[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 77502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31873]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
Regarding the Wolfpen Knob Development Company's Proposed Mason Dixon 
Mining Complex, a Deep Coal Mine, Located 1.3 Miles Northwest of 
Wadestown, in the Battelle District of Monongalia County, WV

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District (Corps), 
intends to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 
proposed Mason Dixon Mining Complex. The District Engineer is requiring 
an EIS to be prepared to assess the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
environmental, social, and economic effects that the issuance of a 
Department of the Army permit, under Section 404 of the Clean Water 
Act, may have related to discharges of dredge and fill material into 
Waters of the United States associated with the construction of the 
proposed Mason Dixon Mining Complex. The Corps will prepare the EIS in 
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
NEPA's implementing regulations and the applicable Corps' regulations.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, William 
S. Moorhead Federal Building, 1000 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222-
4186.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon T. Coleman, Regulatory Project 
Manager, at [email protected] or (412) 395-7188.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    1. Description of the Proposed Action: The purpose of the Mason 
Dixon Mining Complex, as proposed by the permit applicant, the Wolfpen 
Knob Development Company, is to extract bituminous coal from the 
Pittsburgh coal seam. The mining complex will include: A deep mine, a 
preparation plant, a refuse disposal site, a water impoundment, and a 
new rail line. The estimated lifespan of the proposed mining complex 
would be approximately 20 years. Coal from the Pittsburgh seam will be 
processed at the preparation plant with refuse being sent to the refuse 
disposal site. The water impoundment would provide water for the 
operation of the preparation plant and dust control at the deep mine, 
preparation plant, and associated haul roads. A railroad line would be 
constructed to link the proposed mining operations with the national 
railroad distribution network.
    2. Alternatives: Alternatives available to the Corps for the 
proposed project are to: (1) Issue the Department of the Army Permit, 
(2) issue the Department of the Army permit with special conditions, or 
(3) deny the Department of the Army permit. Alternatives available to 
Wolfpen Knob Development Company are to: (1) Construct, operate, and 
reclaim the Mason Dixon Mining Complex preparation plant, deep mine, 
disposal area, and freshwater impoundment and rail line as proposed in 
the proposed location; (2) construct, operate, and reclaim the Mason 
Dixon Mining Complex preparation plant, deep mine, disposal area, and 
freshwater impoundment and rail line in a different location; (3) 
construct, operate, and reclaim the Mason Dixon Mining Complex 
preparation plant, deep mine, disposal area, and freshwater impoundment 
and rail line using different methods; or (4) take no action and forgo 
the construction, operation, and reclamation of the Mason Dixon Mining 
Complex preparation plant, deep mine, disposal area, and freshwater 
impoundment and rail line and secure needed coal supplies elsewhere.
    3. Scoping and Public Review Process: One or more public scoping 
meetings to disseminate information about the proposed project and its 
potential effects on the human environment and to seek public comments 
on the proposed project will be conducted. Additional public 
information meeting(s) may be held during the draft EIS process. 
Relevant comments and issues identified by the public and interested 
parties will be incorporated into the document as appropriate.
    4. The public scoping meeting will be held at the Clay-Battelle 
High School located at Route 7 West Blacksville, West Virginia on 
January 17, 2012. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at 
8:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held 
on January 25, 2012. Consult the Corps' Web site, http://www.lrp.usace.army.mil/or/or-f/permits.htm, for meeting updates.
    5. Significant Issues: Based on preliminary analysis, the issues to 
be given significant analysis in the EIS are likely to include, but not 
be limited to: The effects to surface water and groundwater resources, 
including water quantity and quality, effects on the immediate and 
adjacent property owners and nearby communities, downstream hydraulics 
and hydrology, geologic resources, vegetation, fish and wildlife, 
threatened and endangered species, soils, prime farmland, noise, light, 
aesthetics, historic and prehistoric cultural resources, 
socioeconomics, land use, public roads, and air quality.
    6. Cooperating Agencies: Identified cooperating agencies include 
the U.S. Surface Transportation Board and the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency (Region III). All other agencies (including Federal, 
state and local agencies, as well as tribes) which have special 
expertise with respect to any environmental issue which should be 
addressed in the draft EIS should submit a letter of intent to be a 
Cooperating Agency to Jon T. Coleman, Regulatory Project Manager, at 
(see ADDRESSES).
    7. Additional Review and Consultation: Compliance with other 
Federal and State requirements that will be addressed in the EIS 
include, but will not be limited to, state water quality certification 
under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, protection of water quality 
under the West Virginia/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 
System, protection of air quality under the West Virginia Air Pollution 
Control Act, protection of endangered and threatened species under 
Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and protection of cultural 
resources under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
    8. Availability of the Draft EIS: It is estimated that a draft EIS 
is will be available for public review in 6 to 12 months. Individuals 
interested in obtaining a copy of the draft EIS for review should 
contact Jon T. Coleman.

    Dated: November 30, 2011.
William H. Graham,
Colonel, Corps of Engineers, District Engineer.
[FR Doc. 2011-31873 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P