Notices. Notice: request for information from the public; announcement of public meetings
5,379 words·~24 min read·
/register/2005/12/29/05-24630A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Harvest and Export of American Ginseng AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice: request for information from the public; announcement of public meetings. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce public meetings on American ginseng ( *Panax quinquefolius* ). These meetings will help us gather information from the public in preparation of our 2006 findings on the export of American ginseng roots, for the issuance of permits under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
DATES: The meeting dates are: 1. January 31, 2006, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Moon Township (Pittsburgh), PA. 2. February 10, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Asheville, NC. 3. February 15, 2006, 8 a.m. to 12 noon, Indianapolis, IN. ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are: 1. Moon Township (Pittsburgh)—DoubleTree Hotel, 8402 University Blvd., Moon Township, PA 15108; telephone number
(412)329-1400. 2. Asheville—Holiday Inn, 1450 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805; telephone number
(828)298-5611. 3. Indianapolis—Hampton Inn, Indianapolis Airport, 5601 Fortune Circle West, Indianapolis, IN 46241; telephone number
(317)244-1221. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, or directions to meetings contact Ms. Pat Ford, Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 750, Arlington, VA 22203; 703-358-1708 (telephone), 703-358-2276 (fax), or *patricia_ford@fws.gov* (e-mail); or Ms. Anne St. John, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700, Arlington, VA 22203; 703-358-2095 (telephone), 703-358-2298 (fax), or *anne_stjohn@fws.gov* (e-mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, or Convention) is an international treaty designed to control and regulate international trade in certain animal and plant species that are now or potentially may be threatened with extinction by international trade. Currently, 169 countries, including the United States, are Parties to CITES. The species for which trade is controlled are listed in Appendix I, II, or III of the Convention. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction that are or may be affected by international trade. Commercial trade in Appendix-I species is prohibited. Appendix II includes species that, although not necessarily threatened with extinction at the present time, may become so unless their trade is strictly controlled through a system of export permits. Appendix II also includes species that CITES must regulate so that trade in other listed species may be brought under effective control ( *i.e.* , because of similarity of appearance between listed species and other species). Appendix III comprises species subject to regulation within the jurisdiction of any CITES Party country that has requested the cooperation of the other Parties in regulating international trade in the species. American ginseng ( *Panax quinquefolius* ) was listed in Appendix II of CITES on July 1, 1975. The Division of Scientific Authority and the Division of Management Authority of the Service regulate the export of American ginseng, including whole plants, whole roots, and root parts. To meet CITES requirements for export of American ginseng from the United States, the Division of Scientific Authority must determine that the export will not be detrimental to the survival of the species, and the Division of Management Authority must be satisfied that the American ginseng roots to be exported were legally acquired. Since the inclusion of American ginseng in CITES Appendix II, the Divisions of Scientific Authority and Management Authority have issued findings on a State by State basis. To determine whether or not to approve exports of American ginseng, the Division of Scientific Authority has annually reviewed available information from various sources (other Federal agencies, State regulatory agencies, industry and associations, nongovernmental organizations, and academic researchers) on the biology and trade status of the species. After a thorough review, the Division of Scientific Authority makes a non-detriment finding and the Division of Management Authority makes a legal acquisition finding on the export of American ginseng to be harvested during the year in question. From 1999 through 2004, the Division of Scientific Authority included in its non-detriment finding for the export of wild (including wild-simulated and woodsgrown) American ginseng roots an age-based restriction ( *i.e.* , plants must be at least 5 years old). In 2005, the Division of Scientific Authority included in its non-detriment findings for the export of wild American ginseng roots an age-based restriction that plants must be at least 10 years old, and for the export of wild-simulated and woodsgrown American ginseng roots that plants must be at least 5 years old. States with harvest programs for wild and/or artificially propagated American ginseng are: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The Divisions of Scientific Authority and Management Authority will host an American ginseng workshop from January 31 through February 2, 2006, in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, with representatives of State and Federal agencies that regulate the species, to discuss the status and management of American ginseng and the CITES export program for the species. This workshop will provide an important opportunity for representatives of the States and Federal agencies to discuss and consider improvements to the CITES export program for this species. Except for sessions on January 31 at this location, and the two public meetings on other dates in other locations (see Public Meetings), this meeting will be closed to the public. Information from the 2006 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's American ginseng workshop will be available in April 2006 upon request from the Division of Scientific Authority or the Division of Management Authority (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ); a copy of the workshop report will also be available from our Web site at: *http://www.fws.gov/international/animals/ginindx/.html.* Public Meetings At the January 31, 2006, Moon Township (Pittsburgh) meeting, we invite the public to listen to academic and federal researchers present their current research on American ginseng from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; representatives of the American ginseng industry and other stakeholders will speak from 1:30 to 2:30. This will be the only meeting and location at which the public can hear these presentations. After the morning's presentations, from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., we will hold an open public meeting (a listening session) to hear from people involved or interested in American ginseng harvest and trade. We are particularly interested in obtaining any current information on the status of American ginseng in the wild, or other pertinent information that would contribute to improve the CITES export program for this species. We will discuss the Federal regulatory framework for the export of American ginseng and how these regulations control the international trade of this species. We will also discuss the different CITES definitions as they are applied to American ginseng grown under different production systems and how these systems affect the export of American ginseng roots. The two open public meetings that follow the January meeting, on February 10 and February 15, 2006 (in Asheville and Indianapolis, respectively—see DATES and ADDRESSES ), will also be open public meetings to hear from people involved or interested in American ginseng harvest and trade. You may get directions to the meeting locations from the Division of Scientific Authority or the Division of Management Authority (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT or ADDRESSES ). Persons planning to attend the January 31, 2006 meeting who require interpretation for the hearing impaired must notify the Division of Scientific Authority by January 23, 2006; for the other two meetings, please notify the Division of Scientific Authority as soon as possible (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ). Author The primary author of this notice is Patricia Ford, the Division of Scientific Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dated: December 20, 2005. Marshall P. Jones, Jr., Acting Director, Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. E5-8014 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Public Comment About Congressionally Mandated Study of Energy Rights-of-Way on Tribal Lands AGENCY: Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Interior. ACTION: Notice of request for public comment. SUMMARY: Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) requires the Department of the Interior
(DOI)and Department of Energy to provide Congress with a study regarding energy rights-of-way on tribal lands. The study is due to Congress by August 7, 2006. The Departments are interested in receiving comments from the public about how to proceed with implementing section 1813. DATES: Comments are due on or before January 20, 2006. ADDRESSES: Send written comments by regular mail to Attention: Section 1813 ROW Study, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, 1849 C St., NW., Mail Stop 2749-MIB, Washington, DC, 20240 or by e-mail to *IEED@bia.edu.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Darryl Francois, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, 1849 C St., NW., Mail Stop 2749-MIB, Washington, DC, 20240. He can also be reached by telephone at
(202)219-0740 or by electronic mail at *darryl.francois@mms.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 1813 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) requires the Secretaries of the Department of the Interior and the Department of Energy (Departments) to conduct a study of energy related rights-of-way on tribal lands. The Act requires that the study address four subjects: 1. An analysis of historical rates of compensation; 2. Recommendations for appropriate standards to determine fair and appropriate compensation; 3. An assessment of tribal self-determination and sovereignty interests implicated by applications for rights-of-way on tribal land; and 4. An analysis of relevant national energy transportation policies. The Departments propose the following work plan to meet the specific requirements of the Act and meet the congressionally mandated deadline for submittal of the final report. 1. DOI and DOE plan to conduct a series of pre-scoping phone calls and meetings with selected tribal leaders, members of the energy industry, appropriate government entities and affected businesses and consumers to discuss the various aspects of the report called for by section 1813. Participants in this pre-scoping work group will be identified through suggestions tribal leaders, other prominent Indian groups, business associations, and government organizations. The outcome of these pre-scoping discussions will provide useful detail and direction for the subsequent stages of the work plan. 2. DOI and DOE propose to contract with a Department of Energy National Laboratory to prepare an analysis of historical rates of compensation for pipelines crossing Indian land (as specified in section 1813(b)(1)), using a case study approach. We plan to direct the analysts to solicit and collect data from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Governments, the energy industry, and other appropriate sources ( *e.g.* , the National Archives and Records Administration) for this analysis. 3. In February 2006, DOI and DOE plan to jointly conduct a 2-day nation-wide scoping meeting with presentations from all affected groups, soliciting input on the subjects of appropriate standards and procedures for determining fair and appropriate compensation, tribal self-determination and sovereignty interests, and relevant national energy transportation policies. At this meeting, we propose to establish several working groups to solicit and further develop information on each of these subjects. 4. Between February and May 2006, DOI and DOE plan to conduct up to two workshops for each of these working groups. We expect to draw extensively on the results of the groups' efforts in preparing the report to Congress. 5. In May 2006, DOI and DOE plan to prepare a draft report, send copies to the tribes, and publish a notice of availability in the **Federal Register** . 6. Between May 2006 and mid-July 2006, DOI and DOE plan to conduct three regional Tribal consultation meetings to present the draft report and to receive written and oral comments on the draft. 7. DOI and DOE will consider these comments in preparing a final report for delivery to Congress by August 7, 2006. The Departments request public comment on proposed work plan in addition to any other areas of concern regarding the section 1813 study. We will accept comments until January 20, 2006. If you want to provide comments, please send written comments by regular mail to Attention: Section 1813 ROW Study, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, 1849 C St., NW., Mail Stop 2749, Washington, DC, 20240 or by email to *IEED@bia.edu.* Dated: December 22, 2005. Michael D. Olsen, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. E5-8068 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-96-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AK960-1410-HY-P] Alaska Native Claims Acreage Allocation AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI. ACTION: Notice of decision allocating additional acreage to regional corporations. SUMMARY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision allocating additional acreage to Alaskan Native regional corporations will be issued to: Ahtna, Inc., The Aleut Corporation, Bering Straits Native Corporation, Bristol Bay Native Corporation, Calista Corporation, Chugach Alaska Corporation, Cook Inlet Region, Inc., Doyon, Limited, Koniag, Inc., NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., and Sealaska Corporation. Further information and a table showing the acreage computation are contained in the Supplementary Information portion of this notice. If there is an appeal that affects the allocation to any other region, then all other allocations are subject to administrative correction. DATES: The time limits for filing an appeal are: 1. Any party claiming a property interest which is adversely affected by the decision shall have until January 30, 2006, to file an appeal. 2. Parties receiving service of the decision by certified mail shall have 30 days from the date of receipt to file an appeal. Parties who do not file an appeal in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR Part 4, Subpart E, shall be deemed to have waived their rights. ADDRESSES: A copy of the decision may be obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Resseguie, by phone at 907-271-5422, or by e-mail at *Linda_Resseguie@ak.blm.gov* . Persons who use a telecommunication device
(TTD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS)on 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to contact Ms. Resseguie. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 205 of the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act of December 10, 2004, Public Law 108-452, 118 Stat. 3585 (hereafter Sec. 205), amended Sec. 14(h)(8) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), 43 U.S.C. 1613(h)(8), by directing the Secretary of the Interior to allocate to the regional corporations an additional 200,000 acres of the 2 million acre pool established under Sec. 14(h) of ANCSA. Each region's respective share of the 200,000 acres has been calculated using the final Sec. 14(h) percentiles published in the **Federal Register,** Vol. 42. No. 22, pages 6419 to 6432, February 2, 1977, and **Federal Register,** Vol. 43, No. 221, page 53062, November 15, 1978, subject to the specific limitations included in Sec. 205. The table below sets out the computations required by Sec. 205. Column 2 lists the final percentiles published in the **Federal Register;** column 3 shows each region's respective share of the 200,000 acres; and column 4 shows each region's revised total allocation under section 14(h)(8). Regional corporation Percentage share Share of 200,000-acre allocation Total acres allocated under section 14(h)(8) Ahtna 1.41538 2,830.76 22,957.54 Aleut 4.36431 8,728.62 70,789.37 Arctic Slope 5.07850 10,157.00 82,373.57 Bering Straits 8.98443 17,968.86 145,727.99 Bristol Bay 7.17430 14,348.60 116,367.57 Calista 17.45725 34,914.50 283,157.64 Chugach 2.73467 5,469.34 44,356.51 Cook Inlet 8.15078 16,301.56 * Doyon 12.00348 24,006.96 194,697.16 Koniag 4.40716 8,814.32 * NANA 6.38041 12,760.82 103,490.63 Sealaska 21.84883 43,697.66 354,389.33 *Settled by legislation. Ramona Chinn, Deputy State Director, Division of Conveyance Management. [FR Doc. E5-8027 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [AK964-1410-HY-P; AA-6699-C, AA-6699-D, AA-6699-A2, AA-6699-B2, AA-6699-D2, AA-16169, AA-8101-1, AA-8101-5, AA-74400, and AA-76461, ALA-6] Alaska Native Claims Selection AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, DOI. ACTION: Notice of decision approving lands for conveyance. SUMMARY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an appealable decision approving lands for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act will be issued to Shumagin Corporation. The lands are located in T. 51 S., R. 70 W., T. 52 S., R. 74 W., T. 53 S., R. 74 W., T. 53 S., R. 75 W., T. 52 S., R. 78 W., T. 54 S., R. 80 W., T. 50 S., R. 82 W., and T. 51 S., R. 83 W., Seward Meridian, Alaska, in the vicinity of Sand Point, Alaska, and contain approximately 24,626.58 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Dutch Harbor Fisherman. DATES: The time limits for filing an appeal are: 1. Any party claiming a property interest which is adversely affected by the decision shall have until January 30, 2006, to file an appeal. 2. Parties receiving service of the decision by certified mail shall have 30 days from the date of receipt to file an appeal. Parties who do not file an appeal in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR Part 4, Subpart E, shall be deemed to have waived their rights. ADDRESSES: A copy of the decision may be obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: D. Kay Erben, by phone at
(907)271-4515, or by e-mail at *kay_erben@ak.blm.gov* . Persons who use a telecommunication device
(TTD)may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS)at 1-800-877-8330, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to contact Mrs. D. Kay Erben. D. Kay Erben, Land Law Examiner, Branch of Adjudication II. [FR Doc. E5-8026 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-$$-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management Call for Nominations for the Bureau of Land Management's California Desert District Advisory Council SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management's California Desert District is soliciting nominations from the public for five members of its District Advisory Council to serve the 2007-2009 three-year term. Council members provide advice and recommendations to BLM on the management of public lands in southern California. Nominations will be accepted through Wednesday, May 31, 2006. The three-year term would begin January 1, 2007. The five positions to be filled include: —One public-at-large —One environmental protection —One renewable resources (grazing interests) —Two elected officials representing county government The California Desert District Advisory Council is comprised of 15 private individuals who represent different interests and advise BLM officials on policies and programs concerning the management of 11.5 million acres of public land in southern California. The Council meets in formal session three to four times each year in various locations throughout the California Desert District. Council members serve without compensation except for reimbursement of travel expenditures incurred in the course of their duties. Members serve three-year terms and may be nominated for reappointment for an additional three-year term. Section 309 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of BLM administered lands. The Secretary also selects Council nominees consistent with the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which requires nominees appointed to the Council be balanced in terms of points of view and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands. The Council also is balanced geographically, and BLM will try to find qualified representatives from areas throughout the California Desert District. The District covers portions of eight counties, and includes 10.4 million acres of public land in the California Desert Conservation Area and 300,000 acres of scattered parcels in San Diego, western Riverside, western San Bernardino, Orange, and Los Angeles Counties (known as the South Coast). Any group or individual may nominate a qualified person, based upon their education, training, and knowledge of BLM, the California Desert, and the issues involving BLM-administered public lands throughout southern California. Qualified individuals also may nominate themselves. Nominations must include the name of the nominee; work and home addresses and telephone numbers; a biographical sketch that includes the nominee's work and public service record; any applicable outside interests or other information that demonstrates the nominees qualifications for the position; and the specific category of interest in which the nominee is best qualified to offer advice and council. Nominees may contact the BLM California Desert District External Affairs staff at
(909)697-5220 or write to the address below and request a copy of the nomination form. All nominations must be accompanied by letters of reference from represented interests, organizations, members of the public, or elected officials supporting the nomination. Individuals nominating themselves must provide at least one letter of recommendation. Advisory Council members are appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, generally in late December or early January. Nominations should be sent to the District Manager, Bureau of Land Management, California Desert District Office, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, California 92553. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Doran Sanchez, BLM California Desert District External Affairs
(951)697-5220. Dated: November 3, 2005. Robert D. Roudabush, Acting District Manager. [FR Doc. E5-8029 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-40-P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [ID 320 7122 EO 7979] DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS)for the Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels F and G AGENCIES: DOI Bureau of Land Management, Lead Agency; USDA Forest Service, Co-lead Agency; and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Cooperating Agency. ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels F and G mine Expansion Project. SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA, 102(2) (C)) and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, the USDOI Bureau of Land Management (Lead Agency) and the USDA Forest Service (Co-lead Agency) announce the availability of the DEIS for the Smoky Canyon Mine, Panels F and G mine expansion. DATES: The DEIS is now available for public review. Written and electronic comments regarding the DEIS should be submitted within 60 days of the date of publication of the EPA's Notice in the **Federal Register** . Public meetings are currently scheduled at the following locations at the following times: Bureau of Land Management, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, Idaho 83204; January 17, 2006; 7 p.m. Soda Springs, City Hall, 9 West 2nd South, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276; January 18, 2006; 7:30 p.m. Star Valley High School, 445 West Swift Creek Lane, Afton, Wyoming 83110; January 19, 2006; 7 p.m. These dates may be subject to change. Final dates will be announced in local newspapers two weeks prior. Dates can also be confirmed by contacting the BLM or CTNF as shown below. ADDRESSES: In addition to a mass mailing, the DEIS will be available at the Bureau of Land Management, Pocatello Field Office, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, Idaho 83204, phone
(208)478-6340 and the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Soda Springs Ranger District, 410 E. Hooper Ave, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276, phone
(208)547-4356. It will also be available on the BLM Web site at *http://www.id.blm.gov/planning/scmdeis.* Written comments can be sent to: Smoky Canyon Mine DEIS, C/O The Shipley Group, P.O. Box 2000, Bountiful, UT 84011-2000. Electronic comments can be sent to: *scm_deis@contentanalysisgroup.com.* The BLM and FS give reviewers notice that comments should be structured so that they are meaningful and alert the agencies to a reviewer's position and contentions. It is very important that those interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 60-day comment period for the DEIS so that substantive comments and objections are available to the BLM and FS to meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the final EIS. Individual respondents may request confidentiality for comments submitted. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Stout, Bureau of Land Management, phone
(208)478-6340; or Scott Gerwe, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, phone
(208)547-4356. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following information is provided as a convenient synopsis for the public. However, this synopsis is not a substitute for review of the complete DEIS. Commenters should review and consider the complete DEIS in providing comments regarding the proposed action. If there are any inconsistencies between this posting and the DEIS, the DEIS controls. The DEIS was prepared to assess the impacts of implementing a mine expansion at Smoky Canyon Mine, thus, disclosing those impacts to the public and agency decision makers. The proposed extension of mining operations, in Panels F and G, lies within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, on surface administered by the FS and on Federal phosphate leases administered by the BLM under authority of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920. Mining, as proposed, would take place on two Federal phosphate leases; I-27512 and I-01441 including a lease modification (enlargement) of I-27512. These leases are adjacent to the existing mine and were previously issued to Simplot by competitive bid in January of 2001 and October of 1950 respectively. The proposed action includes the construction of two pits, Panels F and G, and a haul road to transport ore and employees between the pits and existing facilities. Mining would take place over an estimated 14 year period, with an additional two years to complete final reclamation. The environmental impacts of the proposed action, six mining alternatives, one no-mining alternative, and eight transportation alternatives are analyzed in the DEIS. Where necessary, site specific mitigation measures have been developed. The BLM Idaho State Director, or delegated official, will make a decision regarding approval of the proposed Mine & Reclamation Plan and the proposed lease modifications. Decisions will be informed by the EIS and any recommendations the FS may have regarding surface management of leased National Forest System lands. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest Supervisor makes recommendations to the BLM concerning surface management and mitigation on leased lands within the Caribou-Targhee National Forest. For this proposal, the Forest Supervisor will make a decision whether to authorize off-lease facilities such as roads and power lines. As a cooperating agency, the IDEQ has provided assistance and recommendations on aspects of the project pertaining to water quality and on water quality rules under their jurisdiction. The agency Preferred Alternative would approve mining both leases described as Panel F and Panel G. The preferred mining alternative would be Alternative B—No External Seleniferous Overburden Fills. BLM would approve the proposed lease modifications. Based on analysis of surface and ground water impacts in Chapter 4, BLM would require construction of an infiltration barrier over seleniferous backfill, Alternative D. A Forest Service decision would approve power line placement on poles along the haul road, Alternative E, eliminating a separate power corridor. The transportation route between Panel F and existing mine would be constructed according to the Proposed Action. The preferred transportation route between Panel G and the existing mine is Alternative 2—East Haul/Access Road. The proposed Mine & Reclamation Plan was submitted by J. R Simplot Company in April 2003. The proposed action consists of two open pits (Panel F on Federal phosphate lease I-27512 and Panel G on Federal phosphate lease I-01441), topsoil stockpiles, mine equipment parking and service areas, access and haul roads, a power line extension from the existing Smoky Canyon facilities, permanent external overburden storage areas, and runoff/sediment control facilities, electrical substation, warehouse and storage areas, repair shop, restrooms, fuel and lubricant storage. A new haul/access road to transport ore to the existing Smoky Canyon mill is proposed to be constructed from the south end of the existing Panel E approximately 2.5 miles to the proposed Panel F. As operations move south to Panel G, another haul road is proposed to transport ore 7.8 miles from Panel G north to Panel F. Much of these activities are proposed to occur within the Sage Creek Inventoried Roadless Area. Ore would be hauled in trucks to the existing Smoky Canyon mill facility to be concentrated. Ore concentrate from the mill would be transported to the existing Simplot fertilizer plant in Pocatello, Idaho via the existing slurry pipeline. Mill tailings would continue to be deposited in the currently approved and permitted tailings disposal facility. Initially, overburden generated from Panel F would be trucked to the existing Panel E open pit and used as backfill. Remaining overburden from Panel F would then be placed as part of a 38-acre external fill and then as backfill in Panel F as soon as practical. Overburden generated from mining Panel G would be permanently placed in 138 acres of external fills at Panel G as well as backfill in the Panel G open pit. Disturbed lands directly resulting from the proposed activities would total 1,340 acres. Ninety-five percent of the project disturbance would be fully reclaimed. This would leave unreclaimed a total of 71 acres of highwall, road cuts in steep terrain, pit bottoms not filled to contour, and mine roads left as replacements to existing Forest Service roads. New pits would disturb approximately 763 acres, roads would disturb about 284 acres, external overburden fills would cover 176 acres and there would be 117 acres of disturbance for other mine features such as runoff management facilities, water monitoring, a power line corridor and topsoil piles. Reclamation of mining disturbances would include: Removal of facilities and equipment, backfilling pits, regrading slopes, restoring drainages, covering seleniferous fills with at least 4 feet of chert material, spreading 1 to 3 feet of topsoil, stabilizing surfaces, revegetation, testing and treatment for any remaining hydrocarbon contaminants, and environmental monitoring. Simplot has applied for a lease modification to expand Federal Phosphate Lease I-27512 for the Panel F operations. The application includes a 120-acre tract to recover ore and construct a road from Panel E on the northern edge of the lease and a larger 400 acre tract on the southern edge of the lease to recover ore. Subsequent to BLM's and Forest Service's preparation of the DEIS, Simplot has also applied for a lease modification to I-01441 to accommodate 18 acres of off-lease external overburden fill. The environmental impacts of mining operations within the lease modifications are analyzed in this EIS. BLM will review the applications, under the Mineral Leasing Act, and inform the public in accordance with the requirements of NEPA prior to any decision on these applications. Alternatives Issues were identified for the proposed mining of F and G panels by the agencies and by the public during the scoping process. They include potential effects on: ground water, surface water, geology and minerals, air quality and noise, soils, vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, fisheries and aquatic life, livestock grazing, recreation, Inventoried Roadless Areas, socio-economics, visual resources, cultural resources, and Tribal Treaty Rights. Alternatives to the proposed action were developed to address issues. The EIS analyzes the environmental and human effects of the Proposed Action, six different mining alternatives, one no-action alternative, and eight different transportation alternatives. Mining alternatives include mining without one or any lease modifications, no external seleniferous overburden fills, no external overburden fills at all, construction of an infiltration barrier over seleniferous material, constructing the power line only within proposed disturbance, and using generators in Panel G instead of a power line. The transportation alternatives include one variation on the haul road between Panel F and the existing Panel E, two variations of a haul road from Panel G located east of the project area, a more direct—middle—haul road from Panel G to Panel F, a variation of the proposed West Haul Road, and using a conveyor system to transport ore from Panel G to the existing mill. If the conveyor transportation alternative is chosen then one of two different variations on moving people and equipment between Panel G and the existing mine were analyzed. Dated: December 8, 2005. Joe Kraayenbrink, District Manager, Idaho Falls District, Bureau of Land Management. Larry Timchak, Forest Supervisor, Caribou-Targhee National Forest. [FR Doc. 05-24630 Filed 12-28-05; 8:45 am]
Connectionstraces to 1
Traces to 1 document
U.S. Code
5 references not yet in our index
- Pub. L. 109-58
- 43 CFR 2650.7(d)
- 43 CFR 4
- Pub. L. 108-452
- 118 Stat. 3585
Citation graph
cites case law
Notices
Notice: request for information from the public; announcement of public meetings
Pub. L.Pub. L. 109-58
Cite43 CFR 2650.7(d)
Cite43 CFR 4
Pub. L.Pub. L. 108-452
Stat.118 Stat. 3585
Cites 6Cited by 0 across 0 sources