B/7~ Smith

39. Pl~()SPEctr:tNG PERt.\1IT' - At•Urn.ICAN COl?l1b;R A~D NICKBli

COMPP.N'i I l.NC. - w 4l)062

calendar ttem 39., actit~Ched, was pulled from the agenda pri<>•

to the i11eeting.

At tf;.chmet\ t: CCJ, leni1ui~ Item 3 9 ( l O· .pages)

A '15

s 38

•• APPLICANT:

TY.PE. ·O'F' hANl):

CALENDAR l'l'UiM 8/'78 39 •.

w ti.()062 Smlth

PROSPlt;CTING PIBRM't'f

Americ~n Coppet and Nickel Company, Inc. 114~7 West 48th Avenue Wheat Ridget Colorado 80033

School land.

AREA AND LOCATION: . Section 36., 'r12S, fU.9g SBB&M~ lmp~\1."iai County. AppToxLmatoly 10 to 11 miles east of Gla!ni.s.

PROPOS1:L: T9 evaiuat.e th1;:; potenl,:'ial ·£or mineral vaL\ies other than· oil, gas, and g~othcrm~ll o.~ the s\.1bject State lands. The pti.mm~y e.xpto1·­ation Qbjective is to determine if utanium 6te ex~st~ in commerci~l qua~itiles and, if so, propose a plan fon its ~xtroct~on.

ME:THOD OF EX.PLORAtlON: Irtiti~lly the suFijpce will be carefully mapped ·by plane table nhd surface samples taRen for analys·Ls. Two exploratory drill holes are ·tenbd:i\ ely scheduled td a maximum depth of 1,500 feet~ Ac9ess wlll be by existirlg roads and no stru9tuyes will be erected. All dntn obtained will be made availabl~ to the CommLssion and will be cottelated with that from adjacent Federal t:!la.lms.

ROYALTY: The 1·oynl ty sha 11. be 101:'a ·of. the mine vnltw of tho oi:o iu; detaJled in ~xhib:l.t: 11

A11

of cha pe~mlt on f Lle in the Of Eice of the Commi ss'lol:i.

A 15

PRERECU1SITE TERMS: 1. Statutory fLltng fceY nnd pormit foes have been doposlt~d by tho opplicnnt.

2. The subj~ct permit hns b~an reviewed nnd oppr(wci:l by t:ho O[f:ic12 ~)f the At:tnrn,:J)' General as to compllanc0 wJ.th applicable provisions uE law pursuant to Section &RqO, of the .Puhl J.c Resnt.lt"<.!.cs Code.

" ' ' '

••

CALEND.1\R ITE~1 NO, 39. { CON'rI» .....---~·""'~-..........---,.........- '••t-

3. The mr<~a 'ls not known to conqd.n commer­cially valuable d'~posits of miner.als.

4. The State L~rnds Comnd.ssion staf E, in .acco:rdanC'e with A1:t:iG'l.t~ 10, Section 2906.(b) a~ t:he Cal. Adnl. Oo~li::.) has ccnduct:e<l ~"in i ni tiaL st11dy and has concl;uded that the project will not hnve a signi[jcant eifact pn the env~ronment. Thcrefore 1

in co~pLiartce with subsection (c) of Set~tion 2906~ a Negatj,v.e D~.c'.l;.1n:at'.ion was prep~red and fiied with the Strate Cle ~ri..· i nghous e .

A. Location Map~ B. Negative Decla~ation.

1'.'.f 1$ ltEC0MMl~NDEJ); THAT 1rHE COt-lMISSION:

;t.. DETERMLNE THAT AN EIR BAS NOT HEE.N PREPARED FOR THIS P~O.JECT BUT THAT A ~EGATIVE DEC'LAR.'\TION HAS .BEEN PREPARED BY 'I'HE. COMMISSION S1fAFF •

2 . CERTIFY THAT NEGA'fIVE DECLARATION ND#i22 6 HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN CO~lPl..IANCl~ WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMF..NT:AL QUALITY ACT OF '.1970) A~ AMENDED, AND THE STATE GUIDELINES; AND THA'.l' THE COMMISSION HAS REVIEWED AND CONSIDERED nm INFORMA'fION CONTAINED THEREIN.

3. DETERMINE ~rHAT THE PROPOSED PROJl~CT WILl, NO'l: HAVE A s tGNIFtCAN'r EFFltOl' Ol~ THE ENV1RONMBN'r.

li. FIND THAT GRA~TING OF THE APPLICATLON WILL HAVE NO STGNIVlCt\NT EFFECT UPON ENVIRON~IENTAL CHARACTER!.STICS IDENTIFIED PU.RSUANT '!'0 SECTION' 6370 .1 ET S~~Q. OF fHE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE.

5. DlnERMINE THA'r THE LANDS DES(,RJL~ED 1:N THE PERMIT ARE NOT KNOWN TO CONTAIN COMMERCIALLY VALtlABLI~ DEPOSITS OF MINERA,LS.

6. AU'rHo:Rr.zr~ ISSUANCE ,op 1:mc PROSPECTING PlmMrr, 1~0 TH!~ AME~O:CAN CO~PER AND NICKEL COMPANY; J.NC. , FOR A ·n:Rtvl OF 2 YEARS FOR ALL M1NE~RALS OTHER TllAN OJ.L, GAS ANl> GlWTHl~RMAL RlrnOURCES lN SECTION 36, Tl2S,, R:l 9E, SBB&M, lMPERT.AL COUNTY; IN i\CCORDAN(,f~ ~H'l'H THE STAi'J\)ARl~ FORM OF PERMIT. ROYALTY PAYABLE UNDER ANY PREFERENTIAL LEASE JSSl.lf,l) UPON DISCOVERY OF CO~tMF~RCIAtL'l VALUABLI~ l)F.POSTTS, FOR !\NY ANO ALL MlNmRAL PRODUCTS l~XTRACTJW OR REMO\'ED l:'ROM sr~r:D PRgMlSJ~S FOR SALE 01\ STOCl~PT LINO SHAl,L BF, 01n1rnMINlrn AS sF:~· FOR"l'H rt~ THE VRosrgc-r1NG pgHMIT.

w 4006 2 STATE LANDS COMMISSION

Application for Prospecting Permit by

Amedccin Copper fl Nickel C9mpet11y Inc,

Sec·1ion 36', T. 1,~s., R. I SE.

LOCAilON

NEGATIVE 0'£CI..,J\M'l'I0t\1

P;ftOSP~~CTl'.NG PERMIT W 4000?.

This Kcgr-.,tive Declaration is prepar.ed pursuant to Sect;.ixm j_!;;Q83, California Admihistrative Code, Title 14, Division G and ls based upon an Initial study pursuant to secti:ons 15080 and l~IJ\36 thereof.

American copper & Nickel Co~ Inc,., has fi'l.ed a:n applicat .. ~on for app~oval to prospect for n1in>!:rals other than oil and fra!:i and geo-thermal on Section .36, T. 1.i Sq Pi. 1.9 E. S.l;!.H4 'Imperial cou.nty. Emphasis wl11 be placed on eva'luat:'..ng the comm;3.rcic.1 pot-~ential of uranium in -the .N-~ of the Section. If it :i.s established that a commer;cial or:e depqsl1t does exi:;t, the applicant will apply for a lease to dcve.J.op said deposit.

E..v::ploration will. cons'ist initially 0:1: surfar;e ·1T\~pping ahd samplil)g fOl~owed by the drilling of two exploratory hOltf.S to Cl, ~11a::<f 1m:µn dep~h of 1500 feet. Drillsi;-.es should not; reqt1.:i.re any ~>ign'ificant preparation, existing· roads will pr.ovide necessary acce~;s~ No permanent facilities wil+· bt:i constructed. Data will be evaluated und correlated with data obtained from adjacent ·.reqeral claims ..

Proj~ct wiJ)l not have a;ny, eco:i-ionlic effect on the area.

The Initial Study was p~~'.i;mret1 by the Sta!:z of the State Lands Conuuission augmar.ted by da'ta supplied by the C:\PPlicant. Mr. Jay Von WerJ.hof of the J:mperial Valley College Muse~~m conducted a11 on sit<:! ar,cheological sttldy "'f the area and in the subsequent report stated· no prehistorical r~souices w(~r(.: found in t!1e entil:ety of Section 36. This report and the Initial st·uay are on file in the Conunission 1 s Long Beach Office.

It is indicated that any Environmental Impacts. will have only -::;hort term effects and will be temporary and ~~hsign.tficant. No pel:manent cyidence of the project will remain ni,ter its completion; no lorig term effects arc foreseeable. Therefort.:i# it has bee~ determined t~at the proposed exploration project will not have significant cf:::ect on the cnvi1·onmcnt.

\1 ..

I~' "' : ".· ,

ProJ.£..~J~.~J:-2:,n t ~ ~:

An £\1)plicn.tion has. bacn made to the Co.~11,~ornia s~'tc ltl.nd'G, Cowntrrnton to proa .. j'>cct for nonmctnllic minorolo, prit11Ilrily1 qr,n.nium, ·in the llii oi' Section 31$, T. 12 S., R. 1.9 E.~ S.D.i1., Imperinl Cou11ty. S~ction 36 :Ls ll'f.l.Pt·o:d:m:rtcly 3•( mil~:s ·northoD.s t 6:f Bro.wii::r nud io trnnsffc-tccl by Uiehvuy "(8 running cust.-'W'cst (sea attnchcd mn:f>).

~··ue o.rc:l. is ncccssiblc frl)n1 tile h~gh.w:;cy-.

2. ·St~tcment ~ ~~J;osc __ of th1.._!~?,.je~:

The po'i:enttul mlncralizo.tion occµ:i:'s ~lone; u. zone up to several' tens or feet in H"i.clth arid. stril.tr;?S ~\nEr~ ... W(>st. corr.plct:cly :through the sect~on. 'l'hc npp+ico.ni,; pro1>oses to drill 11wo holes into uhweathere:d· bedrock, one hole nenr the -west a.µd 9no- 'hole near the cnst ~ide or the section e~long ·the titri,te of th~ miri~r­a:l;i~e& z6i-1e. .

3. Gencml.Dcscri'Ption of the Pro_iect: ' ---::---·

Iuitio.lly, c;crilogic mapping and sur!'ace sa.mpiius \l'.ill b~ completed r>.nd wi il require e. tiro-man field crew worlt.1.'11g for a period of ten .. C\ays to two weeks • . 5.1his work will consist of 9utcrvp m~~:Ding and srunpling on f'oot :traverses o.nd. the develop:-.ien~ qf local detail 't:.y meuns of plane table ;rnrveying_:

. '1'10 cxp:ort\tory tlrill 'Qoles are prog:1.·a:mmcd 1 one on the cast side '.'.'if the section tuicl one on th~ 1\!cst side, to a }n·ojectod. iwximmn ¢!:dlling depth of 1500 feet. The dri llsj. te:; nre limited in stzc ·to a.pproxi mataly one hund:red feet in dtnp.ieter nnd. shoulcl not require s.ny significo.nt surface preparation .consiclcrine; the open country i.n·roh~ca.. The network of existing roods will l'lrovide adequate acce:::~ to the :pri.)Jloscd drill!>i.tes. No udditicml'.ll roaa.s \rill be constructed.

'l''he dril1int; ·:progra.Ii1 will take :;tpproxi1~.tcly four to six weelrn :ui th an nntici­pn.ted <1rilli.ni: rate oi' f1:ft7 to seventy feet yet day. The drill crew v!ll.' con­pist of th'v u1cn h'Orlang one ten-·11~1.tr shift. per do.y on o. s~x··day "Weck. It l:s }'.los~i'blc 1,hnt ii' the k.nowle~ge gui11cd f-rom this dril.line; trdic~t:es fuvorv.ble mine:rnl J)IDtcntinl, s0mc additionul d.rilli~1g rr.<>.y be required.

Too ll'~tlo is knmm 111.1out the gcolog:;r of the 31J•os,pect arcn to :project an~· plr>.n or dm•cJ.opmcn~;. Much will 1lepcnd on '\;he potential or the o.pplicant Is clnirilS tlmt bo·rclcr t;\l11 Sl:ntc :ptwccl. If the -prospect orct\ is found to conto.ip n com" mere:in~J.y vnluubJ.c F.Lii1eml dcj'lor.l t, a 1.;e_p,.'l.n::tc o.ml detci.ilccl environmental 'ibpt-?J.'t will lie prepared to covc:t· tlta prod\1ction J>huse.

••· l':r'1H;cnt r'!nviroruncn't,: .. ___ --·-.. 01.mcrnl Geologic D!!oct·iption:

Sectjon 36 "lo n<mr the GOltthc:rn ,:ii\d o!' the Chocol1.1te l!ounu.ins. 'l'11c t.:hocol.r.1.te Mountn'inn lie \rlthin the Mojnvc Oc:ocr.b gcol.<,elc JU-Ovi\\ct! tmd 1\'or.m the no1•th­Ct\O t;c~1n wnll of t11c S:l.).ton Unoln. 'rhcy urc con1pot.ctl l1cp·t1y of prc-Cnmb~inn

• • •

•• cmd. prc .. Ctctncoouo mcto:nor.1,hie ',i•oclco intruded by Jltt'curn~c gtnn1t1c ~1.Jcko o.nd pllrtly o.C' il1crt1r.n·,y o.nd~aitic tH1c.\ rhyoUtlc l.u.vti f~owo, 'lll~~ n1cttlmorphic tit;!h~n~ooo ·:rockO nr~ of ,known und tH:olmhl.y prc-Co.mb'rJ.nn net:. ·

~n Section 36~ .. the bct1rock :.cottr,icto ot prc•Cl.\p:brinn(,?) q\1111~tz.tt~ nncl qu:i.r.tz-1n:t~o. nchto~ri '~hi ch cwq· fol(.~.Ht, i'nul tc:.t c.m~ su'bocqunutly .~ritru\lctl 1)y fclo:i.c d..1/lt(,'!S / td.llo Q.bd oma.ll Yol'f.ttriic '.{11U(';O Of 'l'crtitH•y hga • ':he 111Qt:ntn~i,,hiC X'OCltG no. "1c1l no the fclo1c 'intr\wlve roc:kti c.u·o locally t11cn.c\,cd ancl hyclrothc111i:,11y-Jb~ter.e1L · · ·

J~~!2~mc.n~}~,inJi:

'l;1e urea· is 1oco:¥.cci on the 5outh1ms.tcrn i'1~1'01~ or ~he Chocolil.te i·fountains,, ~fldch trtmd m·t·S~ ·c;.nd pt\:roJ.ie:~. Hic,hwny "(8 runntng :hetwcc11 Drnwlcy and B:tythc. ,'J.1w Itlperio.l Saµd, ·J?dncs, trend alonB the south i'lilnl;. of' ·the mountains iuid n·r~ generally tmpO.rnted. ,from, •them by o. p(l~~ly 'disoccted pediment. The Coo·chella. ~~~iliJ. ~no ~1c~g the sol1tq Gide oi' the dune complex :thnt is bctvecn the :D.unt::s i,lnd .the ·lmpcr1dl Valley, i~1risnt:i.on ~re~.

!in~ l'~l3ion o.rql,\tid the sublject £. ___ &' if; :spar:.:cl.y populnted- u,,..<l :th,~ cn.n,»:i:f .. s .stor~ and· • •a'.l.:tf~d ~idi nz tel) miles. s,ou~~ves,h ~·s the only p~.pnan~trt. ~o!rintuni 1:-Y nrc~ ·yii:hin thirty-sev~n ·m'il:e\'1. ':(he .~oliutry no~h 6f the· state scctJop i.s' i~ ,XU:Bged, 5.gneO'-!S/mehunof.phic c9~lex of the Chocqlo.tc Ho1intains. Mu¢h of this ·r~11gc. is. desi~1?.te:d as a.p e~ri:al g\lPncfy :fans? nnd access ta its i.nt~no~ is +i1Jli·hed ·by the topograph,r or l'esi.ri'c·ced -qy- desim':lation •

Th~ surfe.ce utili14tion i:h the crea has qcen miuitn,i:icd by thr.-: adverse 9-esert clinm.te, gu11ne.ey rcngc bouncle.ries, ?-nd n. t.M. -desi.'gtmtions in their Desert yehiql,e ·Program. Th~re o.re severo.l sniull surface (~old miu~s o:peratil}g ill the cencrs.l area around Glwnis. Tnis :prospecting n:ytivity has r+ui:;tuatcll ,oyer the ;Y<;>ars, but never reached .a. .h;gh ~nough i.eve~. to o.~lov this a~:en t·o be des­+m-i~ted· ns a di~.cre·~e m1.ning dis·tri:ct.

'!'he ;--:reject i::t!'ea io typically .mountttinons 4e;>crt ter;:ain vi th sparse 'fal\n.t\ and florr • Vegt~tnti,on obse:rv~d is:

creosote bush

mesquite

desert ironwood.

1\9.lo Verde

ocotillo

....... ~qi.,"\lo obscrYcd urc:

'red spotted tond

'tcbra-·tC\ilcd liznrd

Cqlort\d<:' desert cicl~winder

(Iai·rea ~livnrlco.ta)

(prosopis· julifl9rn)

( Cll.neya tt?aoro)

.( Ccridium flol'idun\)

(l~ouquicnia spl~· ,.lcnG)

(linto pnnct:.~.~~)

( CO:llioo.m-...u; droc-ono:!dcD) ------.. ••7w

·( t:lonc1ru 1~c111.i~mhli1ntn.)

(t:·~GOQT/(trllO do-rr.n.J.io:)

• Climate:

. •,

6.

!111~ 1~11Jr11·~<J or lmpcr.tp.l Cqunty ittnd the gcnci·nl Colot-u.do neoc.x·t rf;;'e;itll1 it.! cil.no­ciflcd na l'ot nt1d o.r id. 'liw o. w~ruc;c arnuo.l ratnf1:1.ll 10 'three i nchcw, mob.t of irhic11 oqcurs during the winter rnon\:hs. The ubr.cncc or n ciou<t ·covc::t· 'thr<;iugh .. 01.:.~ moat of Ulc ycaT contribl.itco to the low i·cla-t;i ve humi<ll ty or tlHl l:t«:gloti. .

l:nV:l rotwicn·t:o.1 Im'Onct ....... _ .. __ ....... ' .. =·· ...

The 'Sina.11 dl::illrii'tcs riolcctcd will hnve qnl~[ n mi not} Etbt)rt .. tc:rm tmpt\ct rit1d there "''GU be no lone-trrm adverse c,i'f eets on· ... ':,'V n,spcc·i; of '\:ho pre rent et\vlr .. oritucnt ~ The small drill ~·ig wi~.1 use 'c:dsth1g -roods; ·w~i!~er trill be d~li vc•1'cd ~'Y' tank truck.. :Wnter: use~'t .in th~ cl;·illing ;pi·oc.cas will be collectc-.1, in ~ small, 'ccrllporu1'Y swr;p nnn; :rcd:rcl,llatca vhcn 11oo::d.o:+c. When a hole :b: co~­ple'ted, the flu.id r.~n1 be re.m9vcd frc"l "\1hc sunil? nn.~ t.he sump are.::i. rr:{;urned. ns ·~car~v· ~s .prQc~:i.cn'blc to, it~ oriein().~ 9on~:i.1:t<;m: ~ne d~~1J. holes ",¥hen uban .. ·dO~.ec1 'sh~ll p,e cemented from the Gt].rface t<:> 1fi,f'ty: fee't DC~<;lW' ·the- Slll'fO.ce ahc.\ ~11. ~uttipg U~Sp~rS(fd SO ,as t!J olent\' w:i.th the ,SU.l::f'~ce •

Ad.'\•ersc 1'21vironmento.1 }1'i'ects Which .Cmmot Y.~ Avoided: If the P:t·ouosal Is Yi!1pleni;::nttid: - · - .. · · · -. · · · · · · -,:..--~

~ohe ~re t.m~.:.1 c~pa.ted cluring this I>hase bf t}1e evaluation, .1i"ne drill r:i:g end fmi ·service vehicles 'rlll be inconspic:uoµs and. vin hav~ only o. short-term impd;ct ·en the a.~si;hetics Of, t}!e afca. IJ.1i1ere yi.11 pe l'lO inipnbt on hU.'T ... 9.U health and no disnrpt~on oi' :present ct~ologi<:a.l syst,cms.

:Mi ti.ga·tion ~i~n.l'?Ul'CG Proposed to .. Minimize :tne Inmact ! ~--· ., - - ·-.-~- . .~

Dr,ii.ling nud: service vehicles vfll be limi:tcd fn· ~i ze and. munber compatible with e±;f'icient ope.1:a.tio11. All ·cq\,'\i:µment m.11 be :Properly mnint?.-ineO. ~o· ~:Per­ate 011 en energy efficient le~rcl. Eire~· ·effort w11i b~ made to uti:).izc J;i::r­rion:ncl and ~qttijimcnt on a. schedule prop1c~~ipg nlinimtun time i'o1· oi te occU:pVition .•

8. .J\lterncti vo_e .~o ~~e Pr~l?S?sed A<H:im!:

9.

The specific nltcrnati vc is "No- ~·ojcct". Ho~rever, the proposed cxplor~"tion ot the v.rcn is essentinl to ma.ke n val:j.d ·nGsc::;smcn.i ... of the. mineral potential nt deptl\.

'i1hc !fol1rt.fon~;hi p Between l.ocnl Sho1·l-Tc rm Ucc!> of ~!..'1.11 1 o F.nv:i ronl!lont nnd the __ .__..., __ .,. ______ _.... ___ .. ___________________ _ }!;.ri11tci.nncu f;\ml E;nho.ucc::n<:!nt o:f.' J.cnr:':"'.l'cri:i l·'rocluctiYity: ----~------- -··------Tho dcnign or t1~tn prot:rrun ir. such thnt 'l:.1rnrc will be no cumulti.tivc 01· 1ona~ l'ttnec ci'!'cct vhich could l.mpacb the 'environment. Unt:i.l the time 01 1iotcntial mincrnl rcs9l\J~cc ).o ~cfontificc\ there wiil be oniy short:.~turm irnpucts • . J\itl!_rcvpJ'11_1.h 1!t.~..Yl.r.~9.~~f: 1 .. ~!".!!CB.Llt.!!.1-.~\ .. ~Nt 1.~l..~.£. Xn!?E.£!. in tlm_l'.!:S!· r,90.f&.Jlstic>n ::lif!\~l ~t lJ.~£.JPJ~~SLJ}~ll t~!,1: , .

l'TO ir1·cvcro'iblc cnvi..ro1!l!V.mto.). ch(Ul('.<~O wll~ be 1il'Otfoc<:d \)y ·the p1:opoc!!d ,lll'Qg1•n.m • ,

,'

'~6?i~' ' ';j ~ I : ~ .•

, "'\."''I ,..,, I•

T\)~l·o w11'l ·r,a 1.\ mlml.l .cXJ1on~u-t~tro· or :t;t\C.J. cncr~' ,. \inti no ~ien.lfico.nt cutrncc n.:titcrti.~'i!Oi\ '\:hi4h tlou.1<1 proril\eri.te: -Cqtuto e):ii.msco.

Qt~~l~il~t::. ,91', t,b_c J'i:_~l!?ac4_.{\.qg __ ~n: illitlc C.Y.)}lOliti;ior1 ~?llll!H~ Of thiO '.f.ll'OjC(!t 'rti:~:lJ. ht!..VC llO effect On the growth of tiic nr~t\.. :tf tht~ ·l)rOjcc.t o.:r~ll corrto.inn ·n comine1~cJ,ully vo:i~oblq 1i'incro..J. dqJ!d$:S.·i;

1 n6 l~noCl' ·O.CTccn1tftYi: .\:·~lI be- c'Onclµticd 4ntil o.~ crivi vonmcntni ir:1pnct

t'~porli tu J~rcp3:)'ctt t::1vcri ng ·tho }lrodllction i1h~~<.h

t.bCATlON l l

(;\.'}, 1rypo of drilling rig proposed?

'!'ruck mount~d - Beckor CSR o:-: cqtd.val.cnt

(2) niametci; of !iole? Jlec)<er <;:~R "3 - 4"

Win'ki~ Drill l·-?(811

..

(3) 'type ,o..: drilling mud?

Air a• ,a/ or wa t<ir t1epeiid'l.ng ·on· the drilling conditions •

En..ri.rpmne'ntal :rmp~ct, page 3.

"J«f: ci:mc1i~ions ,pe;cmi3;; a stnall sul'np will. 'be aug i:!,11d on

¢omplct~o11 the f ltlid will be r~moVed and the ~11ttings 'puried ill the sump with the surface pein9 restored as

nearily as is practicable to its ·original condition. If

with the cut.tings bcit1g dispersed 01' the ~urJJace, the

to ta~ amount of cuttings v1;il l b<:i minimal.

'''