Notice of Intent: Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Chuitna Coal Project in Southcentral Alaska, 33446 [E6-8998]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 111 (Friday, June 9, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 33446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8998]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6675-9]


Notice of Intent: Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental 
Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Chuitna Coal Project in Southcentral 
Alaska

AGENCY: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
    Purpose: In accordance with section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), EPA, as the lead Federal agency, has 
identified a need to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (SEIS) and therefore issues this Notice of Intent in 
accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7.
    For a Copy of the Scoping Document and to be Placed on the Project 
Mailing List Contact: Hanh Shaw, Project Manager, Office of Water and 
Watersheds (OWW-130), U.S. EPA Region 10, 1200 Sixth Avenue, Seattle, 
Washington 98101, Telephone: (206) 553-0171, Fax: (206) 553-0165, E-
mail: shaw.hanh@epa.gov.

SUMMARY: The Chuitna Coal Project (Project) is located on State of 
Alaska land in the Beluga Coal Field, approximately 45 miles west of 
Anchorage, Alaska. The Project is based on the development of a 1 
billion ton, ultra low sulfur, subbituminous coal resource. The 
proposed Project includes a surface coal mine and associated support 
facility, mine access road, coal transport conveyor, personnel housing, 
air strip facility, a logistic center, and coal export terminal. The 
proposed coal mine is located approximately 10 miles inland from the 
Native Village of Tyonek and Cook Inlet. The project proponent, PacRim 
Coal, LP, predicts a coal production rate of approximately 15 million 
tons per year, and a 25-year mine life based on current estimated coal 
reserves.
    A previous Project design was evaluated in an EIS and permitted by 
most of the applicable State and Federal regulatory programs in the 
early 1990s, although the Project did not proceed to development. There 
have been substantial changes in the Project design and in the 
regulatory requirements since this project went through the first 
permitting and EIS process. Therefore, a comprehensive, stand-alone 
Supplemental EIS will be prepared for the new proposal.
    The administrative actions that the SEIS must address include 
issuing an EPA Clean Water Act (CWA) National Pollutant Discharge 
Elimination System (NPDES) new source permit and a U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers CWA section 404 and Rivers and Harbors Act section 10 permit. 
The SEIS will also address issues related to the Alaska Surface Coal 
Mining Control and Reclamation Act (ASCMCRA) permit, which governs all 
aspects of the mining operation and infrastructure. The U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers and the State of Alaska are participating as cooperating 
agencies in the NEPA process.
    Alternatives: The alternatives to be evaluated include: The ``no 
action'' alternative, wastewater discharge alternatives and alternative 
discharge locations. In addition, the SEIS will evaluate mine access 
road and conveyor alignment alternatives, and coal export terminal 
alternatives. Additional alternatives may be developed based on 
comments received during scoping.
    Scoping: The public scoping period begins with the publication of 
this Notice and concludes July 24, 2006. EPA invites Federal agencies, 
Native Tribes, State and local governments, and members of the public 
to comment on the scope of the SEIS. Scoping meetings for the purpose 
of identifying issues to be evaluated in the SEIS will be held in Kenai 
on July 10, in Anchorage on July 11, and in the Tyonek and Beluga 
communities on July 12, 2006. The exact locations and times of the 
meetings will be announced in local papers. The public is invited to 
attend and identify issues that should be addressed in the SEIS. A 
scoping document that explains in greater detail the project and 
alternatives identified at this time will be sent to known interested 
parties. The public can obtain a copy of the scoping document by 
contacting Hanh Shaw at the phone number, e-mail address, and mailing 
address listed at the above in this notice.
    How to Comment: EPA invites public comment on the proposed scope of 
this SEIS. Comments may be submitted by mail, electronic mail, or fax, 
to Hanh Shaw at the contact information above, by July 24, 2006.
    Estimated Date of DSEIS Release: February 2007.
    Responsible Official: Ron Kreizenbeck, Deputy Regional 
Administrator.

    Dated: June 6, 2006.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Division Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
 [FR Doc. E6-8998 Filed 6-8-06; 8:45 am]
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