71668 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 226 / Wednesday, November 24, 2010 / Notices 

In the final EIS, the Forest Service is 

required to respond to substantive 

comments received during the comment 

period for the draft EIS. The Forest 

Service is the lead agency and the 

responsible official is the Forest 

Supervisor, Deschutes National Forest. 

The responsible official will decide 

where and whether or not to apply 

natural fuels treatments, thin stands, 

and reforest group cuts. The responsible 

official will also decide how to mitigate 

impacts of these actions and will 

determine when and how monitoring of 

effects will take place. 

The West Bend Vegetation 

Management decision and the reasons 

for the decision will be documented in 

the record of decision, which will be 

subject to Forest Service Appeal 

Regulations (35 CFR part 215). 

Dated: November 15, 2010. 

A. Shane Jeffries, 

District Ranger, Bend/Ft. Rock Ranger 

District, Deschutes National Forest. 

[FR Doc. 2010–29476 Filed 11–23–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Cibota National Forest, Mount Taylor 

Ranger District, NM, Roca Honda Mine 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: Roca Honda Resources, LLC 

has submitted a Plan of Operations 

proposing to develop and conduct 

underground uranium mining 

operations on their mining claims on 

and near Jesus Mesa in the Mount 

Taylor Ranger District of the Cibola 

National Forest. The proposed mine is 

located within portions of Sections 9, 10 

and 16, Township 13 North, Range 8 

West, New Mexico Principal Meridian. 

These sections are located in McKinley 

County, New Mexico approximately 

three miles northwest of San Mateo and 

22 miles northeast of Grants, New 

Mexico. Sections 9 and 10 are National 

Forest System lands, which are open to 

mineral entry under the General Mining 

Law of 1872. Section 16 is State of New 

Mexico land, which is not subject to the 

regulatory jurisdiction of the Forest 

Service. Roca Honda proposes a mine 

permit area encompassing all three 

sections (1,920 acres) and a surface 

disturbance area of 183 acres within 

Sections 9, 10 and 16. Additional 

surface disturbance associated with the 

mine haul roads is proposed for 

Sections 11, 17 and 20. The Cibola 

National Forest will prepare an 

environmental impact statement (EIS) to 

assess the development of a uranium 

mining operation on the Mount Taylor 

Ranger District. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 30 

days after the publication of the NOI. 

Public scoping open houses will be held 

during the scoping period in Grants and 

Gallup, New Mexico. The tentative 

schedule for the open houses is as 

follows: Tuesday, December 14, 2010, in 

Grants, New Mexico, and Thursday, 

December 16, 2010, in Gallup, New 

Mexico. The final times and locations of 

these meetings will be announced by 

public notice and will be posted on the 

Cibola National Forest Web site. The 

draft environmental impact statement is 

expected by the summer of 2011 and the 

final environmental impact statement 

and Record of Decision (ROD) is 

expected by the end of 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Diane Tafoya, Minerals Project Manager, 

Cibola National Forest, 2113 Osuna 

Road, NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information, mail 

correspondence to Diane Tafoya, 

Minerals Project Manager, Cibola 

National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road, NE., 

Albuquerque, NM 87113. 

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 

Roca Honda Resources, LLC has 

submitted a Plan of Operations for 

development of a uranium mine at the 

Roca Honda claims. The purpose of the 

EIS is to evaluate the environmental 

impacts of the proposed Plan of 

Operations and determine whether to 

approve the Plan as proposed or to 

require additional mitigation measures 

to protect the environment (in 

accordance with Forest Service 

regulations for locatable minerals). 

The need for action is to allow Roca 

Honda Resources, LLC to exercise their 

rights under U.S. mining laws. Roca 

Honda Resources, LLC has a right to 

develop and remove the mineral 

resources as set forth by the General 

Mining Law of 1872 as amended. The 

1872 Mining Law and 1897 Organic Act 

provide that the public has a statutory 

right to conduct prospecting, 

exploration, development and 

production activities on federal lands 

(unless specifically exempted), provided 

these activities are reasonably incident 

(1955 Multiple Use Mining Act and case 

law) to mining and comply with other 

federal laws. 

The Forest Service has the 

responsibility to protect surface 

resources. Mining regulations state that, 

‘‘operations shall be conducted so as, 

where feasible, to minimize adverse 

environmental effects on National 

Forest System surface resources (36 CFR 

228.8),’’ provided such regulation does 

not endanger or materially interfere 

with prospecting, mining, or processing 

operations or reasonably incidental uses 

(1955 Multiple Use Mining Act and case 

law). 

Proposed Action 

Roca Honda proposes to conduct 

mining operations for a period of 

approximately 18–19 years, including 

mine development, operations and 

reclamation. The proposed mining 

operations consist of three phases: (1) 

Mine Development—baseline data 

gathering, initial site development, 

construction, and depressurizing 

activities, which would be conducted to 

facilitate mine shaft construction. 

Depressurizing activities include 

constructing a ring of wells around the 

perimeter of the area of the productions 

shafts into the Gallup, Dakota, and 

Westwater formations. These wells 

would be installed in advance of shaft 

construction and pumped in order to 

relieve the hydrostatic pressure in the 

formation, thus reducing the amount of 

water flowing into the shaft excavation 

as it advances through the formation. 

Five ventilation shafts, 8–10 ft in 

diameter, and two concrete-lined 

production shafts, 18 ft in diameter, 

would be constructed. (2) Mine 

Operation activities directly related to 

production of uranium ore from the 

underground mine, and transport of the 

ore offsite for mineral processing. Soils, 

rock, and ore would be stockpiled on 

the surface. Up to 4,000 gallons per 

minute of water would be pumped from 

the mine and treated prior to discharge 

in a tributary of San Mateo Creek. (3) 

Mine Reclamation—activities intended 

to reclaim land affected by mine 

development and operation, and to 

return that land to an approved postmining land use (grazing). 

The proposed federal action is to 

approve Roca Honda Resources, LLC’s 

Plan of Operations with mitigations 

needed to protect other non-mineral 

surface resources consistent with Forest 

Plan, regulations, and other applicable 

laws. 

WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 226 / Wednesday, November 24, 2010 / Notices 71669 

Possible Alternatives 

1. No. Action. 2. Approve the Plan as 

presented by Roca Honda Resources, 

LLC. 3. Approve the Plan as presented 

with stipulations necessary to protect 

the non-mineral resources of the area. 

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 Plan as submitted, or to 

decide what additional mitigations are 

needed to protect other resources as 

provided for in 36 CFR 228.8. 

Preliminary Issues 

Four preliminary issues have been 

identified: (1) Mine development and 

operations could potentially affect 

surface and ground water quality. (2) 

Mine development and operation may 

adversely affect the characteristics that 

make the Mt. Taylor Traditional 

Cultural Property (TCP) eligible for the 

National Register of Historic Places. (3) 

Legacy health issues with past uranium 

mining remain an issue in the region, 

raising concerns that the proposed 

mining could result in effects to workers 

and general public health. (4) Mine 

development and operations could 

induce local economic development by 

increasing jobs, income, expenditures, 

and the tax base. Other potential issues 

are air quality degradation from fugitive 

dust and radon gas emissions, traffic 

control, road construction standards, 

and uranium ore transport. 

Permits or Licenses Required 

The approved Plan of Operations 

authorizes mining. Operations must be 

consistent with Forest Service 

Conditions of Approval, and other 

applicable laws and regulations, 

including state permits for mining in 

New Mexico. 

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 30 days 

beginning on the publication date of this 

notice. 

Scoping will include this NOI, listing 

in the Quarterly Schedule of Proposed 

Actions, letters to interested and 

affected individuals, agencies, and 

organizations, and legal notices, and the 

open houses in Grants and Gallup, New 

Mexico. Additional information about 

the project, schedule, permits and 

approvals, and opportunities for public 

involvement will be available at the 

open houses and after those dates by 

contacting Diane Tafoya, Forest Service 

point of contact. The intent of scoping 

is to solicit comments on issues and 

alternatives that agencies and the public 

feel should be addressed in the EIS. 

It is important that reviewers provide 

their comments at such times and in 

such a way that they are useful to the 

Agency’s preparation of the EIS. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. The submission of timely 

and specific comments can affect a 

reviewer’s ability to participate in 

subsequent administrative review or 

judicial review. 

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, anonymous 

comments will not provide the 

respondent with standing to participate 

in subsequent administrative review or 

judicial review. 

Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 36 

CFR 220.4. 

Dated: November 16, 2010. 

Nancy Rose, 

Forest Supervisor Cibola National Forest. 

[FR Doc. 2010–29477 Filed 11–23–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest 

Resource Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache 

National Forest Resource Advisory 

Committee will conduct a meeting in 

Salt Lake City, Utah. The committee is 

meeting as authorized under the Secure 

Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act (Pub. L. 110–343) 

and in compliance with the Federal 

Advisory Committee Act. The purpose 

is to continue the review of project 

submittals. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

December 9, 2010, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Salt Lake County Government 

Center, Room S1002, 2001 South State 

Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Written 

comments should be sent to Loyal Clark, 

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 

88 West 100 North, Provo, Utah 84601. 

Comments may also be sent via e-mail 

to lfclark@fs.fed.us, via facsimile to 

801–342–5144. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for 

inspection and copying. The public may 

inspect comments received at the UintaWasatch-Cache National Forest, 88 West 

100 North, Provo, Utah 84601. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Loyal Clark, RAC Coordinator, USDA, 

Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 

88 West 100 North, Provo, Utah 84601; 

801–342–5117; lfclark@fs.fed.us. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. The 

following business will be conducted: 

(1) Develop and approve monitoring 

process for projects, and (2) review 

project submissions. Persons who wish 

to bring related matters to the attention 

of the Committee may file written 

statements with the Committee staff 

before or after the meeting. 

Dated: November 15, 2010. 

Cheryl Probert, 

Acting Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 2010–29583 Filed 11–23–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS 

Sunshine Act Notice 

AGENCY: United States Commission on 

Civil Rights 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

DATE AND TIME: Friday, December 3, 

2010; 9:30 a.m. EST. 

PLACE: 624 Ninth Street, NW., Room 

540, Washington, DC 20425. 

Meeting Agenda 

This meeting is open to the public. 

I. Approval of Agenda. 

II. Program Planning. 

• Approval of School Choice, the 

Blaine Amendments and AntiCatholicism Briefing Report. 

• Approval of Eminent Domain 

Briefing Concept Paper & 

Scheduling of Briefing. 

• Update on FY 2011 Cy Pres 

Enforcement Report. 

• Update on Status of Briefing on 

Disparate Impact in School 

Discipline Policies. 

• Update on Sex Discrimination in 

Liberal Arts College Admissions— 

Some of the discussion of this 

WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with NOTICES