Soda Springs, Idaho-The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has extended the period for the public to comment on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Monsanto’s proposed Blackfoot Bridge phosphate mine in Southeast Idaho’s Caribou County (GM Aug. 17, p. 1). The mine would replace Monsanto’s South Rasmussen Ridge Mine, which annually supplies a million tons of phosphate to Monsanto’s elemental phosphorus plant near Soda Springs. Federal agencies say that mine is leaching selenium and heavy metals into Blackfoot River tributaries. Its ore is expected to be exhausted by 2013. The Blackfoot Bridge ore is expected to last 15 years. Monsanto plans to spend $24 million on an extensive cover, lining, and water management system at Blackfoot Bridge to protect the nearby Blackfoot River; between $10 million and $15 million on infrastructure; and another $5 million for retaining ponds, in addition to mining equipment capital. About 740 acres of mostly private land would be disturbed by the new mine operations, with only about 10 percent, or roughly 74 acres, on BLM land. About 80 of Monsanto’s 750 workers in the region would be employed at the mine. A 45-day comment period was scheduled when the DEIS was issued on Aug.17, but to better promote public involvement in the process, the BLM will accept comments until Oct. 31. Electronic copies of the DEIS are available at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/prog/0.html. Three informational meetings in Southeast Idaho have been scheduled for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations and dates: Bureau of Land Management, 4350 Cliffs Drive, Pocatello, ID 83204, Sept. 15; Tribal Business Center, Pima Avenue, Fort Hall, ID 83203, Sept. 16; and Soda Springs City Hall, 9 West 2nd South, Soda Springs, ID 83276, Sept. 17.
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