Public Comments Needed by July 21, 2008

The Forest Service has withdrawn the "Request for Comments" for June 13th regarding new exploration on Buckhorn Mountain and replaced it with a  July 3, 2008 "Request for Comments" which are due July 21, 2008.

The notice states that the public comments for the first notice must be revised and resubmitted.

The new request is substantially the same as the previous request except:

The drilling would entail 14 drill pads/sites and 0.7 miles of temporary road construction for a total of approximately 3.4 acres of disturbance.  Six of the drill sites are on or adjacent to existing roads in previously disturbed areas.  Eight drill sites would be accessed either from newly constructed temporary drill roads or by the re-opening of previously reclaimed drill roads.  The drill holes will be plugged after the completion of each drill hole and the constructed temporary roads will be obliterated. 

Drilling and reclamation will be about 4 months in duration.  Operations will be 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Drill pads/sites are planned to be about 0.1 acres each (e.g. 100’ X 50’).  The drill pads would be leveled and sumps for drill water would be excavated to hold up to 2,000 gallons of fluids. 

The geophysical survey program would entail 6 lines that would total approximately 13 miles of horizontal distance.  Each layout of wire and receptors is about 3,000 feet in length, about 300 feet between receptors.  Prior to installing a receptor, a 3’ X 3’ area would be cleared of debris and a slight depression around the receptor created to increase conductivity.  Approximately 27 days (weather permitting) will be required to complete the entire survey. 

Laying the survey lines out on the surface would require line of sight clearing.  A generator would be used every other day for approximately 6 – 10 hours depending on line length and receptivity. A soil survey would also be conducted on the west side of Buckhorn Mountain.  This will entail taking a small soil sample on approximately a 400’ X 400’ grid throughout the area.

They would appreciate any comments, concerns, and suggestions.  They say that site-specific concerns about the new proposal would be most helpful in developing issues and alternatives but that concerns raised over the permitted mining proposal are outside the scope of this environmental analysis. 

Electronic scoping comments may be mailed to comments-pacificnorthwest-okanogan-tonasket@fs.fed.us.  

If you have any questions or need more information about the project, contact Phil Christy at (509) 486-5137.