Notice of intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the South Pipeline Mining Plan of Operations

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[NV-060-1990-01; N64-93-001P (96-2A)]

Notice of intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for

the South Pipeline Mining Plan of Operations

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

for the Cortez Gold Mines (Cortez) South Pipeline Project for mining in

Lander 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 (NEPA) of 1969 as amended, and to 43 Code of Federal

Regulations Part 3809, the Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain

Field Office (BLM) will be directing the preparation of an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed expansion and

development of an open pit gold mine and associated facilities, in

Lander County, Nevada. The EIS will be prepared by a third party

consultant and funded by the proponent, Cortez. The BLM invites

comments and suggestions on the scope of the analysis.

DATES: There will be two public scoping meetings hosted by the BLM in

order to solicit input from the public about the South Pipeline

Project. The first meeting will be held at the BLM Battle Mountain

Field Office, at 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, Nevada on Tuesday

evening, December 10, 1996 from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The second

meeting will be held at the Crescent Valley Senior Center, 6024 Ruby

Way, Crescent Valley, Nevada on Wednesday evening, December 11, 1996,

from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The purpose of these meetings is to

identify issues to be addressed in the EIS, identify viable possible

alternatives, and to encourage public participation in the NEPA

process. BLM representatives will present an overview of the NEPA

process, public involvement, and anticipated environmental impacts

resulting from the project. Cortez representatives will be summarizing

the Plan of Operations. Additional briefing meetings will be held as

necessary. Written comments on the scope of the EIS will be accepted

through January 31, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Scoping comments may be sent to: BLM, Battle Mountain

District Manager, 50 Bastian Rd., P.O. Box 1420, Battle Mountain,

Nevada 89820 ATTN: Dave Davis.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dave Davis, Project Manager, or Helen

Mary Johnson, Geologist, at (702) 635-4000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Cortez has recently submitted a proposal to

expand their Pipeline mining facility located in southern Crescent

Valley, Lander County, Nevada. The project will consist of an expansion

of the current Pipeline Gold Mine Project. The South Pipeline Expansion

will consist of a new open pit and associated dewatering facilities,

new haul roads, expansion of the permitted Pipeline waste rock

facility, a new heap leach facility, and soil stockpiles. Existing

facilities will also be used. These facilities include the permitted

reinfiltration ponds and conveyance systems, either the Cortez or

Pipeline mills (or both), existing haul roads, the Pipeline tailings/

heap leach facility, the Cortez tailings facility, and ancillary

facilities such as offices, shops, power lines, water lines, etc. Total

disturbance for the South Pipeline Plan Amendment as currently proposed

is estimated to be 3,162 acres.

Potentially significant and significant direct, indirect,

cumulative and residual impacts from the proposal will be analyzed in

the EIS. Significant issues to be addressed in the EIS include those

relating to: surface and ground water issues, air quality, cultural

resources, and social and economic values. A significant issue that

will be one of the focuses of the EIS will be the formation of a pit

lake or pit lakes at the end of mining. Currently two large pit lakes

separated by a common highwall or one large pit lake encompassing both

the Pipeline and South Pipeline pits are possible post-mining

scenarios. Partial backfilling of the Pipeline open pit with material

from the South Pipeline Pit will also be evaluated. Additional

significant issues to be addressed may arise during the scoping

process. Federal, state, and local agencies and other individuals or

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

decision on this plan of operation are invited to participate in the

scoping process.

Dated: November 19, 1996.

Wayne King,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 96-30143 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P