365 Area unsuitable for surface mining; petition no. 17939901

Area Unsuitable for Surface Mining; Petition No. 17939901

[35 Pa.B. 1476]

   Under the authority of the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §§ 1396.1--1396.19a) and 25 Pa. Code Chapter 86 (relating to surface and underground coal mining: general), the Department of Environmental Protection (Department) has accepted for technical study a petition submitted by the Graham Township Supervisors to designate a portion of Graham Township, Clearfield County, as unsuitable for surface mining activities. The petition area includes approximately 2,800 acres located in the Big Run and Willholm Run watersheds. The petitioner alleges that reclamation is not technologically and economically feasible and specifically claims that surface mining within the petition area will adversely affect renewable resource lands, resulting in substantial loss or degradation of local groundwater and/or surface water resources.

   The Department will review the factual allegations in the petition, conduct a technical study and hold a public hearing to determine whether the area should be formally submitted to the Environmental Quality Board for designation as an area unsuitable for surface mining activities. Details concerning the yet to be scheduled public hearing will be published in a future edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

   Persons who have relevant information concerning this petition are encouraged to make it available to the Department for consideration in the assessment. Information should be submitted to Thomas Callaghan, Environmental Analysis and Support Division, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, P. O. Box 8461, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461, [e-mail].

   Persons may become an intervenor for or against these proceedings by filing allegations of fact describing how the designation determination directly affects the intervenor. Requests for intervenor status will be accepted by the Department until 3 days before the public hearing on the petition and must include the prospective intervenor's name, address, telephone number and supporting evidence, including a short statement identifying the petition to which the allegations pertain. Requests for intervenor status should be submitted to Thomas Callaghan at the previous address.

   The petition file, including all supporting documents, is open for public review during regular business hours at the Moshannon District Mining Office, 186 Enterprise Drive, Phillipsburg, PA 16866 and at the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. For further information call [phone]. Persons with a disability may use the AT&T Relay Service by calling [phone] (TDD users) and requesting that the call to Thomas Callaghan at [phone].

KATHLEEN A. MCGINTY,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-365. Filed for public inspection February 25, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]