[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20737-20738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10341]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[AZ-020-05-1330-00]


Notice of Availability of the Cyprus Tohono Corporation Proposed 
Mine Expansion Final Environmental Impact Statement, Phoenix District, 
Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Final environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
[[Page 20738]] 1969, and The United States Department of the Interior 
Secretarial Order No. 3087, Section 5, Amendment No. 1, The Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM) has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the Cyprus Tohono Corporation's (Cyprus) proposed mine 
expansion on the Tohono O'odham Nation (Nation), Papago Indian 
Reservation. The proposed action (Alternate B) consists of the 
conversion from in situ to open pit mining operations at Cyprus, the 
creation of a new overburden storage site, and a new copper oxide ore 
heap leach pad. Cyprus proposes production of approximately one billion 
pounds of copper during the thirteen year life of the proposal. A 
description of existing facilities and a detailed proposed plan of 
operations is presented in the Mine Plan of Operations for Expanded 
Open Pit and Heap Leach Operation (Cyprus Tohono Corporation, March 
1995). The project was developed in response to three underlying needs: 
Mining lease compliance, continued industrial economic support for the 
Nation, and copper production.
    Implementation of Alternative B would result in the disturbance of 
a total of approximately 1,850 acres, or approximately 0.06 percent of 
total Nation lands. Alternative B Mine Plan of Operations involves the 
development, operation, performance and maintenance of the following 
major project components: Open pit mine expansion, overburden disposal 
area, heap leach pads and ponds, stormwater collection and recycling, 
processing facilities, access and service roads, support facilities, 
utilities, spill prevention, control health and safety plans, 
reclamation and closure. There would be increases in royalties and 
employment. Scholarships would be established. Each of the major 
project components are described in the main body of the EIS. 
Alternative B Mine Plan of Operations was developed to minimize 
potential impacts to biological and visual resources. Alternative B 
Mine Plan of Operations moved some of proposed mine components south of 
an existing access road. Movement of the proposed project elements 
south of the existing mine access road serves to limit disturbance of 
natural drainages, reduce potential disturbance to bat colonies north 
of the site, and to provide a visual screen of existing mine plant site 
structures.

DATES: Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the Notice of Filing by 
the United States Environmental Protection Agency in the Federal 
Register. These procedures can be found in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (43 CPR 1610.5-2).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A limited number of copies of the Final EIS 
are available upon request to the: District Manager, Phoenix District 
Office, Bureau of Land Management, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, 
Arizona 85027. There are also copies available for review at the above 
location.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Moon 
Hom, 2015 West Deer Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027; (602) 780-
8090.

    Dated: April 19, 1995.
David J. Miller,
Associate District Manager.
[FR Doc. 95-10341 Filed 4-26-95; 8:45 am]
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