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Carlota Copper Project, Tonto National Forest, Gila and Pinal Counties, AZ

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Carlota Copper Project, Tonto National Forest, Gila and Pina



[Federal Register: February 16, 1995]









DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE



Forest Service

 


Carlota Copper Project, Tonto National Forest, Gila and Pinal 
Counties, AZ



AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.



COOPERATING AGENCIES: Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, Los Angeles District, Arizona Field Office.
    Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.



ACTION: Revision of notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact 
statement.






SUMMARY: On June 9, 1992, the USDA, Forest Service, as lead agency, 
issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for a proposal to develop a mine for copper extraction 
in the Pinto Creek/Powers Gulch area in the Federal Register (57 FR 
24461). The purpose of this revised notice is to inform the publics of 
the following:


    

  1.  A revised release date for the draft and final EIS;

  2.  The availability of a Scoping Report document, and Update To 
Plan of Operations, a Closure and Reclamation Plan and a revised Mine 
Site Plan further describing changes to the proposal;

  3.  The additional of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the 
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality as cooperating agencies;

  4.  A change in the appeal regulations.
    The draft EIS is now expected to be completed and available for 
public review in January, 1995. The final EIS is expected to be 
available in June, 1995.
    
    Following several months of scoping and public meetings, a Scoping 
Report was completed in July, 1993, and mailed to all publics who had 
requested to be placed on the project mailing list. The initial plan of 
operations for the Carlota Mine was filed in February, 1992. As 
additional planning and engineering work was completed, and in response 
to agency and public comments and suggestions, the proponent submitted 
an Update to Plan of Operations in January, 1993, a revised Mine Site 
Plan dated 12/15/93, and a Closure and Reclamation Plan in June, 1994. 
Copies of the Scoping Report, Update to Plan of Operations, Mine Site 
Plan and Closure and Reclamation Plan are available for public review 
at the following locations: Forest Service Supervisor's Office, 
Phoenix, Arizona; Forest Service District Ranger's Office, Globe, 
Arizona.
    
    The revisions will increase ore production and extend the life of 
the project. Based on review of those revisions, no new issues were 
evident which were not identified in the initial public scoping. Upon 
completion of the draft EIS, copies will be distributed to interested 
and affected agencies, organizations, and members of the public for 
their review and comment. The EPA will publish a Notice of Availability 
of the draft EIS in the Federal Register. The comment period on the 
draft EIS will be 45 days from the date the EPA publishes the Notice of 
Availability. It is very important that those interested in this 
proposed action participate at that time.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Arizona Department of 
Environmental Quality are participating in the analysis process as 
cooperating agencies for the purposes of their permitting processes.
    Effective November 4, 1993, in the Federal Register (58 FR 58904), 
a new [[Page 9004]] appeal regulation become effective. The decision on 
this proposed action will be subject to Forest Service appeal 
regulations (36 CFR part 215).


RESPONSIBLE OFFICIAL: The responsible official who will make the 
decision regarding this proposal is Charles R. Bazan, Forest 
Supervisor, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E. McDowell, Phoenix, Arizona 
85006. He will decide under what circumstances the mining operations 
may proceed.


    
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The original plan proposed three open pits 
over 370 acres. The revised plan proposes four open pits over 435 
acres. Disturbance area has increased from approximately 1250 acres to 
1447 acres. The ore reserves have increased from 54-70 million tons to 
100 million tons. Mine rock (overburden or nonmineralized rock to be 
removed) increased from 130 million to 211 million tons, however, the 
extent of mine rock dumps will not be increased due to the proposed 
partial backfilling of the pits. The project life has increased from 
10-12 years to 18 years and the number of employees increased from 225 
to 280-300. The mining rate has increased from 19 million tons per year 
to 24 million tons per year. The separate leach solution and overflow 
ponds have been incorporated within the leach pad so only the raffinate 
solution pond will be exposed. The estimated average annual water 
requirement of 750 gallons per minute has not substantially increased 
although dry-period demands are estimated to reach 1200 gallons per 
minute. Locations of access roads, powerline corridors and facilities 
have also been relocated.


    
    Dated: December 15, 1994.
    
Charles R. Bazan,
    
Forest Supervisor.
    
[FR Doc. 94-3851 Filed 2-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M

 
 

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