[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 88 (Monday, May 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20087-20088]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09599]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2018-N011; FVHC98210305860-XXX-FF03E14000]


Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the 
Cardinal Valley Natural Habitat Restoration Project, Oronogo-Duenweg 
Mining Belt Superfund Site, Missouri

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act and the National Environmental Policy 
Act, the natural resource Trustees for the Tri-State Mining District 
(TSMD) site announce the availability for public comment of a Draft 
Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (Draft RP/EA) for TSMD 
natural resource damage restoration. The Draft RP/EA presents a 
restoration project the Trustees are proposing to implement to restore 
natural resources and services injured by hazardous substances released 
in and around the TSMD site.

DATES: Written comments must be received by June 6, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: Send written comments to one of the 
following addresses:
     U.S. mail: Scott Hamilton; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Missouri Ecological Services Field Office, 101 Park DeVille Dr., Suite 
A, Columbia, MO 65203; or
     Email: [email protected]; put ``TSMD RP/EA'' in the 
email subject line.
    Obtaining the Draft Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment: The 
Draft RP/EA is available for download from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service Midwest Region Natural Resource Damage Assessment website, at: 
https://www.fws.gov/midwest/es/ec/nrda/motristate/index.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hamilton, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, at 573-234-2132, extension 122 (phone) or 
[email protected] (email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The U.S. Department of the Interior (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service) and the State of Missouri (Missouri Department of Natural 
Resources) are natural resource trustees (Trustees) for natural 
resources and services injured by hazardous substances at the Tri-State 
Mining District (TSMD) site, located in southwest Missouri. The 
Trustees have prepared a Draft Restoration Plan and Environmental 
Assessment (Draft RP/EA) to restore injured natural resources and 
services at the TSMD site pursuant to both the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act natural resource 
damages assessment and restoration (NRDAR) regulations at 43 CFR part 
11 and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and its implementing regulations at 40 CFR 
parts 1500-1508. NEPA requires Federal agencies to conduct 
environmental reviews of proposed actions to consider the potential 
impacts on the environment.

Draft Restoration Plan Alternatives

    Consistent with the U.S. Department of the Interior NRDAR 
regulations and

[[Page 20088]]

NEPA, the Trustees evaluated a suite of five alternatives for 
conducting the type and scale of restoration sufficient to compensate 
the public for natural resource injuries and service losses. Based on 
selection factors, including location, technical feasibility, cost 
effectiveness, provision of natural resource services similar to those 
lost due to contamination, and net environmental consequences, the 
Trustees have identified a preferred alternative. Under this preferred 
alternative, the Trustees would use a combination of biosolids, manure, 
and woody material to return soil fertility to areas where remedial 
work removed mine waste and contaminated soil, leaving behind degraded 
soils and residual metals. Following application of soil amendments, 
native seed would be applied to the landscape in an attempt to restore 
prairie habitat and associated natural resource services. Prescribed 
fire, mowing, and other weed management techniques would be used to 
maintain desirable habitat conditions. Conservation easements would be 
placed on restoration parcels, and areas would be managed for wildlife 
habitat and limited recreation.

Public Comments

    Comments are specifically requested regarding the alternatives, 
proposed restoration techniques and projects, scope of analysis, and 
assessment of impacts. Please see the ADDRESSES section for how to 
submit information.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    The authority of this action is the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the implementing 
NRDAR regulations found at 43 CFR part 11.

    Dated: February 16, 2018.
Charles Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, Midwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-09599 Filed 5-4-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P