OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
RECLAMATION & ENFORCEMENT
PITTSBURGH FIELD DIVISION
4605 Morse Rd., Rm. 102 Three Parkway Center 415 Market Street, Ste. 3C
Columbus, OH 43230 Pittsburgh, PA 15220 Harrisburg, PA 17101
614-416-2238 412-937-2153 717-782-4036
Fax 614-416-2248 Fax 412-937-2887 Fax 717-782-3771
OSM Announces Final Environmental Impact Statement For Revised “Excess Spoil Minimization -- Stream Buffer Zone” Rule
(Washington, DC) The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today announced the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) evaluating potential changes to the excess spoil and coal mine waste disposal rules as well as the stream buffer zone rule.
The final environmental impact statement provides decision makers with information about the impacts that could result if these rules are revised.
The rulemaking alternatives considered in the FEIS address two requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA): to prevent additional contributions of sediment to streams outside the permit area, and to minimize adverse impacts on fish and wildlife and related environmental values. The alternatives would address environmental concerns about the impacts of disposal of excess rock from coal mine excavation (“excess spoil”), coal mine waste, and other coal mining activities in and around streams. They would require minimization of impacts from these activities, and would clarify existing requirements that are not now interpreted consistently. [more] [ 123 KB]
The FEIS is a two book set: Book 1 and Book 2. To go directly to the FEIS, see links below.
Book 1 (the main body of the FEIS)OSM's Final Environment Impact Statement (FEIS) for the revised "excess spoil minimization - stream buffer zone" proposed rule is available for review and download from the following links at regulations.gov. http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=OSM-2007-0008-0553
Book 2 (which contains copies of comments and the agencies response to those comments. The FEIS evaluates potential changes to the excess spoil, coal mine waste, and stream buffer zone regulations, and will allow decision makers in OSM and Department of Interior to make informed decisions on changing or not changing the associated rules.) http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&d=OSM-2007-0008-0553.1
5