Custer Gallatin National Forest; Montana; Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14

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Choosing an item from suggestions will bring you directly to the content. This notice initiates a 30-day public comment period for the notice of intent. The State of Montana will simultaneously be initiating their 30-day public scoping period. The Forest Service requests that the public submit comments on the alternatives or effects and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposal by July 15, 2026. Comments submitted after this date may not be included in the analysis. Montana Department of Environmental Quality, jointly with the Custer Gallatin National Forest, expect to publish a draft Environmental Impact Statement in June of 2027, and a complete Environmental Impact Statement for Pre-Decisional Administrative Review is anticipated in April of 2028. Associated documentation will be published on the project web page, listed below. A schedule for the decision-making process and additional information about the project can also be found online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/ r01/custergallatin/projects/68998. Table of Contents Enhanced Content - Table of Contents This table of contents is a navigational tool, processed from the headings within the legal text of Federal Register documents. This repetition of headings to form internal navigation links has no substantive legal effect. Document page views are updated periodically throughout the day and are cumulative counts for this document. Counts are subject to sampling, reprocessing and revision (up or down) throughout the day. Page views 1 as of 06/13/2026 at 12:15 am EDT Other Formats Enhanced Content - Other Formats This document is also available in the following formats: This PDF is FR Doc. 2026-11992 as it appeared on Public Inspection on 06/12/2026 at 8:45 am. It was viewed 11 times while on Public Inspection. If you are using public inspection listings for legal research, you should verify the contents of the documents against a final, official edition of the Federal Register. Only official editions of the Federal Register provide legal notice of publication to the public and judicial notice to the courts under 44 U.S.C. 1503 & 1507. Learn more here. Published Document: 2026-11992 (91 FR 35952) This document has been published in the Federal Register. Use the PDF linked in the document sidebar for the official electronic format. AGENCY: Forest Service, Agriculture (USDA). ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service (Custer Gallatin National Forest), intends to prepare an environmental impact statement to assess and disclose effects from Stillwater Mining Company's proposed amendment to the Stillwater Mine plan of operations. Acting as joint lead agencies, the Forest Service and Montana Department of Environmental Quality are preparing an environmental impact statement to evaluate potential impacts from expanding mining-related surface disturbance on National Forest System lands and private lands. This notice announces the beginning of a dual agency 30-day comment period to solicit comments and identify issues. The Planning, Administrative Reviews, and Litigation System identification number for the project is 68998. DATES: This notice initiates a 30-day public comment period for the notice of intent. The State of Montana will simultaneously be initiating their 30-day public scoping period. The Forest Service requests that the public submit comments on the alternatives or effects and on relevant information, studies, or analyses with respect to the proposal by July 15, 2026. Comments submitted after this date may not be included in the analysis. Montana Department of Environmental Quality, jointly with the Custer Gallatin National Forest, expect to publish a draft Environmental Impact Statement in June of 2027, and a complete Environmental Impact Statement for Pre-Decisional Administrative Review is anticipated in April of 2028. Associated documentation will be published on the project web page, listed below. A schedule for the decision-making process and additional information about the project can also be found online at https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998. All public scoping documents, as well as supporting documentation on Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14 project will be published to the project's web page by the Forest Service. Any public meetings scheduled will be announced in advance through the Forest Service website at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/custergallatin/projects/68998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information on the project or to ask questions, please contact Erin Fryer, Environmental Coordinator for the Custer Gallatin National Forest, by email at comments-northern-custergallatin-nepaprojects@usda.gov, Attn: Stillwater Mine Complex Amendment 14, or by phone at 406-468-8277. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may call 711 to reach the Telecommunications Relay Service, then provide the phone number of the named point of contact for further information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Stillwater Mining Company has submitted a proposed amendment to its mine plan of operations to the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Mining Bureau. The Stillwater Mine is an active underground platinum group metal mining operation in Stillwater County, Montana. Ongoing operations and proposed operations are located on private lands and National Forest System lands within the Beartooth Ranger District. Purpose and Need for Action The purpose of the Forest Service action is to respond to the applicant's proposal to amend its mine plan of operations to expand mining operations on National Forest System lands to support continued mining and development of platinum group metals (which include critical minerals) via underground mining at the Stillwater Mine. The need for Forest Service action is established by the agency's responsibilities under the Organic ( printed page 35953) Administration Act of 1897 (16 U.S.C. 478, 482, and 551) and the locatable minerals regulations at 36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 228 subpart A. In accordance with 36 CFR 228.5, the Forest Service must analyze and provide timely response to the submittal of a plan of operations. Furthermore, the Forest Service must assess whether the proposed operations will be conducted so as, where feasible, to minimize adverse environmental impacts on national forest surface resources in accordance with 36 CFR 228.8. Proposed Action The Stillwater Mine Plan of Operations Amendment 14 project proposes changes to the integrated waste management plan to continue production of platinum group metals via underground mining operations for an additional 36 to 42 years, approximately. Specifically on National Forest System lands, Amendment 14 proposes to expand the footprint of the waste rock storage area, construct new ventilation and water management infrastructure, and relocate or change utilization of existing surface infrastructure such as water management and treatment facilities, ancillary facilities near the mine access portals, growth media stockpiles, and borrow areas. Full buildout of the waste rock storage area would require approximately 30 acres of new disturbance on National Forest System lands, including relocating a portion of Nye Creek into an engineered channel. Existing monitoring, reclamation, and closure plans would be modified to accommodate the changes from expanded operations and extended life of the mine. Alternatives Under the no-action alternative, the development of the applicant's mineral resource would be limited to those activities approved under the existing plan of operations. At the current rate of operation, the Stillwater Mine will reach full capacity in 2031. The no-action alternative would directly impact 1,100 jobs and impact production at the principal domestic source of palladium and platinum in the continental United States. List of Substantive Issues and Expected Impacts Substantive issues are those that meaningfully inform the consideration of reasonably foreseeable impacts of the proposed action or a decision on the alternative selected for implementation (7 CFR 1b.11(a)(53)). The following preliminary substantive issues are anticipated to be evaluated: The riparian area and scenic integrity of Nye Creek may be degraded by diverting the natural stream channel into an engineered channel around the waste rock storage area footprint; Continued mining operations and additional construction may impact surface and groundwater quality and quantity; and Construction and operation of the expanded waste rock facility may impact the availability of suitable topsoil in meeting final reclamation objectives. Anticipated Permits and other Authorizations Stillwater Mining Company is working with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the Environmental Protection Agency to secure necessary permits, including State Mine Operating Permit Amendment, Montana Natural Streambed and Land Preservation Act 310 permit, Federal Clean Water Act section 404 permit, and Short-Term Water Quality Standard for Turbidity 318 and 401 permits. Simultaneously, the Forest Service will consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Comments and the Objection Process This notice of intent initiates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process timeline, which guides the development of the environmental impact statement. In this process the Forest Service is requesting comments on potential alternatives and impacts, and identification of any relevant information, studies or analyses of any kind concerning impacts affecting the quality of the human environment. It is important that interested members of the public provide their comments at such times and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of the environmental impact statement. Therefore, written comments must be provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate the commenter's concerns and contentions. This proposed action is subject to the pre-decisional administrative review process, also known as the objection process at 36 CFR 218, subparts A and B. A proposed rule to amend 36 CFR 218 was published in the Federal Register on February 6, 2026 (91 FR 5387), prior to the initiation of public comment in this notice of intent. This proposed action may be subject to the final rule amending 36 CFR 218 if the final rule takes effect before the objection period occurs for this proposed action. Otherwise, this proposed action will be subject to the pre-decisional administrative review process established prior to the February 2026 proposed rule. Commenting during any designated opportunities to comment provided by the responsible official will govern eligibility to object under 36 CFR 218 once the environmental impact statement and draft record of decision have been published. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, they will not be used to establish eligibility for the objection process. Objections will be accepted only from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the proposed project during any designated opportunity for written public comment in accordance with section 218.5(a). Issues raised in objections must be based on previously submitted timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed project unless based on new information arising after designated opportunities. Cooperating and Participating Agencies Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Mining Bureau.