This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

committee meetings, agency decisions and

rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

petitions and applications and agency

statements of organization and functions are

examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

22726 

Vol. 74, No. 92 

Thursday, May 14, 2009 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Cibola National Forest, Mount Taylor 

Ranger District, NM, La Jara Mesa Mine 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an 

environmental impact statement. 

SUMMARY: Laramide Resources (USA) 

Inc. has submitted a Plan of Operations 

(the Plan) proposing to develop and 

conduct underground uranium mining 

operations on their mining claims on La 

Jara Mesa on the Mount Taylor Ranger 

District of the Cibola National Forest. La 

Jara Mesa is located approximately 10 

miles northeast of the town of Grants in 

Cibola County, New Mexico. The mine 

portal facilities would be located on 

claims controlled by the applicant on 

national forest lands at the base of the 

La Jara Mesa at an elevation of 7,300 feet 

in the NE1/4, Section 15, T12N, R9W, 

NMPM. The mineralized zones that 

would be accessed from the portal are 

located in portions of Sections 1, 2, 11, 

12, 13, and 14, T12N, R9W, NMPM. The 

escape shaft would be located on Forest 

Service administered lands on top of La 

Jara Mesa in Section 11, T12N, R9W, 

NMPM. The Cibola National Forest will 

prepare an environmental impact 

statement to assess the development of 

a uranium exploration and mining 

operation on the Mount Taylor Ranger 

District. 

DATES: Comments concerning the scope 

of the analysis must be received by 30 

days after the publication of the NOI. 

Public scoping open houses will be held 

during the scoping period in Grants and 

Gallup New Mexico. The schedule for 

the open houses is as follows: 

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 in Grants, 

New Mexico, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 

the Cibola County Convention Center 

and Thursday, May 21, 2009 in Gallup, 

New Mexico from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the 

Gallup Community Service Center. 

Times and locations of these meetings 

will be announced by public notice and 

will be available on the Cibola National 

Forest Web site. The draft 

environmental impact statement is 

expected before the end of 2009 and the 

final environmental impact statement 

and Record of Decision (ROD) is 

expected in spring/summer, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to 

Rodney Byers, Minerals Program 

Manager, Cibola National Forest, 2113 

Osuna Road NE., Albuquerque, NM 

87113. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

further information, mail 

correspondence to Rodney Byers, 

Minerals Program Manager, Cibola 

National Forest, 2113 Osuna Road NE., 

Albuquerque, NM 87113. 

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: 

Purpose and Need for Action 

Laramide Resources (USA), Inc. has 

submitted a Plan of Operations for 

development of a uranium mine at the 

La Jara Mesa property. The purpose of 

the EIS is to evaluate the environmental 

impacts of the proposed Plan of 

Operations and determine whether to 

approve the Plan as proposed or to 

require additional mitigation measures 

to protect the environment (in 

accordance with Forest Service 

regulations for locatable minerals). 

The need for action is to allow 

Laramide Resources (USA), Inc. to 

exercise their rights under U.S. mining 

laws. Laramide Resources (USA), Inc. 

has a right to develop and remove the 

mineral resources as set forth by the 

General Mining Law of 1872 as 

amended. These laws provide that the 

public has a statutory right to conduct 

prospecting, exploration, development 

and production activities (1872 Mining 

Law and 1897 Organic Act), provided 

they are reasonably incident (1955 

Multiple Use Mining Act and case law) 

to mining and comply with other 

Federal laws. 

The Forest Service has the 

responsibility to protect surface 

resources. Mining regulations state that 

‘‘operations shall be conducted so as, 

where feasible, to minimize adverse 

environmental effects on National 

Forest System surface resources (36 CFR 

228.8)’’ provided such regulation does 

not endanger or materially interfere 

with prospecting, mining, or processing 

operations or reasonably incidental uses 

(1955 Multiple Use Mining Act and case 

law). 

Laramide Resources (USA), Inc.’s 

need is to provide uranium ore for 

processing to meet national and 

international market demands for 

uranium on the open market. Such 

demand is created by a current need for 

uranium for nuclear power plant fuel to 

generate electricity or for commercial 

and other uses. The Forest Service has 

concluded that the underlying need for 

this mining activity is to provide 

uranium for U.S. and world markets. 

Proposed Action 

The proposed action is an 

underground uranium mine consisting 

of a 15–16 acre footprint on the surface 

which will be comprised of waste rock, 

temporary ore storage, a new water line 

and electrical transmission line 

following the existing private and Forest 

roads to the site. The mine will include 

two adit portals and, after active mining 

is initiated, a vertical escape shaft to the 

top of the mesa to provide air 

circulation and an escape route in the 

event of an accident. The shaft opening 

and supporting power and equipment 

will lie inside a fenced area of 

approximately 0.1 acre. Additional 

facilities at the mine include a locked 

explosives storage shed, lighting, 

ventilation fans, one or more stormwater 

ponds, and a field office. The proposed 

federal action is to approve Laramide 

Resources (USA), Inc.’s Plan of 

Operations with mitigations needed to 

protect other non-mineral surface 

resources consistent with Forest Plan, 

regulations, and other applicable laws. 

Possible Alternatives 

1. No Action. 2. Approve the Plan as 

presented. 3. Approve the Plan as 

presented by Laramide Resources 

(USA), Inc., with stipulations necessary 

to protect the non-mineral resources of 

the area. 

Responsible Official 

Nancy Rose, Forest Supervisor, Cibola 

National Forest. 2113 Osuna Road NE., 

Albuquerque, NM 87113. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 92 / Thursday, May 14, 2009 / Notices 22727 

Nature of Decision To Be Made 

The Forest Supervisor will use the EIS 

process to develop the necessary 

information to make an informed 

decision on whether or not to approve 

the proposed Plan as submitted, or to 

decide what additional mitigations are 

needed to protect other resources as 

provided for in 36 CFR 228.8. 

Scoping Process 

Scoping will include this NOI, listing 

in the Quarterly Schedule of Proposed 

Actions, letters to interested and 

affected individuals, agencies, and 

organizations, and legal notices, and the 

open houses in Grants and Gallup, New 

Mexico. Additional information about 

the project, schedule, permits and 

approvals, and opportunities for public 

involvement will be available at the 

open houses. The intent of scoping is to 

solicit comments on issues and 

alternatives that agencies and the public 

feel should be addressed in the EIS. 

Preliminary Issues 

One preliminary issue has been 

identified: the development of the La 

Jara Mesa Mine may affect the 

characteristics that make the Mount 

Taylor Traditional Cultural Property 

eligible for the National Register of 

Historic Places. Other issues may 

include groundwater contamination, 

natural resources, economics and health 

and safety issues. 

Permits or Licenses Required 

The approved Plan of Operations 

authorizes mining. Operations must be 

consistent with Forest Service 

Conditions of Approval, and other 

applicable laws and regulations, 

including state permits for mining in 

New Mexico. 

Comment Requested 

This notice of intent initiates the 

scoping process which guides the 

development of the environmental 

impact statement. Comments are 

solicited and are welcome for the 30 day 

comment period initiating on the 

publication date of this notice. 

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 EIS. 

Therefore, comments should be 

provided prior to the close of the 

comment period and should clearly 

articulate the reviewer’s concerns and 

contentions. The submission of timely 

and specific comments can affect a 

reviewer’s ability to participate in 

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. Comments submitted 

anonymously will be accepted and 

considered; however, anonymous 

comments will not provide the 

respondent with standing to participate 

in subsequent administrative review or 

judicial review. 

Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; 36 

CFR 220.4. 

Dated: May 8, 2009. 

Nancy Rose, 

Forest Supervisor, Cibola National Forest. 

[FR Doc. E9–11265 Filed 5–13–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–P 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Fresno County Resource Advisory 

Committee 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: The Fresno County Resource 

Advisory Committee will be meeting in 

Clovis, California on May 27th. The 

purpose of the meeting will be to 

discuss monitoring for the projects 

submitted for funding. 

DATES: The meeting will be from 6 p.m. 

to 8:30 p.m. in Clovis, CA. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s 

Office, 1600 Tollhouse Rd., Clovis, CA. 

Send written comments to Robbin 

Ekman, Fresno County Resource 

Advisory Committee Coordinator, c/o 

Sierra National Forest, High Sierra 

Ranger District, 29688 Auberry Road, 

Prather, CA 93651 or electronically to 

rekman@fs.fed.us. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robbin Ekman, Fresno County Resource 

Advisory Committee Coordinator, (559) 

855–5355 ext. 3341. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting is open to the public. 

Committee discussion is limited to 

Forest Service staff and Committee 

members. However, persons who wish 

to bring Payments to States Fresno 

County Title II project matters to the 

attention of the Committee may file 

written statements with the Committee 

staff before or after the meeting. Agenda 

items to be covered include (1) 

Monitoring. 

Dated: May 7, 2009. 

Ray Porter, 

District Ranger. 

[FR Doc. E9–11160 Filed 5–13–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Forest Service 

Notice of Idaho Panhandle Resource 

Advisory Committee Meeting 

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authorities in 

the Federal Advisory Committee Act 

(Pub. L. 92–463) and under the Secure 

Rural Schools and Community SelfDetermination Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 110– 

343) the Idaho Panhandle National 

Forest’s Idaho Panhandle Resource 

Advisory Committee will meet Friday, 

May 15, 2009, at 9 a.m. in Coeur 

d’Alene, Idaho for a business meeting. 

The business meeting is open to the 

public. 

DATES: May 7, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting location is the 

Idaho Panhandle National Forests’ 

Supervisor’s Office, located at 3815 

Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 

83815. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ranotta K. McNair, Forest Supervisor 

and Designated Federal Official, at (208) 

765–7369. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

meeting agenda will focus on reviewing 

proposals for forest projects and 

recommending funding during the 

business meeting. 

The public forum begins at 1 p.m. 

Dated: May 7, 2009. 

Ranotta K. McNair, 

Forest Supervisor. 

[FR Doc. E9–11157 Filed 5–13–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–11–M 

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL 

DEVELOPMENT 

Notice of Public Information Collection 

Requirements Submitted to OMB for 

Review 

SUMMARY: U.S. Agency for International 

Development (USAID) has submitted 

the following information collection to 

OMB for review and clearance under the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

Public Law 104–13. Comments 

regarding this information collection are 

best assured of having their full effect if 

received within 30 days of this 


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