Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[AZ-020-04-7122-02-5491]

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement;

Cyprus Bagdad Copper Mine, Bagdad, Arizona.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix District Office, is

preparing an Environmental Impact Statement for the construction of a

tailings facility expansion and south waste rock disposal facility for

the existing open pit copper mine at Cyprus Bagdad. The mine is located

near the Town of Bagdad, in Yavapai County, Arizona. Cyprus Bagdad

Copper Corporation has submitted a proposed Mine Plan of Operations to

the Bureau of Land Management, as required under the Code of Federal

Regulations and title V of the Federal Land and Policy Management Act

(FLPMA) of 1976. The Bureau of Land Management has responsibility for

analysis, review, and approval of the mining plan. Preparation of the

Environmental Impact Statement will follow the Code of Federal

Regulations, title 40, subpart 1500.

The mine plan proposes the expansion of the existing Mammoth

tailings impoundment, the development of the Upper Mammoth tailings

impoundment, and the expansion of the south waste rock disposal

facility to continue mineral and mining operations at Cyprus Bagdad.

The public is invited to participate in the NEPA process beginning with

scoping and the identification of issues in July 1994.

DATES: Public Scoping Meetings to identify issues will be held as

follows:

Tuesday, July 12 (7-9 p.m.)

Holiday Inn

3100 Andy Devine

Meeting room C

Kingman, AZ

Wednesday, July 13 (7-9 p.m.)

Yavapai College

1100 E. Sheldon St.

Bldg. 3, room 133

Prescott, AZ

Written comments relating to the identification of issues will be

accepted until August 13, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix

District Office, Attn: Mary Johnson, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix,

Arizona 85027.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mary Johnson, Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Phoenix

District Office, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027

(Phone: (602) 780-8090).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cyprus Bagdad Copper Mine is located near

the Town of Bagdad, about 60 miles northwest of Wickenburg on State

Highway 96. The existing mine is an open pit copper mine with flotation

mill tailings, low grade dump leaching, and a solvent extraction-

electro winning plant.

Two tailings facilities currently contain mill wastes. The current

tailings facilities are nearing capacity and will need to be closed and

expanded in two years.

The expansion of the Mammoth tailings would disturb approximately

410 additional acres. The Upper Mammoth tailings impoundment would

disturb approximately 1,440 acres. The south waste rock disposal area

would be located in Bevering Gulch and its tributaries, and the south

fork of Mineral Creek, and disturb approximately 660 acres. Planned

activities would take place on a combination of lands including public

and private surface and mineral lands. The proposed action involves a

total of approximately 305 acres of federal surface overlying federal

minerals lands, and 705 acres of state surface overlying federal

minerals lands.

Potential issues include surface and groundwater quality, air

quality, cultural resources, biological resources, visual resources,

and mine reclamation.

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be developed by a

third party contractor who has been approved by the Bureau of Land

Management. The contractor will use an interdisciplinary team to

develop the document. The Bureau of Land Management will have the

responsibility for the review of the EIS.

Complete records of all phases of the environmental documentation

process will be available for public review at the Bureau of Land

Management, Phoenix District Office, 2015 W. Deer Valley Road, Phoenix,

Arizona 85027, and at the Bureau of Land Management, Kingman Resource

Area, 2475 Beverly Ave., Kingman, Arizona 86401.

Dated: June 9, 1994.

David J. Miller,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 94-14626 Filed 6-15-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-32-M