The USDA Forest Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) and draft decision notice and finding of no significant impact (DN/FONSI) for the Tony Mine Plan of Operations. The proposed action would be located on the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest, approximately 7 miles east of the town of Breckenridge, along the Middle Fork of the Swan River. The Responsible Official for this decision is District Ranger Adam Bianchi.
On February 17, 2024, the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest accepted a proposed plan of operations for the Tony Mine for mining-related activities that would occur in the Middle Fork of the Swan River drainage. The proposed plan of operations was submitted by the claim operator, who has conducted limited prospecting and sample collection activities for the Tony Mine since acquiring the claims in 2012. The unpatented mining claims Ledge (MC#282142), Toledo (MC#282143), Drift (MC#282144), Blackhawk (MC#282145), and Toledo Millsite (MC#282146) associated with the Tony Mine are all under BLM claims to the same operator. As directed by regulations at Title 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 228, Subpart A (36 CFR 228A), the USDA Forest Service must analyze the proposed plan of operations and determine reasonable requirements for ensuring that mining activities minimize adverse environmental effects to surface resources and comply with all applicable environmental laws. The Tony Mine Plan of Operations EA analyzed two alternatives: the Proposed Action (Alternative 2), which would conditionally approve the plan of operations and the No-Action Alternative. Based on the analysis, the Responsible Official is planning to approve the Proposed Action (Alternative 2). This is an existing small-scale silver mine, and no surface disturbance is anticipated under the proposed plan of operations since all mining activities would occur within an existing underground adit. Between two and six mine workers would access the existing mine adit on foot 30-45 days per year, June through October. Workers would remove up to one cubic yard of silver ore per working day, carrying it out by backpack to an existing road, where it would be transported by a pickup truck for processing off of National Forest. Waste rock would be left in unused portions of the mine adit. A 20-foot metal storage container would be placed on the existing access road and used for both tool storage and as a bunkhouse for workers.
The EA and draft DN/FONSI for the Tony Mine Plan of Operations are available upon request at the Dillon Ranger District office, at 680 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, Colorado, 80498. These documents are also available at the White River National Forest website:https://www.fs.usda.gov/project/whiteriver/?project=66140. Additional information regarding this proposed action can be obtained from Cindy Ebbert, Lands and Minerals Specialist, at (970) 274-9912 or by e-mail at Cynthia.ebbert@usda.gov.
The Tony Mine Plan of Operations is an activity implementing a land management plan. This activity is subject to pre-decisional objection under subparts A and B of 36 CFR Part 218.
Objections, including attachments, must be filed with the appropriate reviewing officer within 45 calendar days following publication of this notice in the Summit Daily, the newspaper of record. The publication date in the newspaper of record is the exclusive means for calculating the time to file an objection. Objectors should not rely upon dates or timeframe information provided by any other source. It is the objector’s responsibility to ensure timely filing of a written objection with the reviewing officer pursuant to 36 CFR 218.9.
Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during scoping or other designated opportunities for public comment in accordance with 36 CFR 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless the issue is based on new information arising after the designated comment opportunities.
The objection must contain the minimum content requirements specified in 36 CFR 218.8(d) and incorporation of documents by reference is permitted only as provided in 36 CFR 218.8(b). Objections that do not adhere to these requirements make review of an objection difficult and are conditions under which the reviewing officer may set aside an objection pursuant to 36 CFR 218.10. All eligible objections are available for public inspection.
Electronic objections are preferred and must be submitted to the Objection Reviewing Officer online at https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?project=66140 with “Tony Mine Plan of Operations Project Objection” in the subject line. Electronic submissions must be submitted in a format that is readable with optical character recognition software (e.g., Word, PDF, Rich Text) and be searchable. An automated response should confirm your electronic objection has been received.
Objections can also be faxed to the Objection Reviewing Officer at 970-468-7735. The fax coversheet must include a subject line with “OBJECTION: Tony Mine Plan of Operations Project” and should specify the number of pages being submitted.
Written objections may be submitted via regular mail to: USDA Forest Service, Dillon Ranger District, Attn: Objection Reviewing Officer, C/O Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams, PO Box 620, Silverthorne, CO 80498.
Objections sent by private carrier or hand delivery must be addressed to: USDA Forest Service Dillon Ranger District, Attn: Objection Reviewing Officer, C/O Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams, 680 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, Colorado, 80498. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00-4:30, excluding Federal holidays, for hand delivery.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Cynthia Ebbert
