[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 85983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-25096]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[BLM_NV_FRN_4500183156]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Rhyolite 
Ridge Lithium-Boron Project, Esmeralda County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project (Project) 
located in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The ROD constitutes the decision 
of the BLM to approve the plan of operations for the Project.

DATES: The Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior signed the ROD on 
October 24, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The ROD is available online at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2012309/510.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Distel, Project Manager, 
telephone (775) 635-4000; address 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 
89820; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#743638392b3a222b3639303b2b245231372b3a312435341618195a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d7959b9a88998188959a93988887f19294889992879697b5bbbaf9b0b8a1">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals in the United 
States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech 
disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 
telecommunications relay services for contacting Mr. Distel. 
Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services 
offered within their country to make international calls to the point-
of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The authorized officer for this action has 
reviewed the environmental analysis in the Final EIS and has selected 
the North and South Overburden Storage Facility Alternative (Preferred 
Alternative/Selected Alternative), along with the applicable Applicant-
Committed Environmental Protection Measures (ACEPMs) specified in 
Sections 2.1.13 and 2.2.2 of the Final EIS. The BLM's selection is 
based on the environmental analysis in the Final EIS, which was 
published on September 20, 2024. There were no substantial changes to 
the Final EIS during the 30-day public availability period following 
publication. An errata sheet was issued following the Final EIS 
correcting Final EIS Page 4-41, fifth paragraph, line 8, from 
``approximately 100 feet'' to ``approximately 25 feet.''
    The ROD approves the plan of operations for the Project 
(NVNV106205338) submitted to the BLM pursuant to 43 CFR 3809 and 3715, 
and the analysis in the Final EIS. The BLM has considered the analysis 
of the effectiveness of the mitigation measures, and has determined 
that implementation of the ROD, with the identified mitigation 
measures, will not cause unnecessary or undue degradation of the public 
lands and is consistent with applicable legal requirements.
    In accordance with 40 CFR 1505.2(c), the mitigation measures and 
ACEPMs represent practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental 
harm from the BLM's Selected Alternative. The ACEPMs, which were 
developed to avoid or minimize environmental impacts resulting from the 
Selected Alternative, are part of the Plan. All ACEPMs were designed to 
avoid or minimize environmental impacts to resources affected by the 
Plan. All mitigation within the BLM's authority will be implemented and 
enforced.
    The ROD is conditioned on compliance with the Biological Opinion 
issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) provided in 
Appendix A of the ROD and all other necessary local, State, and Federal 
approvals, authorizations, and permits. Other agencies, including but 
not limited to Esmeralda County and USFWS, are responsible for issuing 
and enforcing their own decisions and applicable authorizations for the 
Project.
    Approval of the Project constitutes the final decision of the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) and, in accordance with the 
regulations at 43 CFR 4.410(a)(3) and Blue Star, Inc., 41 IBLA 333 
(1979), is not subject to administrative appeal under DOI regulations 
at 43 CFR part 4.

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.9)

Laura Daniel-Davis,
Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior.
[FR Doc. 2024-25096 Filed 10-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-21-P


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