[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 126 (Wednesday, July 1, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 35916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17483]
[[Page 35916]]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army
Intent To Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (E-SEIS) for Permitting Continued Mining Operations of PCS
Phosphate, White Springs (Hamilton County), Florida
AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
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SUMMARY: The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Regulatory Division (Corps), has received a request for a modification
to Department of the Army permit no. 19840452 for the PCS Phosphate-
White Springs mine (PCS Phosphate), located in Hamilton County,
Florida. A more minor modification was issued in 1997. The Corps has
determined that the proposed modification of the existing permit will
involve substantial changes that are relevant to environmental
concerns. Therefore, a Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact
Statement, dated February 1986 will be prepared.
ADDRESSES: Chief, Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Osvaldo Collazo, 904-232-1675.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PCS Phosphate has been engaged in phosphate
mining in its project area in Hamilton County under permits from the
Corps, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and
Hamilton County. The current Federal permit will expire in 2002. PCS
Phosphate has begun the application process with state and Federal
regulatory agencies for the permitting of continued mining operations
within the company's 100,000-acre project area in Hamilton County. The
modification involves mining new sites within the general boundary of
the project area. This is the same project area reviewed under the
original EIS.
Proposed new mining areas include jurisdictional wetlands. Permit
modification would be issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act,
as amended. Permits would be issued under a joint permitting process
with the DEP. A new permit would also be required from Hamilton County.
Other state, regional, and Federal agencies are expected to participate
in the permit evaluation. Mitigation for loss of wetland functions and
values is anticipated.
In addition, PCS Phosphate has requested that the DEP initiate a
process under s. 403.752, Florida Statutes for coordinated review and
agency actions. The process will be expected to result in a binding
ecosystem management agreement, which would include the required state
permits and approvals. The ecosystem management agreement process
requested by PCS Phosphate includes the opportunity for public
participation and comment. The Corps agreed that these public meetings
would also serve the purpose of the scoping process and review and the
SEIS and permit actions. The first public meeting was held on December
11, 1997. Public comment was initially requested in two areas: (1) the
scope of the environmental studies to be performed for support of
permitting actions and (2) identification of persons or organizations
for both active participation in the process and receipt of periodic
mailings. Coordination has included a number of Federal, state,
regional, local agencies, and environmental groups including but not
limited to the following: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Florida Department of Environmental
Protection, State Historic Preservation Officer, Suwannee River Water
Management District, Hamilton County, Florida Department of Community
Affairs, Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission, Sierra Club, 4
Rivers Audubon, and Florida Defenders of the Environment.
Scoping: The public meetings provided much information that has
served the scoping process. A draft Plan of Study for the Ecosystem
Management Agreement and the SEIS has been prepared. This Plan of Study
is intended to fulfill the information requirements for all anticipated
regulatory actions. The results of the study will be compiled into a
Supplemental Technical Background Document (TDB) and analyzed in a
SEIS. The document can be made available for review upon request. The
Corps will hold a formal public scoping meeting on July 30, 1998. All
parties are invited to participate in the scoping process by
identifying any additional concerns on issues, studies needed,
alternatives, procedures, and other matters related to the scoping
process.
Public Participation: We invite the participation of affected
Federal, state and local agencies, and other interested private
organizations and individuals.
Draft SEIS Preparation: We estimate that the Supplemental TBD will
be available to the public on or about mid 1999, and the Draft SEIS
will be prepared later that year.
Dated: June 17, 1998.
Marie G. Burns,
Acting Chief, Regulatory Division.
[FR Doc. 98-17483 Filed 6-30-98; 8:45 am]
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