Thompson Creek Mine Environmental Impact Statement Scoping And

45652 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 3, 2010 / Notices The BLM will evaluate identified Bureau of Land Management (BLM), • E-mail: [email protected]; issues to be addressed in the plan, and Challis Field Office, Idaho intends to • Fax: (801) 942–1852, attention will place them into one of three prepare an Environmental Impact Brian Buck; or categories: Statement (EIS) to analyze the potential • Mail: Thompson Creek Mine EIS, 1. Issues to be resolved in the plan; environmental effects of the proposed c/o Brian Buck, JBR Environmental 2. Issues to be resolved through policy approval by the BLM and U.S. Forest Consultants, 8160 South Highland or administrative action; or Service (Forest Service) of a modified Drive, Sandy, Utah 84093. 3. Issues beyond the scope of this mining plan of operations (MMPO) for The public may also examine plan. A public comment that suggests the Thompson Creek molybdenum mine documents pertinent to the proposed developing management for one of the in Custer County, Idaho and the actions at the BLM Challis Field Office, resource uses from which the area was potential for disposal of BLM- 1151 Blue Mountain Road, Challis, withdrawn by the legislation would administered public lands. The MMPO Idaho 83226 during regular business likely fall within this category. would allow an approximate 15-year hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday The BLM will provide an explanation extension of the mine life and an through Friday, except Federal holidays. in the Draft RMP/EIS as to why an issue expansion of some facilities, requiring Project information and documents will was placed in category two or three. The additional surface disturbance on also be available on the following Web public is also encouraged to help approximately 350 acres of Federal site: http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/info/ identify any management questions and lands and approximately 80 acres of nepa/nepa/thompson_creek_mine.html. concerns that should be addressed in private land. The EIS will include the plan. The BLM will work analysis of the potential environmental FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: collaboratively with interested parties to effects to waters of the United States BLM Challis Field Office, telephone identify the management decisions that that could occur under the MMPO. The (208) 879–6200; address 1151 Blue are best suited to local, regional, and Thompson Creek Mining Company Mountain Road, Challis, Idaho 83226. national needs and concerns. (TCMC), has also proposed to exchange Individuals who use telecommunication The BLM will use an interdisciplinary 900 acres of private lands owned by devices for the deaf (TDD) may call the approach to develop the plan in order TCMC in Custer and Bannock counties Federal Information Relay Service to consider the variety of resource issues for 5,000 acres of BLM-administered (FIRS) at (800) 877–8339 between 8 a.m. and concerns identified. Specialists public land in the vicinity of the mine and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday with expertise in the following in Custer County, including the BLM- through Friday. disciplines will be involved in the administered public land involved in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TCMC planning process: rangeland the MMPO. The EIS will also evaluate owns and operates the Thompson Creek management, minerals and geology, a proposed amendment to the BLM molybdenum mine, located 7 miles forestry, outdoor recreation, wilderness, Challis Field Office 1999 Resource northwest of Clayton and 21 miles archaeology, paleontology, wildlife and Management Plan (RMP), to identify if southwest of Challis in Custer County, fisheries, lands and realty, hydrology, the public land involved would be Idaho. The mine has been in operation soils, sociology and economics. available for disposal pursuant to the since 1981 and is permitted for about Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610. FLPMA. 3,400 acres of surface disturbance, of DATES: This notice initiates the public which approximately 2,300 acres are Lynn E. Rust, scoping process for the EIS. To be private land and approximately 1,100 Acting State Director. included in the Draft EIS comments acres are Federal lands administered by [FR Doc. 2010–19060 Filed 8–2–10; 8:45 am] must be submitted in writing using any the BLM and the Forest Service. BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P of the methods described in the TCMC has proposed to modify its ADDRESSES section below until 30 days mining plan of operations. The after publication of this notice in the proposed MMPO would allow mining to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Federal Register or 30 days after the last be extended by about 15 years, ending public meeting held to obtain scoping Bureau of Land Management around 2030. The MMPO would expand input, whichever is later. When a public two waste rock storage facilities and the [LLIDI03000.L71220000.EX0000. meeting is held, documentation of that tailings impoundment, requiring XXXX.LVTFD0977180; IDI–33145, IDI–35728] meeting and the list of attendees will be additional surface disturbance on about available to the public for 30 days so 350 acres of Federal lands, and 80 acres Notice of Intent To Prepare an that any participant who wishes to of private land. As a separate action Environmental Impact Statement and clarify the views he or she expressed TCMC has proposed to exchange 900 Resource Management Plan may do so. The date(s) and location(s) acres of private land owned by TCMC in Amendment for the Proposed of any public scoping meetings will be Custer and Bannock counties for 5,000 Modification to the Thompson Creek announced at least 15 days in advance acres of BLM-administered land near Mine Plan of Operations, Section 404 of the meetings through local media, the mine in Custer County. The BLM is Clean Water Act Permit Application, newspapers, individual mailing, and the currently conducting a feasibility and Public Land Disposal, Custer and following BLM Web site: http://www. analysis of the proposed exchange. Bannock Counties, ID blm.gov/id/st/en/info/nepa/nepa/ Upon completion of the feasibility _ _ AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, thompson creek mine.html. Additional analysis, the BLM may enter into an Interior. opportunities for public participation Agreement to Initiate a Land Exchange will be provided upon publication of ACTION: Notice of Intent. with TCMC and subsequently publish a the Draft EIS. separate Notice of Exchange Proposal SUMMARY: In compliance with the ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (NOEP) in the newspapers servicing National Environmental Policy Act of regarding the proposed actions and Custer and Bannock counties. Public 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the planning criteria, and request to have comments received in response to the Federal Land Policy and Management your name added to the mailing list for NOEP would be considered in the EIS Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the the EIS by any of the following methods: if the NOEP is issued. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:41 Aug 02, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 148 / Tuesday, August 3, 2010 / Notices 45653 In response to these proposals (1) The various aspects of the proposed MMPO possible (i.e., clearly articulate concerns BLM will decide whether to approve the and public land disposal will be and contentions) to best assist in the portion of the MMPO involving BLM- analyzed. Alternatives identified to date NEPA process. Before including your administered public land under BLM for the MMPO include using different address, phone number, e-mail address, regulations at 43 CFR 3809; (2) the locations for waste rock storage and or other personal identifying Forest Service will decide whether to alternative reclamation measures. information in your comment, you approve the portion of the MMPO Alternatives identified to date for the should be aware that your entire involving National Forest System lands possible public land disposal include comment—including your personal under Forest Service regulations at 36 exchange of private land for public land; identifying information—may be made CFR part 228 subpart A; (3) the USACE how the public and private lands would publicly available at any time. While will decide whether to issue a permit be managed if these lands were you may ask us in your comment to under section 404 of the CWA and exchanged, including analysis of withhold your personal identifying USACE regulations at 33 CFR part 320 potential impacts of conducting the information from public review, we to discharge fill materials into waters of mining operations identified in the cannot guarantee that we will be able to the United States; (4) the BLM will proposed MMPO under the applicable do so. decide whether to amend the Challis statutory and regulatory authority; and Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 33 CFR RMP pursuant to Section 202 of FLPMA possible variations in the amount of 325.3; 43 CFR 1610.2. and BLM regulations at 43 CFR part public land and/or restrictions on the 1600, and identify the public land public land that might be exchanged. David Rosenkrance, involved for disposal; and (5) the BLM The planning criteria for the RMP Field Manager. will decide whether to approve a land amendment would include that lands [FR Doc. 2010–19054 Filed 8–2–10; 8:45 am] disposal action. identified for disposal would serve the BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P The authorizations by the Forest national interest and that newly Service for National Forest System lands acquired lands or interests in lands and USACE may be required to would be managed for their highest DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR implement the MMPO regardless of potential or for the purposes for which whether the BLM approves a land they were acquired.

Load more