[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 132 (Friday, July 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 39763]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16656]



[[Page 39763]]

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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


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 for Future Surface Coal and Lignite Mine 
Expansions or Satellite Mines within the District's area of 
Responsibility (USACE Project No. SWF-2010-00244)

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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: 
[email protected]
    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 (817) 886-1744 or via email: [email protected]

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 (817) 886-1731 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.
[FR Doc. 2015-16656 Filed 7-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P