[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62562-62563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-26341]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (DSEIS) for the Haile Gold Mine in Lancaster County, South 
Carolina

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

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District intends 
to prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) 
to assess the likely social, economic and environmental effects of the 
proposed expansion of an existing gold mine with the potential to 
impact Waters of the United States near Kershaw in Lancaster County, 
South Carolina. The DSEIS will assess potential effects of a range of 
alternatives.

DATES: Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting has not been 
scheduled; however, a local public notice will be issued by the 
Charleston District, and a meeting announcement will be published in 
local newspapers once the date and location for the scoping meeting has 
been determined.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Shawn Boone, Project Manager, Charleston District, 
Regulatory Division, 69-A Hagood Avenue, Charleston, SC 29403.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or 
questions about the proposed mine expansion project and DSEIS, please 
contact Mr. Shawn Boone, Project Manager, by telephone: 843-329-8158, 
or toll-free 1-866-329-8187, or by mail: [email protected]. 
For inquiries from the media, please contact the Corps, Charleston 
District Corporate Communications Officer (CCO), Ms. Glenn Jeffries by 
telephone: (843) 329-8123.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Corps is evaluating a proposal from 
OceanaGold for the expanded development of the Haile Gold Mine in 
accordance with Corps regulations and the policies and procedures that 
are established in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Based 
on the available information, the Corps has determined that the 
expansion of the mine has the potential to significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment and therefore warrant the preparation 
of a Supplemental EIS. Additional information about the proposed 
project and the NEPA process is available on the project website at: 
www. hailegoldmineseis.com.
    1. Description of Proposed Project. The Haile Gold Mine expansion 
plan (the proposed Project) includes the ore mining and processing 
operations that would recover gold and silver by excavating pits and 
underground deposits, storing excavated soils and overburden, 
processing the ore, managing surface water and ground water during 
operations, reclaiming the site at the end of operations, and 
monitoring site conditions post-mining. The site of the Project is 
currently an operating mine which was the subject of an Environmental 
Impact Statement published in 2014.
    2. Alternatives. A range of alternatives to the proposed action 
will be identified, and those found to be reasonable alternatives will 
be fully evaluated in the DSEIS, including: The no-action alternative, 
the applicant's proposed alternative, alternative site configurations, 
alternatives that may result in avoidance and minimization of impacts, 
and mitigation measures not in the proposed action. However, this list 
is not exclusive and additional alternatives may be considered for 
inclusion.

[[Page 62563]]

    3. Scoping and Public Involvement Process. A scoping meeting will 
be conducted to gather information on the scope of the project and 
alternatives to be addressed in the DSEIS. Individuals and 
organizations that are interested in the proposed mine expansion or 
whose interests may be affected by the proposed work are encouraged to 
attend the scoping meeting to submit oral and/or written comments to 
the Charleston District. Additional public and agency involvement will 
be sought through the implementation of a public involvement plan and 
through an agency coordination team.
    4. Significant Issues. Issues associated with the proposed project 
to be given detailed analysis in the DSEIS are likely to include, but 
are not necessarily limited to, the potential impacts of the proposed 
development on surface and groundwater quality, aquatic habitat and 
biota, wetlands and stream habitats, federal and state listed species 
of concern, indirect and cumulative impacts, threatened and endangered 
species, environmental justice, mitigation, emergency response and 
contingency plans, noise, conservation, economics, cultural resources, 
aesthetics, general environmental concerns, historic properties, fish 
and wildlife values, flood hazards, land use, recreation, water supply 
and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, the 
transportation network, and in general, the needs and welfare of the 
people.
    5. Additional Review and Consultation. Additional review and 
consultation, which will be incorporated into the preparation of this 
DSEIS, will include, but will not necessarily be limited to, Section 
401 of Clean Water Act; the National Environmental Policy Act; the 
Endangered Species Act; and the National Historic Preservation Act.
    6. Availability of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement. The DSEIS is anticipated to be available in early 2020. A 
Public Hearing will be conducted following the release of the DSEIS.

Jeffrey S. Palazzini,
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District.
[FR Doc. 2018-26341 Filed 12-3-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P