[Federal Register: January 29, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 19)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4701-4702]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29ja99-91]

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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 pubic 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: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) 
is reopening the public comment period for the draft PED/EIS on the 
Fall Creek Falls State Park Unsuitability Petition. Substantial public 
comments received during the previous comment periods expressed serious 
concerns regarding potential environmental and economics impacts to 
Fall Creek Falls State Park and Natural Area resulting from surface 
coal mining operations if conducted within the petition area. 
Consequently, OSM has decided to reopen the comment period to provide 
the public an additional opportunity to submit information to OSM for 
consideration in the evaluation of the Fall Creek Falls State Park 
Unsuitability Petition.

DATES: Comments: OSM will accept written comments until 5:00 p.m. 
Eastern time on April 29, 1999.

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, SW, Suite 500, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beverly Brock, Supervisor, Technical 
Group, Office of Surface Mining, 530 Gay Street, SW, 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.
    On May 1, 1998, OSM announced, via Federal Register notice (63 FR 
24192), the availability of the draft PED/EIS and that written comments 
on the draft PED/EIS would be accepted until July 30, 1998. 
Subsequently, OSM reopened the comment period from August 21 to 
September 16, 1998 (63 FR 44925), because of the public's continuing 
interest and concerns regarding the environmental and economic issues 
addressed in the PED/EIS. As a result of

[[Page 4702]]

OSM receiving substantial public comments on the potential 
environmental impacts to Fall Creek Falls State Park and Natural Area 
from surface coal mining operations, OSM is reopening the public 
comment period until 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on April 29, 1999.

    Dated: January 25, 1999.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center.
[FR Doc. 99-2215 Filed 1-28-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-M