SWEETWATER COUNTY — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office has released the environmental assessment (EA), finding of no significant impact (FONSI) and decision record (DR) authorizing the expansion of an existing sodium lease by 640 acres for underground trona mining. The lease is part of an existing 27,000 acre permit area.
The 640 acres is split estate, with the sub-surface minerals federally owned and managed and the surface estate privately held. The expanded acreage is 15 miles northwest of Green River, Wyoming, and adjacent to OCI Wyoming L.P.’s Big Island Mine complex and associated soda ash refinery.
Initial public scoping on the modified sodium lease was conducted in June 2013. Two comments were received, helping to inform the BLM analysis for this EA. This decision is subject to administrative review through the appeal process, which is outlined in the DR.
For more information, visit www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rsfo/OCI.html or contact BLM Mining Engineer Jeff Clawson at 307-352-0323.
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