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Notice of Availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings Facility Final Environmental Impact Statement
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Notice of Availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Taili
[Federal Register: February 13, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 30)] [Notices]
[Page 5567-5568]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[NV-060-1990-01]Notice of Availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings Facility Final Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability for the Round Mountain Mill and Tailings Facility final environmental impact statement (EIS), for the Smoky Valley Common Operation, Nye County, Nevada.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102 (2) (C) of the National Environmental Policy Act, 40 CFR 1500-1508, and 43 CFR 3809, notice is given that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared and made available a Final EIS on the proposed Round Mountain Mill and Tailings Facility.
DATES: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will publish a Notice of Availability for this project in the Federal Register on February 16, 1996. That publication begins the official 30-day availability period for a Final EIS as required by 40 CFR 1506.10.
ADDRESSES: Correspondence may be addressed to: Bureau of Land Management, Battle Mountain District, Post Office Box 1420, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820, Attn.: Christopher J. Stubbs, Round Mountain EIS Project Manager. A limited number of copies of the Final EIS may be obtained at the same address or by calling Christopher J. Stubbs at (702) 635-4000. In addition, the Final EIS and supporting documentation are available for review at the following locations: BLM, Battle Mountain District Office, Battle Mountain, Nevada; BLM, Nevada State Office, Reno, Nevada; and the Getchell Library, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher J. Stubbs, Round Mountain EIS Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Post Office Box 1420, Battle Mountain, Nevada 89820, (702) 635-4000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Smoky Valley Common Operation has submitted a Plan of Operations Amendment for the construction, operation, and reclamation of a mill and tailings facility at the Round Mountain Mine. The mine currently consists of 4,767 acres of surface disturbance: 3,659 acres of land administered by the BLM, 515 acres of land administered by the Toiyabe National Forest, and 593 acres
[[Page 5568]]
of patented land owned by the Smoky Valley Common Operation. The proposed facilities would comprise an expansion of the existing operation at the Round Mountain Mine to improve the recovery of gold from ore that is being mined from the existing open pit. Ancillary facilities would include a new primary crusher; a power line; fresh water, reclaim water, and tailings pipelines; and a septic system. The proposed facilities would be located on approximately 757 acres of public land administered by the BLM, Battle Mountain District Office, Tonopah Resource Area. Construction is scheduled to begin in 1996; operation of the mill and tailings facility would begin in 1997 and continue until 2008.
This full-text Final EIS analyzes the environmental impacts associated with the proposed mill and tailings facility and ancillary facilities, a range management alternative, an alternative tailings impoundment site, and the no action alternative. In addition, the Final EIS analyzes potential impacts associated with pit dewatering and pit water quality, and the leach offload piles. Issues analyzed in the Final EIS include geology and minerals, water resources, soils and watershed, vegetation, wildlife and fisheries, range resources, paleontological resources, cultural resources and Native American traditional and religious values, air quality, access and land use, recreation and wilderness, social and economic values, visual resources, noise, and hazardous materials. Public participation has occurred throughout the EIS process. A Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register in August 1993, and an open scoping period was held for 120 days. Two public scoping meetings to solicit comments and ideas were held in November 1993, and a newsletter was issued to keep the public informed of the progress of the EIS. A Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was published in the Federal Register in September 1995. The Draft EIS was issued to the public and agencies in September 1995, and comments on the document were accepted during a 60-day comment period. Comments were also accepted during two public comment meetings on the Draft EIS, held in October 1995.
The Final EIS contains in its entirety the analyses originally published in the Draft EIS as well as responses to public comments received during the public comment period. The comments received include 15 letters and 2 public meeting transcripts, which are reproduced in the Final EIS. These comments have been responded to by clarifying or updating the analyses, making factual revisions, or explaining why a comment does not warrant further response. Comments on the Final EIS, if any, will be reviewed to determine if they have merit (i.e., if they identify significant issues not previously addressed or introduce new significant information). If so, the official responsible for preparing the EIS will determine whether additional analysis is warranted. If not, a Record of Decision will be issued following the 30-day availability period for this Final EIS. A copy of the Final EIS will be sent to all individuals, agencies, and groups who have expressed interest in the project or as mandated by regulation or policy.Dated: February 5, 1996.
Thomas H. Jury,
Acting District Manager.
[FR Doc. 96-3091 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P