Draft Decision Notice Available and Opportunity to Object
USDA Forest Service
Mark Twain National Forest, Salem Ranger District
Doe Run Company Lease Modifications
Reynolds and Shannon Counties, Missouri
The USDA Forest Service (FS) has participated in the development of an environmental assessment, draft Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact for Doe Run Company Lease Modifications MOBLMA 046975, MOBLMA 047447, and MOBLMA 079252 located on the Salem Ranger District of the Mark Twain National Forest. The Doe Run Company (Doe Run) submitted three separate applications to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for modification of its existing Preference Right Leases renewed in 2015 to include additional acres of federal minerals managed by the BLM. The proposed leases, if approved, would extend Doe Run’s underground mining operations to an additional 1,550 acres in Reynolds and Shannon counties. The lands proposed for the lease modification contain minerals that underly National Forest System lands managed by the Mark Twain National Forest as well as lands privately owned by Doe Run. The proposed project is subject to the pre-decisional objection process pursuant to 36 CFR 218 Subparts A and B.
The BLM was the lead agency for developing the EA under the National Environmental Policy Act and interagency consultations and the FS was a cooperating agency. The FS responsible official decides whether to consent to the lease modifications and the BLM responsible official decides whether to modify the existing leases.
The Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Notice (DN) are available online at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/mtnf/landmanagement/projects. These documents are also available for review by contacting John LaCoste, FS MTNF Minerals and Geology Program Manager, 401 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, MO 65401; by telephone at (573) 341-7479; by fax at: (573) 364-6844.
This constitutes notice of opportunity to object on the Doe Run Company Lease Modifications MOBLMA 046975, MOBLMA 047447, and MOBLMA 079252 Project per Forest Service administrative review procedures at 36 CFR § 218.22. The opportunity to object ends 45 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (the newspaper of record). The publication date of the legal notice in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection, and that those wishing to object should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source.
Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunity for public comment. Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after designated comment opportunities §218.8(c).
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in §218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in §218.8(b). It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer. All objections are available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
Written objections, including attachments, must be filed with: Chief Randy Moore, Attn: PAL-LSC Objections, USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region, 626 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 700, Milwaukee, WI 53202, or faxed to 414-944-3963 (Attn: Objections Reviewing Officer). The office business hours for those submitting hand-delivered objections are: 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Electronic objections must be submitted via the webform on the Forest Service’s project website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/mtnf/landmanagement/projects.
Objections received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who object, will be considered part of the public record on these proposed actions and will be available for public inspection during and after the objection process.
John Lacoste
