The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed open-pit gold mine about 50 miles west of Ely, in White Pine County, Nev. The notice opens a 30-day public scoping period that will end May 16, 2012.

The BLM has scheduled three public scoping meetings in Nevada, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dates and locations are:

--Tuesday, May 1, Bristlecone Convention Center, 150 Sixth Street, Ely

--Wednesday, May 2, Eureka Opera House, 31 S. Main St., Eureka

--Thursday, May 3, Best Western Airport Plaza, 1981 Terminal Way, Reno

The public is being asked to identify issues relevant to a Midway Gold U.S., Inc. proposal to construct and operate the Pan Mine Project, which would be located on BLM-administered lands and consist of an open pit, heap leach pads and waste rock dumps, and ancillary facilities. The proposed project’s total surface disturbance would be approximately 3,238 acres. The BLM has identified the following preliminary issues: cultural resources, air quality, view

shed areas, loss of habitat for wild horses and wildlife, including greater sage-grouse, and loss of access to hunting and the 1913 alternative route of the Lincoln Highway.

Interested individuals should address all written comments to the BLM Ely District Office, HC 33 Box 33500, Ely, NV 89301, Attn: Miles Kreidler or fax them to Kreidler at (775) 289-1910. Comments may be submitted to e-mail address: BLM_NV_EYDO_Midway_Pan_EIS@blm.gov. 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 can 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.

Additional information is available online at http://www.blm.gov/nv/. Click on the Ely District map and then click on the Pan Mine Project under “In the Spotlight.”

For more information, contact Miles Kreidler, BLM Ely District mining engineer, at (775) 289-1893 or mkreidler@blm.gov.