    [Federal Register Volume 90, Number 84 (Friday, May 2, 2025)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 18865-18866]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 2025-07537]

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    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

    Bureau of Land Management

    [PO #4820000251; Order #02412-014-004-047181.0]

    Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Mojave Precious Metals
    Exploration Drilling Project, Ridgecrest, Inyo County, CA

    AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

    ACTION: Notice of availability.

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    SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
    1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
    1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces
    the availability of the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for
    the Mojave Exploration Drilling Project.

    DATES: To afford the BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the
    draft EIS, please ensure that the BLM receives your comments within 45
    days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
    publishes its notice of availability (NOA) of the draft EIS in the
    Federal Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on Fridays. The
    BLM will hold a public meeting. The specific date, time, and location
    of the public meeting will be announced at least 15 days before the
    meeting on the BLM website www.blm.gov/california.

    ADDRESSES: The draft EIS and associated documents are available for
    review on the BLM project website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022050/510. Written comments related to the
    Mojave Exploration Drilling Project may be submitted by any of the
    following methods:
         ePlanning website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2022050/510.
         Email: BLM_CA_RI_MojavePMetals@blm.gov.
         Mail: Mojave Exploration Drilling Project EIS, c/o BLM
    Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.
        Documents pertinent to the proposal may be examined at the BLM
    Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Desenze, Field Manager,
    telephone: (760) 384-6759; address: Bureau of Land Management
    Ridgecrest Field Office, 300 S. Richmond Road, Ridgecrest, CA 93555;
    email: BLM_CA_RI_MojavePMetals@blm.gov. Individuals in the United
    States who are deaf, blind, hard of hearing, or have a speech
    disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
    telecommunications relay services for contacting Mr. Desenze.
    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:

    Purpose and Need

        The purpose of this Federal action is to respond to Mojave Precious
    Metal (MPM) Inc.'s proposal as described in its plan of operations
    modification and to analyze the environmental effects associated with
    the BLM's approval of MPM's proposal (Proposed Action) and possible
    alternatives. The need for the action is established by the BLM's
    responsibilities under the FLPMA and the BLM Surface Management
    Regulations at 43 CFR part 3800, subpart 3809, to respond to a proposed
    plan of operations or its modification.

    Proposed Action and Alternatives

        MPM is proposing to modify the existing, approved plan of
    operations. If approved, the modification would allow MPM to drill
    about 120 holes at up to 30 locations to gather data on known areas of
    gold mineralization. The plan modification would result in about 13
    acres of new ground disturbance from access road reconstruction, drill
    pad and sump construction, and other associated activities.
         Proposed Action Alternative--MPM is proposing to conduct
    exploration drilling activities in west-central Inyo County,
    approximately 3.4 miles east of Keeler and 15.5 miles southeast of Lone
    Pine. Exploration drilling activities would occur on an estimated 120
    drill holes at up to 30 locations to update and verify historical data
    and expand upon known areas of mineralization, including gold. Both
    diamond core drill rigs and reverse circulation drill rigs would be
    utilized to drill to depths averaging 984 feet (300 meters) below
    ground surface. Access to the drill sites would occur along a
    previously developed road using a combination of overland travel and
    reconstruction of the former road. The total estimated disturbance of
    the project would be about 13 acres. The project would operate 24 hours
    per day, 7 days a week for up to approximately 10 months and would
    require an estimated 2.9 million gallons of water. Reclamation of
    disturbed areas resulting from exploration operations would be
    completed in accordance with the BLM and California Surface Mining and
    Reclamation Act regulations.
         South Road Alternative--The South Road Alternative is an
    alternate access route to the drill sites in the project area.
    Construction, operations, reclamation activities, equipment and water
    use, workforce, surface disturbance acres, and project schedule would
    be the same as the Proposed Action. This alternative would rely more on
    overland travel and less on new road construction to access drill
    sites. However, this route includes areas of high gradient, which
    require State engineer approval, and poses additional safety risks to
    workers and the environment.
         Helicopter Only Alternative--Under this alternative, no
    roads would be constructed or overland travel routes utilized.
    Materials and equipment would be staged along an existing road and
    helicopters would transport people and materials to constructed drill
    pads. The estimated surface disturbance with this alternative would
    total about 3.80 acres. Due to the depths required for drilling, only
    diamond core drill rigs would be utilized, which would require an
    estimated 22 million gallons of water and would occur over an expected
    duration of 8.5 years. Helicopters would fly in and out of the Lone
    Pine Airport once per day, with additional helicopter flights occurring
    between the staging area and the Project area.
         No Action Alternative--Under the No Action Alternative,
    the project would not be developed, and MPM would not be authorized to
    conduct new exploration activities. The draft EIS identifies the
    Proposed Action Alternative as the BLM's preferred alternative.

    Schedule for the Decision-Making Process

        The final EIS is anticipated to be released in September 2025 with
    a record of decision by November 2025.

    Lead and Cooperating Agencies

        The BLM is the lead Federal agency for this draft EIS. The
    following have agreed to participate in the final environmental
    analysis of the project as cooperating agencies: The Fish and Wildlife
    Service, the EPA, and the

    [[Page 18866]]

    National Park Service--Death Valley National Park, and Inyo County.

    Public Involvement Process

        The BLM will be holding a public meeting. The specific date, time,
    and location of the public meeting will be announced at least 15 days
    before the meeting on the BLM website https://www.blm.gov/california.
    The purpose of public review of the draft EIS is to provide an
    opportunity for meaningful collaborative public engagement and for the
    public to provide substantive comments, such as identification of
    factual errors, data gaps, or relevant methods.
        The BLM will continue to consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a
    government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order
    13175, BLM Manual 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal
    concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential
    impacts to cultural resources, will be given due consideration.
        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: 43 CFR 46.435)

    Brandon Anderson,
    Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Manager (Acting).
    [FR Doc. 2025-07537 Filed 5-1-25; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4331-15-P