[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 2531]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1317]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

Availability of Draft Petition Evaluation Document/Environmental 
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Petition Evaluation 
Document/Environmental Impact Statement (PED/EIS) for Fern Lake, 
Tennessee.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) 
of the United States Department of the Interior is making available for 
public comment, the draft PED/EIS for a petition to designate certain 
lands in the Little Yellow Creek (Fern Lake) watershed, Claiborne 
County, Tennessee as unsuitable for all surface coal mining operations.

DATES: Written comments: OSM will accept written comments on the draft 
PED/EIS until March 26, 1996.
    Public Hearing: A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, 
March 12, 1996, at the address given below.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the PED/EIS: Single copies of the draft PED/EIS 
may be obtained by contacting Willis L. Gainer at the address and 
telephone number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. A copy 
of the PED/EIS is available for inspection at that address, and also at 
the Claiborne County, Tennessee, and Bell County, Kentucky Courthouses.
    Written comments: Written comments may be hand delivered or mailed 
to Willis L. Gainer, Chief, Branch of Technical Assistance, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 530 Gay Street, S.W., Suite 
500, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.
    Public hearing: A public hearing will be held at Middlesboro High 
School Gymnasium, Middlesboro, Kentucky at the date and time listed 
under DATES.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Willis L. Gainer, Chief, Branch of Technical Assistance, Office of 
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, 530 Gay Street, S.W., Suite 
500, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Telephone: 615-545-4074. E-Mail/
Internet: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The City of Middlesborough, Kentucky and the 
National Parks and Conservation Association filed a petition with OSM 
to designate certain lands in the Little Yellow Creek (Fern Lake) 
watershed, Claiborne County, Tennessee, as unsuitable for all surface 
coal mining operations. OSM has prepared a draft PED/EIS as required by 
Section 522(d) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 
1977 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The draft PED/
EIS evaluates the potential coal resources of the area, the demand for 
coal resources, and the impacts of alternative unsuitability decisions 
on the human environment, the economy, and the supply of coal.
    A public hearing has been scheduled as indicated above. Anyone who 
wishes to comment will be given the opportunity to do so, but initial 
comments will be limited to 10 minutes of oral testimony. Time limits 
may be extended at the discretion of the presiding official. Persons 
wishing to present testimony are encouraged to contact OSM at the 
address given above. OSM would appreciate receiving a written copy of 
the testimony four days prior to the public hearing, if possible. The 
hearing will be transcribed. Filing a written statement at the time of 
oral testimony is encouraged as this will facilitate the job of the 
court reporter. A transcript of the hearing will be available at a 
nominal fee approximately seven days after the hearing.

    Dated: January 22, 1996.
Mary Josie Blanchard,
Assistant Director, Program Support.
[FR Doc. 96-1317 Filed 1-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M