PUBLIC SCOPING SUMMARY REPORT SMOKY CANYON MINE PANELS F & G LEASE AND MINE MODIFICATION PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Prepared for: Bureau of Land Management Caribou-Targhee National Forest Pocatello Field Office Soda Springs and Montpelier Ranger Districts Prepared by: JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. 8160 S. Highland Drive Sandy, Utah 84093 August 2013 PUBLIC SCOPING SUMMARY SMOKY CANYON MINE PANELS F & G LEASE AND MINE PLAN MODIFICATION EIS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background.................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Scoping for EIS ............................................................................................................ 1 2.0 INITIAL COMMENT IDENTIFICATION ..................................................................... 3 2.1 Purpose and Need ....................................................................................................... 3 2.2 Project History ............................................................................................................. 3 2.3 Proposed Action .......................................................................................................... 3 2.4 Alternatives to the Proposed Action ............................................................................. 5 2.5 Monitoring and Mitigation ............................................................................................. 5 2.6 Reclamation and Financial Assurance ......................................................................... 5 2.7 General Comments ...................................................................................................... 6 2.8 Air Resources and Climate Change ............................................................................. 6 2.9 Noise ........................................................................................................................... 6 2.10 Water Resources including Watersheds ...................................................................... 6 2.11 Selenium ...................................................................................................................... 8 2.12 Vegetation ................................................................................................................... 9 2.13 Wetlands and Riparian Areas ...................................................................................... 9 2.14 TES Species ...............................................................................................................10 2.15 Roadless Areas ..........................................................................................................10 2.16 Native American Concerns .........................................................................................10 2.17 Social and Economic Resources .................................................................................10 2.18 Transportation .............................................................................................................10 2.19 Visual Resources ........................................................................................................11 2.20 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................................11 2.21 Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitment of Resources .............................................11 3.0 RESPONDENTS ..................................................................................................... 11 4.0 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................ 13 Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine Panels F & G Lease and Mine Modification EIS ii Scoping Summary Report August 2013 Appendix A – NOI, Legal Notice, Press Release, Scoping Letter, Website Content, Scoping Handout, and Scoping Meeting Posters Appendix B – Initial Scoping Mailing List Appendix C – Scoping Meeting Attendance Lists Appendix D – Public Comments – Responses to Scoping Appendix E – Revised EIS Mailing List Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine Panels F & G Lease and Mine Modification EIS iii Scoping Summary Report August 2013 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background In 2007, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pocatello Field Office and the Caribou- Targhee National Forest (CTNF) issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Smoky Canyon Mine Panels F and G Extension for development of phosphate leases on the CTNF. The Record of Decisions (ROD) for the project were subsequently issued in 2008. Based on Simplot’s original proposed action for mining in Panels F and G, the 2007 Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels F and G FEIS included analysis of potential impacts from a 64-acre overburden disposal area (ODA) east of Panel G. A total of 18-acres of this ODA were off-lease. Following the pre-screening requirements required in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 36 CFR 251.54(e)(ix), the U.S. Forest Service (FS) determined it could not authorize the permanent disposal of waste rock off lease (FS 2008). The BLM did not approve a lease modification for the ODA at that time because the area did not meet the criteria for a lease modification as per the requirements of 43 CFR 3510.12. As stated in the BLM ROD for the 2007 FEIS: ... “the impacts of the off-lease overburden storage were analyzed in the FEIS and if regulations change in the future, a separate decision could be considered at that time by both agencies. Otherwise, Simplot will have to submit a revised dump design for BLM and FS consideration prior to construction of Panel G.” In 2009, the BLM finalized regulations at 43 CFR 3510.12(d)(3)(ii) allowing the modification of a lease for purposes of permanent disposal of overburden materials. Simplot has requested to modify the Panel G phosphate Lease I-01441 on the CTNF, meeting the criteria specified in this regulation. In addition, Simplot is proposing to construct and use an ore conveyance system between Panel F and the existing mill, and utilize a geo-synthetic clay laminate liner (GCLL) in Panel G instead of the currently approved geologic cover. The BLM Pocatello Field Office, in conjunction with the CTNF, has determined that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine potential environmental consequences. JBR Environmental Consultants, Inc. (JBR) is the third- party EIS contractor for the project. 1.2 Scoping for EIS Prior to initiation of formal scoping, as a part of routine contacts, the BLM introduced the proposed project to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the Idaho Roadless Council on February 20 and March 4, 2013, respectively. The Notice of Intent (NOI) for the Smoky Canyon Mine Panels F and G Lease and Mine Modification Project EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2013 (Appendix A). Simplot Smoky Canyon Mine Panels F & G Lease and Mine Modification EIS 1 Scoping Summary Report August 2013 A legal notice (Appendix A) was published in local newspapers as follows: Star Valley Independent Afton, Wyoming June 26, 2013 Idaho State Journal Pocatello, Idaho June 27, 2013 A news release was submitted to 28 television stations, radio stations, and newspapers (Appendix A) on June 24, 2013. The public mailing list was compiled and letters (Appendix A) were sent to 81 interested individuals, agencies, and groups. The EIS scoping mailing list is included as Appendix B. Native American Consultation was also initiated during the scoping period, with a scoping letter sent certified mail to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes on June 24, 2013 (Appendix A). Three open house-style public meetings were held as scheduled: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 Afton Civic Center, Afton, Wyoming Thursday, July 11, 2013 BLM Offices, Pocatello, Idaho Friday, July 12, 2013 Shoshone-Bannock Hotel Event Center, Fort Hall, Idaho The open house meetings provided a project description, maps of the project area, and a forum for exchange of information and ideas or concerns related to the project. Comment forms were available at the meetings. Agency, project proponent, and consultant representatives were present including: Diane Wheeler representing the FS and BLM, Jeff Cundick of the BLM; and Brian Buck and Greg Brown of JBR. Diane Wheeler, Brian Buck, and Greg Brown attended all three meetings. Lori Hamann of Simplot attended the Afton and Pocatello meetings; Dennis Facer of Simplot attended the Pocatello meeting, and Ron Hager, Dustin Hansen, Scott Lusty, and Grant Williams of Simplot attended the Afton meeting. Lists of individuals who signed attendance sheets at the public meetings are included in Appendix C. Scoping information was also provided on the BLM Land Use Planning and NEPA Register at https://www.blm.gov/epl-font-office/eplanning/nepa/nepa_register.do (Appendix A). Information was included on the CTNF Current and Recent Projects website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects and included in the FS Schedule of Proposed Actions for the CTNF. Public comments regarding the proposed project were solicited and compiled in this document to help determine the concerns, issues, and any potential alternatives for evaluation in the environmental analysis. Hard copy comments were requested to be received on or before July 26, 2013 and were directed to: c/o JBR Environmental,