[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 39 (Friday, February 28, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10939-10941]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-03299]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[PO4820000251]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Silver Peak Lithium Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project,
Esmeralda 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, Tonopah, Nevada, intends to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the potential effects
of the Silver Peak Lithium Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project
(Project), Esmeralda County, Nevada. This notice announces the
beginning of the scoping period to solicit public comments and identify
issues.
DATES: Please submit your comments concerning the scope of the
analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of relevant
information and studies to ensure BLM receives them no later than March
31, 2025. The BLM will be holding two virtual public scoping meetings.
The specific dates and times of these scoping meetings will be
announced at least 15 days in advance on the project's web page on the
BLM National NEPA Register at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035664/510. To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider
comments, 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.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Silver Peak Lithium
Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project by any of the following
methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035664/510.
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Email: [email protected].
Mail: BLM Tonopah Field Office, Attn: Silver Peak EIS,
P.O. Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035664/510, and at the
BLM Tonopah Field Office, 1553 South Main Street, Tonopah, NV 89049.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erik Bray, Project Manager; telephone:
(775) 861-6451; address: 1340 Financial Boulevard., Reno, Nevada 89502;
email: [email protected]. Please contact Mr. Bray to have your name added
to the project's 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. Bray. 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: The BLM will consider authorizing an
amendment to Albemarle U.S. Inc.'s plan of operations to address
existing but previously unauthorized surface disturbance (existing
unauthorized areas) and the proposed expansion of surface disturbance
(expansion areas) on public lands (Proposed Action) at the Silver Peak
Lithium Operation (SPLO).
The Project is located approximately 40 miles southwest of Tonopah,
near the town of Silver Peak, in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The existing
surface disturbance at the Project is approximately 6,462 acres,
composed of 5,914 acres of private land owned by Albemarle and 548
acres of public land administered by the BLM. The Proposed Action,
which would include the existing unauthorized areas and the expansion
areas of the SPLO, would add another 543 acres of private land owned by
Albemarle and 1,053 acres of public land administered by the BLM.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The BLM's purpose for the Proposed Action is to respond to
Albemarle's request to amend the plan of operations for the SPLO and to
analyze the potential environmental effects associated with the
Proposed Action and feasible alternatives. The BLM's need for the
Proposed Action is established by the BLM's responsibilities under
section 302 of FLPMA and under 43 CFR part 3800, subpart 3809,
``Surface Management.'' Section 302 and subpart 3809 set forth the
BLM's responsibility to ensure that operations under the Mining Law of
1872 prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action would consist of a modification of Albemarle's
authorized plan of operations for the SPLO under the regulations found
at 43 CFR part 3800, subpart 3809. The Proposed Action would allow the
SPLO to reconcile existing activities on the public lands that are not
currently in compliance with subpart 3809 and would allow the SPLO to
expand its operations. The existing but previously unauthorized surface
disturbance (existing unauthorized areas) covers 770 acres of public
land and includes impoundments, a transfer pump station and piping
infrastructure, and a conveyance trench.
The facilities in the proposed expansion area would allow
operational flexibility and would contribute 658 acres of surface
disturbance (375 acres of private land, 283 acres of public land). The
proposed expansion area would include the construction of a new strong
brine complex with two transfer pump stations and related pipelines,
two weak brine ponds, and future production well drilling.
The mine life and annual production of lithium would not be
modified with this action.
Under the no action alternative, BLM would not approve the proposed
amendment to the plan of operations, and the activities described in
the Proposed Action would not occur. The proposed expansion areas would
not be constructed, and the existing unauthorized areas would remain in
place, subject to the BLM's exercise of its enforcement authority,
which could include reclamation of the existing unauthorized areas.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The EIS analysis will focus on potential effects to air quality;
cultural resources; socioeconomics; water resources; noxious weeds and
invasive, non-native species; migratory birds and raptors; special
status species; noise; Native American religious concerns; hazardous
and solid wastes; visual resources; paleontology; soils; and
vegetation.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
Amended Plan of Operations--Bureau of Land Management
Migratory Bird Special Purpose Utility Permit,
Rehabilitation Permit--U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird
Permit Office
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 in mid-
2025; the final EIS is anticipated in late 2025, and a record of
decision in early 2026.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will be
holding two virtual public scoping meetings. The specific dates and
times of these scoping meetings will be announced at least 15 days in
advance on the project's web page on the BLM National NEPA Register at:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2035664/510.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The BLM Tonopah Field Office, Battle Mountain District, is the lead
agency for this EIS. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Migratory Bird
Program and the Nevada Department of Wildlife are serving as
cooperating agencies for the preparation and review of the EIS.
Additional agencies and organizations may be identified as potential
cooperating agencies to participate in the environmental analysis of
the project.
Responsible Officials
Jon Sherve, District Manager, Battle Mountain District Office;
Perry Wickham, Field Manager, Tonopah Field Office.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM's potential decision relative to the proposed amendment as
informed by the EIS includes: (1) approval of the proposed Silver Peak
Lithium Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project as submitted; (2)
approval of the proposed Silver Peak Lithium Mine Amendment to Plan of
Operations Project subject to changes or conditions, as analyzed in the
EIS, that the BLM deems necessary to prevent unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands; or (3) denial of the proposed Silver Peak
Lithium Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project if the BLM
determines that the proposal would result in unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands.
Additional Information
The BLM will identify, analyze, and consider mitigation to address
the
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potential effects to resources from the Proposed Action and all
analyzed reasonable alternatives, including appropriate mitigation
measures not 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 National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including public involvement requirements of section 106.
The information about historic and cultural resources and threatened
and endangered species within the area potentially affected by the
proposed project will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating
potential impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with 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 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 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)
Jon D. Sherve,
District Manager, BLM Battle Mountain District Office.
[FR Doc. 2025-03299 Filed 2-27-25; 8:45 am]
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