The Chronicles Of Grant County
Little Rock Mine
Public Comments
This is a portion of a map included in the public filings with the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department of the State of New Mexico for the Little Rock Mine – Regular Existing Mining Operation – Revision 20-1. (The map was produced by Freeport-McMoRan and was provided courtesy of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department of the State of New Mexico, June 4, 2020.)
In a recent edition of The Chronicles Of Grant County, it was noted that the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) controlled large portions of Grant County. Some of the lands controlled by BLM are utilized in ways that affect Grant County, including in such areas as agriculture, mining, and recreation, among other activities. The efforts of the BLM have a direct impact on the economic development of Grant County.
Grant County is included in the Las Cruces District of the BLM. This district is in the process of collecting public comments regarding the Little Rock 2020 Mine Plan Operations Amendment.
A portion of a map that details aspects of the Little Rock Mine is at the top of this news column. You can view the entire map and its legend at https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/LittleRockMineFacilities6-4-2020.pdf.
The BLM is seeking "…public comment…for an environmental assessment for activities associated with an amendment to the Little Rock Mine Plan of Operations NMNM091644 submitted by Freeport-McMoRan Tyrone, Inc. The public comment period is open…[until] June 8, 2022." This amendment was submitted to the BLM on June 21, 2021, "…to support continued mining and related operations on BLM-managed public land."
According to a news release from the BLM, "The project is located approximately 11 miles southwest of Silver City. The plan assesses the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts from the proposed action, which is to authorize surface disturbances to BLM-managed land that are necessary for the expansion of the current open pit configuration and the continued construction, operation, and reclamation of Little Rock Mine."
"The 2020 amendment proposes expansion of the current pit configuration through the anticipated life of the mine and the surface disturbances necessary for the construction, operation, monitoring, closure, and post closure of the mine," the BLM news release continued.
The specific location for this expansion, the Federal agency noted, is "…within Sections 8, 9, 16, 17, 20, and 21 of Township 19 South, Range 15 West, of the New Mexico Principal Meridian in Grant County, New Mexico."
"Finding of No Significant Impact" was decision of the BLM regarding this plan.
A representative of BLM wrote that the individual "…determined that the Proposed Action, does not constitute a major federal action that would have a significant effect on the quality of the human environment. Therefore, an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required."
You can review this document at https://eplanning.blm.gov/public_projects/2019319/200521019/20059263/250065445/Little%20Rock_FONSI_DRAFT.pdf. The environmental assessment and related information can be reviewed at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2019319/510.
Beyond the documents available for review from the BLM, individuals are able to review a variety of documents detailing the Little Rock Mine through the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department of the State of New Mexico at https://www.emnrd.nm.gov/mmd/mining-act-reclamation-program/pending-and-approved-mine-applications/mining-applications-regular-existing/gr007rerev20-1/.
The BLM indicated that public comments are welcomed regarding the Little Rock 2020 Mine Plan Operations Amendment. If you are interested, you can send comments by postal mail to BLM Las Cruces District Office, Joseph Navarro, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005.
One important caution detailed by the BLM in its news release: "Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be available publicly at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so."
With that caveat in mind, the BLM stated that "comments will be available for public review at the BLM Office during regular business hours (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays."
Individuals that would like additional information can contact the Las Cruces District Office of the BLM. The specific individual noted in the news release to contact regarding this matter is contact Joseph Navarro. He is an Environmental Protection Specialist at BLM and can be reached by telephone at 575-525-4363.
The green dot is the approximate location of the Little Rock Mine. (The map was provided courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management.)
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© 2022 Richard McDonough