ROCK SPRINGS – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office opens a 30-day public scoping period prior to preparing an environmental assessment on a proposal by OCI Wyoming L.P. (OCI) to expand its sodium lease (WYW079420) by 640 acres for underground mining.

The additional acres of BLM-administered federal mineral estate are in the checkerboard pattern of mixed public, private and state owned land. The modified lease is adjacent to the current OCI Sodium Lease boundary located north of Interstate 80, approximately 15 miles northwest of Green River, Wyo. in Sweetwater County. In addition to the federal lease modification request, the company is proposing to conduct underground trona mining on adjacent private land.

The lease area is part of OCI’s Big Island Mine complex which includes an underground trona mine and associated soda ash refinery, and has been in production since 1962. The underground mining operation uses continuous miners causing no surface subsidence (sinking) due to its proximity to the Green River. The OCI refinery purifies the trona ore into soda ash. Soda ash is used to make glass, chemicals, detergents, and other industrial products. The life of the project is projected to be 50 years.

Public comments are most useful when they are specific, cite additional relevant issues and/or determine the extent of those issues. Written substantive scoping comments should be received by June 24, and may be submitted via facsimile, email, mail, or hand-delivery during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to:

Jeff Clawson, Mining Engineer
OCI Sodium Lease Modification – WYW079420
BLM Rock Springs Field Office
280 Highway 191 North
Rock Springs, WY 82901
Facsimile: 307-352-0218
Email: [email protected]

Please include “OCI Sodium Lease Modification – WYW079420” in the subject line. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the below individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the below individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

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 made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. For more information, please contact Jeff Clawson at 307-352-0323.

Note to Editor: A copy of the project map and additional details can be found at: www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rsfo/OCI.html