Notice2026-11992
Custer Gallatin National Forest; Montana; Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14
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 15, 2026
Effective
July 15, 2026
Issuing agencies
Agriculture DepartmentForest Service
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Custer Gallatin National Forest), intends to prepare an environmental impact statement to assess and disclose effects from Stillwater Mining Company's proposed amendment to the Stillwater Mine plan of operations. Acting as joint lead agencies, the Forest Service and Montana Department of Environmental Quality are preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate potential impacts from expanding mining- related surface disturbance on National Forest System lands and private lands. This notice announces the beginning of a dual agency 30-day comment period to solicit comments and identify issues. The Planning, Administrative Reviews, and Litigation System identification number for the project is 68998.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 114 (Monday, June 15, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35952-35953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-11992]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Custer Gallatin National Forest; Montana; Stillwater Mine Complex
Amendment 14
AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA).
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Custer
Gallatin National Forest), intends to prepare an environmental impact
statement to assess and disclose effects from Stillwater Mining
Company's proposed amendment to the Stillwater Mine plan of operations.
Acting as joint lead agencies, the Forest Service and Montana
Department of Environmental Quality are preparing an environmental
impact statement to evaluate potential impacts from expanding mining-
related surface disturbance on National Forest System lands and private
lands. This notice announces the beginning of a dual agency 30-day
comment period to solicit comments and identify issues. The Planning,
Administrative Reviews, and Litigation System identification number for
the project is 68998.
DATES: This notice initiates a 30-day public comment period for the
notice of intent. The State of Montana will simultaneously be
initiating their 30-day public scoping period. The Forest Service
requests that the public submit comments on the alternatives or effects
and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the
proposal by July 15, 2026. Comments submitted after this date may not
be included in the analysis. Montana Department of Environmental
Quality, jointly with the Custer Gallatin National Forest, expect to
publish a draft Environmental Impact Statement in June of 2027, and a
complete Environmental Impact Statement for Pre-Decisional
Administrative Review is anticipated in April of 2028. Associated
documentation will be published on the project web page, listed below.
A schedule for the decision-making process and additional information
about the project can also be found online at <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998">https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998</a>.
ADDRESSES: Send substantive written comments on the alternatives or
effects and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect
to the proposal to the Custer Gallatin National Forest Supervisor's
Office, ATTN: Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14, P.O. Box 130,
Bozeman, MT 59771. Comments may also be submitted electronically at
<a href="https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=68998">https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=68998</a>.
Additional information about the proposal; documents pertinent to this
proposal; and direction regarding comment submission can be found on
the following website: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998">https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998</a>. The Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council's
dashboard for FAST-41 Transparency projects can be found here: <a href="https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-transparency-projects/stillwater-mine">https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-transparency-projects/stillwater-mine</a>.
Public Scoping Process
All public scoping documents, as well as supporting documentation
on Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14 project will be published to
the project's web page by the Forest Service. Any public meetings
scheduled will be announced in advance through the Forest Service
website at: <a href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998">https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the
project or to ask questions, please contact Erin Fryer, Environmental
Coordinator for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d3b0bcbebeb6bda7a0febdbca1a7bbb6a1bdfeb0a6a0a7b6a1b4b2bfbfb2a7babdfebdb6a3b2a3a1bcb9b6b0a7a093a6a0b7b2fdb4bca5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3c5f5351515952484f1152534e4854594e52115f494f48594e5b5d50505d4855521152594c5d4c4e5356595f484f7c494f585d125b534a">[email protected]</span></a>, Attn:
Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14, or by phone at 406-468-8277.
Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech
disability may call 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service,
then provide the phone number of the named point of contact for further
information.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Stillwater Mining Company has submitted a
proposed amendment to its mine plan of operations to the Custer
Gallatin National Forest and the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality, Mining Bureau. The Stillwater Mine is an active underground
platinum group metal mining operation in Stillwater County, Montana.
Ongoing operations and proposed operations are located on private lands
and National Forest System lands within the Beartooth Ranger District.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose of the Forest Service action is to respond to the
applicant's proposal to amend its mine plan of operations to expand
mining operations on National Forest System lands to support continued
mining and development of platinum group metals (which include critical
minerals) via underground mining at the Stillwater Mine.
The need for Forest Service action is established by the agency's
responsibilities under the Organic
[[Page 35953]]
Administration Act of 1897 (16 U.S.C. 478, 482, and 551) and the
locatable minerals regulations at 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
228 subpart A. In accordance with 36 CFR 228.5, the Forest Service must
analyze and provide timely response to the submittal of a plan of
operations. Furthermore, the Forest Service must assess whether the
proposed operations will be conducted so as, where feasible, to
minimize adverse environmental impacts on national forest surface
resources in accordance with 36 CFR 228.8.
Proposed Action
The Stillwater Mine Plan of Operations Amendment 14 project
proposes changes to the integrated waste management plan to continue
production of platinum group metals via underground mining operations
for an additional 36 to 42 years, approximately. Specifically on
National Forest System lands, Amendment 14 proposes to expand the
footprint of the waste rock storage area, construct new ventilation and
water management infrastructure, and relocate or change utilization of
existing surface infrastructure such as water management and treatment
facilities, ancillary facilities near the mine access portals, growth
media stockpiles, and borrow areas. Full buildout of the waste rock
storage area would require approximately 30 acres of new disturbance on
National Forest System lands, including relocating a portion of Nye
Creek into an engineered channel. Existing monitoring, reclamation, and
closure plans would be modified to accommodate the changes from
expanded operations and extended life of the mine.
Alternatives
Under the no-action alternative, the development of the applicant's
mineral resource would be limited to those activities approved under
the existing plan of operations. At the current rate of operation, the
Stillwater Mine will reach full capacity in 2031. The no-action
alternative would directly impact 1,100 jobs and impact production at
the principal domestic source of palladium and platinum in the
continental United States.
List of Substantive Issues and Expected Impacts
Substantive issues are those that meaningfully inform the
consideration of reasonably foreseeable impacts of the proposed action
or a decision on the alternative selected for implementation (7 CFR
1b.11(a)(53)). The following preliminary substantive issues are
anticipated to be evaluated:
<bullet> The riparian area and scenic integrity of Nye Creek may be
degraded by diverting the natural stream channel into an engineered
channel around the waste rock storage area footprint;
<bullet> Continued mining operations and additional construction
may impact surface and groundwater quality and quantity; and
<bullet> Construction and operation of the expanded waste rock
facility may impact the availability of suitable topsoil in meeting
final reclamation objectives.
Anticipated Permits and other Authorizations
Stillwater Mining Company is working with the Montana Department of
Environmental Quality, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the
Environmental Protection Agency to secure necessary permits, including
State Mine Operating Permit Amendment, Montana Natural Streambed and
Land Preservation Act 310 permit, Federal Clean Water Act section 404
permit, and Short-Term Water Quality Standard for Turbidity 318 and 401
permits. Simultaneously, the Forest Service will consult with the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service regarding section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act.
Comments and the Objection Process
This notice of intent initiates the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) process timeline, which guides the development of the
environmental impact statement. In this process the Forest Service is
requesting comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and
identification of any relevant information, studies or analyses of any
kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.
It is important that interested members of the public provide their
comments at such times and in such manner that they are useful to the
agency's preparation of the environmental impact statement. Therefore,
written comments must be provided prior to the close of the comment
period and should clearly articulate the commenter's concerns and
contentions.
This proposed action is subject to the pre-decisional
administrative review process, also known as the objection process at
36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. A proposed rule to amend 36 CFR 218 was
published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2026 (91 FR 5387),
prior to the initiation of public comment in this notice of intent.
This proposed action may be subject to the final rule amending 36 CFR
218 if the final rule takes effect before the objection period occurs
for this proposed action. Otherwise, this proposed action will be
subject to the pre-decisional administrative review process established
prior to the February 2026 proposed rule.
Commenting during any designated opportunities to comment provided
by the responsible official will govern eligibility to object under 36
CFR 218 once the environmental impact statement and draft record of
decision have been published. Comments received in response to this
solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will
be part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, they
will not be used to establish eligibility for the objection process.
Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously
submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project
during any designated opportunity for written public comment in
accordance with section 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be
based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments
regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising
after designated opportunities.
Cooperating and Participating Agencies
Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Mining Bureau.
Responsible Official
Custer Gallatin Forest Supervisor.
Beattra Wilson,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System.
[FR Doc. 2026-11992 Filed 6-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3411-15-P
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