Notice2021-16548
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment, White Pine County, Nevada
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 6, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District (EYDO), Nevada, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment project and by this notice is announcing its availability.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 149 (Friday, August 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43267-43268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-16548]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLNVL0000-L51100000-GN0000-LVEMF2105850-21X MO #4500151979]
Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment, White
Pine County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely
District (EYDO), Nevada, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) for the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment
project and by this notice is announcing its availability.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a
minimum of 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes
its notice of availability of the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations
Amendment Final EIS DOI-BLM-NV-L060-2020-0008-EIS in the Federal
Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment and the
Final EIS are available for public inspection on the internet at
<a href="https://go.usa.gov/xvYad">https://go.usa.gov/xvYad</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about the proposed
project contact Ms. Tiera Arbogast, Planning & Environmental
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management Ely District Office, telephone
775-289-1872, email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cbbfaab9a9a4acaab8bf8ba9a7a6e5aca4bd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cdb9acbfafa2aaacbeb98dafa1a0e3aaa2bb">[email protected]</span></a>, or address: 702 North
Industrial Way, Ely, Nevada 89301. Persons who use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at
1-800-877-8339 to contact Ms. Arbogast during normal business hours.
The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during
normal business hours. Normal business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
EYDO, Ely, Nevada, has published a Final EIS for the Robinson Mine Plan
of Operations Amendment project. The Robinson Mine is an 8,887-acre
copper mining operation adjacent to Ruth, Nevada, seven miles west of
Ely, Nevada, via U.S. Route 50.
KGHM Robinson Nevada Mining Company (KGHM Robinson) is proposing
additional development at the Robinson Mine to extend mine life
approximately four additional years beyond its currently anticipated
permanent closure in 2024. To accomplish this, the company is proposing
renewed mining in the eastern portions of its privately-owned Liberty
Pit and an authorization by the BLM to access and develop two specific
areas of nearby BLM-managed public land on which to dispose newly
generated waste rock.
Under the BLM Preferred Alternative, KGHM Robinson would be
permitted to develop approximately 260 acres of BLM-managed lands
immediately south of the Robinson Mine to serve as the King Waste Rock
Dump. This alternative would also include renewed dewatering and
expanded mining operations in the eastern portions of KGHM Robinson's
privately owned Liberty Pit area as well as approval to develop
approximately 545 acres of BLM-managed land and 94 acres of private
land adjacent to the Giroux Wash Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). These
areas would be used for obtaining borrow material for the previously
approved increase in height of the TSF main impoundment and perimeter
dams, as well as for growth media (i.e., topsoil) storage for final
reclamation. Approval of this alternative would result in an additional
793 acres of new disturbance on BLM-managed lands as well as
disturbance on approximately 170 acres of KGHM Robinson-owned private
lands, for a total of 963 acres of new surface disturbance. Active life
of the Robinson Mine would be extended to 2028. The resource impacts
for Alternative B were considered the most environmentally preferred
when compared to impacts associated with cultural resources,
geochemistry and groundwater, waste rock dump construction, and Greater
sage-grouse habitat under other alternatives.
Under the No Action Alternative (Alternative A) the BLM would not
approve the 2019 Robinson Mine Plan of Operations Amendment as written.
Although KGHM Robinson could continue mining on its own private lands,
no additional expansion onto BLM-managed public lands would be
permitted. Without additional areas on which to dispose waste rock
generated by continued mining, or the ability to obtain substantial
additional volumes of soil to use in increasing the height of the
primary impoundment and perimeter
[[Page 43268]]
dams at the Giroux Wash Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), KGHM Robinson
estimates that active operations at the Robinson Mine would cease in
2024.
The Reduced King Waste Rock Dump (WRD) and North Tripp WRD
(Alternative C) would keep all project elements described in the 2019
Plan Amendment, including both the North Tripp and King WRDs; however,
the allowable footprint of the King WRD would be reduced from the 260
acres under the BLM Preferred Alternative to 234 acres under this
alternative. Specifically, Alternative C would eliminate all proposed
King WRD development east of County Road 44A. The North Tripp WRD would
be expanded onto approximately 102 acres of BLM-managed public lands
and 67 private acres. As with the BLM Preferred Alternative, this
alternative would include dewatering and renewed mining in the eastern
portions of the Liberty Pit and development of approximately 545 acres
of BLM-managed public land and 94 private acres adjacent to the Giroux
Wash TSF. This alternative would result in approximately 869 acres of
new disturbance on BLM-managed public lands and 237 acres of KGHM-owned
private lands, for a total of approximately 1,106 acres of new surface
disturbance. As with the BLM Preferred Alternative, mine life would be
extended to 2028.
The Ruth East Backfill and Reduced King WRD Alternative
(Alternative D) is similar to Alternative B, the BLM Preferred
Alternative. Alternative D would include renewed dewatering and
expanded mining operations in the eastern portions of the Liberty Pit
as well as approval for KGHM Robinson to develop a total of
approximately 639 acres of mixed public and private land adjacent to
the Giroux Wash TSF. Alternative D, like Alternative C, would include
the reduced 234-acre King WRD. Alternative D would not, however,
include development of the North Tripp WRD. Rather, additional waste
rock generated during continued mining would be disposed within
approximately 160 acres of KGHM-owned lands within the Ruth East Pit.
Approval of Alternative D would therefore result in approximately 767
acres of new surface disturbance on BLM-managed lands and 330 acres of
KGHM-owned private lands, for a total of approximately 1,097 acres. As
with the BLM Preferred Alternative and Alternative C, mine life would
be extended to 2028.
The Notice of Intent for this project also included the BLM's
proposal to amend the Ely District Resource Management Plan for Visual
Resource Management classes. During scoping, however, the BLM
determined that a Resource Management Plan amendment is not required,
and therefore it is no longer being analyzed as part of this Final EIS.
On September 14, 2020, the Council on Environmental Quality's revision
to the NEPA Regulations went into effect. The final rule does not apply
to the NEPA analysis for the Robinson Mine Plan of Operations
Amendment, as it began prior to September 14, 2020.
A Notice of Availability of the Draft EIS for the proposed project
was published in the Federal Register on December 4, 2020 (85 FR
78351). A virtual public meeting was held during the comment period.
The BLM received 18 public comment documents during the 45-day comment
period. The documents contained 56 unique and substantive comments
which included concerns on mine closure and reclamation planning,
greater sage grouse protection, general wildlife issues, mitigation
measures, and geochemistry issues primarily related to pit lakes and
assumed contaminant seepage. Comments on the Draft EIS received from
the public and internal BLM review were considered and incorporated, as
appropriate, into the Final EIS. Public comments resulted in
corrections or the addition of clarifying text but did not change the
proposed action.
The BLM has consulted with the Nevada State Historic Preservation
Office (SHPO) on the Project in accordance with the 2014 State Protocol
Agreement between the BLM and Nevada SHPO for Implementing the National
Historic Preservation Act. The BLM has determined that the Project
would cause adverse effects to eight historic properties and five
unevaluated archaeological resources. The BLM and Nevada SHPO executed
a Programmatic Agreement in 2016 to resolve adverse effects to cultural
resources in the Robinson Nevada Mining Company Area of Potential
Effect. The 2016 programmatic agreement outlines the process by which
these resources will be evaluated and mitigated. BLM has consulted with
SHPO on the mitigation measures for these sites and concurred upon the
treatment. The specific actions necessary to resolve adverse effects to
historic properties will be carried out prior to Project
implementation.
The BLM has initiated ongoing consultation with Indian tribes on a
government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175
and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust
assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due
consideration and have been analyzed in the Final EIS.
(Authority: 40 CFR 1502)
Robbie McAboy,
District Manager, Ely District Office.
[FR Doc. 2021-16548 Filed 8-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-HC-P
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