[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 236 (Thursday, December 8, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76689-76690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31563]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 236 / Thursday, December 8, 2011 /
Notices
[[Page 76689]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor Ranger District, NM, Mount
Taylor Combined Exploratory Drilling
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The proposed action is to approve two Plans of Operations for
exploratory uranium drilling on the Cibola National Forest, Mount
Taylor Ranger District. There are two areas identified for exploration;
the Bajillos project area is approximately 2,894 acres and is located
in T. 12 N, R. 8 W, Sections 6, 7, & 8 and T. 12 N, R. 9 W, Sections 1,
12, & . The Endy project area is approximately 3,740 acres and is
located in T. 13 N, R. 7 W, Sections 7 &8, T. 13 N, R. 8 W, Secions 2,
3, 4, 5, 11, & 12 and T. 14 N, R. 8 W, Sections 31 & 32. Both project
areas are located north-northeast of Grants in the vicinity of the town
of San Mateo. In total, there are up to 279 drill holes that would be
drilled over a period not to exceed 6 years from initiation of the
project. A total of 21 drill holes are proposed within the Bajillos
project area. A total of up to 258 holes are proposed for drilling
within the Endy project area. The exploratory drilling in this area
would be phased over the course of six years; 51 holes would be drilled
during the first phase of exploration. Secondary- and later phase-
drilling would consist of in-fill drilling and moving outward into
newer areas.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received
by 45 days after the publication of the NOI. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected September 2012 and the final environmental
impact statement is expected January 2013.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Diane Tafoya, Combined Uranium
Exploratory Drilling Team Lead, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna
Road, NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. Comments can also be submitted online
at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/CommentInput?Project=33948.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information, mail
correspondence to Diane Tafoya, Combined Uranium Exploratory Drilling
Team Lead, Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM
87113 or call (505) 346-3900.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-(800) 877-
8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Need for Action
This action is needed to allow the Applicants to exercise their
rights under U.S. mining laws. The Applicants have a right to explore
their claims as set forth by the General Mining Law of 1872 as amended.
These laws provide that the public has a statutory right to conduct
prospecting, exploration, and development activities (1872 Mining Law
and 1897 Organic Act), provided they are reasonably incident (1955
Multiple Use Mining Act and case law) to mining and comply with other
Federal laws.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to approve two Plans of Operation for
uranium exploration drilling on the Mount Taylor Ranger District of the
Cibola National Forest. There are two areas identified for exploration;
the Bajillos project area and the Endy project area. A total of 21
drill holes are proposed within the Bajillos project area. The drill
pads would be 30 by 100 feet in size (average 0.07 acres each) and
drilling depths would reach down to 1200 feet. The mud pits constructed
within the footprints of the drill pad would measure 4 by 20 feet and
be approximately 5 feet deep. An estimated 1.45 acres of ground
disturbance would be associated with all drilling activities. Access to
all of the drill sites would be along existing roads. Less than 0.1
miles of routine road maintenance would be required in order for the
drilling equipment to reach the sites. All of the drilling would occur
over the course of 2 months.
Up to 258 holes are proposed for drilling within the Endy project
area. The exploratory drilling would be phased over the course of six
years; 51 holes would be drilled during the first phase of exploration.
Secondary drilling would occur if, or when, further investigation is
indicated by the data recovered from earlier drilling. It is possible
that not all drill holes which are proposed and analyzed for this
project area would be drilled. The drill pads would be 60 by 120 feet
(average of 0.17 acres each) and drilling depths would reach down to
3200 feet. The mud pits constructed within the footprint of the drill
pad would measure 8 by 10 feet and be approximately 6 feet deep. An
estimated 42.64 acres of ground disturbance would be associated with
the 258 drill hole locations.
The drill locations will be accessed using existing roads, cross
country travel (where feasible) and temporary roads constructed to
access drill sites on steep slopes. All temporary roads would be
obliterated after use.
Information about the proposal will be posted on the project Web
site at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=33948.
Possible Alternatives
1. No Action. 2. Approve the two plans of operations with
appropriate mitigation measures, if needed.
Responsible Official
Nancy Rose, Forest Supervisor, Cibola National Forest. 2113 Osuna
Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The Forest Supervisor will use the EIS process to develop the
necessary information to make an informed decision on whether or not to
approve the proposed plans as submitted, or to decide what mitigation
and monitoring requirements are needed to protect resources.
Preliminary Issues
One preliminary issue has been identified: Exploration may affect
the characteristics of the Mount Taylor Traditional Cultural Property
eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places.
Other issues that may arise include legacy health issues, reclamation
concerns, and
[[Page 76690]]
contamination of ground and surface water.
Permits or Licenses Required
The approved Plans of Operations authorizes exploration. Operations
must be consistent with Forest Service Conditions of Approval, and
other applicable laws and regulations, including New Mexico state
permits for exploratory drilling.
Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the environmental impact statement. Comments are
solicited and are welcome for the 45-day comment period initiating on
the publication date of this notice.
It is important that reviewers 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, comments should be
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
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.
Dated: December 2, 2011.
Nancy Rose,
Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2011-31563 Filed 12-7-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P