Notice2026-10798
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed DeLamar Mine Project-Owyhee County, Idaho
Primary source
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Published
May 29, 2026
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentLand Management Bureau
Abstract
In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Owyhee Field Office, Marsing, Idaho intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of DeLamar Mining Company's proposed DeLamar Mine Project in Owyhee County, Idaho. 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 91 Issue 103 (Friday, May 29, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 103 (Friday, May 29, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32089-32090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10798]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516, #O2509-014-004-125222LLID]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed DeLamar Mine Project--Owyhee County, Idaho
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Owyhee Field Office, Marsing, Idaho intends to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) to consider the effects of DeLamar Mining
Company's proposed DeLamar Mine Project in Owyhee County, Idaho. This
notice announces the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public-scoping process for the
environmental impact statement. The BLM requests that the public submit
comments concerning the scope of the analysis, potential alternatives,
and identification of relevant information, and studies by June 29,
2026. 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. Public meetings will be held:
<bullet> June 9, 2026, 6:00--8:00 p.m. MDT at the Jordan Valley
Lions Club located at 902 Bassett St. in Jordan Valley, Oregon 97910.
<bullet> June 11, 2026, 6:00--8:00 p.m. MDT at the Marsing American
Legion Hall located at 126 N Old Bruneau Hwy in Marsing, ID 83639.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the DeLamar Mine Project
by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Website: <a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=3D00EE85-E859-F111-BEC6-001DD804183B">https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=3D00EE85-E859-F111-BEC6-001DD804183B</a>
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#baf8f6f7e5f3fee5f5fcf5e5fef7f9e5fff3e9fad8d6d794ddd5cc"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6b29272634222f34242d24342f2628342e22382b090706450c041d">[email protected]</span></a>
<bullet> Mail: BLM Owyhee Field Office, Attn: DeLamar Mine EIS, 101 S.
Bruneau Hwy, Marsing, ID 83639
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
<a href="https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=3D00EE85-E859-F111-BEC6-001DD804183B">https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=3D00EE85-E859-F111-BEC6-001DD804183B</a> and at the Owyhee Field Office at the above address or
during the in-person public meetings listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Lund, Project Manager,
telephone 208-896-5912; address 101 S. Bruneau Hwy, Marsing, ID 83639;
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#21636d6c7e68657e6e676e7e656c627e64687261434d4c0f464e57"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2e6c626371676a71616861716a636d716b677d6e4c424300494158">[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. Lund. 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 DeLamar Mining District was established
approximately one-half mile west of Silver City, Idaho after
discoveries of gold and silver deposits in the 1860s. Since then,
mining activities have cycled, most recently in the 1960s, which
resulted in BLM permitting mining plans of operation (MPOs) at Florida
Mountain and Delamar Mountain in the early 1990s. By the early 2000s,
mining operations ceased and reclamation began. Since 2018, DeLamar
Mining Company (DMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Integra Resources,
has carried out geophysical and geochemical exploration and ongoing
geologic mapping and exploration drilling programs. As a result of the
exploration, DMC has developed and submitted an MPO to reopen and
expand the existing DeLamar Mine (Mine). The BLM will prepare an EIS to
consider the impacts of the proposed MPO.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The BLM's purpose is to respond to DMC's proposal as described in
their MPO and to take any action necessary to prevent unnecessary or
undue degradation (UUD) of public lands. The need for federal action is
established by the BLM's responsibilities under the Surface Management
regulations at 43 CFR 3809 and under Section 302(b) of the FLMPA.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action, as described in the MPO, is to mine gold and
silver ore by expanding the two existing open pit mines on Florida and
DeLamar Mountains. To support mining activities, DMC proposes to
construct haul and access roads, two heap leach facilities, three
development rock storage facilities, and ancillary facilities while
adhering to environmental protection measures identified in the MPO.
Upon conclusion of mining operations, the site would be reclaimed in
accordance with federal and state regulations. The Proposed Action
estimates 2,915 total acres of disturbance, which includes 1,420 acres
of previously disturbed areas and 1,495 acres of new surface
disturbance. Of the proposed new surface disturbance, 812 acres would
be on BLM-managed public lands, 6 acres on state land, and 677 acres on
private land. Construction and mining activities are estimated to last
19 years.
The No Action Alternative reflects a continuation of current,
permitted activities. Authorized mining activities could continue under
the existing MPOs which would allow for open pit operations, milling,
heap leach, reclamation, care and maintenance, and closure activities,
including ongoing exploration and environmental monitoring. Reclamation
activities would proceed, and authorized facilities for water treatment
and site maintenance would remain operational.
Other alternatives which may be considered in the EIS are expected
to be variations of mine and facility configuration based on resource
issues identified through the public scoping process. The BLM welcomes
comments on all preliminary alternatives as well as suggestions for
additional alternatives.
Summary of Expected Impacts
Potential impacts from mining related activities may include loss
of native vegetation and soils, disturbance to wildlife including loss
of habitat, alteration of quality and quantity of surface and
groundwater resources, changes in streamflow through increased
sedimentation resulting in impacts to riparian habitat, increased
emissions potentially affecting air quality, physical or visual changes
to sites important to Native American Tribes and local American
history, and increased traffic in the area.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
<bullet> Plan of Operations-BLM
<bullet> Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit-USACE
[[Page 32090]]
<bullet> Air Quality Permit-Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
(IDEQ)
<bullet> Cyanidation Permit-IDEQ
<bullet> Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System-IDEQ
<bullet> All other State and County required permits
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The EIS and Record of Decision are anticipated to be available in
summer 2027.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. Public meetings
will be held as described above under the DATES section.
Responsible Official
Ammon Wilhelm, Field Manager, Owyhee Field Office.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM will consider the following: (1) approval of the MPO as
proposed by DMC; (2) approval of the MPO subject to changes or
conditions necessary to meet the performance standards of 43 CFR
3809.420 and to prevent UUD of public lands; or (3) denial of the MPO
if operations were found to result in UUD.
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
Section 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
DeLamar 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 identifiable information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifiable
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifiable
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 43 CFR part 46, 43 CFR part 3800, subpart 3809)
Elizabeth Maclean,
BLM Idaho State Director (acting).
[FR Doc. 2026-10798 Filed 5-28-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-19-P
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