[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 29285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13505]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army


Withdrawal of Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Chuitna Coal Mine Project, Alaska

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

ACTION: Notice of intent; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), on January 4, 2011, the Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers (Corps) initiated the Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) process to identify and analyze potential impacts 
associated with the proposed Chuitna Coal Mine Project to assist in 
evaluating a Department of the Army permit application pursuant to 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and 
Harbors Act of 1899. On March 30, 2017, the applicant announced its 
decision to suspend pursuit of permitting efforts on the project. 
Therefore, the Corps is terminating the EIS process, and is withdrawing 
the Notice of Intent published in the Tuesday, January 4, 2011, issue 
of the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CEPOA-RD, Post Office Box 
6898, JBER, Alaska 99506-0898.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding this action can be 
addressed by Jason Berkner, Regulatory Division, by telephone: (907) 
753-5778 (toll free from within Alaska: (800) 478-2712), by fax: (907) 
753-5567, by email: [email protected], or by mail: U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers, CEPOA-RD, Post Office Box 6898, JBER, Alaska 
99506-0898.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PacRim Coal, LP, requested Corps 
authorization, under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 
of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, to develop the Chuitna Coal 
Project (Project), which was comprised of three components; the mine 
site, the project infrastructure, and the marine port. The Project 
consisted of mining a 5,050-acre lease tract with coal reserves of 
approximately 300 million tons of sub-bituminous ultra-low sulfur coal. 
The Project, as proposed, would have resulted in the discharge of 
dredged and/or fill material into an approximate total of 2,550 acres 
of waters of the U.S., including wetlands, 26 miles of streams, and 
marine waters. Due to the potentially significant environmental effects 
associated with the Project, on January 4, 2011, the Corps issued a 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS (76 FR 336). The EIS would have also 
assessed issues related to the Alaska Surface Coal Mining Control and 
Reclamation Act (ASCMCRA) permit, which governs all aspects of the coal 
mining operation and infrastructure. On November 2, 2016, the Corps 
administratively withdrew the PacRim Coal, LP application for the 
Project pending State of Alaska's completeness determination on the 
ASCMCRA application. A complete ASCMCRA application would have 
confirmed availability of the information required by the Corps to 
enable informed public comment and review of the DA permit application, 
and development of the EIS. On March 30, 2017, the applicant announced 
its decision to suspend pursuit of permitting efforts on the Project. 
Therefore, in accordance with Corps regulations at 33 CFR part 230, 
Appendix C(2) and 33 CFR part 325, Appendix B(g), the Corps is 
terminating the EIS process, and is withdrawing the January 4, 2011, 
notice of intent to prepare an EIS for the proposal.

    Dated: June 19, 2017.
Sheila Newman,
Chief, Special Actions Branch.
[FR Doc. 2017-13505 Filed 6-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P