00-14266. Upper Deckers Creek Watershed, Preston and Monongalia Counties, West Virginia

AGENCY:

Natural Resources Conservation Service, Agriculture.

ACTION:

Notice of a Finding of No Significant Impact.

SUMMARY:

Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council of Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR Part 1500); and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Regulations (7 CFR Part 650); the Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives notice than an environmental impact statement is not being prepared for the Upper Deckers Creek Watershed Project, Preston and Monongalia Counties, West Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

William J. Hartman, State Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 75 High Street, Room 301, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The environmental assessment of this federally assisted action indicates that the project will not cause significant local, regional, or national impacts on the environment. As a result of these findings, William J. Hartman, State Conservationist, has determined that the preparation and review of an environmental impact statement are not needed for this project.

The project purpose is water quality improvement through acid mine drainage remediation. Planned actions include mine spoil regrading, highwall elimination, revegetation, limestone channels, passive treatment systems, grouting, and addition of limestone fines to streams.

The Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been forwarded to the Environmental Protection Agency and to various Federal, State, and local agencies and interested parties. A limited number of copies of the FONSI are available to fill single copy requests at the above address. Basic data developed during the environmental assessment are on file and may be reviewed by contacting William J. Hartman.

No administrative action on implementation of the proposal will be taken until 30 days after the date of this publication in the Federal Register.

(This activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance under NO. 10.904, Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention, and is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local officials.)

William J. Hartman,

State Conservationist.