Hi Folks,

I see that the Crown Mine, which is still an on-going concern to the environmental community, is back on the front burner. This was in today's Federal Register.

Be aware - this has implications for wildlife & fish habitat in NE Washington!

Jon. Anderson
festuca at olywa.net
Olympia, Washington

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a040402c.html

Scroll down to
Environmental statements; notice of intent: Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, WA, 17387-17389 [04-7433]

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/04-7433.htm

[Federal Register: April 2, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 64)]
[Notices] [Page 17387-17389]
>From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
========================================================================
Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency statements of organization and functions are examples of documents appearing in this section.
========================================================================
[[Page 17387]]
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service

Buckhorn Mountain Project a Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Crown Jewel Mine, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, Okanogan and Ferry Counties, Washington

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: On September 5, 2003, the USDA Forest Service and Washington State Department of Ecology published a notice of intent to jointly prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for a proposal by Crown Resources Corporation (Crown) to develop a mine and mill for precious mineral extraction in the vicinity of Chesaw, Washington (Federal Register, Volume 68, No. 172, page 52736). The Buckhorn Mountain Project will supplement the Final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for Crown Jewel Mine, which was released February 7, 1997. Since publication of the notice of intent, Crown Resources has submitted a revised plan of operations that mills the ore and disposes the tailings at Echo Bay Mineral Corporation's existing Kettle River facility east of Republic in Ferry County. The agencies have accepted the new plan of operations as the proposed action for the project and are re-scoping this new proposal. Crown proposes to develop an underground gold mine on Buckhorn Mountain approximately 3.5 air miles east of Chesaw, Washington in sections 24 ad 25, Township 40 North, Range 30 East, W.M. and transport ore by road to the existing Kettle River milling facility 8 miles east of Republic, Washington in Section 26, Township 37 North, Range 33 East, W.M. Milling and tailings disposal would occur at the Kettle River facility. Additionally rock would be quarried for backfill materials at a location approximately one mile west of Curlew on the south side of the West Kettle River Road, in Sections 14 and 15, Township 39 North, Range 33 East, W.M. The SEIS will evaluate an underground mining and milling configuration that is different from the underground mining operation proposed in the Crown Jewel Mine FEIS. The proposed project will comply with the direction in the December 1989 Okanogan National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan), as amended. The Forest Plan provides the overall guidance for management of NFS lands included in this proposal. The agencies invite written comments on the scope of this project. In addition, the agencies give notice of this analysis so that interested and affected individuals are aware of how they may participate and contribute to the final decision.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this analysis must be received by May 17, 2004. A public information and scoping meeting will be held on April 22, 2004 at the Republic Elementary School, 30306 E. Highway 20 from 5-7:30 p.m. to provide information about the project to the public and to allow people to comment on the project. The Draft SEIS is expected to be filed in January 2005. The final SEIS is expected to be filed in June 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions concerning the scope of the analysis to Phil Christy, Project Coordinator, Tonasket Ranger District, 1 West Winesap, Tonasket, Washington 98855 [Phone: (509) 486-5137].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions about the proposed action and SEIS to Phil Christy, Project Coordinator, Tonasket Ranger District, 1 West Winesap, Tonasket, Washington 98855 [Phone: (509) 486-5137].