Baltic Mine Project, Kern County, California : draft environmental impact statement/environmental impact report

500 Pages·1992·63 MB·English

by  United States. Bureau of Land Management. Ridgecrest Resource Area Office

BLM LIBRARY
88045378
BALTIC MINE PROJECT
KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DRAFT
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
State Clearinghouse Number 91052039
MAY 1992
Prepared for:
Bureau of Land Management County of Kern
Ridgecrest Resource Area Department of Planning and
Ridgecrest, California Development Services
Bakersfield, California
Applicant: Prepared by:
Rand Mining Company Environmental Management
Randsburg, California Associates, Inc.
Brea, California

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BALTIC MINE PROJECT
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v\&* ^ KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
DRAFT
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT/
o^ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
State Clearinghouse Number 91052039
Abstract:
The Baltic Mine Project is a proposed open pit precious metals mine located in eastern
Kern County, California. The project area is comprised of532 acres ofpublic and private lands,
with the public lands administered by the Bureau ofLand Management. Ore andwastewould be
mined at a rateofapproximately 25,000 tons perday forsix (6) years and the precious metals
would be recovered from the ore using conventional heap leach methods. At the completion of
the mine operations, approximately 200 acreswould have been disturbed. Issues identified during
the public scoping process and evaluation ofthis document include geology, topography, wildlife,
water resources, visual resources, socioeconomics and noise. Potential adverse impacts would be
mitigated to acceptable levels through regulatory requirements and measures incorporated into
the project planning and design.
Action Required:
Bureau ofLand Management: Approve Plan ofOperations and Reclamation Plan
Kern County: Approve Conditional Use Permit and Mining Reclamation Plan
Comments on this Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report must be
submitted to the Bureau ofLand Management at the address below no later than 5:00 p.m.,
July 28, 1992 to be considered in the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental
Impact Report. For further information, contact the BureauofLand Managementor Kern
Countyat:
U.S. Bureau ofLand Management CountyofKern
Ridgecrest Resource Area Department ofPlanning and
300 South Richmond Road Development Services
M
Ridgecrest, California 93555 2700 Street, Suite 100
ATTN: Peter Milne Bakersfield, California 93301
Applicant: Prepared by:
Rand Mining Company Environmental Management
P.O. Box B Associates, Inc.
Randsburg, California 93554 405 S. State College Blvd., Suite 211
Brea, California 92621
This documentwas prepared by Environmental Management Associates, Inc., an
independent consulting firm, under the direction ofthe BureauofLand Management and the
Kern County Department ofPlanning and Development Services. Adisclosure statement
indicating Environmental Management Associates, Inc. has no financial orother interest in the
outcome ofthe Baltic Mine Project has been filed with the Bureau ofLand Management in
accordance with Federal regulation 40 CFR 1506.5(c).

United States Department of the Interior
pnUi?.
AMDKAi
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
RIDGECREST RESOURCEAREA
300S.RICHMONDROAD
RIDGECREST,CALIFORNIA93555
Telephone[phone]
1790/3809
CAMC-48444
CA-065.21)
May 18, 1992
Dear Reader:
Enclosed for your review is the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) prepared for the Baltic Mine
Project. The purpose of Draft EIS/EIR is to disclose, in advance of any
decision, the probable environmental and socio-economic impacts that may be
caused by a proposed open pit, cyanide heap-leach, precious metals mine on
public and private lands. The project site is near the town of Randsburg,
Kern County, California.
This Draft EIS/EIR has been prepared in cooperation with the County of Kern to
meet both Federal requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), and State of California requirements under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Bureau of Land Management is the lead
Federal agency, the County of Kern is the lead State agency.
A public meeting will be held in Johannesburg, California, located about one
mile from the project site. This meeting will allow interested parties the
opportunity to provide oral comments on the adequacy, accuracy, and
completeness of the Draft EIS/EIR. The meeting will be held at the following
location:
Johannesburg Community Center
U.S. Highway 395
Johannesburg, California
Date: Monday, June 29, 1992 Time: 7:00 P.M.
Written comments should be addressed to Lee Delaney, Area Manager, at this
office. Comments must be received or postmarked no later than July 28, 1992,
to ensure consideration. Informal questions may be directed to Peter Milne or
Joe Liebhauser at this office, by mail or telephone. We appreciate your
interest in the public lands, and welcome your participation in the
environmental review process.
Sincerely,
Lee Delaney ^_.
Area Manager<X>JIm^*\__
Enclosure

TAKE"
United States Department of the Interior Sirea!
BUREAUOFLANDMANAGEMENT
CALIFORNIASTATEOFFICE
SA2C8R0A0MCEONTTTOA,GECAWLAIYF.ORRNOIOAM95E8-2258-415889 1791INREPn RlHR
(CA-930.14)
1 2 MAY
Dr. Dwight L. Carey, Principle
Environmental Management Associates
405 South State College Blvd., Suite 211
Brea, California 92621
Dear Dr. Carey:
This letter approves for printing and public review, the Baltic Mine Project Draft Environmental
Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft EIS/EIR). The document meets Bureau
ofLand Management standards pursuant to the regulations at 40 CFR Part 1500.
Acopyofthis lettershall be enclosed in the Draft EIS/EIR.
Sincerely,
Ed Hastey
State Director

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Planning&DevelopmentservicesDepartment
RANDALL L. ABBOTT TED JAMES. AICP,DIRECTOR
DIRECTOR
AirPollutionControlDistrict
DAVID PRICE III WILLIAM J. RODDY.APCO
ASSISTANTDIRECTOR EnvironmentalHealthServicesDepartment
STEVEMcCALLEY. REHS.DIRECTOR
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
May 18, 1992 File: 39-91
RE: Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Baltic Mine Project,
ConditionalUse Permit#7, Map #136, Rand MiningCorporation (SCH# 91052039)
DearReviewer
Transmitted herewith is acopyofthe DraftEnvironmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report
(DEIS/DEIR)forthereferencedcase.
Werequestyour inputonthe sufficiencyofthisdocumentinthe areas ofyourexpertise. Yourcommentswill
provide decisionmakers with informationneededto render anobjective decisioa
The document is ajoint documentprepared for the Bureau ofLand Management,whichhas decisionmaking
authority over the public land involved in the project and the County of Kern, which has decision making
authority regarding the proposed conditional use permit and road vacation/realignments. The California
Environmental QualityAct (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15226 encourages cooperation to the fullest extent
possible between state, local, and federal agencies to reduce duplication between CEQA and the National
Environmental Policy Act. Pursuant to CEQA guidelines, the document includes discussion of mitigation
measures and growth inducing impacts.
Collection and response to comments will be coordinated between this office and the Bureau of Land
Management. Comments mustbe received no later thanJuly28, 1992.
Ifyouhave questions, please contactBillLarsenofthis department at [phone].
VeryTruly Yours,
TEDJAMES,Director
Planningand Development Services
/^6&C6*~
By: William LLarsen, Senior Planner
Environmental Analysis Section
2700 "M" STREET, SUITE 100 BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA 93301 [phone]
FAX: [phone]
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