The Caribou-Targhee National Forest and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Idaho Falls District have jointly released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzing different alternatives for the J.R. Simplot Co.’s proposed Dairy Syncline open pit phosphate mine that ultimately would replace Simplot’s Smoky Canyon Mine east of Soda Springs, Idaho, and west of Afton, Wyo.
It is estimated that the Smoky Canyon Mine – Idaho’s largest mine, stretching 22 miles in distance – could have 10 years of phosphate ore left to extract before Simplot must invest tens of millions of dollars into Dairy Syncline’s mining, milling, and pipeline operations, including decommissioning Smoky Canyon. The Western Phosphate Field overlaying Idaho’s Caribou County is the largest remaining resource in the U.S. outside of Florida, Tennessee, and the Carolinas.
The preferred Dairy Syncline alternative in the draft EIS would provide a proposed increase of 420 acres of public land between the BLM and U.S. Forest Service, with Simplot donating parcels that would provide increased public access for recreation activities and hunting opportunities on big game winter range.
Simplot has notified the agencies of its intent to exercise its mining and development rights granted in leases for the Dairy Syncline mining and reclamation project. It proposes to disturb about 2,830 acres of surface through the creation of five open pits, external overburden disposal areas, access roads, a transmission line, an ore slurry pipeline, an industrial water well, a mill, and a lined tailings pond, plus other ancillary facilities.
About five miles of a new segment of slurry pipeline would connect with Smoky Canyon’s existing 83-mile slurry line, which feeds Simplot’s Pocatello phosphate fertilizer plant.
To maximize recovery of phosphate from the leases, Simplot proposes to enlarge existing leases by 722 acres through lease modifications. Special-use authorizations are needed for ancillary facilities located off lease on National Forest Service lands. The tailings pond would be on lands acquired from the BLM and Forest Service.
Simplot proposes a 1,142-acre direct land sale for the BLM portion of the tailings pond and adjacent facilities. The company would buy the land for full market value and donate a 440-acre parcel to BLM to minimize potential impacts to the public and to Shoshone Bannock tribal treaty rights stemming from the loss of federal land.
An amendment to a resource management plan is required to complete the sale. In addition, a land exchange is proposed for Simplot to acquire the Forest Service portion of the tailings pond – 632 acres of Forest Service lands for a 640 acre Simplot parcel. The Forest Service land use plan also would be amended.
The BLM and Forest Service will make separate, coordinated decisions related to the proposed project. BLM, the lead agency, will decide whether to approve the mining and reclamation project and/or alternatives, enlarge or modify existing leases, approve land tenure actions as proposed or modified, issue rights of way for infrastructure if the land sale is not approved, and/or accept Simplot’s 440-acre parcel donation.
Federal officials said the EIS seeks a balance between resource extraction and conservation while providing opportunities for high-paying jobs. While a range of alternatives are examined, the proposed action, if approved, would allow the Dairy Syncline Mine to maintain more than 250 mining jobs for an additional 30 years and aid the region by providing $25 million in annual payroll, payment of taxes, royalties, and purchases.
The Forest Service will recommend to BLM surface management options and a selected alternative on leased Forest Service lands, and decide whether to approve the land exchange, accept the parcel donation, make roadless area boundary changes, approve amendments to a forest travel management plan, and/or approve amendments to its land use plan to add management prescriptions and designate power corridors.
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Idaho Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, Idaho Department of Lands, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are cooperating agencies in preparing the EIS. Additional permits will be required by other agencies.
The BLM and Forest Service are seeking public input to ensure that all aspects of the proposed mining and reclamation plan have been thoroughly analyzed. Public meetings will be in Pocatello on Jan. 8, Georgetown on Jan. 9, and Soda Springs on Jan. 10.