Robinson Mine Eagle Permit NEPA Documents

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received an application from Robinson Nevada Mining Company, an affiliate of Robinson Holdings (USA) Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of KGHM International Ltd., requesting eagle take coverage under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for operation of Robinson Mine.  The application requested authorization for take of four golden eagle nests that constitute one golden eagle breeding territory.  Robinson Mine, an open pit copper mine, consists of open pits, waste rock dumps, tailings impoundment facilities, mill and flotation circuits, gold heap leach and process facilities, and support facilities including evaporation cells, ponds, and pipelines.  The Project lies within the Egan Range in the central portion of White Pine County, in east-central Nevada.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA), pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, to assess impacts of the proposed action of issuance of the requested long-term (30-year) incidental eagle take permit to the applicant, as well as alternatives to the proposed action. The proposed action of issuing a permit required implementation of measures to avoid and minimize adverse effects to eagles to the maximum extent practicable and compensatory mitigation to fully offset eagle take. Details of the minimization measures and compensatory mitigation can be found in the EA document. The analysis detailed in the EA resulted in selection of the proposed action and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).  Please find the FONSI and EA below.