98-17483. Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (E-SEIS) for Permitting Continued Mining Operations of PCS Phosphate, White Springs (Hamilton County), Florida  

  • [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]
    BILLING CODE 3710-AJ-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
07/01/1998
Department:
Engineers Corps
Entry Type:
Notice
Action:
Notice of Intent.
Document Number:
98-17483
Pages:
35916-35916 (1 pages)
PDF File:
98-17483.pdf