Areas Unsuitable for Mining; Muddy Run Watershed, Cambria and Clearfield Counties [27 Pa.B. 2476] The Department of Environmental Protection (Department), Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, has accepted for technical study a petition to designate the Muddy Run watershed in Reade Township, Cambria County, and the upper portion of the Muddy Run watershed in Beccaria and Gulich Townships, Clearfield County, as an area unsuitable for surface mining operations. The petition study area includes approximately 5,127 acres (2,075 hectares) located south of Township Road T534. This study is in response to Petition No. 11969901 submitted by James Thompson on behalf of the Reade Township Municipal Authority for the protection of public water supply wells. The petitioner alleges that mining could result in the degradation and loss of surface and groundwater resources, including aquifers and aquifer recharge areas used for the public water supply.
The Department will review the factual allegations in the petition, conduct a technical study, and hold a public hearing to determine whether a recommendation to designate the area as unsuitable for surface mining operations should be submitted to the Environmental Quality Board. The public hearing will be held within 10 months of acceptance of the petition.
Any person with an interest within the petition area which may be affected by a designation may become an intervenor, for or against these proceedings, by filing allegations of fact, supporting evidence, a short statement identifying the petition to which the allegations pertain, their interests which could be affected, and a request for intervenor status including name, address and phone number. Requests for intervenor status will be accepted until 3 days before the public hearing on the petition.
The public record on this petition is open for public review during regulation business hours at the Ebensburg District Mining Office, 437 South Center Street, P. O. Box 625, Ebensburg, PA 15931, and at the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, Room 213 Executive House, P. O. Box 8461, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461. For further information call (717) 787-4761. Persons with a disability may use the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service by calling (800) 654-5984 (TDD users) or (800) 654-5988 (voice users) and request that the call be relayed to Mr. McCommons at (717) 787-4761.
This notice is given under the Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act (52 P. S. §§ 1396.1--1396.19a), The Clean Streams Law (35 P. S. §§ 691.1--691.1001) and the Coal Refuse Disposal Act (52 P. S. §§ 30.51--30.66) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
JAMES M. SEIF,
Secretary[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-775. Filed for public inspection May 16, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]
