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Last updated: 04/04/03

BLM Extends "Scoping" Period for Comments on Effort to Develop New Hardrock Mining Rules

The Bureau of Land Management announced today that it is extending until June 23 the comment period on the agency's effort to revise its "Section 3809" hardrock mining regulations.

The BLM, which has been holding scoping and other public meetings on its "3809" effort, decided to extend the comment period to gather additional public input. The Bureau will take these public comments into account as it considers how to revise the 3809 regulations and as it prepares an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in connection with the revision effort.

The BLM's work on its 3809 regulations was prompted by a memorandum last January from Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, who directed the BLM to modernize the agency's hardrock mining regulations, known as Section 3809 regulations. The BLM has formed a task force to address several hardrock mining issues, including (1) the use of "best available technologies" to prevent "unnecessary or undue degradation" of the public lands; (2) performance standards for the conduct of mining and reclamation activities; (3) alternatives to the current rules that apply to mining operations of five acres or less; and (4) ways to improve coordination between the BLM and state regulatory programs. The task force is headed by Bob Anderson, the BLM's Deputy Assistant Director for Minerals, Realty and Resource Protection.

The BLM expects to publish by April 1998 its proposed revision of the 3809 regulations. Publication of the proposed revision will then be followed by a period of public review and comment. The Bureau plans to send final regulations to the Federal Register by March 1999. Scoping comments may be submitted to Paul McNutt, 3809/Environmental Impact Statement Team Leader, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada State Office, 850 Harvard Way, Reno, Nevada 89520-0006. Comments may also be sent electronically (3809eis@wo.blm.gov). More details on the BLM's Section 3809 effort can be obtained from the BLM's Home Page on the Internet (http://www.blm.gov).

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