2015-16656. Availability of a Draft Regional Environmental Impact Statement to Analyze Potential Impacts within Defined Geographic Regions in Texas that may be Affected by Future U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, Permit Decisions ...

AGENCY:

Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice of availability.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, as lead federal agency, is preparing this Regional Environmental Impact Statement (REIS) to analyze potential impacts within defined geographic regions in Texas that may be affected by future USACE, Fort Worth District, permit decisions for future surface coal and lignite mine expansions or satellite mines within the District's area of responsibility. The REIS is being prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500-1508), and the USACE Procedures for Implementing NEPA (33 CFR 230).

DATES:

Submit comments no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments and suggestions concerning this proposal to Mr. Darvin Messer, Regulatory Project Manager, Regulatory Branch, CESWF-DE-R, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, P.O. Box 17300, Fort Worth, TX 76102-0300 or via email: [e-mail]

Requests to be placed on the mailing list should also be sent to this address. Please reference USACE Project No. SWF-2010-00244 in all communications.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mr. Darvin Messer, Regulatory Project Manager at [phone] or via email: [e-mail]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The USACE, Fort Worth District, is proposing changes to its regulatory framework for surface coal and lignite mines in Texas. The proposed regulatory framework includes the establishment of a Regional General Permit (RGP) and a revised Letter of Permission (LOP) procedure with modifications to aquatic resource impact thresholds and a change from agency concurrence to agency coordination as compared to the current process. No changes to the criteria for Nationwide Permit (NWP) 21 or NWP 49 are proposed.

The REIS considers the potential environmental impacts of future mine expansions or satellite mines in six study areas along the coal-bearing formations in Texas that run from southwest Texas to northeast Texas. The study areas encompass locations within the coal/lignite belt in Texas that were determined to be within reasonable proximity to existing surface coal and lignite mines with potential for future expansion.

As part of the public involvement process, notice is hereby given by the USACE Fort Worth District of informal public information meetings (open house format) and formal Public Hearings regarding this Draft REIS will be held August 10-13, 2015, at the following locations:

August 10, 2015; International Center for Trade; 3295 Bob Rogers Drive, Eagle Pass, TX 78852.

August 11, 2015; Pleasanton Country Club; 1801 McGuffin Drive, Pleasanton, TX 78064.

August 12, 2015; Bell County Expo Center; 301 West Loop 121, Belton, TX 76513.

August 13, 2015; Holiday Inn South Broadway; 5701 South Broadway, Tyler, TX 75703.

Open House meetings will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with the Formal Public Hearings beginning at 6:30 p.m. at each location. Written comments should be sent to Mr. Darvin Messer (see ADDRESSES). The comments are due no later than 60 days from the date of publication of this notice. Copies of the Draft REIS may be obtained by contacting USACE Fort Worth District Regulatory Branch at [phone] or downloaded/printed from the Fort Worth District USACE internet Web site at: http://www.swf.usace.army.mil/​Missions/​Regulatory/​Permitting/​REISforLigniteMininginTexas.aspx

Copies of the Draft REIS are also available for inspection at the locations identified below:

Pittsburg-Camp County Public Library, 613 Quitman Street, Pittsburg, TX 75686

Sammy Brown Library, 319 S. Market St., Carthage, TX 75633

Franklin County Library, 100 Main Street East, Mt. Vernon, TX 75457

Rusk County Library, 106 East Main St., Henderson, TX 75652

Sulphur Springs Public Library, 611 Davis St. North, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482

Fannie Brown Booth Library, 619 Tenaha Street, Center, TX 75935

Rains County Public Library, 150 Doris Briggs Parkway, Emory, TX 75440

Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College Ave., Tyler, TX 75702

Mount Pleasant Public Library, 601 North Madison Ave., Mount Pleasant, TX 75455

Palestine Public Library, 2000 S. Loop 256, Ste. 42, Palestine, TX 75801

Quitman Public Library, 202 East Goode Street, Quitman, TX 75783

Marlin Public Library, 400 Oaks St., Marlin, TX 76661

Singletary Memorial Library, 207 E 6th St, Rusk, TX 75785

Mary Moody Northen Municipal Library, 350 West Main Street, Fairfield, TX 75840

Longview Public Library, 222 W. Cotton St., Longview, TX 75601

Clint W. Murchinson Memorial Library, 121 S. Prairieville, Athens, TX 75751

Marshall Public Library, 300 S. Alamo Blvd., Marshall, TX 75670

Elmer P. & Jewel Ward Memorial Library, 207 E St Mary's St, Centerville, TX 75833

Groesbeck Maffett Public Library, 601 W. Yeagua St., Groesbeck, TX 76642

Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th St., Georgetown, TX 78626

Jourdanton Community Library, 1101 Cambell Ave., Jourdanton, TX 78026

Carnegie Library, 315 E. Decherd Street, Franklin, TX 77856

Live Oak County Library, 102 Le Roy St, Three Rivers, TX 78071

Van Zandt County Public Library, 317 First Monday Ln, Canton, TX 75103

Dimmit County Public Library, 200 N. 9th Street, Carrizo Springs, TX 78834

Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church Street, Bastrop, TX 78602

Kinney County Public Library, 510 South Ellen St., Bracketville, TX 78832

Harrie P. Woodson Memorial Library, 704 W. Hwy. 21, Caldwell, TX 77836

Eagle Pass Main Library, 589 East Main, Eagle Pass, TX 78852

Giddings Public Library, 276 North Orange St., Giddings, TX 78942

Crystal City Memorial Library, 101 E Dimmit, Crystal City, TX 78839

Cameron Public Library, 304 East 3rd Street, Cameron, TX 76520

After the public comment period ends, the USACE will consider all comments received by the due date, revise the Draft REIS as appropriate, and issue a Final Regional Environmental Impact Statement.

Stephen L Brooks,

Chief, Regulatory Division.