Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 21, 1997 / Notices 54649

Northwest Territories, Canada for

personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on October

6, 1997, as authorized by the provisions

of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.) the Fish and Wildlife Service

authorized the requested permit subject

to certain conditions set forth therein.

On August 7, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 152, Page 42589, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by Peter Mansfield,

New York City, NY, for a permit (PRT–

832731) to import a sport-hunted polar

bear (Ursus maritimus) trophy, taken

from the Southern Beaufort Sea

population, Northwest Territories,

Canada for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on

September 30, 1997, as authorized by

the provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

On August 14, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 157, Page 43544, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by Ron Brunsfeld,

Northbrook, IL, for a permit (PRT–

832897) to import a sport-hunted polar

bear (Ursus maritimus) trophy, taken

prior to April 30, 1994, from the

Lancaster Sound population, Northwest

Territories, Canada for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on

September 24, 1997, as authorized by

the provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

On August 14, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 157, Page 43544, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by Gerald Bader,

Federal Dam, MN, for a permit (PRT–

832625) to import a sport-hunted polar

bear (Ursus maritimus) trophy, taken

prior to April 30, 1994, from the Foxe

Basin population, Northwest Territories,

Canada for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on October

6, 1997, as authorized by the provisions

of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.) the Fish and Wildlife Service

authorized the requested permit subject

to certain conditions set forth therein.

On August 14, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 157, Page 43544, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by Karl Nothdurft,

Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, for a permit

(PRT–832907) to import a sport-hunted

polar bear (Ursus maritimus) trophy,

taken prior to April 30, 1994, from the

Foxe Basin population, Northwest

Territories, Canada for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on

September 30, 1997, as authorized by

the provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

On August 14, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 157, Page 43544, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by the Alaska

Science Center, Anchorage, AK for

amendment of the permit (PRT–801652)

for the purposes of scientific research of

walrus (Odobenus rosmarus).

Notice is hereby given that on October

1, 1997, as authorized by the provisions

of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.) the Fish and Wildlife Service

authorized the requested permit subject

to certain conditions set forth therein.

Documents and other information

submitted for these applications are

available for review by any party who

submits a written request to the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Rm 700, Arlington,

Virginia 22203. Phone (703) 358–2104

or Fax (703) 358–2281.

Dated: October 16, 1997.

Mary Ellen Amtower,

Acting Chief, Branch of Permits, Office of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 97–27881 Filed 10–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID–933–1430–01; IDI–014917C, IDI–

014461C]

Termination of Desert Land Entry

Classifications and Opening Order;

Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice terminates two

Desert Land Entry Classifications on

363.74 acres of land in Owyhee County,

as these classifications are no longer

needed. Most of the lands affected by

these classifications will be exchanged

pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal

Land Policy and Management Act of

1976.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 21, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Catherine D. Foster, BLM Idaho State

Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise,

Idaho 83709, 208–373–3863.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April

18, 1968 and on October 4, 1971, the

lands listed below were classified as

suitable for entry under the authority of

the Desert Land Act of March 3, 1877,

as amended and supplemented (43

U.S.C. 321, et seq.).

These classifications are hereby

terminated and the segregation for the

following described land is hereby

terminated:

T. 6 S., R. 4 E., B.M. section 24: NE1⁄4SE1⁄4.

T. 6 S., R. 5 E., B.M. section 19: lots 2, 3, 4,

SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, E1⁄2SW1⁄4,

NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

The area described above aggregates 363.74

acres in Owyhee County.

At 9:00 a.m. on October 21, 1997, the

Desert Land Entry Classifications

identified above will be terminated. A

majority of the lands identified above

will remain closed to location and entry

under the public land laws and the

mining laws, as they are currently

segregated for exchange. The only lands

which will be opened to location and

entry are described as follows:

T. 6 S., R. 5 E., B.M. section 19: SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,

NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

At 9:00 a.m. on October 21, 1997,

these lands will be opened to operation

of the public land laws generally,

subject to valid existing rights, the

provisions of existing withdrawals, and

the requirements of applicable law. All

valid applications received at or prior to

9:00 a.m., on October 21, 1997, will be

considered simultaneously filed at that

time. Those received thereafter will be

considered in the order of filing.

At 9:00 a.m. on October 21, 1997,

these lands will be opened to location

and entry under the United States

mining laws, subject to valid existing

rights, the provisions of existing

withdrawals, other segregations of

record, and the requirements of

applicable law. Appropriation of any of

the lands described above under the

general mining laws prior to the date

and time of restoration is unauthorized.

Any such attempted appropriation,

including attempted adverse possession

under 30 U.S.C. Sec. 38, shall vest no

rights against the United States. Acts

required to establish a location and to

initiate a right of possession are

governed by State law where not in

conflict with Federal law. The Bureau of

Land Management will not intervene in
54650 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 203 / Tuesday, October 21, 1997 / Notices

disputes between rival locators over

possessory rights since Congress has

provided for such determinations in

local courts.

Dated: October 9, 1997.

Jimmie Buxton,

Branch Chief, Lands and Minerals.

[FR Doc. 97–27713 Filed 10–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CACA 31137; FES 97–33]

Notice of Availability

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Needles Resource Area.

ACTION: Notice of Availability for the

Castle Mountain Mine Expansion

Project, Final Environmental Impact

Statement/Environmental Impact

Report.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended, and in coordination with the

County of San Bernardino in its

administration of the California

Environmental Quality Act as amended,

notice is hereby given that the Bureau

of Land Management (BLM) has

prepared, with the assistance of a third

party consultant, a Final Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental

Impact Report (EIR)on the proposed

Castle Mountain Mine Expansion

Project and has made copies available

for public and agency review. The Final

EIS/EIR addresses the potential

environmental impacts associated with

expansion and continued operation of

an open pit heap leach gold mine in

northeastern San Bernardino County,

California.

DATES: Comments on the Final EIS/EIR

must be received no later than 4 p.m.,

November 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be addressed to: George R. Meckfessel,

U.S.D.I. Bureau of Land Management,

Needles Resource Area, 101 West Spikes

Road, Needles California 92363.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

George R. Meckfessel, Planning and

Environmental Coordinator, telephone

(760) 326–7000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Viceroy

Gold Corporation has proposed to mine

additional ore adjacent to deposits

currently being mined at the Castle

Mountain Mine, an open-pit heap-leach

gold mine. Under the present operating

permits, mining, processing and

reclamation could continue through

December 31, 2010. The mine operating

period would be extended 10 years past

the currently permitted time to 2010.

Under the proposed expansion, these

activities could continue through

December 31, 2020. The Proposed

Action would increase areas of open pit,

create an overburden storage site, and

expand the heap leach pad, on

approximately 485 acres. Mining and

processing methods, and rates would

not change. Previous permitted and

proposed surface disturbances at the

conclusion of mining would total 1,375

acres of the 3,910-acre project area.

Molly S. Brady,

Area Manager.

[FR Doc. 97–27782 Filed 10–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service

Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Region

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the Availability of

Environmental Documents Prepared for

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Mineral

Exploration Proposal on the Alaska

OCS.

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management

Service (MMS), in accordance with

Federal regulations (40 CFR Section

1501.4 and Section 1506.6) that

implement the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA), announces the

availability of a NEPA-related

Environmental Assessment prepared by

the MMS for oil and gas exploration

activities proposed on the Alaska OCS.

This listing includes the only proposal

for which a Finding of No Significant

Impact (FONSI) was prepared by the

Alaska OCS Office in the 3-month

period preceding this Notice.

Proposal

The proposal is for exploratorydrilling operations that would be

conducted in accordance with the OCS

Lands Act. The purpose of the

Environmental Assessment (EA) is to

evaluate the probable environmental

effects of the operations, described in

the Exploration Plan (EP) for the ARCO

Warthog No. 1 Exploration Well, dated

July 1997. The Warthog drill site would

be located within Camden Bay in the

Beaufort Sea, near several former drill

sites and the Arctic National Wildlife

Refuge. The bottom-hole location would

be under adjacent State of Alaska lands

on the inner continental shelf. The

methods by which the exploratory well

would be drilled are detailed in the EP

and in the associated Environmental

Report and Oil Discharge Prevention

and Contingency Plan. Additional

details about the proposed operations

are included in Federal Register Notice

62–FR–37881, summarizing an ARCO

application for an Incidental

Harassment Authorization from the

National Marine Fisheries Service.

Location

Lease Block

OCS–Y–1663 NR 06–04 7067

(additional lease)

OCS–Y–1662 NR 06–04 7066

EA Number: EA No. AK 97–01.

FONSI Date: August 14, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Persons interested in reviewing

environmental documents for the

proposal listed above, or in obtaining

information about EA’s and FONSI’s

prepared for activities on the Alaska

OCS, are encouraged to contact the

Alaska OCS Regional office of MMS.

The FONSI and associated EA are

available for public inspection between

the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.,

Monday through Friday at: Minerals

Management Service, Alaska OCS

Region, Resource Center, 949 East 36th

Avenue, Room 330, Anchorage, Alaska

99508–4363, phone: (907) 271–6070 or

(907) 271–6621 or toll free at 1–800–

764–2627. Request may also be sent to

MMS at akwebmaster@mms.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS

prepares EA’s and FONSI’s for

proposals which relate to exploration

for oil and gas resources on the Alaska

OCS. The EA’s examine the potential

environmental effects of activities

described in the proposals and present

MMS conclusions regarding the

significance of those effects. The EA is

used as a basis for determing whether or

not approvals of the proposals

constitute major Federal actions that

significantly affect the quality of the

human environment in the sense of

NEPA 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in

those instances where MMS finds that

approval will not result in significant

effects on the quality of the human

environment. The FONSI briefly

presents the basis for that finding and

includes a summary or copy of the EA.

This Notice constitutes the public

Notice of Availability of environmental

documents required under the NEPA

regulations.

Dated: October 14, 1997.

John Goll,

Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region,

Minerals Management Service.

[FR Doc. 97–27784 Filed 10–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–M