Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 40 / Wednesday, February 28, 2001 / Notices 12807

on the proposal should be made within

60 days directly to the Bureau clearance

officer, U.S. Geological Survey, 807

National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley

Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, telephone

(703) 648–7313.

As required by OMB regulations at 5

CFR 1320.8(d)(1), the U.S. Geological

Survey solicits specific public

comments as to:

1. Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions on the

bureaus, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

2. The accuracy of the bureau’s

estimate of the burden of the collection

of information, including the validity of

the methodology and assumptions used:

3. The quality, utility, and clarity of

the information to be collected; and

4. How to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including the use of

appropriate automated, electronic,

mechanical, or other forms of

information technology.

Title: Visitor knowledge and

economic impact at Arapaho National

Wildlife Refuge, Walden, Colorado.

OMB Approval No.: New collection.

Abstract: The National Wildlife

Refuge System Improvement Act of

1997 requires that all refuges will be

managed in accordance with an

approved Comprehensive Conservation

Plan (CCP) which, when implemented,

will achieve refuge purposes; help fulfill

the Refuge System mission; maintain

and, where appropriate, restore the

ecological integrity of each refuge and

the Refuge System; help achieve the

goals of the Wilderness Preservation

System; and meet other mandates. An

underlying component of these plans is

a strong scientific foundation for

establishment for refuge objectives,

implementation of management actions,

and quantitative monitoring of progress

towards these objectives. Few studies

have been conducted that evaluate

public knowledge, perception, or

economic value associated with

National Wildlife Refuges. Information

about the existing community,

economic, and public relations status is

a precursor to many of the habitat and

visitor management decisions. The

primary objective of this study is to gain

sufficient knowledge about refuge

visitors. Our second objective is to

develop and test a set of tools that can

be used/repeated at other refuges

around the country. Understanding

public knowledge, perception, and

values is a vital component of natural

resource management. Improved

understanding will guide future

management practices.

Bureau Form No.: None.

Frequency: One time.

Description of Respondents: Arapaho

National Wildlife Refuge visitor or

group of visitors.

Estimated Completion Time: 10

minutes per respondent (approximate).

Number of Respondents: 400 (575

surveys).

Burden hours: 67 hours (The burden

estimates are based on 10 minutes to

complete each questionnaire and a 70%

return rate).

All comments concerning this notice

should be addressed to Phadrea Ponds,

Wildlife Biologist, 970–226–9445; or

Lynne Caughlan, Economist, 970–226–

9384; or Ayeisha Brinson, Wildlife

Ecologist, 970–226–9330. U.S.

Geological Survey, Biological Resources

Division, Social, Economic and

Institutional Analysis Section, 4512

McMurry Avenue, Fort Collins, CO

80525–3400.

For Additional Information Please

Contact: Phadrea Ponds (970) 226–9445.

phadreaponds@usgs.gov.

Dated: February 16, 2001.

Susan Haseltine,

Chief Scientist for Biology.

[FR Doc. 01–4830 Filed 2–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–Y7–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV–060–3809]

Notice of Availability; Draft

Environmental Impact Statement;

Phoenix Project; Proposed Expansion

of Existing Gold, Silver, and Copper

Mining/Processing Operations; Lander

County, NV

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

Cooperating Agencies: Nevada

Division of Wildlife.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

for the Phoenix Project, Lander County,

Nevada.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969 and 40 Code of Federal

Regulations parts 1500–1508 Council on

Environmental Quality Regulations,

notice is hereby given of the availability

for comment of the Draft Environmental

Impact Statement, prepared by the

Battle Mountain BLM, which analyzes

the environmental effects of the

Proposed Action and the No Action

Alternatives.

DATES: Written comments must be postmarked or otherwise delivered by 4:30

p.m. (Pacific time zone) on May 4, 2001.

Comments may also be presented at

public meetings to be held: April 4,

2001, (7–9 pm) BLM office, Battle

Mountain, NV. A limited number of

copies of the Draft EIS may be obtained

at the Battle Mountain BLM Field

Office.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be addressed to the Bureau of Land

Management, Battle Mountain Field

Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle

Mountain, Nevada 89820.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam

Jarnecke, Battle Mountain BLM at (775)

635–4144.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Battle

Mountain Gold Company (BMG), a

wholly owned subsidiary of Newmont

Mining Corporation, proposes to expand

its current operations near Battle

Mountain, Nevada, to include mining

and beneficiation of gold, silver, and

copper ores. The proposed Phoenix

Project would require up to an

additional 4,295 acres of disturbance.

BMG would develop the Phoenix and

Reona pits and expand the Midas and

Iron Canyon pits. Mining these ore

deposits would be coupled with

excavating and beneficiating low-grade

gold ore stockpiles associated with the

previous Tomboy, Northeast Extension,

and Fortitude mining operations.

Beneficiation operations would include

heap leach facility expansion and new

milling facilities. The projected mine

life is up to 28 years, followed by five

years of reclamation.

Dated: February 13, 2001.

Gerald M. Smith,

Field Manager, Battle Mountain Field Office.

[FR Doc. 01–4824 Filed 2–27–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM–910–01–1020–PB]

New Mexico Resource Advisory

Council Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of council meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Federal Land Policy and Management

Act and the Federal Advisory

Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), 5 U.S.C.

Appendix 1, the Department of the

Interior, Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), announces a meeting of the New

Mexico Resource Advisory Council

(RAC). The meeting will be held on

April 5 and 6, 2001, at the Best Western