[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 3467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01176]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORL05000; L19900000.EX0000; 15XL1109HF; HAG 15-0214]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
Expanding an Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake County, Oregon
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 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Lakeview Resource Area, Lakeview, Oregon intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until February 22, 2016.
The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping meetings will be announced
at least 15 days in advance through local media, newspapers and the BLM
Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/or/districts/lakeview/index.php. In
order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received
prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period or 15 days after the
last public meeting, whichever is later. The BLM will provide
additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of
the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the EIS for Expanding an
Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake County, Oregon by any of the
following methods:
Mail: Todd Forbes, Field Manager, Lakeview Resource Area,
Bureau of Land Management, 1301 South G Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630.
Email: [email protected].
Fax: 541-947-6399; Attn: Phil D'Amo.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phil D'Amo, Geologist, telephone: 541-
947-6114; address: Lakeview Resource Area, Bureau of Land Management,
1301 South G Street, Lakeview, OR 97630; email: [email protected]. Contact
Mr. D'Amo to have your name added to the BLM's mailing list. Persons
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact
the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question
with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Cornerstone, Inc., has
requested to modify its existing Plan of Operation by expanding its
existing 70-acre quarry by up to an additional 340 acres on Tucker
Hill, located approximately 35 miles northwest of the town of Lakeview,
Oregon. The BLM will consider issues and concerns identified during the
scoping process during the preparation of the EIS. The purpose of the
public scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will
influence the scope of the environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. The
preliminary issues identified include potential impacts to soils,
vegetation, noxious weeds, traditional Native American uses,
archaeological sites, wildlife habitat, visual quality, and socio-
economics. The BLM will identify, analyze, and require mitigation, as
appropriate, to address the reasonably foreseeable impacts to resources
from the expansion of this mine. Mitigation may include avoidance,
minimization, rectification, reduction or elimination over time, and
compensatory mitigation, and may be considered at multiple scales,
including the landscape-scale. Those individuals, organizations, tribal
governments, and agencies with a known interest in the proposal have
been sent a scoping letter requesting comments. At this time there is
no formal scoping meeting planned, though one could be scheduled if
there is sufficient interest.
The comment period on the draft EIS will last 45 days from the date
the U.S. EPA Notice of Availability appears in the Federal Register.
Because of recent court rulings, it is very important that interested
parties participate during the scoping and draft EIS review processes,
so that any substantive comments are provided at a time when the BLM
can meaningfully consider them.
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA scoping process to
help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
The information about historic and cultural resources within the area
potentially affected by the proposed action will assist the BLM in
identifying and evaluating impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other
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 tribes
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the
proposed EIS for Expanding an Existing Perlite Mining Operation; Lake
County, Oregon 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 letter, 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 to have your personal identifying information
withheld from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able
to do so.
Todd Forbes,
Field Manager, Lakeview Resource Area.
[FR Doc. 2016-01176 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
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