[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 120 (Wednesday, June 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30056-30057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14836]


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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.

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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