[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 122 (Friday, June 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 39174]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15418]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID-075-1330-AC]


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management 
(BLM), announces availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (FEIS) for the Dry Valley Mine Extension, Panels C and D. The 
FEIS analyzes the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts associated 
with a proposal by Astaris, LLC (Formerly FMC Corporation) to extend 
existing open-pit phosphate mining operations in southeastern Idaho. 
BLM, US Forest Service, and the US Army Corps of Engineers prepared the 
FEIS. BLM is acting as the lead agency; the US Forest Service is a 
joint lead agency; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a 
cooperating agency for preparation of the FEIS. The Proposed Action 
includes: construction of two mining pits (Pits C and D), associated 
haul and access roads, overburden dumps, and use of existing mine 
facilities to support continued mining. Alternatives to the Proposed 
Action include the No Action Alternative and alternative methods of 
handling overburden to reduce impacts caused by the proposed mine 
extension. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was 
distributed in July 1999. The FEIS responds to comments received on the 
DEIS.

Agency Decisions

    The BLM will issue a Record of Decision regarding the proposed Dry 
Valley Panel C and D Mine and Reclamation Plan and modification 
(enlargement) of Federal Phosphate Lease I-0678. The Caribou National 
Forest will provide BLM with recommendations for those portions of the 
project that are on National Forest System lands. The U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, Walla Walla District anticipates signing a separate 
Record of Decision regarding issuance of a Section 404 Clean Water Act 
Permit for the project.

DATES: The Bureau of Land Management and the Department of the Army, 
Corps of Engineers intend to issue independent Records of Decision 
(ROD) on the proposal no sooner than July 24, 2000 or 30 days after 
publication of this Notice in the Federal Register by the Environmental 
Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Limited numbers of the FEIS are available at the Bureau of 
Land Management, Pocatello Field Office, 1111 N. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, 
Idaho 83201, telephone (208) 478-6354; the Soda Springs Ranger District 
of the Caribou National Forest, 421 W. 2nd South, Soda Springs, Idaho 
83276, telephone (208) 547-4356; and the US Army Corps of Engineers, 
Walla Walla District, Idaho Falls Regulatory Office, 900 North Skyline 
Drive, Suite A, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83402 Falls, telephone (208) 522-
1645.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Comments or questions may be directed 
to Jeff Cundick, EIS Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, 
Pocatello Field Office, 1111 N. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho 83201. 
Telephone: (208) 478-6354.

Jeff S. Steele,
Manager, Pocatello Field Office, Bureau of Land Management.
[FR Doc. 00-15418 Filed 6-22-00; 8:45 am]
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