[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 51058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20466]



[[Page 51058]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9190-9; Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2009-0934]


The Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic 
Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian Coalfields and a Field-Based 
Aquatic Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Extension of public comment period to September 3, 2010.

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SUMMARY: EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period 
for two related draft documents: (1) ``The Effects of Mountaintop Mines 
and Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian 
Coalfields'' (EPA/600/R-09/138A) and (2) ``A Field-based Aquatic Life 
Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams'' (EPA/600/R-
10/023A). We are specifically extending the comment period on these two 
documents to give the public additional time to evaluate the data used 
to derive a benchmark for conductivity. The original Federal Register 
notice announcing the public comment period was published on April 12, 
2010 (75 FR 18499). By following the link below, reviewers may download 
the initial data and EPA's derivative data sets that were used to 
calculate the conductivity benchmark. These reports were developed by 
the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) within EPA's 
Office of Research and Development as part of a set of actions taken by 
EPA to further clarify and strengthen environmental permitting 
requirements for Appalachian mountaintop removal and other surface coal 
mining projects, in coordination with Federal and State regulatory 
agencies (http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/mining.html).
    Both documents were reviewed by an independent Mountaintop Mining 
Advisory Panel convened by EPA's Science Advisory Board (SAB) on July 
21--23, 2010. The public comment period for the SAB meeting follows a 
separate process and provides separate opportunities for all interested 
parties to comment on the document. EPA intends to forward to the SAB 
those comments received as of September 3, 2010, for consideration by 
the SAB Panel as they finalize their report. When finalizing the draft 
documents, EPA will consider the comments from the SAB review as well 
as any significant public comments that it receives in accordance with 
this notice.
    EPA released these draft documents for the purpose of pre-
dissemination peer review under applicable information quality 
guidelines. The documents have not been formally disseminated by EPA. 
They do not represent and should not be construed to represent a final 
Agency policy or determination; however, the documents reflect EPA's 
best interpretation of the available science. The draft documents are 
available via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent 
Additions and Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea.

DATES: The public comment period began on April 12, 2010, and ends on 
September 3, 2010. Technical comments should be in writing and must be 
received by EPA by September 3, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The draft reports, ``The Effects of Mountaintop Mines and 
Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of the Central Appalachian 
Coalfields'' and ``A Field-based Aquatic Life Benchmark for 
Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams'' are available primarily 
via the Internet on NCEA's home page under the Recent Additions and 
Publications menus at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. A limited number of 
paper copies are available; contact the EPA by telephone (703-347-8629) 
or facsimile (703-347-8691). If you are requesting a paper copy, please 
provide your name, mailing address, and the document titles (1) ``The 
Effects of Mountaintop Mines and Valley Fills on Aquatic Ecosystems of 
the Central Appalachian Coalfields'' and (2) ``A Field-based Aquatic 
Life Benchmark for Conductivity in Central Appalachian Streams.''
    Comments may be submitted electronically via http://www.regulations.gov, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/
courier. Please follow the detailed instructions provided in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of Federal Register Notice (75 FR 
30393).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on submitting comments 
to the docket, please contact the Office of Environmental Information 
Docket; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: 
[email protected]. For technical information, please leave a message 
at 703-347-8629 or send e-mail to [email protected].

    Dated: August 12, 2010.
David A. Bussard,
Acting Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment.
[FR Doc. 2010-20466 Filed 8-17-10; 8:45 am]
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