to respond to a Plan submitted by an applicant to 
exercise their rights under the General Mining Law of 1872, and to 
prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands as a result of 
the actions taken to prospect, explore, assess, develop, and process 
locatable minerals resources on public lands.

Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives

    The proposed action consists of the Plan as submitted by Corvus. 
Additional alternatives to be considered at this time include the No 
Action Alternative and a Revised Mill Location Alternative.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the development of the North 
Bullfrog Mine Project would not be authorized, and Corvus would not 
construct, operate, and close a new surface mine. Existing exploration 
activities would continue per previous authorizations.
    The Revised Mill Location Alternative would include consolidation 
of processing facilities to a central location, a revised HLF design 
requiring only one single process pond, and elimination of the need for 
a large hillside cut for the proposed run-of-mine (ROM) stockpile, 
resulting in reduced air emissions by eliminating the mining activity 
required to build the ROM stockpile and reducing travel distance to the 
mill site. Additionally, the footprint of the Jolly Jane OSA would be 
reduced by 22.8 acres due to a proposed redesign for avoidance of 
cultural resources. Overall, surface disturbance under this alternative 
would be 130 acres less than the proposed action.
    The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary options as well as 
suggestions for additional alternatives to be considered.

Summary of Expected Impacts

    Primary impacts from the North Bullfrog Mine Project that will be 
analyzed in the EIS include potential impacts to cultural resources and 
Native American traditional values; wildlife resources, including 
threatened and endangered and special status species; aesthetics 
(visual and noise); air quality, including climate change and 
greenhouse gases; water resources (surface and groundwater); traffic 
generation; livestock grazing; and vegetation and soil resources. A 
summary of potential impacts include:
     Cultural Resources and Native American Traditional Values: 
There are 34 historic properties that may potentially be affected by 
the proposed action within the physical and/or vibrational, auditory, 
and visual areas of potential effects. There are an additional eight 
sites that are currently identified as unevaluated that may be affected 
by the Project. Of these 42 cultural resources, it was determined that 
22 currently unevaluated or National Register of Historic Places 
(NRHP)-eligible and the NRHP-eligible Wild Burro Archaeological 
District would be adversely impacted from physical, vibrational, and/or 
visual effects resulting from the Project.
     Water Resources (Surface and Groundwater): The Project 
involves groundwater pumping to allow mining below the water table at 
the Sierra Blanca and Jolly Jane Open Pits. No dewatering requirements 
are anticipated at the Mayflower Open Pit. Dewatering operations would 
result in a lowering of the local groundwater table, with estimated 
recovery of the groundwater table to pre-mining conditions being 
approximately 85 to 200 years from the end of pit dewatering, depending 
on the location of the drawdown. Mining in the Mayflower Pit would 
occur entirely above the natural water table and as a result a pit lake 
is not expected to form at closure. The Sierra Blanca Pit and Jolly 
Jane Pit would be backfilled up to approximately 3,970 feet above mean 
sea level to eliminate the formation of a pit lake. Potential impacts 
to seep, spring, and stream flow may occur within the maximum extent of 
the 10-foot drawdown from proposed dewatering operations if the source 
of the water is connected to the regional aquifer feeding these surface 
water features. A monitoring and mitigation plan is currently being 
developed to address these potential impacts. Sedimentation and erosion 
may also occur due to Project-related disturbance,

[[Page 24856]]

but this would be addressed through appropriate mine design 
requirements.
     Wildlife Resources: Potential impacts include habitat 
modifications, habitat loss, potential impacts to water sources from 
dewatering induced drawdown from the Project, fatalities as a result of 
collisions with vehicles, displacement due to human activity and 
disturbance, and fragmentation from impediments to movement through the 
project area.
     Threatened and Endangered Species: Federally listed 
species that have been documented or may be present in the project area 
include the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii 
extimus), yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus), and the Mojave 
Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). No direct impacts to the yellow-
billed cuckoo or southwest willow flycatcher would be anticipated from 
the proposed action, though indirect impacts may occur from potential 
dewatering induced drawdown at spring sites and riparian areas where 
these species potentially occur. The proposed action is anticipated to 
disturb certain vegetation communities that support Mojave Desert 
tortoise, and Mojave Desert tortoise have been documented within the 
Project Area. Compliance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
(16 United States Code 1536) will be required to address potential 
impacts to the Mojave Desert tortoise.
     BLM Special Status Species: Special status species that 
have been documented in the vicinity of the project area include the 
Amargosa toad (Anaxyrus nelson), Oasis Valley speckled dace 
(Rhinichthys osculus), Oasis Valley springsnail (Pyrgulopsis 
micrococcus), brewer's sparrow (Spizella breweri), loggerhead shrike 
(Lanius ludovicianus), burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), ferruginous 
hawk (Buteo regalis), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), pallid bat 
(Antrozous pallidus), Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida 
brasiliensis), California myotis (Myotis californicus), canyon bat 
(Parastrellus Hesperus), fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes), desert 
bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelson), desert horned lizard 
(Phrynosoma platyrhinos), Great Basin collared lizard (Crotaphytus 
bicinctores), and long-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii). 
Potential impacts include habitat modifications, habitat loss, 
potential impacts to water sources from dewatering induced drawdown 
from the Project, displacement due to human activity and disturbance, 
and fragmentation from impediments to movement through the project 
area. Impacts to special status aquatic species may include potential 
impacts from dewatering induced drawdown at spring sites and riparian 
areas where these species are known to occur. A monitoring and 
mitigation plan is currently being developed to address potential 
impacts to special status aquatic species.
     Aesthetics (visual and noise): Potential impacts to visual 
resources include the addition of form, line, texture, and color to the 
existing landscape from proposed Project features. Potential noise 
impacts include an increase in noise generation in the vicinity of the 
Project.
     Air Quality: Air quality modeling has determined that 
impacts from the proposed action would not exceed National Ambient Air 
Quality Standards for particulate matter 10 microns in diameter or less 
(PM10), particulate matter 2.5 microns in diameter or less 
(PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide 
(NOX), and sulfur oxide (SO2). Total facility-
wide Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) are estimated to be 7.28 tons per 
year (tpy), with 5.07 tpy of the highest single HAP, hydrogen cyanide. 
Greenhouse gas emissions (measured in carbon dioxide equivalent 
(CO2e)) from operations are estimated at a maximum of 
102,692 tpy CO2e, which includes process sources, fugitive 
sources, and mobile mining equipment. Potential ozone (O3) 
impacts are estimated at 0.75 parts per billion (ppb), which is below 
the O3 Significant Impact Level of 1 ppb and therefore 
considered insignificant. Mercury emissions are estimated to be 16.7 
pounds per year, which would be less than 0.44 percent contribution to 
the global background deposition within the two adjacent hydrographic 
basins.
     Traffic: Traffic on transportation routes within the area 
of analysis would potentially increase by up to 120 Annual Average 
Daily Traffic (AADT) during construction, and 88 AADT during 
operations. The addition of project traffic is not anticipated to lower 
the level of service of the roadways and intersections, which are all 
currently at an acceptable level of service. Corvus is proposing to 
coordinate with the Nevada Department of Transportation to add turn 
lane improvements at the intersection of Strozzi Ranch Road and US 95 
to further reduce any potential impacts from heavy vehicle traffic 
entering and exiting the Project.
     Livestock Grazing: The proposed action would impact forage 
utilized by livestock as a result of new surface disturbance of up to 
3,436.4 acres. Approximately two Animal Unit Months (268.3 acres) would 
be impacted in the Razorback Allotment, South Montezuma Pasture. This 
would represent less than 0.1 percent of the overall permitted use in 
the allotment.
     Vegetation and Soils: The proposed action would result in 
new disturbance to soil and removal of vegetation on 3,436.4 acres, in 
additional to 82 acres of existing or acknowledged exploration for a 
total disturbance of 3,518.4 acres.

Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

    The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation consistent with the NEPA process, including a 45-day 
comment period on the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be 
available for public review in Summer 2024 and the Final EIS is 
anticipated to be released in Winter 2025 with a Record of Decision in 
Winter 2025.

Public Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will 
hold two virtual public scoping meetings. The specific dates and times 
of these scoping meetings will be announced in advance through local 
newspaper publications and the BLM National NEPA Register Project page 
at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/admin/project/2031869/510.

Lead and Cooperating Agencies

    The BLM Tonopah Field Office is serving as the lead federal agency 
for preparing the EIS. Cooperating agencies for this analysis include 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Nye County, and Town of Beatty.

Responsible Official

    Douglas W. Furtado, District Manager, Battle Mountain District 
Office

Nature of Decision To Be Made

    The BLM's decision for the North Bullfrog Mine Project will 
consider the following: (1) whether to approve the proposed Project 
Plan to authorize the proposed activities without modifications or 
additional mitigation measures; (2) whether to approve the proposed 
Project Plan with additional mitigation measures that the BLM deems 
necessary to prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands; 
(3) whether to approve an alternative analyzed in the EIS for the North 
Bullfrog Mine Project; or (4) denial of the proposed Project Plan and 
associated activities.

[[Page 24857]]

Additional Information

    The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address 
the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources from the proposed 
action and all analyzed reasonable alternatives and, in accordance with 
40 CFR 1502.14(e), include appropriate mitigation measures not already 
included in the proposed action or alternatives. Mitigation may include 
avoidance, minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination over 
time, and compensation, and may be considered at multiple scales, 
including the landscape scale.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help 
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the 
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 106 of the NHPA (54 
U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3), including public 
involvement requirements of section 106. Information about historic and 
cultural resources and threatened and endangered species within the 
area potentially affected by the proposed plan will assist the BLM in 
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
    The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM MS 1780, 
and other Departmental 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 Indian Tribal Nations and other stakeholders that may be 
interested in or affected by the proposed North Bullfrog Mine Project, 
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 environmental analysis as a cooperating agency.
    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 1501.9)

Douglas W. Furtado,
District Manager, Battle Mountain District.
[FR Doc. 2024-07423 Filed 4-8-24; 8:45 am]
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