Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[NV-020-4191-03]

Intent To Prepare Environmental Impact Statement

agency: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

action: Notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) for a mining Plan of Operations (POO) for the Lone Tree Mine

project, Humboldt County, Nevada; and notice of scoping period and

public meetings.

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summary: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969, and 43 CFR part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management

(BLM) will be directing the preparation of an EIS for the proposed

expansion of a gold mine in Humboldt County, Nevada. This EIS will be

prepared by contract and funded by the proponent, Santa Fe Pacific Gold

Corporation. Public meetings will be held to identify issues to be

addressed in the EIS, and to encourage public participation in the

review process. Representatives of the BLM and Santa Fe Pacific Gold

Corporation will be summarizing the POO and accepting comments from the

audience. The BLM invites comments and suggestions on the scope of the

analysis.

dates: Scoping meetings will be held March 8, 1994, at the Humboldt

County Library in Winnemucca, Nevada; and on March 9, 1994, at the

Airport Plaza Hotel on 1981 Terminal Way, Reno, Nevada. Both meetings

will be held from 7-9 p.m. each night. Written comments on the Plan of

Operations and the scope of the EIS will be accepted until April 30,

1994. The Draft EIS is expected to be completed by September of 1994,

at which time the document will be made available for public review and

comment.

addresses: Scoping comments may be sent to: District Manager, 705 E.

4th Street, Winnemucca, NV 89445, ATTN: Gerald Mortiz, Project

Coordinator.

for further information contact: Gerald Moritz, 705 E. 4th Street,

Winnemucca, NV 89445, (702) 623-1500.

supplementary information: Santa Fe Pacific Gold Corporation of

Albuquerque, New Mexico has submitted to the Winnemucca District Office

of the BLM, a POO for expansion of their existing gold mine, the Lone

Tree Mine (LTM). The POO describes proposed expansion of LTM mining

operations in Humboldt County, approximately 34 miles east of

Winnemucca, Nevada. A total of approximately 55 million tons of ore and

370 million tons of barren (nongold-bearing) rock may be excavated

during the 15 year mine life. Total surface disturbance for all mine

facilities would be about 2251 acres. Existing key production

facilities would include the mine pits, barren rock piles, ore

crushing, conveying, grinding, and oxidation circuits, heap leach pads

and solution ponds, gold extraction and refining equipment, and

tailings disposal facilities. Nonprocessing ancillary facilities to

support the mining activities include administration, laboratory,

warehouse, maintenance shop buildings, fuel, oil, reagent and water

storage facilities and other small structures required for operations.

This EIS will address the issues of geology, minerals, soils, water

resources, vegetation, wildlife, grazing management, air quality,

aesthetic resources, cultural resources, paleontological resources,

land use, access, recreation, social and economic values related to

expansion.

Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or

organizations who may be interested in or affected by the BLM's

decision on the POO are invited to participate in the scoping process.

The Authorized Officer will respond to public input and comment as part

of the final EIS. The decision regarding the proposal will be recorded

as a Record of Decision, which is subject to appeal under 43 CFR part

4.

Dated: February 7, 1994.

Ron Wenker,

District Manager, Winnemucca.

[FR Doc. 94-3655 Filed 2-16-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-HC-M