Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 5, 2010 / Notices 61415 

Based on an evaluation of the 

information and impact analyses 

presented in the EIS, including the 

evaluation of all alternatives, and in 

consideration of the Agency’s NEPA 

implementing regulations, 

Environmental Policies and Procedures, 

as amended (7 CFR Part 1794), RUS 

finds that the evaluation of reasonable 

alternatives is consistent with NEPA. 

The Agency has selected the Action 

Alternative at Crow Lake site as its 

preferred alternative. This Notice 

concludes RUS’s compliance with 

NEPA and the Agency’s ‘‘Environmental 

Policies and Procedures.’’ 

Dated: September 29, 2010. 

James R. Newby, 

Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–24993 Filed 10–4–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Admiralty National Monument: 

Tongass National Forest; Alaska; 

Expansion of Tailings Disposal 

Facility, Greens Creek Mine 

Environmental Impact Statement 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement. 

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, Forest Service, will prepare 

an Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) to consider the proposal to create 

additional tailings and waste rock 

disposal capacity and related 

infrastructure at the Greens Creek Mine 

on northern Admiralty Island on the 

Admiralty Island National Monument, 

Tongass National Forest. The proposed 

action provides for an expansion of the 

existing tailings facility area to the south 

for an increase of approximately 200 

acres. This would include an increase of 

about 60 acres for tailings placement 

and an addition of approximately 140 

acres for supporting infrastructure. 

DATES: A scoping letter will be mailed 

out in early October. Individuals who 

want to receive a copy of this mailing 

or who want to be on the project mailing 

list should contact the Admiralty Island 

National Monument at the address 

below. Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 

November 4, 2010. The Draft EIS is 

projected to be filed with the 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

in the summer of 2011 and will begin 

a 45 day public comment period. The 

Final Environmental Impact Statement 

and the Record of Decision are expected 

to be published in the spring of 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may comment on the 

project in the following ways: Send 

written comments to the Admiralty 

Island National Monument, Tongass 

National Forest, Attn: Greens Creek 

Tailings Expansion, 8510 Mendenhall 

Loop Road, Juneau, AK 99801. Hand 

delivered comments may be taken to 

this same address. Comments may also 

be sent via e-mail to comments-alaskatongass-admiralty-nationalmonument@fs.fed.us with Greens Creek 

Tailings EIS on the subject line, or via 

facsimile to 907–586–8808. Include 

your name, address and organization 

name if you are commenting as a 

representative of an organization. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions about the proposal and the 

EIS should be directed to Chad 

VanOrmer, District Ranger, Admiralty 

Island National Monument, 8510 

Mendenhall Loop Road, Juneau, AK 

99801, telephone (907) 789–6202, or 

Sarah Samuelson, Interdisciplinary 

Team Leader, Tongass National Forest 

Minerals Program Leader, 8510 

Mendenhall Loop Road, Juneau, AK 

99801, telephone (907) 789–6274. 

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: 

Background 

Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company 

(HGCMC) operates an underground 

polymetallic mine located 

approximately 18 miles southwest of 

Juneau, Alaska on the northern part of 

Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska. 

Exploration work at the site began in the 

mid-1970s, with the first exploration 

portal to go underground started in 

1981. Before mining operations began 

the Forest Service completed a Greens 

Creek Final Environmental Impact 

Statement (1983) and Record of 

Decision for overall development and 

operations of the mine. Full scale mine 

development began in 1987. 

The original General Plan of 

Operations (GPO) called for 

underground mining with the ore 

crushed and concentrated in the mill 

near the portal. The tailings were to be 

slurried in a pipeline parallel to the 

road corridor to a disposal site at the 

Cannery Muskeg. In 1986 the new 

owners of the mine (Amselco) decided 

to change the method of tailings 

disposal; instead of transporting tailings 

in a slurry via a pipeline, the owners 

proposed to truck ‘‘dry tailings’’ to a 

smaller area at the same Cannery 

Muskeg for disposal. In 1988, the Forest 

Service completed the Environmental 

Assessment for Proposed Changes to the 

General Plan of Operation for the 

Development and Operation of the 

Greens Creek Mine (1988) and approved 

the dry-stack tailings method for the 

Greens Creek Mine. 

In 1990 new mine owners (Kennecott 

Greens Creek Mining Company— 

KGCMC) sought approval for additional 

waste rock disposal capacity. In 1991, 

the Forest Service began a third 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA) review, the Environmental 

Assessment for Additional Waste Rock 

Disposal Capacity at Greens Creek Mine 

(1992). 

In 2001, KGCMC submitted an 

application to the Forest Service 

requesting a modification of the thencurrent GPO for expansion of the 

existing tailings facility. Based on 

known ore reserves and the success of 

the exploration program, it was 

estimated that the approved tailings 

facility could not contain tailings 

associated with projected future 

operations. In 2003, the Greens Creek 

Tailings Disposal Final Environmental 

Impact Statement (2003) and ROD were 

completed; this provided for a 

modification of the GPO to allow for an 

expansion of the tailings disposal 

facility. 

Purpose and Need for Action 

The Forest Service has been requested 

by HGCMC to consider additional 

tailings expansion at the Greens Creek 

Mine. With continued positive 

exploration results, improved metal 

prices, and ongoing operational 

efficiencies, there is a need for 

additional tailings and waste rock 

disposal and related infrastructure at the 

Greens Creek Mine to allow for 

continuous site operations in a safe, 

environmentally sound, technically 

feasible, and economically viable 

manner, while being in compliance with 

regulatory requirements. The purpose of 

this EIS is for the Forest Service to 

consider certain changes to the 

approved HGCMC General Plan of 

Operations regarding tailings and waste 

rock disposal and related infrastructure. 

The existing tailings facility is 

considered sufficient to provide for 

HGCMC needs until 2014 but HECLA 

has indicated that preparation work for 

tailings must begin during the 2012 

construction season. 

Proposed Action 

HGCMC is proposing a tailings 

expansion which will accommodate an 

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61416 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 5, 2010 / Notices 

estimated additional 20 million tons of 

tailings and waste rock material. This 

volume would allow capacity for 

ongoing operation and project reserves, 

plus provide volume for waste rock 

co-disposal and an expanded resource 

base as identified needs are proven with 

on-site exploration activities. An 

estimated 200 additional acres are 

requested to accommodate this 

expansion need; approximately 60 acres 

will accommodate the tailings and 

waste rock co-disposal and about 140 

acres to provide space for supporting 

infrastructure. 

Public Participation and Scoping 

This project was placed on the July 

2010 Schedule of Proposed Action. This 

Notice of Intent initiates the scoping 

process which guides the development 

of the EIS. Public participation will be 

an integral component of the study 

process and will continue to be 

especially important at several points 

during the analysis. The Forest Service 

will be seeking information, comments 

and assistance from tribal governments 

and corporations, Federal, State and 

local agencies, individuals, and 

organizations that may be interested in, 

or affected by, the proposed activities. 

The mailing list will include: Those 

who have requested to be on this project 

mailing list, outfitters/guides that have 

permits within or adjacent to this area; 

and local, State and federallyrecognized tribal governments and 

corporations and federal government 

agencies. The scoping package will be 

available at future public open house 

meetings to be held in mid-October in 

both Juneau, Alaska and Angoon, 

Alaska. 

Based on results of scoping and the 

resource capabilities within the project 

area, alternatives, including the ‘‘No 

Action’’ alternative will be developed 

for the Draft EIS. Subsistence hearings, 

as provided for in Section 810 of the 

Alaska National Interest Lands 

Conservation Act (ANILCA) will be 

conducted, if necessary, during the 

comment period on the Draft EIS. 

The comment period on the Draft EIS 

will be 45 days from the date the EPA 

publishes the notice of availability in 

the Federal Register. 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 Final EIS. Comments on both 

scoping and eventually, the Draft EIS, 

should be provided prior to the close of 

the comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewers concerns and 

contentions. The submission of timely 

and specific comments can affect a 

reviewer’s ability to participate in a 

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 

(Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 

36 CFR 220.5; also Forest Service 

Handbook 1909.15, Section 21). 

Comments submitted anonymously will 

not provide the respondent with 

standing to participate in subsequent 

administrative review or judicial 

review. Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 

1.27(d), any person may request the 

agency to withhold a submission from 

the public record by showing how the 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 

permits such confidentiality. Requesters 

should be aware that, under FOIA, 

confidentiality may be granted in only 

very limited circumstances, such as to 

protect trade secrets. The Forest Service 

will inform the requester of the agency’s 

decision regarding the request for 

confidentiality, where the request is 

denied, the Forest Service will return 

the submission and notify the requester 

that the comments may be resubmitted 

with or without name and address 

within 7 days. 

To assist the Forest Service in 

identifying and considering issues and 

concerns of the proposed action, 

comments during the scoping and 

comments on the Draft EIS should be as 

specific as possible. It is also helpful if 

comments refer to specific pages or 

chapters of the Draft EIS. Comments 

may also address the adequacy of the 

Draft EIS or the merits of the 

alternatives formulated and discussed in 

the statement. Reviewers may wish to 

refer to the Council on Environmental 

Quality Regulations for implementing 

the procedural provisions of NEPA at 40 

CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. 

Lead and Cooperating Agencies 

The Forest Service is the lead agency 

for this environmental analysis. The 

following agencies have agreed to 

participate as cooperating agencies: 

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

• U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency. 

• State of Alaska—lead by the Office 

of Project Management and Permitting. 

• The City and Borough of Juneau. 

Responsible Official 

Forrest Cole, Forest Supervisor, 

Tongass National Forest, Federal 

Building, Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 is 

the responsible official. 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The Forest Supervisor is the 

responsible official for this action and 

will decide whether or not to amend the 

approved GPO. The decision will be 

based on information that is disclosed 

in the Final EIS. The responsible official 

will consider the comments, responses, 

disclosure of environmental 

consequences, and applicable laws, 

regulations, and policies in making the 

decision and state the rationale in the 

Record of Decision. 

Preliminary Issues 

Tentative issues identified for the 

analysis in the EIS includes the 

potential long-term effects on water 

quality as a result of the project 

expansion; both during operation and 

after closure. A second issue involves 

how the proposed expansion area in and 

adjacent to the National Monument 

boundary may affect the ‘‘Monument 

values’’ including wetlands, habitat, and 

the intrinsic characteristics that 

warranted the Monument’s initial 

establishment. 

Permits or Licenses Required 

Permits required for implementation 

include the following: 

1. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

• Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 

wetlands permit for the discharge of 

dredge or fill material into waters of the 

United States, including jurisdictional 

wetlands. 

2. U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency 

• Review Spill Prevention Control 

and Countermeasure Plan. 

3. State of Alaska, Department of 

Natural Resources 

• Reclamation Plan Approval. 

• State water rights permits for water 

withdrawals. 

4. Office of Project Management & 

Permitting (DNR) 

• Coastal Zone Consistency 

Determination under the Coastal Zone 

Management Act and the Alaska Coastal 

Management Program Act of 1977. 

5. State of Alaska, Department of 

Environmental Conservation 

• Waste Management Permit covering 

disposal of mine tailings, waste rock, 

overburden, and solid waste, 

management of ground water, storage 

and containment of hazardous 

chemicals, facility reclamation and 

facility closure. 

• Air Quality Permit to Operate (Title 

V). 

• CWA Section 401 certifications of 

reasonable assurance for COE/Section 

404 permit. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 5, 2010 / Notices 61417 

• Alaska National Pollution Discharge 

Elimination System Permit. 

6. Alaska Department of Fish and Game 

• Fish habitat permits for diversions 

and water withdrawals. 

Dated: September 27, 2010. 

Forrest Cole, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. 2010–24907 Filed 10–4–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

South River Watershed Dam No. 10A, 

Augusta County, VA 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service. 

ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102[2][c] 

of the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, the Council on 

Environmental Quality Regulations [40 

CFR part 1500]; and the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service 

Regulations [7 CFR part 650]; the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives 

notice that an environmental impact 

statement is not being prepared for the 

rehabilitation of South River Watershed 

Dam No. 10A, Augusta County, Virginia. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John 

A. Bricker, State Conservationist, 

Natural Resources Conservation Service, 

1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 209, 

Richmond, Virginia 23229. Telephone 

(804) 287–1691, E–Mail 

Jack.Bricker@va.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

environmental assessment of this 

federally assisted action indicates that 

the project will not cause significant 

local, regional, or national impacts on 

the environment. As a result of these 

findings, John A. Bricker, State 

Conservationist, has determined that the 

preparation and review of an 

environmental impact statement is not 

needed for this project. 

The project purpose is continued 

flood prevention. The planned works of 

improvement include upgrading an 

existing floodwater retarding structure. 

The Notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) has been 

forwarded to the U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency and to various 

Federal, State, and local agencies and 

interested parties. A limited number of 

the FONSI are available to fill single 

copy requests at the above address. 

Basic data developed during the 

environmental assessment are on file 

and may be reviewed by contacting John 

A. Bricker at the above number. 

No administrative action on 

implementation of the proposal will be 

taken until 30 days after the date of this 

publication in the Federal Register. 

[This activity is listed in the Catalog of 

Federal Domestic Assistance under 10.904, 

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention, 

and is subject to the provisions of Executive 

Order 12372, which requires intergovernment consultation with State and local 

officials]. 

Dated: September 24, 2010. 

John A. Bricker, 

State Conservationist. 

[FR Doc. 2010–25014 Filed 10–4–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Bridger-Teton National Forest 

Resource Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Bridger-Teton Resource 

Advisory Committee will meet in 

Cokeville, Wyoming. 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 hold the first meeting of the newly 

formed committee. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

October 25, 2010, and will begin at 6 

p.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Cokeville Town Hall, 110 Pine 

Street, Cokeville, WY. Written 

comments should be sent to Tracy 

Hollingshead, Bridger-Teton National 

Forest, 308 Hwy 189 North, Kemmerer, 

WY 83101. Comments may also be sent 

via e-mail to thollingshead@fs.fed.us, or 

via facsimile to 307–828–5135. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for public 

inspection and copying. The public may 

inspect comments received at BridgerTeton National Forest, Hwy 189 North, 

Kemmerer, WY 83101. Visitors are 

encouraged to call ahead to 307–877– 

4415 to facilitate entry into the building. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Tracy Hollingshead, RAC coordinator, 

USDA, Bridger-Teton National Forest, 

Hwy 189 North, Kemmerer, WY 83101; 

(307) 877–4415; E-mail 

thollingshead@fs.fed.us. 

Individuals who use 

telecommunication devices for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., 

Eastern Standard Time, Monday 

through Friday. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. The 

following business will be conducted: 

(1) Introductions of all committee 

members and Forest Service personnel. 

(2) Selection of a chairperson by the 

committee members. (3) Receive 

materials explaining the process for 

considering and recommending Title II 

projects; and (4) Public Comment. 

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: September 29, 2010. 

Tracy Hollingshead, 

Designated Federal Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2010–24909 Filed 10–4–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Nicolet Resource Advisory Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Nicolet Resource 

Advisory Committee will meet at the 

Laona Ranger Station, Laona, 

Wisconsin. 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 hold a meeting to review submitted 

project proposals. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

November 3, 2010, and will begin at 

9:30 a.m. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Laona Ranger Station, 4978 Hwy 8 

W, Laona, WI. Written comments 

should be sent to Penny McLaughlin, 

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 

4978 Hwy 8 W, Laona, WI 54541. 

Comments may also be sent via e-mail 

to pmclaughlin@fs.fed.us or via 

facsimile to 715–674–2545. 

All comments, including names and 

addresses when provided, are placed in 

the record and are available for public 

inspection and copying. The public may 

inspect comments received at 

Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest 

Office, 4978 Hwy 8 West, Laona, WI 

mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES