[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 200 (Monday, October 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48373-48374]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19593]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
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.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 200 / Monday, October 20, 2025 /
Notices
[[Page 48373]]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[A2407-014-004-065516; PO#O2412-014-004-047181.1]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Castle Mountain Mine Phase II Expansion, San Bernardino
County, California and Clark County, Nevada
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of
1976, as amended, (FLPMA), and Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA) the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Needles Field Office (NFO), Needles, California
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to consider
the effects of the proposed Castle Mountain Mine Phase II Expansion
Project in San Bernardino County, California and Clark County, Nevada.
This notice announces the beginning of the scoping period to solicit
public comments and identify issues under NEPA and Section 106 of the
NHPA.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
The BLM requests that the public submit your comments concerning the
scope of the analysis, potential alternatives, and identification of
relevant information, and studies by November 19, 2025. To afford the
BLM the opportunity to consider comments, please ensure your comments
are received prior to the close of the 30-day scoping period.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the Castle Mountain Mine
Phase II Expansion Project by any of the following methods:
Website: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039209/510.
Mail: Project Manager, BLM Needles Field Office, 1303 U.S.
95, Needles, CA 92363.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined online at
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039209/510 and at the
BLM Needles Field Office during regular business hours.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Castle Mountain Project Manager,
telephone 760-326-7000; address: Bureau of Land Management Needles
Field Office, 1303 U.S. 95, Needles, CA 92363. Individuals in the
United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United
States should use the relay services offered within their country to
make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM will consider authorizing an
amendment to Castle Mountain Venture's (CMV) mine plan of operations to
address the proposed expansion of surface disturbance (Phase II
Expansion) on public lands (Proposed Action) at the Castle Mountain
Mine (CMM). The Project is located approximately 60 miles south of Las
Vegas, Nevada, and 40 miles northwest of the BLM office in Needles,
California. The proposed expansion of the mine pits, overburden sites,
and heap leach pad and installation of the associated pipeline and
powerline would disturb an additional 1,800 acres of BLM-managed public
land for a total project disturbance of 3,294 acres.
Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The BLM's purpose is to respond to CMV's request to amend the mine
plan of operations and authorize the Utilities Plan of Development for
CMM and to analyze the environmental effects associated with the
proponent's Proposed Action and alternatives to the Proposed Action,
consider reasonable alternatives, and develop and consider mitigation
when necessary to mitigate environmental effects.
The need for the action is established by the BLM's responsibility
under the Mining Law of 1872, Section 302 of FLPMA and the BLM
regulations at 43 CFR part 3809 and 43 CFR part 2800. These statutes
and regulations set forth the BLM's responsibility to ensure that
operations under the Mining Law of 1872 prevent unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands.
Preliminary Proposed Action and Alternatives
The Proposed Action would consist of an expansion of CMV's
authorized plan of operations for the CMM under the regulations found
at 43 CFR part 3800, subpart 3809. The Proposed Action would also
include the authorization of rights-of-way for an underground water
pipeline and overhead powerline under the regulations found at 43 CFR
part 2800.
The expansion would extend the mine life of CMM by approximately 30
years and operations would effectively quadruple the annual mining rate
at the mine. An underground water pipeline and overhead powerline are
needed to meet the increased groundwater and power demands of the
proposed expansion. The proposed expansion of the mine pits, overburden
sites, heap leach pad and installation of the associated pipeline,
powerline, and onsite power generation would disturb an additional
1,800 acres of BLM-managed public land.
Under the National Park Service Lands Alternative, the Proposed
Action would remain the same as with the exception that the utilities
corridor would follow the road route across a ~1,000-foot section of
land within the Mojave National Preserve that is currently managed by
the National Park Service.
Under the no action alternative, the BLM would not approve the
proposed amendment to the plan of operations, and the activities
described in the Proposed Action would not occur. The proposed
expansion areas, underground water pipeline, and overhead powerline
would not be constructed and operations under the currently authorized
mine plan would continue.
The BLM welcomes comments on all preliminary alternatives as well
as suggestions for additional alternatives.
[[Page 48374]]
Summary of Expected Impacts
The Project's proximity to Castle Mountains National Monument and
Mojave National Preserve has raised concerns that increased visual and
noise disturbances from mining construction and operations might affect
recreational and traditional use, cultural sites, seeps and springs,
and biological resources in the area. While there are concerns over
habitat loss and impacts to native vegetation, the mine continues to
provide guzzlers for wildlife and has a rare native plant nursery. The
mine is recognized for its successful reclamation methods and hosts on-
site research dedicated exclusively to cultivating vegetation native to
the Mojave Desert.
Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
In addition to the requested authorization to perform mineral
extraction under a mining plan of operations, other Federal, state, and
local authorizations would be required for the project. These include
authorizations under the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act,
and other laws and regulations determined to be applicable to the
project.
Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
The BLM will provide opportunity for public participation
consistent with the NEPA process. The Draft EIS is anticipated to be
available for public review spring 2026 and the Final EIS is
anticipated to be released in summer 2026 with a Record of Decision
fall 2026.
Public Scoping Process
This notice of intent initiates the scoping period. The BLM will
hold one in-person public scoping meeting. The specific date and time
of this scoping meeting will be announced at least 15 days in advance
on the BLM website https://www.blm.gov/california and at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039209/510.
Responsible Official
Ron Nuckles, Field Manager, Needles Field Office, California Desert
District, Bureau of Land Management.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The BLM's potential decision relative to the proposed amendment as
informed by the EIS includes: (1) approval of the proposed Castle
Mountain Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project as submitted; (2)
approval of the proposed Castle Mountain Mine Amendment to Plan of
Operations Project subject to changes or conditions, as analyzed in the
EIS, that the BLM deems necessary to prevent unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands; or (3) denial of the proposed Castle
Mountain Mine Amendment to Plan of Operations Project if the BLM
determines that the proposal would result in unnecessary or undue
degradation of public lands.
Additional Information
The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help
support compliance with applicable procedural requirements under the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108) as provided in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3), including public involvement requirements of Section 106.
The information about historic and cultural resources and threatened
and endangered species within the area potentially affected by the
proposed project will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating
impacts to such resources.
The BLM will consult with Indian Tribal Nations on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175, BLM Manual
Section 1780, and other Departmental policies. Tribal concerns,
including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to
cultural resources, will be given due consideration. Federal, state,
and local agencies, along with Indian Tribal Nations and other
stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed
action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may request or be requested by the
BLM to participate in the development of the environmental analysis as
a cooperating agency.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
(Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347)
Ronald Nuckles,
Field Manager, Needles Field Office, BLM California Desert District.
[FR Doc. 2025-19593 Filed 10-17-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4331-15-P