Forest Service seeks comments on Superior Forest mineral exploration

The US Forest Service has completed the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Federal Hardrock Minerals Prospecting Permits Project on the Superior National Forest and is inviting the public to review and comment on the draft EIS.

This project involves exploration on federal lands within the Superior National Forest for federally-owned hardrock minerals such as copper, nickel, platinum, and others. Proposed mineral exploration activities include drilling, geophysical surveying, and support activities using motorized vehicles.

Rock samples obtained from exploration drilling allow for mineral content in geological formations to be determined. The draft EIS for the project analyzes the potential effects of prospecting permit applications and operating plans currently under consideration and the potential effects of future mineral prospecting activity anticipated forest wide over the next 20 years.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has received 33 federal hardrock mineral prospecting permit applications and 21 operating plan proposals to conduct hardrock mineral exploration activities on the Superior National Forest. The BLM is the federal agency that manages federal hardrock minerals on the Forest. According to federal law and mineral policy, when the BLM receives applications to explore for minerals on national forest system lands, it must evaluate the applications in conjunction with the Forest Service and coordinate the required environmental documentation prior to permit approval. As the lead agency, the Forest Service must complete an environmental analysis to decide whether to consent to issuing prospecting permits and operating plans, and if the agency consents, the stipulations under which those permits and plans may operate.

Interested and affected parties are invited to review and comment on the draft EIS. According to Federal Register 36 CFR 215.6(1), comments must be filed within 45 calendar days following the date of publication of the Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, which was April 1. Comments may be submitted to James W. Sanders, Forest Supervisor, by mail: 8901 Grand Avenue Place, Duluth, MN 55808 Attn: Federal Hardrock Minerals Prospecting Permits EIS; telephone: Loretta Cartner at 218-626-4382; FAX: (218)626-4398; or e-mail: comments-eastern-superior@fs.fed.us. Please write “Federal Hardrock Minerals Prospecting Permits Draft EIS” in the subject line of all correspondence.