[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 10, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46542-46543]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15790]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement


Public Meetings To Discuss the Preparation of an Environmental 
Impact Statement on Excess Spoil Generation and Disposal and Stream 
Buffer Zones Rulemaking

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: On June 16, 2005, we, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation 
and Enforcement (OSM), announced in the Federal Register our intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to analyze the effects 
of possibly revising our regulations pertaining to excess spoil 
generation and disposal, and stream buffer zones. We asked you to 
contact us if you wanted us to meet with you to discuss the scope of 
the proposed action, reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, 
and significant issues that should be examined in the course of 
preparing the EIS.
    Eighteen people contacted us to request public scoping meetings at 
various locations in the Appalachian coal fields. We are pleased to 
accommodate these requests by holding scoping meetings in Knoxville, 
Tennessee; Hazard, Kentucky; Charleston, West Virginia; and Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania. Details applicable to these meetings are contained in 
this announcement.

DATES: The meeting dates are:
    1. August 22, 2005, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Knoxville, TN.
    2. August 23, 2005, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hazard, KY.
    3. August 24, 2005, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Charleston, WV.
    4. August 25, 2005, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Pittsburgh, PA.

ADDRESSES: The meeting locations are:
    1. Knoxville--Hilton Hotel, Sequoia Room, 501 W. Church Avenue, 
Southwest, Knoxville, Tennessee.
    2. Hazard--Hazard Community Technical College, One Community 
College Drive, First Federal Center, Room 123A, Hazard, Kentucky.
    3. Charleston--Embassy Suites Hotel, Ballroom ABC, 300 Court 
Street, Charleston, West Virginia.
    4. Pittsburgh--Best Western Parkway Center, 8th Floor in the 
Horizon Room, 875 Greentree Road, Greentree, Pennsylvania.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David G. Hartos, Office of Surface 
Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior, 3 
Parkway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15220; telephone: (412) 937-2909. E-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 7, 2004, we published in the 
Federal Register proposed changes to regulations regarding excess spoil 
disposal, the stream buffer zone, and corresponding changes to the 
stream diversion regulations. In that notice, we said that we prepared 
a draft environmental assessment (EA) on the rule and that it was 
available for review. We also said that we had tentatively concluded 
that the proposed rule will not have a significant effect on the human 
environment, and that we anticipate that a finding of no significant 
impact (FONSI) would be issued with the final rule.
    We subsequently determined that preparation of an EIS would be an 
appropriate mechanism to fully assess alternative approaches to these 
specific proposed actions and their potential

[[Page 46543]]

impacts. On June 16, 2005 (70 FR 35122), we published a notice in the 
Federal Register announcing our intent to prepare an EIS to analyze the 
effects of possibly revising our regulations pertaining to excess spoil 
generation and disposal and stream buffer zones. We asked for your 
input regarding the scope of impacts of the proposed action, the topics 
that we should examine, and any reasonable alternatives that should be 
considered. We also said that we would hold meetings if there was 
sufficient interest in having such meetings.
    Eighteen people, some representing organizations, contacted us and 
asked for meetings in various locations in the Appalachian coal fields. 
We are pleased to accommodate these requests by holding four meetings 
at the sites listed under ADDRESSES.
    These meetings will be open to anyone who would like to attend and 
participate. The primary purpose of the meetings is to assist us in 
focusing the preparation of the upcoming EIS on those significant 
issues and reasonable alternatives related to the proposed action. 
Other issues to be discussed are impact topics, data needs, and 
national, State, and local concerns. The meetings will be informal and 
interactive and, where possible, seating will be around small tables to 
facilitate the exchange of ideas. The meetings are not intended to be 
adversarial or a debate on the merits of the proposed action.
    We will keep detailed notes of the meeting and make these notes 
publicly available in the administrative record. Please note that we 
will not have a court reporter present and oral testimony will not be 
taken and transcribed, but we will accept written comments and 
suggestions regarding the upcoming EIS.
    Any disabled individual who needs special accommodation to attend a 
public hearing is encouraged to contact the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: August 3, 2005.
Michael K. Robinson,
Acting Regional Director, Appalachian Region, Office of Surface Mining 
Reclamation and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 05-15790 Filed 8-9-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P