[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 35916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17483]



[[Page 35916]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (E-SEIS) for Permitting Continued Mining Operations of PCS 
Phosphate, White Springs (Hamilton County), Florida

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
Regulatory Division (Corps), has received a request for a modification 
to Department of the Army permit no. 19840452 for the PCS Phosphate-
White Springs mine (PCS Phosphate), located in Hamilton County, 
Florida. A more minor modification was issued in 1997. The Corps has 
determined that the proposed modification of the existing permit will 
involve substantial changes that are relevant to environmental 
concerns. Therefore, a Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, dated February 1986 will be prepared.

ADDRESSES: Chief, Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 
P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Osvaldo Collazo, 904-232-1675.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PCS Phosphate has been engaged in phosphate 
mining in its project area in Hamilton County under permits from the 
Corps, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and 
Hamilton County. The current Federal permit will expire in 2002. PCS 
Phosphate has begun the application process with state and Federal 
regulatory agencies for the permitting of continued mining operations 
within the company's 100,000-acre project area in Hamilton County. The 
modification involves mining new sites within the general boundary of 
the project area. This is the same project area reviewed under the 
original EIS.
    Proposed new mining areas include jurisdictional wetlands. Permit 
modification would be issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, 
as amended. Permits would be issued under a joint permitting process 
with the DEP. A new permit would also be required from Hamilton County. 
Other state, regional, and Federal agencies are expected to participate 
in the permit evaluation. Mitigation for loss of wetland functions and 
values is anticipated.
    In addition, PCS Phosphate has requested that the DEP initiate a 
process under s. 403.752, Florida Statutes for coordinated review and 
agency actions. The process will be expected to result in a binding 
ecosystem management agreement, which would include the required state 
permits and approvals. The ecosystem management agreement process 
requested by PCS Phosphate includes the opportunity for public 
participation and comment. The Corps agreed that these public meetings 
would also serve the purpose of the scoping process and review and the 
SEIS and permit actions. The first public meeting was held on December 
11, 1997. Public comment was initially requested in two areas: (1) the 
scope of the environmental studies to be performed for support of 
permitting actions and (2) identification of persons or organizations 
for both active participation in the process and receipt of periodic 
mailings. Coordination has included a number of Federal, state, 
regional, local agencies, and environmental groups including but not 
limited to the following: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Department of Environmental 
Protection, State Historic Preservation Officer, Suwannee River Water 
Management District, Hamilton County, Florida Department of Community 
Affairs, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Sierra Club, 4 
Rivers Audubon, and Florida Defenders of the Environment.
    Scoping: The public meetings provided much information that has 
served the scoping process. A draft Plan of Study for the Ecosystem 
Management Agreement and the SEIS has been prepared. This Plan of Study 
is intended to fulfill the information requirements for all anticipated 
regulatory actions. The results of the study will be compiled into a 
Supplemental Technical Background Document (TDB) and analyzed in a 
SEIS. The document can be made available for review upon request. The 
Corps will hold a formal public scoping meeting on July 30, 1998. All 
parties are invited to participate in the scoping process by 
identifying any additional concerns on issues, studies needed, 
alternatives, procedures, and other matters related to the scoping 
process.
    Public Participation: We invite the participation of affected 
Federal, state and local agencies, and other interested private 
organizations and individuals.
    Draft SEIS Preparation: We estimate that the Supplemental TBD will 
be available to the public on or about mid 1999, and the Draft SEIS 
will be prepared later that year.

    Dated: June 17, 1998.
Marie G. Burns,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 98-17483 Filed 6-30-98; 8:45 am]
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