BLM Issues Decision on Environmental Assessment for Barrick Gold Exploration Inc.'s Horse Canyon/Cortez Unified Exploration Project, Eureka County
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The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Mount Lewis Field Office has issued a Decision Record (DR) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental Assessment (EA) completed for the Amendment to the Plan of Operations titled Amendment to the Horse Canyon/Cortez Unified Exploration Project Plan of Operations (NVN-066621 [16-1A]) and Reclamation Permit No. 0159 – Twin Declines for Underground Exploration. The EA analyzes the affected environment, environmental impacts, and identifies environmental protection measures associated with the Barrick Gold Exploration, Inc. (Barrick) Horse Canyon/Cortez Unified Exploration Project) (HC/CUEP) Project.
The final Amendment to the Plan of Operation (APO) was submitted on September 8, 2016, in accordance with the BLM Surface Management Regulations 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3809, as amended. It has been assigned BLM case file number NVN-066621 (16-1A). The APO will result in a total of 12 acres of new surface disturbance and is the continuation of use of currently authorized disturbance. The HC/CUEP Plan boundary includes approximately 22,307 acres total. As of March 2016, there were approximately 420 acres of surface exploration disturbance within the HC/CUEP Plan area. Under the Proposed Action, of the remaining 129 acres of authorized disturbance, 12 acres would be re-allocated from surface exploration to underground exploration.
The EA, DR, and FONSI are available on the BLM ePlanning webpage at http://bit.ly/29JPKbm and hardcopies of these documents are available for review at the Mount Lewis Field Office at the above address during regular business hours 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
If you have any questions or require clarification on this EA, please call Christine Gabriel, Planning and Environmental Coordinator at (775) 635-4000.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.