Notice2021-23027
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, Caribou County, Idaho
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
October 22, 2021
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management BureauAgriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, and by this Notice is announcing the opening of the public comment period.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58686-58687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23027]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
[212.LLIDI00000.L1330000.EO0000.241A]
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Proposed Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, Caribou
County, Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior; and United States Forest
Service, Agriculture.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the
Forest Service (USFS) Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF) have
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed
Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine, and by this Notice is
announcing the opening of the public comment period.
DATES: To ensure consideration, the agencies must receive written
comments on the Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Project Draft
EIS by December 6, 2021. The BLM will hold a virtual public meeting on
November 8, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Standard Time).
Detailed information about how to participate in the meeting is
available at: <a href="https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ">https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ</a> (case sensitive).
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Husky 1 North Dry
Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft EIS by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ">https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ</a> (case sensitive).
<bullet> Mail: Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft EIS, c/
o Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Mine EIS, C/O Tetra Tech, 2525 Palmer Street,
Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59808.
Please reference ``Husky 1 North Dry Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft
EIS'' on all correspondence. A digital version of Husky 1 North Dry
Ridge Phosphate Mine Draft EIS is available at the project websites:
<bullet> BLM Land Use Planning and NEPA Register: <a href="https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ">https://go.usa.gov/x7HSJ</a> (case sensitive).
<bullet> Caribou-Targhee National Forest Current and Recent
Projects <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects">http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/ctnf/landmanagement/projects</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wes Gilmer, BLM Pocatello Field
Office,
[[Page 58687]]
4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204; telephone (208) 478-6369;
email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e592828c89888097a5878988cb828a93"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f780909e9b9a9285b7959b9ad9909881">[email protected]</span></a>; fax (208) 478-6376. Persons who use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact Mr. Gilmer. The FRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question
for Mr. Gilmer. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Itafos Conda LLC has submitted a Mine and
Reclamation Plan (MRP) for agency review for Federal phosphate leases
IDI-8289, IDI-05549, I-04 and IDI-0678 and a proposed modification
(enlargement) of lease IDI-05549 at the proposed Husky 1 North Dry
Ridge Phosphate Mine in Caribou County, Idaho. The BLM, as the Federal
lease administrator, is the lead agency, and the USFS is the co-lead
agency for preparing the EIS. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Idaho
Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Department of Lands, and
Idaho Governor's Office of Energy and Mineral Resources are cooperating
agencies.
The Proposed Action would mine the Federal phosphate leases as
outlined in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS evaluates alternatives to the
proposed action, including a no action alternative, and addresses
issues identified during public scoping.
The BLM and USFS will make separate but coordinated decisions
related to the proposed project. The BLM will approve, approve with
modifications, or deny the MRP and lease modification. The BLM will
base its decisions on public and agency input, any recommendations the
USFS may have regarding surface management of leased National Forest
System lands, and the Final EIS. The USFS will make recommendations to
the BLM concerning surface management and mitigation on leased lands
within the CTNF and will issue decisions on Special Use Authorizations
for off-lease mine support activities. A Forest Plan amendment would
also be necessary as outlined in the Draft EIS.
On December 23, 2020, the agencies published a Notice of Intent to
prepare an EIS in the Federal Register initiating a 30-day public
scoping period. The scoping process identified concerns related to
impacts to water resources and watersheds from potentially elevated
levels of selenium; effects to air quality, human health and safety,
socioeconomics, and wildlife; reclamation and financial assurance; and
mitigation and monitoring of mine operations.
The agencies have planned a virtual public meeting to summarize the
document and answer questions. The date, time, and instructions for
attending the virtual public meeting will be announced on the project
websites.
Comments regarding the adequacy of the Draft EIS must be submitted
by December 6, 2021. To assist the BLM and the USFS in identifying
issues and concerns related to this project, comments should be as
specific as possible.
Note that the portion of the proposed project related to Special
Use Authorizations for off-lease activities is subject to the USFS
objection process. This proposed project may be subject to the pre-
decisional administrative review process pursuant to 36 CFR 218
subparts A and B because Forest Plan amendments may be needed. Only
those who provide comment during this comment period or who have
previously submitted specific written comments on the Proposed Action,
either during scoping or other designated opportunity for public
comment, will be eligible as objectors (36 CFR 218.5(a) and 219.53
(a)). Appeal procedures found in 43 CFR 4 apply to any BLM decision on
the MRP or lease modification related Federal mineral leases.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 40 CFR 1500 through 1508; 43 CFR
46; 43 U.S.C. 1701; 43 CFR 3510; 43 CFR 3590.
Todd Kuck,
Acting District Manager, Idaho Falls District.
Melvin Bolling,
Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2021-23027 Filed 10-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GG-P
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