Notice2025-15310
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed South Railroad Mine Project, Elko County, Nevada
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Published
August 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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District, Tuscarora Field Office, Elko, Nevada, intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the effects of authorizing Gold Standard Ventures (US) Inc.'s South Railroad Mine Project in Elko County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 154 (Wednesday, August 13, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 13, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38988-38990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15310]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516; #O2412-014-004-047181.1]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed South Railroad Mine Project, Elko County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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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, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District,
Tuscarora Field Office, Elko, Nevada, intends to prepare an
environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the effects of
authorizing Gold Standard Ventures (US) Inc.'s South Railroad Mine
Project in Elko County, Nevada. This notice announces the beginning of
the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues.
DATES: The BLM requests that the public submit comments concerning the
scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of
relevant information, and studies by September 12, 2025. Public
meetings will be held September 3, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. PST and
again on the same date from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. PST at the California
Trail Center, 1 Interpretive Center Way, Elko, NV 89801. To afford the
BLM the opportunity to consider comments in the EIS, please ensure your
comments are received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period
or 15 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the South Railroad Mine
Project by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038636/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038636/510</a>.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2f0feffedfce4edf7fef6fdede1fde7e6fae0f3fbfee0fdf3f6fffbfcf7edf7fbe1f2d0dedf9cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="743638392b3a222b3138303b2b273b21203c26353d38263b3530393d3a312b313d27341618195a131b02">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> Mail: BLM Tuscarora Field Office, Attn: South Railroad
EIS, 3900 East Idaho Street, Elko, NV 89801.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038636/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038636/510</a> and at the
Tuscarora Field Office at the above address or during the in-person
public meetings at the California Trail Center, 1 Interpretive Way,
Elko, NV 89801.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evan Allen, Planning and Environmental
Coordinator, telephone: (775) 861-6593; address: 1340 Financial
Boulevard, Reno, Nevada 89502; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e5b4d5f52525b507e5c525310595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e58096848989808ba5878988cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>. Contact Mr.
Allen to have your name added to our mailing list. 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. Allen. 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: The BLM will consider authorizing Gold
Standard Ventures (US) Inc.'s Plan of Operations for the South Railroad
Mine Project located in the Pi[ntilde]on Range, approximately 25 miles
southwest of Elko, Nevada, in Elko County. The Proposed Action would
include construction, operation, reclamation, and closure of a new gold
and silver mine and its associated facilities.
The Plan of Operations boundary would include approximately 8,548
acres, of which, approximately 4,624 acres are on BLM-administered
lands and approximately 3,924 acres are on private lands. The total
life of the Proposed Action is estimated to be 16.5 years.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The BLM's purpose for the action is to respond to Gold Standard
Ventures (US) Inc.'s proposal as described in their
[[Page 38989]]
Plan of Operations for the South Railroad Mine Project and to analyze
the potential environmental effects associated with the Proposed Action
and alternatives to the Proposed Action, consider reasonable
alternatives, and develop and consider mitigation when necessary to
mitigate environmental effects. The BLM's need for the action is
established by its responsibilities under section 302 of the Federal
Land Policy Management Act and the BLM Surface Management Regulations
at 43 CFR subpart 3809, and by the BLM's responsibility to ensure that
operations under the General Mining Law of 1872 prevent unnecessary or
undue degradation of public lands.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action is to construct, operate, reclaim, and close a
new gold and silver mine from which ore would be extracted using
conventional surface mining techniques and associated facilities. The
Plan of Operations boundary would cover approximately 8,548 acres on
approximately 4,624 acres of BLM-administered lands and approximately
3,924 acres of private land.
The access road would include a portion of Lucky Nugget 2 Road, BLM
Road 1119, County Road 720 (Bullion Road), and BLM Road 1053.
The proposed life of the Project is approximately 16.5 years and
includes construction for approximately 1.5 years, mine operations for
approximately 10 years, and reclamation and closure for approximately 5
years. Monitoring would continue, as necessary. Construction is
estimated to employ up to 600 people, and mine operations would employ
approximately 300 people.
The Proposed Action facilities include:
<bullet> Four open pits (Dark Star North, Dark Star Main, Pinion
North, Pinion Main), 2 of which would require dewatering and result in
pit lakes after mine closure;
<bullet> Three Waste Rock Disposal Facilities;
<bullet> A limestone quarry;
<bullet> An ore crushing and conveying system;
<bullet> Lime and cement silos and ore agglomeration facility;
<bullet> Ore, clay, and growth media stockpiles;
<bullet> An on-site power plant and substation;
<bullet> A heap leach facility with solution channels, associated
process solution tanks, and ponds;
<bullet> A water supply and dewatering system;
<bullet> Stormwater diversion ditches and stormwater sediment
basins;
<bullet> A water treatment plant;
<bullet> Processing facilities composed of pumps and pipelines;
adsorption, desorption, and recovery plant; refinery; and an assay
laboratory;
<bullet> Access and haul roads;
<bullet> Ancillary facilities composed of the following: ready
line; maintenance area; reagent and fuel storage; storage and laydown
yards; explosive magazines; meteorological station; warehouse; truck
maintenance shop; truck wash; offices; workshop; changing and lunch
facilities; administration and security building; and solid and
hazardous waste management facilities; and
<bullet> Evapotranspiration cells developed during reclamation and
closure.
Existing surface disturbance associated with the previously
authorized South Railroad Exploration Plan of Operations would be
overlapped by the proposed mine features within the mine area. As such,
the existing disturbance would be incorporated into the Proposed
Action. The South Railroad Exploration Plan of Operations would remain
authorized for up to 500 acres of exploration disturbance.
While the proposed Plan of Operations boundary would cover
approximately 8,548 acres, the proposed surface disturbance within that
boundary for mine facilities and access would result in 1,770 acres of
surface disturbance. Of this, approximately 931 acres are on BLM-
administered lands and approximately 839 are on private land.
Approximately 1,267 acres of the surface disturbance would be
temporary/reclaimed and 503 acres of permanent disturbance would remain
when the mine is closed.
The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well
as suggestions for additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
The analysis in the EIS will focus on potential effects to air
quality; cultural resources; water resources; hazardous materials and
solid waste; livestock grazing; noise and vibration; recreation and
wilderness; social and economic values; soils and reclamation;
transportation and access; vegetation resources; visual resources;
threatened and endangered species; wildlife resources; paleontology;
geology and minerals; lands and realty; and Native American traditional
values.
The following bullet points summarize some of the anticipated
impacts:
<bullet> Cultural Resources: There are 35 sites that are eligible
or unevaluated under the National Register of Historic Places and may
be affected by the Proposed Action; 18 of them are within the physical
area of potential effects and 17 are within the visual, auditory, and
atmospheric area of potential effects.
<bullet> Water Resources: The Proposed Action involves groundwater
pumping (dewatering) to allow mining below the water table at the Dark
Star North Pit and Dark Star Main Pit and would result in 2 pit lakes
forming. No dewatering requirements are anticipated for the Pinion
North Pit and Pinion Main Pit, mining of these pits would occur
entirely above the natural water table and as a result pit lakes are
not expected to form after closure. Potential impacts to seep, spring,
and stream flow may occur within the maximum extent of 10-foot drawdown
from the proposed dewatering operations if the source of the water is
connected to the regional aquifer feeding these surface water features.
Additionally, during years two through five of mine operations,
dewatering rates are predicted to exceed consumptive demands and excess
water would be treated and released to the unnamed tributary that flows
into Dixie Creek. Groundwater pumping for pit dewatering and the
release of excess water to the unnamed tributary would end in year five
of mine operations and groundwater would only be extracted to support
consumptive use from that point forward. A monitoring and mitigation
plan will be developed to address impacts. Sedimentation and erosion
may also occur due to Project-related disturbance, but this would be
addressed through appropriate mine design requirements.
<bullet> Livestock Grazing: The Proposed Action would result in an
impact to available acres of land for livestock to graze within the El
Jiggs, Pine Mountain, Dixie Flats, White Flats FFR, Emigrant Springs,
River, Tonka, and Indian Springs allotments. The eight allotments total
136,709 acres of BLM grazing lease acreage, with 30,715 permitted
Animal Unit Months (18,543 active Animal Unit Months). Effects to
livestock grazing would include a potential reduction in Animal Unit
Months by 446 during operations and 87 post-closure due to a loss of
forage availability from surface disturbance and reduced access to a
portion of an allotment from fencing.
<bullet> Transportation and Access: Approximately 17 miles of the
proposed access road is comprised of existing roads; however,
approximately 0.2 miles of new road would be constructed where the
access road enters the Plan of
[[Page 38990]]
Operations boundary. The primary access route would start by traveling
southeast on State Route 227, then south on State Route 228, west on an
unnamed road, northwest on Lower South Fork Road, west and north on
County Road 715B (Casway Road, Sherman Avenue, Lucky Nugget Road), and
southwest on BLM Road 1119, County Road 720 (Bullion Road), and BLM
Road 1053. Approximately seven miles of the primary access route near
South Fork Reservoir would pass through residential areas near the
South Fork State Recreation Area. The Proposed Action includes the
maintenance, improvement, and realignment of the access road.
Improvement and maintenance of the access road would be conducted by
Gold Standard Ventures (US) Inc. and/or its contractors, in
coordination with the Elko County Road Department via a required
agreement with Elko County. The Proposed Action includes, where
necessary, improving and widening the access road to accommodate two
travel lanes, and installation of culverts and other drainage
management features along the access road. The Proposed Action would
add an estimated 86 total vehicle trips per day to the transportation
system within the area of analysis during mine operations. Traffic
during the construction and reclamation period is expected to be
greater than traffic levels during the mine operations period due to
increased deliveries, construction traffic, and equipment removal.
<bullet> Threatened and Endangered Species: Federally listed
species that have been documented or may be present in the Project Area
include Lahontan cutthroat trout and whitebark pine. No impacts to
whitebark pine are anticipated. Impacts to Lahontan cutthroat trout and
its habitat are expected due to increased sediment input into the Dixie
Creek, changes to water quantity and quality due to discharge of pumped
water during dewatering activities, and loss of riparian areas from the
disturbance area and dewatering activities. Compliance with section 7
of the Endangered Species Act (16 United States Code 1536) will be
required to address potential impacts to the Lahontan cutthroat trout
and its habitat.
<bullet> Wildlife Resources: Impacts to greater sage-grouse habitat
are expected to include 892 acres (586 temporary, 306 permanent) of
priority habitat removal; 18 leks impacted by noise from construction,
mine operations, reclamation, and closure; and 1 inactive lek from
surface disturbance associated with the access road. Gold Standard
Ventures (US) Inc. would participate in the required Nevada
Conservation Credit System, implement required design features from the
2015 Approved Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Greater Sage-
Grouse, and include applicant-committed environmental protection
measures in its Plan of Operations to mitigate habitat impacts from the
Proposed Action to ensure an overall net conservation gain for the
species, while allowing for mine development.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
<bullet> Plan of Operations--BLM
<bullet> Industrial Artificial Pond Permit--Nevada Department of
Wildlife
<bullet> CCS Certification of Mitigation--Nevada Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources; Division of State Lands; Sagebrush
Ecosystem Council
<bullet> County Road Use and Maintenance License and Agreement--Elko
County Public Works and Natural Resources Departments
<bullet> County and Public Road Use and Maintenance Agreement--Eureka
County Public Works Department
<bullet> All other State and County required permits
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
Consistent with the NEPA process, the BLM anticipates the final EIS
will be released winter 2025-2026 with a record of decision during
winter 2025-2026.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will be
holding two in-person public scoping meetings on the following dates at
the following locations: September 3, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. PST
and again on the same date from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. PST. Both meetings
will be in-person and will occur at the California Trail Center, 1
Interpretive Way, Elko, NV 89801. The date(s) and location(s) of any
additional scoping meetings will be announced in advance through local
newspaper publications and the BLM National NEPA Register Project page
at <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038636/510">https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2038636/510</a>.
Responsible Official
Jared M. Bybee, District Manager, Elko District Office
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM's decision relative to the EIS that will be prepared for
the South Railroad Mine Project will consider the following: (1)
approval of the proposed Plan of Operations to authorize the proposed
activities without modifications or additional mitigation measures; (2)
approval of the proposed Plan of Operations with additional mitigation
measures that the BLM deems necessary to prevent unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands; (3) approval of the Plan of Operations
with one of the alternatives analyzed in the EIS; or (4) denial of the
proposed Plan of Operations and associated activities.
Additional Information
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including public involvement requirements of section 106.
The information about historic and cultural resources and threatened
and endangered species within the area potentially affected by the
proposed project will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating
impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual
1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns, including
impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural
resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local
agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and other stakeholders that
may be interested in or affected by the proposed South Railroad Mine
Project that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the
BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as
a cooperating agency.
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: 43 CFR 46.435)
Jared M. Bybee,
District Manager, Elko District Office.
[FR Doc. 2025-15310 Filed 8-12-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P
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