Notice of Intent To Initiate Public Scoping and Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Area F of the Rosebud Coal Mine, Rosebud and Treasure Counties, Montana, 52967-52969 [2013-20860]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 27, 2013 / Notices
Commission and the Committee of
Scientific Advisors for their review.
Brenda Tapia,
Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch
of Permits, Division of Management
Authority.
[FR Doc. 2013–20890 Filed 8–26–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
[S1D1SS08011000SX066A000
67F134S180110; S2D2SS08011000SX066
A00033F13XS501520]
Notice of Intent To Initiate Public
Scoping and Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for Area F of the
Rosebud Coal Mine, Rosebud and
Treasure Counties, Montana
Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S.
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to initiate
public scoping and prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), the Council on
Environmental Quality’s (CEQ)
regulations for implementing NEPA,
and the Department of the Interior’s
(DOI) NEPA regulations, the Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement (OSM), Western Region
(WR), Denver, Colorado, intends to
prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS). The EIS, to be prepared
in conjunction with the Montana
Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) pursuant to the Montana
Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and
its implementing rules, will analyze the
environmental impacts of the proposed
action to permit the operation and
reclamation of the proposed Area F
expansion of the Rosebud Coal Mine.
A single EIS that meets the
requirements of both MEPA and NEPA
and evaluates all components of the
proposed project will be prepared. OSM
and DEQ are requesting public
comments on the scope of the EIS and
significant issues that should be
addressed in the EIS.
DATES: The public scoping period will
be 45 days in length. Comments
concerning the proposed action must be
postmarked by October 11, 2013, to be
considered in preparing the draft EIS.
OSM, in conjunction with DEQ, will
hold a public scoping meeting in
Colstrip, Montana, on Thursday,
September 12, 2013, from 3pm–7pm at
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:54 Aug 26, 2013
Jkt 229001
the Isabel Bills Community Learning
Center. The meeting will include an
open house from 3pm–4pm with the
opportunity to view project information.
There will be brief presentations from
OSM regarding the EIS process and from
Western Energy Company (WECo)
regarding the proposed project.
Presentations will begin at 4pm
followed by the opportunity for the
public to provide oral and/or written
testimony. If you require reasonable
accommodations to attend the meeting,
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least
one week before the meeting.
The draft EIS is expected to be
released for public comment in the
second quarter of 2014, and the final EIS
is expected by the second quarter of
2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted in writing or by email. At the
top of your letter or in the subject line
of your email message, please indicate
that the comments are ‘‘Rosebud Mine
Area F EIS Comments.’’ All comments
received must contain: name of
commenter, postal service mailing
address, and date of comment.
Comments sent as an email message
should be sent as an attachment to the
message.
Email your comments to: osmwestern-energy-area-f-eis@osmre.gov.
Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier written
comments to: Franklin Bartlett, Project
Coordinator, Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Western
Region, Casper Area Office, Dick
Cheney Federal Building, PO Box
11018, 150 East B Street, Casper, WY
82601–7032.
The public scoping meeting on
September 12, 2013, will be held at the
Isabel Bills Community Learning Center
located at 520 Poplar Drive, Colstrip,
MT 59323.
A scoping newsletter is available
upon request or an electronic copy may
be viewed at (Web site): https://
www.wrcc.osmre.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Franklin Bartlett, Project Coordinator,
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement, Western Region,
Casper Area Office, Dick Cheney
Federal Building PO Box 11018, 150
East B Street, Casper, WY 82601–7032;
phone: (307) 261–6543, or email:
fbartlett@osmre.gov; or consult (Web
site): https://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
project area is 12 miles west of Colstrip,
Montana, in Rosebud and Treasure
counties. The surface of the permit area
is entirely privately owned, and the
subsurface minerals are either privately
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52967
or federally held. WECo, a subsidiary of
Westmoreland Coal Company, operates
the Rosebud Mine.
WECo submitted a permit application
(C2011003F) to DEQ in October 2011 for
Area F, a proposed expansion of the
mine. DEQ determined that WECo’s
revised application was
administratively complete on August 1,
2012, and began its review for technical
adequacy, which is currently ongoing.
This permit application involves
Federal lands. Pursuant to 30 CFR 746,
no mining shall be conducted on
Federal lands until the Secretary has
approved the mining plan. The decision
to approve a mining plan for the
proposed Area F is a Federal action and
NEPA analysis will be required.
A single EIS that meets the
requirements of both MEPA and NEPA
and evaluates all components of the
proposed project will be prepared. This
Notice of Intent initiates the scoping
process, which guides the development
of the EIS. At this stage of the planning
process, site-specific public comments
are being requested to determine the
scope of the analysis and identify
significant issues and alternatives to the
proposed action. OSM and DEQ are
requesting public comments on the
scope of the EIS and significant issues
that should be addressed in the EIS.
Rosebud Mine
The Rosebud Mine is a 25,576-acre
surface coal mine producing low-sulfur
subbituminous coal. The proposed
permit area for Area F would add 6,746
acres (4,287 acres would be disturbed by
the mining operations, highwall
reduction, soil storage, scoria pits, haul
road construction, and other
miscellaneous disturbances) in
Township 2 North, Range 38 and 39
East, and Township 1 North, Range 39
East. If approved, Area F would add
coal reserves to the existing Rosebud
Mine and extend mine life by an
estimated 19 years.
Current land uses include grazing
land, pastureland, cropland, and
wildlife habitat. Tributaries of Horse
Creek and West Fork Armells Creek,
including Black Hank Creek, Donley
Creek, Robbie Creek, and McClure Creek
(all of which lie within the drainage of
the Yellowstone River), drain the
proposed mine area. A ridge in the
western portion of the proposed mine
area divides the Horse Creek and West
Fork Armells Creek drainages.
Proposed Action
Beginning in 2015, WECo proposes to
mine 2,164 acres within the proposed
6,746-acre Area F permit area and
would complete mining operations by
E:\FR\FM\27AUN1.SGM
27AUN1
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
52968
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 27, 2013 / Notices
2034. During the first 12 years of
production, 4,000,000 tons of coal
would be mined annually, with the rate
dropping to 3,250,000 tons annually
during the last 7 years of production.
The coal mining method proposed
would be the same area strip mining
method that WECo currently uses in
other permitted areas of the Rosebud
Mine. In advance of each mining pass,
soil would be removed from the area
and stockpiled according to type for use
later during reclamation. Next, the
overburden (sedimentary rock material
covering the coal seams) would be
drilled and blasted. Overburden from
the initial cut would be stockpiled as
spoil. A dragline would then be used to
strip the overburden from succeeding
mine passes. Spoil would be cast into
the mined-out pit created by the
preceding pass. After the dragline
exposes the coal seam in each pass, the
coal would be drilled and blasted. A
loading shovel, front-end loader, or
backhoe would be used to load blasted
coal into coal haulers.
The coal would be transported on an
established haul road to permit Area C
for crushing. From there, per WECo’s
contract with PPL Electric Utilities
Corporation, most of the coal would be
sent via the existing 4.2-mile conveyor
to the Colstrip Steam Electric Station.
Coal with higher sulfur content (an
estimated 105,000 tons/year) would be
trucked to the Rosebud Power Plant.
WECo does not propose to ship any coal
from Area F by rail.
As proposed, initial operations in
2015 would be limited to mine passes
in the northeastern portion of Area F
and would sequentially progress toward
the southwest, and then north to the
final cuts. As mining progresses to each
new portion of Area F, a boxcut will be
made to expose the coal seam.
Overburden stockpiles, soil stockpiles,
and scoria pits would be developed
adjacent to the active boxcut pit area.
After the initial cut, spoil from
succeeding mine passes would be
deposited in previous passes, including
the boxcut. The sequence of operations
would be as follows: (1) Sediment
control, (2) soil salvage, (3) access and
haul roads, (4) blasting, (5) overburden
removal, (6) coal recovery, (7) highwall
reduction, (8) backfilling and
recontouring, and (9) revegetation.
Starting in 2019, reclamation would
be concurrent with and following
mining (ending in 2039) and would
facilitate the following post-mine land
uses: grazing land, pastureland,
cropland, and wildlife habitat. The
major reclamation steps planned for
before and after mining include soil
material salvage and redistribution, pit
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:54 Aug 26, 2013
Jkt 229001
backfilling, regrading and contouring,
drainage construction, revegetation, and
post-mine monitoring. In addition to
reclamation of the landscape disturbed
by actual mining, other disturbed areas
would require reclamation including the
road system, mine plant facilities,
sedimentation ponds, and temporary
diversion structures.
Preliminary Issues and Alternatives
The EIS will consider a range of
alternatives based on the issues,
concerns, and opportunities associated
with the proposed Area F project. A
preliminary identification of issues,
concerns, and opportunities are:
• What effect would the proposed
project have on soils and geology?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on ground water?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on surface water?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on wetlands?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on wildlife, particularly on
threatened, endangered, or sensitive
species?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on air quality?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on noise receptors?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on visual resources?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on land use?
• What effect would the proposed
project have on transportation systems?
• What social and economic effects
would the proposed project have on
local communities?
• What would be the cumulative
effects of the proposed project in
combination with other past, present,
and reasonably foreseeable activities?
Two primary alternatives will be
considered: a no action alternative and
an alternative to approve the project as
proposed. Other alternatives will be
developed that consist of modifications
of, or changes to, various elements
comprising the proposal.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
OSM and DEQ have agreed to be the
Lead Agencies for this project. The
Bureau of Land Management may
participate as a cooperating agency in
the preparation of the EIS. Other
governmental agencies and any
members of the public that may be
interested in, or affected by, the
proposal are invited to participate in the
scoping process, which is designed to
obtain input and identify potential
issues relating to the proposed project.
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Responsible Officials
Allen D. Klein, Regional Director,
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement, Western Region, 1999
Broadway, Suite 3320, Denver, CO
80202–3050 and Tracy Stone-Manning,
Director, Montana Department of
Environmental Quality, Director’s
Office, 1520 East 6th Avenue, Helena,
MT 59620–9601 will be jointly
responsible for the EIS. These two
decision makers will make a decision
regarding this proposal after considering
comments and responses pertaining to
environmental consequences discussed
in the Final EIS and all applicable laws,
regulations, and policies.
The decision of a selected alternative
and supporting reasoning will be
documented in two Records of Decision
(ROD), one issued by OSM and one
issued by DEQ. OSM’s ROD will be
integrated into a mining plan decision
document (MPDD) that will be
submitted for approval to the DOI
Assistant Secretary for Land and
Minerals Management (ASLM).
Nature of Decisions to Be Made
The nature of the decisions to be
made is to select an action that meets
the legal rights of the proponent while
protecting the environment, and is in
compliance with applicable laws,
regulations, and policies. OSM and DEQ
will use the EIS process to develop the
necessary information to make an
informed decision as required by 30
CFR 746.
Based on the alternatives developed
in the EIS, the following are possible
OSM decisions:
(1) Recommendation that the DOI
ASLM approve a mining plan based on
the proposed action;
(2) Recommendation that the DOI
ASLM conditionally approve a mining
plan based on a preferred alternative; or
(3) Recommendation that the DOI
ASLM deny a mining plan based on the
proposed action.
Based on the alternatives developed
in the EIS, the following are possible
DEQ decisions:
(1) An approval of the permit
application as submitted;
(2) An approval of the permit
application with changes, and the
incorporation of mitigations and
stipulations that meet the mandates of
applicable laws, regulations, and
policies; or
(3) Denial of the permit application if
no alternative can be developed that is
in compliance with applicable laws,
regulations, and policies.
E:\FR\FM\27AUN1.SGM
27AUN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 166 / Tuesday, August 27, 2013 / Notices
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment, including your
personal identifying information, will
be publicly available. While you can ask
us in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
All submissions from organizations or
businesses and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses will be
available for public review to the extent
consistent with applicable law.
Public Comment Procedures
OSM, in conjunction with DEQ, will
hold a public scoping meeting in
Colstrip, Montana, on Thursday,
September 12, 2013 from 3pm–7pm at
the Isabel Bills Community Learning
Center, located at 520 Poplar Drive,
Colstrip, MT 59323. The meeting will
include an open house from 3pm–4pm
with the opportunity to view project
information. There will be brief
presentations from OSM regarding the
EIS process and from WECo regarding
the proposed project. Presentations will
begin at 4pm followed by the
opportunity for the public to provide
oral and/or written testimony. Oral
testimony will be limited to three
minutes per person. A court reporter
will be present to record comments. The
location and time of the meeting will
also be published in the Billings Gazette
and Forsythe Independent Press
approximately one week prior to the
meeting date.
A scoping newsletter is available
upon request or an electronic copy may
be viewed at (Web site): https://
www.wrcc.osmre.gov/
Written comments, including email
comments, should be sent to OSM at the
addresses given in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice. Comments should
be specific and pertain only to the
issues relating to the proposals. OSM
will include all comments in the
administrative record.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Permits or Licenses Required
Various permits and licenses are
needed prior to implementation of the
proposed project. Permits or licenses
required by the issuing agencies
identified for this proposal are:
• Mine permit from DEQ;
• Mining plan approval by DOI;
• Air quality permit from DEQ;
• Storm water permit and
modification of the existing Montana
Pollution Discharge Elimination System
(MPDES) Permit MT–0023965 from
DEQ; and
• 404 permit from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
Dated: August 1, 2013.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Western Region, Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement.
Availability of Comments
OSM will make comments, including
name of respondent, address, phone
number, email address, or other
personal identifying information,
available for public review during
normal business hours. Comments
submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered; however,
those who submit anonymous
comments may not have standing to
challenge the subsequent decision.
Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:54 Aug 26, 2013
Jkt 229001
[FR Doc. 2013–20860 Filed 8–26–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–05–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 731–TA–749 (Third
Review)]
Persulfates From China; Scheduling of
a Full Five-Year Review Concerning
the Antidumping Duty Order on
Persulfates from China
United States International
Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Commission hereby gives
notice of the scheduling of a full review
pursuant to section 751(c)(5) of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)(5))
(the Act) to determine whether
revocation of the antidumping duty
order on persulfates from China would
be likely to lead to continuation or
recurrence of material injury within a
reasonably foreseeable time. For further
information concerning the conduct of
this review and rules of general
application, consult the Commission’s
Rules of Practice and Procedure, part
201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part
201), and part 207, subparts A, D, E, and
F (19 CFR part 207).
DATES: Effective Date: August 21, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angela M. W. Newell (202–708–5409),
Office of Investigations, U.S.
International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW., Washington, DC 20436.
Hearing-impaired persons can obtain
information on this matter by contacting
the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202–
205–1810. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special
assistance in gaining access to the
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00074
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
52969
Commission should contact the Office
of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.
General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by
accessing its internet server (https://
www.usitc.gov). The public record for
this review may be viewed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background.—On June 3, 2013, the
Commission determined that responses
to its notice of institution of the subject
five-year review were such that a full
review pursuant to section 751(c)(5) of
the Act should proceed (78 FR 35314,
June 12, 2013). A record of the
Commissioners’ votes, the
Commission’s statement on adequacy,
and any individual Commissioner’s
statements are available from the Office
of the Secretary and at the
Commission’s Web site.
Participation in the review and public
service list.—Persons, including
industrial users of the subject
merchandise and, if the merchandise is
sold at the retail level, representative
consumer organizations, wishing to
participate in this review as parties
must file an entry of appearance with
the Secretary to the Commission, as
provided in section 201.11 of the
Commission’s rules, by 45 days after
publication of this notice. A party that
filed a notice of appearance following
publication of the Commission’s notice
of institution of the review need not file
an additional notice of appearance. The
Secretary will maintain a public service
list containing the names and addresses
of all persons, or their representatives,
who are parties to the review.
Limited disclosure of business
proprietary information (BPI) under an
administrative protective order (APO)
and BPI service list.—Pursuant to
section 207.7(a) of the Commission’s
rules, the Secretary will make BPI
gathered in this review available to
authorized applicants under the APO
issued in the review, provided that the
application is made by 45 days after
publication of this notice. Authorized
applicants must represent interested
parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 1677(9),
who are parties to the review. A party
granted access to BPI following
publication of the Commission’s notice
of institution of the review need not
reapply for such access. A separate
service list will be maintained by the
Secretary for those parties authorized to
receive BPI under the APO.
Staff report.—The prehearing staff
report in the review will be placed in
the nonpublic record on November 14,
2013, and a public version will be
E:\FR\FM\27AUN1.SGM
27AUN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 166 (Tuesday, August 27, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52967-52969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20860]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
[S1D1SS08011000SX066A00067F134S180110;
S2D2SS08011000SX066A00033F13XS501520]
Notice of Intent To Initiate Public Scoping and Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for Area F of the Rosebud Coal Mine,
Rosebud and Treasure Counties, Montana
AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, U.S.
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to initiate public scoping and prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations
for implementing NEPA, and the Department of the Interior's (DOI) NEPA
regulations, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
(OSM), Western Region (WR), Denver, Colorado, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS, to be prepared in
conjunction with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
pursuant to the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) and its
implementing rules, will analyze the environmental impacts of the
proposed action to permit the operation and reclamation of the proposed
Area F expansion of the Rosebud Coal Mine.
A single EIS that meets the requirements of both MEPA and NEPA and
evaluates all components of the proposed project will be prepared. OSM
and DEQ are requesting public comments on the scope of the EIS and
significant issues that should be addressed in the EIS.
DATES: The public scoping period will be 45 days in length. Comments
concerning the proposed action must be postmarked by October 11, 2013,
to be considered in preparing the draft EIS.
OSM, in conjunction with DEQ, will hold a public scoping meeting in
Colstrip, Montana, on Thursday, September 12, 2013, from 3pm-7pm at the
Isabel Bills Community Learning Center. The meeting will include an
open house from 3pm-4pm with the opportunity to view project
information. There will be brief presentations from OSM regarding the
EIS process and from Western Energy Company (WECo) regarding the
proposed project. Presentations will begin at 4pm followed by the
opportunity for the public to provide oral and/or written testimony. If
you require reasonable accommodations to attend the meeting, contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT at least one
week before the meeting.
The draft EIS is expected to be released for public comment in the
second quarter of 2014, and the final EIS is expected by the second
quarter of 2015.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in writing or by email. At the top
of your letter or in the subject line of your email message, please
indicate that the comments are ``Rosebud Mine Area F EIS Comments.''
All comments received must contain: name of commenter, postal service
mailing address, and date of comment. Comments sent as an email message
should be sent as an attachment to the message.
Email your comments to: osm-western-energy-area-f-eis@osmre.gov.
Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier written comments to: Franklin Bartlett,
Project Coordinator, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement, Western Region, Casper Area Office, Dick Cheney Federal
Building, PO Box 11018, 150 East B Street, Casper, WY 82601-7032.
The public scoping meeting on September 12, 2013, will be held at
the Isabel Bills Community Learning Center located at 520 Poplar Drive,
Colstrip, MT 59323.
A scoping newsletter is available upon request or an electronic
copy may be viewed at (Web site): https://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Franklin Bartlett, Project
Coordinator, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement,
Western Region, Casper Area Office, Dick Cheney Federal Building PO Box
11018, 150 East B Street, Casper, WY 82601-7032; phone: (307) 261-6543,
or email: fbartlett@osmre.gov; or consult (Web site): https://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The project area is 12 miles west of
Colstrip, Montana, in Rosebud and Treasure counties. The surface of the
permit area is entirely privately owned, and the subsurface minerals
are either privately or federally held. WECo, a subsidiary of
Westmoreland Coal Company, operates the Rosebud Mine.
WECo submitted a permit application (C2011003F) to DEQ in October
2011 for Area F, a proposed expansion of the mine. DEQ determined that
WECo's revised application was administratively complete on August 1,
2012, and began its review for technical adequacy, which is currently
ongoing. This permit application involves Federal lands. Pursuant to 30
CFR 746, no mining shall be conducted on Federal lands until the
Secretary has approved the mining plan. The decision to approve a
mining plan for the proposed Area F is a Federal action and NEPA
analysis will be required.
A single EIS that meets the requirements of both MEPA and NEPA and
evaluates all components of the proposed project will be prepared. This
Notice of Intent initiates the scoping process, which guides the
development of the EIS. At this stage of the planning process, site-
specific public comments are being requested to determine the scope of
the analysis and identify significant issues and alternatives to the
proposed action. OSM and DEQ are requesting public comments on the
scope of the EIS and significant issues that should be addressed in the
EIS.
Rosebud Mine
The Rosebud Mine is a 25,576-acre surface coal mine producing low-
sulfur subbituminous coal. The proposed permit area for Area F would
add 6,746 acres (4,287 acres would be disturbed by the mining
operations, highwall reduction, soil storage, scoria pits, haul road
construction, and other miscellaneous disturbances) in Township 2
North, Range 38 and 39 East, and Township 1 North, Range 39 East. If
approved, Area F would add coal reserves to the existing Rosebud Mine
and extend mine life by an estimated 19 years.
Current land uses include grazing land, pastureland, cropland, and
wildlife habitat. Tributaries of Horse Creek and West Fork Armells
Creek, including Black Hank Creek, Donley Creek, Robbie Creek, and
McClure Creek (all of which lie within the drainage of the Yellowstone
River), drain the proposed mine area. A ridge in the western portion of
the proposed mine area divides the Horse Creek and West Fork Armells
Creek drainages.
Proposed Action
Beginning in 2015, WECo proposes to mine 2,164 acres within the
proposed 6,746-acre Area F permit area and would complete mining
operations by
[[Page 52968]]
2034. During the first 12 years of production, 4,000,000 tons of coal
would be mined annually, with the rate dropping to 3,250,000 tons
annually during the last 7 years of production.
The coal mining method proposed would be the same area strip mining
method that WECo currently uses in other permitted areas of the Rosebud
Mine. In advance of each mining pass, soil would be removed from the
area and stockpiled according to type for use later during reclamation.
Next, the overburden (sedimentary rock material covering the coal
seams) would be drilled and blasted. Overburden from the initial cut
would be stockpiled as spoil. A dragline would then be used to strip
the overburden from succeeding mine passes. Spoil would be cast into
the mined-out pit created by the preceding pass. After the dragline
exposes the coal seam in each pass, the coal would be drilled and
blasted. A loading shovel, front-end loader, or backhoe would be used
to load blasted coal into coal haulers.
The coal would be transported on an established haul road to permit
Area C for crushing. From there, per WECo's contract with PPL Electric
Utilities Corporation, most of the coal would be sent via the existing
4.2-mile conveyor to the Colstrip Steam Electric Station. Coal with
higher sulfur content (an estimated 105,000 tons/year) would be trucked
to the Rosebud Power Plant. WECo does not propose to ship any coal from
Area F by rail.
As proposed, initial operations in 2015 would be limited to mine
passes in the northeastern portion of Area F and would sequentially
progress toward the southwest, and then north to the final cuts. As
mining progresses to each new portion of Area F, a boxcut will be made
to expose the coal seam. Overburden stockpiles, soil stockpiles, and
scoria pits would be developed adjacent to the active boxcut pit area.
After the initial cut, spoil from succeeding mine passes would be
deposited in previous passes, including the boxcut. The sequence of
operations would be as follows: (1) Sediment control, (2) soil salvage,
(3) access and haul roads, (4) blasting, (5) overburden removal, (6)
coal recovery, (7) highwall reduction, (8) backfilling and
recontouring, and (9) revegetation.
Starting in 2019, reclamation would be concurrent with and
following mining (ending in 2039) and would facilitate the following
post-mine land uses: grazing land, pastureland, cropland, and wildlife
habitat. The major reclamation steps planned for before and after
mining include soil material salvage and redistribution, pit
backfilling, regrading and contouring, drainage construction,
revegetation, and post-mine monitoring. In addition to reclamation of
the landscape disturbed by actual mining, other disturbed areas would
require reclamation including the road system, mine plant facilities,
sedimentation ponds, and temporary diversion structures.
Preliminary Issues and Alternatives
The EIS will consider a range of alternatives based on the issues,
concerns, and opportunities associated with the proposed Area F
project. A preliminary identification of issues, concerns, and
opportunities are:
What effect would the proposed project have on soils and
geology?
What effect would the proposed project have on ground
water?
What effect would the proposed project have on surface
water?
What effect would the proposed project have on wetlands?
What effect would the proposed project have on wildlife,
particularly on threatened, endangered, or sensitive species?
What effect would the proposed project have on air
quality?
What effect would the proposed project have on noise
receptors?
What effect would the proposed project have on visual
resources?
What effect would the proposed project have on land use?
What effect would the proposed project have on
transportation systems?
What social and economic effects would the proposed
project have on local communities?
What would be the cumulative effects of the proposed
project in combination with other past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable activities?
Two primary alternatives will be considered: a no action
alternative and an alternative to approve the project as proposed.
Other alternatives will be developed that consist of modifications of,
or changes to, various elements comprising the proposal.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
OSM and DEQ have agreed to be the Lead Agencies for this project.
The Bureau of Land Management may participate as a cooperating agency
in the preparation of the EIS. Other governmental agencies and any
members of the public that may be interested in, or affected by, the
proposal are invited to participate in the scoping process, which is
designed to obtain input and identify potential issues relating to the
proposed project.
Responsible Officials
Allen D. Klein, Regional Director, Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement, Western Region, 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320,
Denver, CO 80202-3050 and Tracy Stone-Manning, Director, Montana
Department of Environmental Quality, Director's Office, 1520 East 6th
Avenue, Helena, MT 59620-9601 will be jointly responsible for the EIS.
These two decision makers will make a decision regarding this proposal
after considering comments and responses pertaining to environmental
consequences discussed in the Final EIS and all applicable laws,
regulations, and policies.
The decision of a selected alternative and supporting reasoning
will be documented in two Records of Decision (ROD), one issued by OSM
and one issued by DEQ. OSM's ROD will be integrated into a mining plan
decision document (MPDD) that will be submitted for approval to the DOI
Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM).
Nature of Decisions to Be Made
The nature of the decisions to be made is to select an action that
meets the legal rights of the proponent while protecting the
environment, and is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations,
and policies. OSM and DEQ will use the EIS process to develop the
necessary information to make an informed decision as required by 30
CFR 746.
Based on the alternatives developed in the EIS, the following are
possible OSM decisions:
(1) Recommendation that the DOI ASLM approve a mining plan based on
the proposed action;
(2) Recommendation that the DOI ASLM conditionally approve a mining
plan based on a preferred alternative; or
(3) Recommendation that the DOI ASLM deny a mining plan based on
the proposed action.
Based on the alternatives developed in the EIS, the following are
possible DEQ decisions:
(1) An approval of the permit application as submitted;
(2) An approval of the permit application with changes, and the
incorporation of mitigations and stipulations that meet the mandates of
applicable laws, regulations, and policies; or
(3) Denial of the permit application if no alternative can be
developed that is in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and
policies.
[[Page 52969]]
Permits or Licenses Required
Various permits and licenses are needed prior to implementation of
the proposed project. Permits or licenses required by the issuing
agencies identified for this proposal are:
Mine permit from DEQ;
Mining plan approval by DOI;
Air quality permit from DEQ;
Storm water permit and modification of the existing
Montana Pollution Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) Permit MT-
0023965 from DEQ; and
404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Public Comment Procedures
OSM, in conjunction with DEQ, will hold a public scoping meeting in
Colstrip, Montana, on Thursday, September 12, 2013 from 3pm-7pm at the
Isabel Bills Community Learning Center, located at 520 Poplar Drive,
Colstrip, MT 59323. The meeting will include an open house from 3pm-4pm
with the opportunity to view project information. There will be brief
presentations from OSM regarding the EIS process and from WECo
regarding the proposed project. Presentations will begin at 4pm
followed by the opportunity for the public to provide oral and/or
written testimony. Oral testimony will be limited to three minutes per
person. A court reporter will be present to record comments. The
location and time of the meeting will also be published in the Billings
Gazette and Forsythe Independent Press approximately one week prior to
the meeting date.
A scoping newsletter is available upon request or an electronic
copy may be viewed at (Web site): https://www.wrcc.osmre.gov/
Written comments, including email comments, should be sent to OSM
at the addresses given in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
Comments should be specific and pertain only to the issues relating to
the proposals. OSM will include all comments in the administrative
record.
Availability of Comments
OSM will make comments, including name of respondent, address,
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information,
available for public review during normal business hours. Comments
submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, those
who submit anonymous comments may not have standing to challenge the
subsequent decision.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying
information, will be publicly available. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
All submissions from organizations or businesses and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses will be available for public review to the
extent consistent with applicable law.
Dated: August 1, 2013.
Allen D. Klein,
Regional Director, Western Region, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2013-20860 Filed 8-26-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-05-P
