Notice2025-10525
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Spring Valley Mine Project, 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
June 13, 2025
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In compliance 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) announces the availability of the final environmental impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Spring Valley Mine Project.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 113 (Friday, June 13, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 113 (Friday, June 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25074-25075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-10525]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[PO#4820000251; Order #02412-014-004-047181.0]
Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Spring
Valley Mine Project, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: In compliance 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)
announces the availability of the final environmental impact Statement
(EIS) for the proposed Spring Valley Mine Project.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a decision on the proposal until a
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal
Register. The EPA usually publishes its NOAs on Fridays.
ADDRESSES: The Final EIS and documents pertinent to this proposal are
available for review on the BLM ePlanning project website at <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030469/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2030469/510</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Sevon, Project Manager,
telephone (775) 623-1502; address 5100 East Winnemucca Boulevard,
Winnemucca, Nevada 89445; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#34464751425b5a745658591a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4b39382e3d24250b292726652c243d">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the
United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services for contacting Mr. Sevon. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
The BLM's purpose for the Federal action is to respond to Solidus
Resources, LLC's project proposal, as described in the Plan of
Operations and the applicable rights-of-way (ROWs), and to analyze the
potential environmental effects associated with the Proposed Action and
alternatives to the Proposed Action, consider reasonable alternatives,
and consider mitigation of environmental impacts.
The BLM's need for the Federal action is established by the BLM's
responsibilities under the surface management regulations at 43 CFR
part 3809 and under section 302(b) of the FLPMA, including Title V,
regarding ROWs (43 CFR part 2800), to respond to a request for a
surface use authorization under a Plan of Operations and two associated
Plans of Development for ROWs, and to take any action necessary to
prevent unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands as a result of
the actions taken to prospect, explore, assess, develop, and process
mineral resources that are subject to disposal under the mining laws on
public lands.
Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action and No Action alternative were carried forward.
Several alternatives were identified based on scoping issues and
suggestions. Alternatives included different mine design and layout,
renewable energy, water management and alternative access. Each
alternative was considered and dismissed from full analysis based on
feasibility and environmental concerns. Alternatives reviewed and
dismissed from full analysis are outlined in the Draft and Final EIS.
The Proposed Action includes the construction, operation,
reclamation, and closure of the Spring Valley Mine in Pershing County,
Nevada, and would include:
<bullet> One open pit and associated haul roads;
<bullet> Three waste rock disposal facilities;
<bullet> A heap leach pad, a process solution pond, and processing
facilities;
<bullet> The modification, re-route, and upgrade of Spring Valley
Road; and
<bullet> The realignment of two power transmission lines.
The Proposed Action would include 4,123 acres of disturbance on
land administered by the BLM and 2,109 acres on private land. The total
life of the project would be 29 years, including 2 years of
construction, 11 years of mining, 3 additional years of ore processing,
and 13 years of closure and reclamation activities. The Spring Valley
Mine Project would employ a contractor workforce of approximately 130
contractors during the construction period and approximately 250 full-
time employees during operations.
Under the No Action Alternative, the development of the Project
would not be authorized and Solidus Resources, LLC, would not
construct, operate, and close a new gold mine project.
[[Page 25075]]
Mitigation
Mitigation is included in the Final EIS for Cultural Resources,
Water Resources, and Wildlife Resources. Mitigation for cultural
resources was developed for potential effects to 20 National Register
of Historic Places eligible historic properties and includes
development of a Historic Properties Treatment Plan and Memorandum of
Availability. Mitigation for Water Resources was developed for surface
disturbance, fencing, and potential groundwater drawdown effects to
spring sites and includes monitoring for triggers, and different
mitigation types to reduce effects. Mitigation for wildlife was
developed for potential effects to desert kangaroo rats, greater sage-
grouse, and burrowing owls, and includes flushing burrows, use of the
State of Nevada Conservation Credit System, and installation of
artificial burrows.
Based on the analyses contained in the Final EIS for the proposed
Project, and after carefully considering input received from the public
and cooperating agencies, the BLM has selected the Proposed Action as
the BLM's preferred alternative and the No Action Alternative as the
environmentally preferred alternative.
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 the addition of clarifying text, but
did not significantly change proposed decisions.
(Authority: 43 CFR 46.415(c))
Samuel R. Burton,
District Manager, Winnemucca District Office.
[FR Doc. 2025-10525 Filed 6-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
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