[Federal Register: June 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 30056-30057]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jn09-58]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers
Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement on an
Application for a Department of the Army Permit Under Section 404 of
the Clean Water Act by The Sabine Mining Company for the Construction,
Operation, and Reclamation of the South Hallsville No. 1 Lignite Mine--
Rusk Permit Area, Rusk, Panola, and Harrison Counties, TX
AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District (USACE)
has received an application for a Department of the Army permit under
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) from The Sabine Mining Company
(SMC) to construct, operate, and reclaim the South Hallsville No. 1
Lignite Mine--Rusk Permit Area. In accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the
USACE has determined that issuance of such a permit may have a
significant impact on the quality of the human environment and,
therefore, requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
The USACE intends to prepare an EIS to assess the environmental,
social, and economic effects of issuance of a Department of the Army
permit under Section 404 of the CWA for discharges of dredged and fill
material into waters of the United States (U.S.) associated with the
construction of the proposed surface lignite mine. In the EIS, the
USACE will assess potential impacts associated with a range of
alternatives.
DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2009,
from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to disseminate
information about the proposed project and its potential effects to the
human environment, and to seek public comments on the scope of the
proposed project.
ADDRESSES: The public scoping meeting will be held at the Tatum Middle
School, 410 North Hill, Tatum, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or
questions about the proposed action and EIS, please contact Ms.
Jennifer R. Walker, Regulatory Permits Section Chief, by letter at
Regulatory Branch, CESWF-PER-R, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, P.O. Box
17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300 or by telephone at (817) 886-1863.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Description of the Proposed Project: The
proposed South Hallsville No. 1 Lignite Mine--Rusk Permit Area would be
located approximately 1 mile north of the City of Tatum, Rusk County,
Texas. The approximately 20,377-acre mine site would recover
approximately 130 million tons of lignite during the 30-year life of
the mine, for sole use at the existing H.W. Pirkey Power Plant, which
is owned and operated by American Electric Power (AEP). Overall, the
proposed project would result in adverse impacts to approximately 300
acres of waters of the U.S., including approximately 186 acres of
wetlands, 65 acres of ponds, and approximately 349,320 linear feet of
streams, including a navigable reach of the Sabine River. Adverse
impacts would occur in conjunction with the removal and stockpiling of
overburden and interburden in an effort to recover approximately 90% of
the in-place tonnage. As part of this project, several public roads,
approximately 400 gas wells, and approximately 350 miles of pipeline
would require modification. Other potential adverse effects associated
with this project would include loss of forested floodplain and upland
habitats, impacts to archeological sites, relocation of residential
dwellings and one cemetery, and cumulative effects associated with the
operation of four surface lignite mines within an approximately 20-mile
radius.
2. Alternatives: Alternatives available to the USACE are to: (1)
Issue the Department of the Army permit; (2) issue the Department of
the Army permit with special conditions; or (3) deny the Department of
the Army permit. Alternatives available to SMC include: (1) Construct,
operate, and
[[Page 30057]]
reclaim the South Hallsville No. 1 Lignite Mine--Rusk Permit Area as
proposed by SMC; (2) construct, operate, and reclaim the South
Hallsville No. 1 Lignite Mine--Rusk Permit Area with modifications; (3)
develop or acquire other lignite supply sources; or (4) no action.
3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process: A public scoping meeting
to disseminate information about the proposed project and its potential
effects to the human environment, and to seek public comments on the
proposed project will be conducted (see DATES & ADDRESSES). A Public
Notice will be issued June 23, 2009, to extend the opportunity for
Federal, State, and local agencies and officials, and interested
individuals to further comment on the proposed project and the scope of
the EIS.
4. Significant Issues: Issues to be given significant analysis in
the EIS are likely to include, but will not be limited to: The effects
to surface water and groundwater resources, including water quantity
and quality, effects on the immediate and adjacent property owners and
nearby communities, downstream hydraulics and hydrology, geologic
resources, vegetation, fish and wildlife, threatened and endangered
species, soils, prime farmland, noise, light, aesthetics, historic and
pre-historic cultural resources, socioeconomics, land use, public
roads, and air quality.
5. Cooperating Agencies: At this time, no other Federal or State
agencies have been established as cooperating agencies in preparation
of the EIS. However, numerous federal and state agencies, including the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and the
Texas Historical Commission are expected to be involved in the
preparation of, and provide comments on, the EIS.
6. Additional Review and Consultation: Compliance with other
Federal and State requirements that will be addressed in the EIS
include, but will not be limited to, state water quality certification
under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, protection of water quality
under the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, protection of
air quality under the Texas Air Quality Act, protection of endangered
and threatened species under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act,
and protection of cultural resources under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act.
7. Availability of the Draft EIS: The Draft EIS is projected to be
available by August 2009. A public hearing will be conducted following
the release of the Draft EIS.
Stephen L. Brooks,
Chief, Regulatory Branch.
[FR Doc. E9-14836 Filed 6-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P