[Federal Register: August 21, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 162)]
[Notices]               
[Page 44925]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au98-80]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement

 
Draft Petition Evaluation Document/Environmental Impact 
Statement; Tennessee

AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Interior.

ACTION: Reopening of the public comment period for the draft petition 
evaluation document/environmental impact statement (PED/EIS) for Fall 
Creek Falls State Park, Tennessee.

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SUMMARY: On May 1, 1998, the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) of the 
United States Department of the Interior announced, via Federal 
Register notice, the availability of the draft PED/EIS for a petition 
to designate certain lands in the watershed and viewshed of Fall Creek 
Falls State Park and Natural Area, Van Buren and Bledsoe Counties, 
Tennessee, as unsuitable for all surface coal mining operations. OSM 
also announced that written comments on the draft PED/EIS would be 
accepted until July 30, 1998. Because of the public's continuing 
interest and concerns regarding the environmental and economic issues 
addressed in the PED/EIS, OSM is reopening the comment period.

DATES: Comments: OSM will accept comments on the draft PED/EIS until 
4:30 p.m. eastern time September 16, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Electronic or written comments: Submit electronic comments 
to bbrock@osmre.gov. Written comments may be hand-delivered or mailed 
to Beverly Brock, Supervisor, Technical Group, Office of Surface 
Mining, 530 Gay Street, S.W., Suite 500, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly Brock, Supervisor, Technical 
Group, Office of Surface Mining, 530 Gay Street, S.W., Suite 500, 
Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. Telephone: (423) 545-4103, ext. 146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OSM has been petitioned by Save Our 
Cumberland Mountains, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, and 
forty-nine citizens to designate the watershed and viewshed of Fall 
Creek Falls State Park and Natural Area, Tennessee, as unsuitable for 
all types of surface coal mining operations. OSM prepared and 
distributed a draft PED/EIS as required by Section 522(d) of the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The draft PED/EIS evaluates the 
potential coal resources of the area, the demand for coal resources, 
and the impacts of alternative unsuitability decisions on the human 
environment, the economy, and the supply of coal.
    A public hearing was held in Crossville, Tennessee, on June 18, 
1998, to receive oral comments on the draft PED/EIS.
    The original comment period opened on May 1, 1998, and closed July 
30, 1998. Because of the public's continuing interest and concerns 
regarding the environmental and economic issues addressed in the PED/
EIS, OSM is reopening the comment period as of August 21, 1998, and 
will close on September 16, 1998.

    Dated: August 13, 1998.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 98-22383 Filed 8-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M