Disclaimer

The below listed documents may not be readable via Optical Character Recognition. To receive public notices via email for the Huntington District Regulatory Division please send an email to LRH.Permits@usace.army.mil indicating that you would like to be placed on the public notice electronic distribution list. Your email should include which state(s) Ohio and/or West Virginia in which you would like to receive public notices.

LRH-2022-932

USACE
Published March 7, 2023
Expiration date: 4/6/2023

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: In accordance with Title 33 CFR 325.5(c)(1) as published on November 13, 1986, in the Federal Register, Volume 51, Number 219, the district engineers of the Huntington District and Pittsburgh District United States (U.S.) Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), are proposing to re-issue the Regional General Permit (RGP) for Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.  This RGP is available for use within the entire State of West Virginia and may be used by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) or an approved contractor working on  behalf of the WVDEP, any non-profit 501(c)(3) watershed organizations or their subsidiaries, the West Virginia Conservation Agency (WVCA) and their respective Soil Conservation Districts, and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), for projects associated with AML and acid mine drainage (AMD) that require the discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the U.S.

BACKGROUND: RGPs are general permits issued by a district or division engineer on a regional basis to streamline the authorization of activities that result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects.  

As part of the WVDEP’s responsibilities for the protection and restoration of the environment in West Virginia, the WVDEP administers two (2) programs that focus on the restoration of environmental damage associated with coal mining activities that occurred prior to the passage of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977 (Public Law 95-87, 30 USC 1234-1328, SMCRA).  These programs include the AML and the Non-Point Source (NPS) programs.

ABANDONED MINE LANDS (AML) PROGRAM:  On August 3, 1977, Congress passed the SMCRA.  In enacting the SMCRA, Congress identified lands located throughout major regions of the U.S., such as the Appalachian Mountains, which had been disturbed by surface and underground coal mining operations with little or no reclamation.  Congress also recognized the impacts from these un-reclaimed lands imposed social and economic costs on the residents in nearby and adjoining areas as well as the impairment of environmental quality.  Section 102(h) of the SMCRA defines one (1) of its purposes as the promotion of the reclamation of mined areas left without adequate reclamation prior to its enactment and in their un-reclaimed condition substantially degrade the quality of the environment, prevent or damage the beneficial use of land and water resources, and/or endanger the health or safety of the public.  Title IV of the SMCRA addresses Abandoned Mine Reclamation, including the establishment of the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund (AML Fund) and defines the purposes for which the AML Fund may be used.

The U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is the federal agency responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the SMCRA are implemented; however, many individual states have been given the primary regulatory responsibility.  In January 1981, the OSMRE approved the West Virginia’s State Reclamation Plan, giving the state responsibility and authority to implement a state AML reclamation program.  The WVDEP, Office of AML and Reclamation (OAML) has been addressing abandoned mine lands throughout the state since 1981.

The AML Fund also provides funding through the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program to address polluted drainage from abandoned coal mines.  Mine drainage may contain high levels of metals and is often acidic.  Polluted mine drainage is often referred to as Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), although the water may sometimes be alkaline rather than acid.  AMD treatment projects are being conducted throughout the state by non-profit watershed groups, frequently using funds from various government organizations.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) also provides funding and/or technical assistance for projects that address AML.  The funding of these projects occurs through three (3) programs: the Small Watershed Program (authorized by Public Law 83-566, the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act of 1954 (16 USC 18)), the Potomac River Watershed program (authorized by Public Law 78-534, the Flood Control Act of 1944 (16 USC 460; 33 USC 701), and the Rural Abandoned Mine Fund, authorized under the SMCRA.  The NRCS distributes this funding to sponsors that include the WVCA and their respective Soil Conservation Districts.

NONPOINT SOURCE PROGRAM (NPS):  The WVDEP’s Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM) has the primary responsibility for ensuring the state complies with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Title 33 Chapter 26), referred to as the Clean Water Act.  Under Section 303(d)(1)(A) of the Act, the state is required to “identify those waters within its boundaries for which the effluent limitations required are not stringent enough to implement any water quality standard applicable to such waters” and to “establish a priority ranking for such waters.”  This is referred to as the 303(d) List.  Paragraph (C) of this section of the Act requires the state to establish the total maximum daily load (TMDL) of pollutants discharged into waters on the list.  Subsection (2) requires the state to incorporate the TMDL into its “current plan” after approval by the Administrator of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

Water quality impacts resulting from coal mining conducted prior to the regulation of the coal industry under the SMCRA are primarily responsible for many of West Virginia’s waters being placed on the 303(d) List.  West Virginia’s Nonpoint Source Program’s Management Plan, 2019 (Plan) sets the implementation of treatment systems to improve water quality in priority watersheds as a major goal of the NPS program.  

The NPS program provides grants for project funding (for design, construction, oversight and 
monitoring by the OAML) without any long-term funding for operation and maintenance.  This restriction limits the NPS program to funding, almost exclusively, passive AMD treatment systems for coal mine drainage.  Treatment systems typically include the collection and treatment of polluted water within and adjacent to affected watercourses.

The Corps previously issued this RGP under Public Notice LRH-2017-586 dated February 22, 2018, which expired on February 22, 2023.  The Corps proposes to reissue the RGP with modifications.

SCOPE OF WORK:  This RGP may be used for the following activities, subject to all appropriate terms and conditions: site access and preparation for active AMD treatment such as the establishment of dosing systems, application of limestone fines, and construction of  limestone leach beds; site work associated with mine land reclamation, other related projects such as wetland construction, enhancement, and removal; stream channel lining; mine seal installation; channel diversion; impoundment construction; underdrain construction, highwall backfilling, regrading and capping of overburden and/or refuse spoils, disposal of spoil, piping, grouting in-situ, stream relocation, coal refuse sediment removal; bank and/or slope stabilization; waterline installation; construction of sediment control structures, reducing bioreactors, vertical flow ponds, diversion wells, successive alkaline producing systems, anoxic limestone drains; sludge removal, maelstrom oxidizer, refuse excavation and quenching; landslide repairs and subsidence control; mine fire excavation, quenching, trenching, and foaming; shaft backfilling and capping; and retaining wall construction, in addition to other passive and active mine drainage treatment technologies. 

The permittee is responsible for ensuring the work is performed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the RGP attached to this Public Notice.  Work performed under this authorization can be suspended, modified or revoked in accordance with 33 CFR § 325.7 if a later determination is made by the Corps that the information provided was inaccurate, incomplete, or done in bad faith. In the event of such a determination, enforcement action may be initiated.

This RGP would apply to all aquatic resources (e.g., streams, wetlands) under the jurisdiction of the Corps within the Huntington and Pittsburgh Districts in West Virginia (see Appendix A), except those excluded under conditions of the RGP or conditions imposed by the state water quality certification.  If the RGP is re-authorized, all activities authorized under the RGP would be subject to the attached conditions.  If approved, the RGP would be effective for five (5) years.

To ensure the activities authorized by the RGP cause no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects, pre-construction notification to the district engineer is required before commencing the activity.  

WATER QUALITY CERTIFICATION:  This Public Notice shall serve as a request to the WVDEP to act on the Section 401 Clean Water Act Water Quality Certification for the proposed RGP. 

PUBLIC INTEREST REVIEW:  This proposed RGP will be reviewed and evaluated in accordance with 33 CFR Parts 320-332, the implementing regulations for the Corps’ Regulatory Program as well as other pertinent laws, regulations, and executive orders.  The Corps’ evaluation will also follow the guidelines published by the USEPA pursuant to Section 404(b) (1) of the Clean Water Act (40 CFR Part 230).  The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts associated with the discharge of dredged and/or 
fill material into waters of the U.S. and/or work within navigable waters of the U.S., including cumulative impacts of the proposed activities, on the public interest. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources. The benefit which may be reasonably expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments. All factors that may be relevant to the proposal will be considered including the cumulative effects thereof; among those factors are conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, floodplain values, land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people. 

SOLICITATION OF COMMENT:  The Huntington and Pittsburgh Districts are seeking comments from the public, federal, state and local agencies and officials, Indian Tribes and other interested parties on the proposed RGP and on the need for additional conditions to ensure the adverse environmental effects of activities authorized by the proposed RGP are no more than minimal, individually and cumulatively.  For accuracy and completeness of the administrative record, all data in support of or in opposition to the proposed RGP should be submitted in writing and must set forth sufficient detail to furnish a clear understanding of the reasons for support or opposition to the proposed RGP.  Any person may request, in writing, within the comment period specified in the notice, that a public hearing be held to consider the application.  Requests for public hearings shall clearly state, with particularity, reasons for holding a public hearing.  Any comments received will be considered by the Corps to determine whether to issue, modify, condition or deny the RGP.  To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects, and the other public interest factors listed above. Comments are used in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment and/or an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. Written statements received in this office on or before the expiration date of this Public Notice will become a part of the record and will be considered in the final determination. The RGP will be authorized unless its issuance is found to be contrary to the public interest.

CLOSE OF COMMENT PERIOD: All comments pertaining to this Public Notice must reach this office on or before the close of the comment period listed on page one (1) of this Public Notice. If no comments are received by that date, it will be considered that there are no objections to the proposed RGP.  Comments and requests for additional information should be submitted to:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District
ATTN: CELRH-RDE Public Notice No. LRH-2022-932
502 8th Street
Huntington, West Virginia 25701

Please note the names and addresses of those who submit comments in response to this Public Notice become part of our administrative record and, as such, may be available to the public under provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. Thank you for your interest in our nation's water resources. If you have any questions concerning this Public Notice, please contact Mrs. Michelle Doolin at (304) 399-5273, by mail at the above address, or by email at michelle.m.doolin@usace.army.mil.  

PROPOSED

I.    Notification Requirements of Regional General Permit (RGP) for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation for the State of West Virginia

The following Pre-Construction Notification (PCN) information will be provided to the appropriate United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) District concerning each project, prior to the initiation of reclamation work result in a discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters of the United States and/or work in, under or over navigable waters of the United States:
1.    Name, address and telephone numbers of the property owner;

2.    Name, address and telephone numbers of the prospective permittee;

3.    Name, address and telephone numbers of entity responsible for project operation, maintenance, and monitoring;

4.    Exact location of the work, including a location map on United States Geological Survey  7.5 Minute Series Quadrangle, with Latitude and Longitude in decimal degree format (e.g. Latitude 38.2111 and Longitude -81.3533);

5.    A description of the proposed activity. The description of the proposed activity must be sufficiently detailed to allow the district engineer to determine that the adverse environmental effects of the activity will be no more than minimal, considered individually and cumulatively, and to determine the need for compensatory mitigation or other mitigation measures.  The description must include the following, as applicable:
a.    Description of project purpose and need, including baseline conditions and anticipated conditions upon project construction;
b.    Description of any anticipated maintenance activities;
c.    Amount of dredged and/or fill material to be discharged into waters of the United States, expressed in linear feet (lf) and acres (ac) for streams and acres for wetlands and open waters;
d.    Volume of material (expressed in cubic yards) to be discharged below the 
ordinary high water mark of waters of the United States; and
e.    If bank stabilization is proposed along both banks of a stream, the linear footage should be provided separately for each bank;

6.    A delineation of all potential waters of the United States located within the project boundary, including rivers, stream (ephemeral, intermittent and perennial), open waters (such as impounded features) and wetlands identified.  All wetlands must be delineated in accordance with the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and the Regional Supplement to the Corps Wetland Delineation Manual: Eastern Mountains and Piedmont Region. The extent of waters of the United States must be identified in accordance with the definitions and limits of jurisdiction contained in 33 CFR Part 328 and 33 CFR Part 329;

7.    Project plan and cross section views depicting boundaries of waters of the United States and boundaries of the proposed work.  Drawings should contain sufficient detail to provide an illustrative description of the proposed activity (e.g., a conceptual plan), but do not need to be detailed engineering plans;

8.    Ground photographs with locations and directional views depicted on a site plan;

9.    A description of the expected direct and indirect adverse environmental effects the activity 
would cause;

10.    A description of the ways in which adverse impacts to waters of the United States have been avoided and minimized.  The district engineer may determine on a case-by-case basis that compensatory mitigation is required to ensure the activity results in minimal adverse environmental effects on the aquatic environment.  Compensatory mitigation projects provided to offset losses of aquatic resources, if required, must comply with the applicable provisions of 33 CFR Part 332;

11.    The location of any water intakes in the vicinity of the project;

12.    The name(s) of those federally listed or proposed federally listed endangered and/or threatened species that might be affected by the proposed activity or utilize designated critical habitat of listed or proposed listed species that might be affected by the proposed activity;

13.    A statement regarding any historic property which might have the potential to be affected by the proposed activity or a vicinity map indicating the location of the historic property;

14.    For an activity that requires permission from the Corps pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 408 because it will alter or temporarily or permanently occupy or use a Corps federally authorized civil works project (USACE project), a statement confirming that the project proponent has submitted a written request for Section 408 permission from the Corps office having jurisdiction over that USACE project; and

15.    A restoration plan showing how all temporary fills and structures will be removed and the area restored to pre-project conditions.

Note: Written authorization from the appropriate Corps District is required prior to commencement of any work resulting in a discharge of dredged and/or fill material into waters  of the United States and/or work in, under or over a navigable water of the United States associated with this RGP.

II. Special Conditions for Regional General Permit (RGP) for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation for the State of West Virginia

        1. This RGP will not authorize:
a.    Activities that may result in more than minimal adverse impacts to the aquatic environment;
b.    Activities that result in substantial increases in channel capacity;
c.    Activities involving the discharge of steel slag in waters of the United States;
d.    Activities that would affect historic, cultural or archaeological sites listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, unless coordination is  completed as required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act  (NHPA) of 1966 (Section 106) and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), if required.  Assistance regarding information on the location of, or potential for, the presence of historic properties can be sought from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and the National Register of Historic Places (see 33 CFR § 330.4(g)). When reviewing PCNs, district engineers will comply with the current procedures for addressing the requirements of Section 106. The district engineer shall make a reasonable and good faith effort to carry out appropriate identification efforts, which may include back-ground research, consultation, oral history interviews, sample field investigation, and  field survey. Based on the information submitted in the PCN and these identification efforts, the district engineer shall determine whether the proposed RGP activity has the potential to cause effects on the historic properties. Section 106 consultation is not required when the district engineer determines that the activity does not have the potential to cause effects on historic properties (see 36 CFR § 800.3(a)). Section 106 consultation is required when the district engineer determines that the activity has the  potential to cause effects on historic properties. The district engineer will conduct consultation with consulting parties identified under 36 CFR § 800.2(c) when he or she makes any of the following effect determinations for the purposes of Section 106: no historic properties affected, no adverse effect, or adverse effect. If the prospective permittee choses to contact the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History to determine if historic, cultural or archaeological sites within the proposed work areas are eligible for or listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The response from the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History shall be provided to the Corps.  No work shall commence until Section 106 requirements have been satisfied and the Corps’ RGP verification letter is provided to the prospective permittee.

i.    Section 110k of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. 306113) prevents the Corps from granting a permit or other assistance to an applicant who, with intent to avoid the requirements of Section 106, has intentionally significantly adversely affected a historic property to which the permit would relate, or  having legal power to prevent it, allowed such significant adverse effect to 
occur, unless the Corps, after consultation with the ACHP, determines that circumstances justify granting such assistance despite the adverse effect created or permitted by the applicant. If circumstances justify granting the assistance, the Corps is required to notify the ACHP and provide documentation specifying the circumstances, the degree of damage to the integrity of any historic properties affected, and proposed mitigation. This documentation must include any views obtained from the applicant, the SHPO, appropriate Indian tribes if the undertaking occurs on or affects historic properties on tribal lands or affects properties of interest to those tribes, and other parties known to have a legitimate interest in the impacts to the permitted activity on historic properties;
e.    Activities at sites that may affect proposed or listed endangered or threatened species or their designated critical habitat, unless consultation under Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (Section 7) has been completed. No work shall commence until Section 7 requirements have been satisfied and the Corps’ RGP verification letter is provided to the prospective permittee. Permit applicants may contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)  to determine the presence of potential threatened or endangered species or their habitats.    
i.    Information on the location of threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat can be obtained directly from the USFWS at https://www.fws.gov or https://www.ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov and/or the UFSWS, West Virginia Field Office, Ecological Services, who can be contacted by phone at (304) 866-3858 or by writing to 6263 Appalachian Highway, Davis, West Virginia, 26260. The USFWS can provide information to assist in complying with this general condition and General Conditions 11 and 18 pertaining to migratory bird breeding areas and migratory birds and bald and golden eagles, respectively. The latest version of the list of waterways supporting federally listed threatened and endangered species in West Virginia can be obtained by contacting the USFWS. The prospective permittee should contact the USFWS West Virginia Field Office to obtain the most updated information regarding potential locations known to inhabit endangered or threatened species;
f.    The discharge of dredged and/or fill material in designated components of the National or State Wild and Scenic Rivers Systems, Federal or State designated wildlife management areas or at sites included in the National Registry of Natural Landmarks, unless approval is granted from the administering agency and the Corps’ RGP verification letter is provided to the prospective permittee.  Information on Wild and Scenic Rivers may be obtained from the appropriate Federal land management agency responsible for the designated Wild and Scenic River or study river (e.g., National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Information on these rivers is also available at: https://www.rivers.gov/.
g.    The discharge of dredged and/or fill material proposed in the Nationwide Rivers Inventory streams, unless coordinated with the National Park Service, and the Corps’ RGP verification letter is provided to the prospective permittee.  Inventory Rivers within the State of West Virginia include Big Sandy Creek (Preston County), Blackwater River, Cheat River, Dry Fork of Cheat River, Glady Fork of Cheat River, Shavers Fork of Cheat River, South Fork of Cheat River, Cherry River, South Fork of Cherry River, North Fork of Cherry River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Left Fork of Elk River, Gauley River, Greenbrier River, East Fork of Greenbrier River, West Fork of Greenbrier River, Holly River, Left Fork of Holly River, Hughes River, North Fork of Hughes River, Laurel Fork (Randolph County), Little Kanawha River, Middle Fork River, Mud River, New River, North River, Otter Creek, Potomac River, North Fork of South Branch of Potomac River, South Branch of Potomac River, South Fork of the South Branch of Potomac River, Red Creek, Seneca Creek, Shavers Fork, Tygart Valley River, and Williams River.

2. All work shall be performed in an environmentally, technically and economically sound manner and shall incorporate natural stream design principles to the maximum extent practicable.

3. Stream grouting shall be limited to those projects for which other stabilization methodologies are not practicable. The prospective permittee must indicate why other stabilization methodologies are not practicable.

4. Adverse impacts to existing wetlands shall be avoided to the maximum extent practicable. 

5. Stabilization through the planting of vegetation is highly encouraged and shall be limited to those species native to West Virginia, in addition to non-invasive naturalized species.

6. A copy of this RGP must be posted on-site during construction activities.

7. For all AMD projects, the permittee will be required to provide pre-project baseline monitoring results, in addition to semi-annual water quality sampling for a minimum of two (2) years. These results must include appropriate mapping to identify monitoring site(s).  Monitoring will be conducted at the final discharge(s) of the completed remediation project and the testing results will be submitted to the appropriate Corps District annually and will include all sampling  performed for that project during the year.

8. The applicant will invite resource agencies to all field reviews and provide the WVDNR and the USFWS construction and location details for review a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to     initiation of work on streams supporting protected freshwater mussels. The most current list of streams known to support state protected freshwater mussel species is available from the Inter-Agency Coordination Supervisor, WVDNR, Post Office Box 67, Elkins, West Virginia, 26241. All mussels, including non-listed mussel species, are protected and managed by the State of West Virginia. The WVDNR may also be contacted regarding non-Federally listed mussels. 

9. Prior to commencement of work, West Virginia 811 must be contacted to determine the location of underground utility lines in the project area.

III. General Conditions for Regional General Permit (RGP) for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation for the State of West Virginia

1. No activity may cause more than minimal adverse effects on navigation within the streams listed in Appendix C. The permittee understands and agrees that if future operations by the United States require the removal, relocation, or other alteration, of the structure or work herein authorized, or if, in the opinion of the Secretary of the Army or his authorized representative, said structure or work shall cause unreasonable obstruction to the free navigation of the navigable waters, the permittee will be required, upon due notice from the Corps, to remove, relocate, or alter the structural work or obstructions caused thereby, without expense to the United States. No claim shall be made against the United States on account of any such removal or alteration.

2. No activity may substantially disrupt the necessary life cycle movements of those species of aquatic life indigenous to the waterbody, including those species that normally migrate through the area.  All permanent and temporary crossings of waterbodies shall be suitably culverted, bridged, or otherwise designed and constructed to maintain low flows to sustain the movement of those aquatic species. If a bottomless culvert cannot be used, then the crossing should be designed and constructed to minimize adverse effects to aquatic life movements.

3. Activities in spawning areas during spawning seasons must be avoided to the maximum extent
practicable. Activities that result in the physical destruction (e.g., through excavation, fill, or     downstream smothering by substantial turbidity) of an important spawning area are not 
authorized unless the WVDNR has granted a waiver to allow work within the spawning season 
for the event or stream.

4. Activities in waters of the United States that serve as breeding areas for migratory birds must be avoided to the maximum extent practicable.

5. No activity may occur in areas of concentrated shellfish populations.

6. No activity may use unsuitable material (e.g., trash, debris, car bodies, asphalt, etc.). Material used for construction or discharged must be free from toxic pollutants in toxic amounts (see Section 307 of the Clean Water Act).

7. No activity may occur in the proximity (~100 feet) of a public water supply intake unless the prospective permittee obtains written verification from the Corps that the activity is authorized  under the RGP.  

8. To the maximum extent practicable, the pre-construction course, condition, capacity, and location of open waters must be maintained for each activity. The activity must be constructed
    to withstand expected high flows. The activity must not restrict or impede the passage of normal or high flows.

9. The activity must comply with applicable Federal Administration Management Agency (FEMA)-approved state or local floodplain management requirements. 

10. Heavy equipment working in wetlands must be placed on mats, or other measures must be Taken to minimize soil disturbance.

11. Appropriate soil erosion and sediment controls must be used and maintained in effective  operating condition during construction, and all exposed soil and other fills, as well as any work below the ordinary high water mark, must be permanently stabilized at the earliest practicable date. 

12. Temporary fills must be removed in their entirety and the affected areas returned to pre-construction elevations. The affected areas must be revegetated, as appropriate.

13. No RGP activity may cause more than minimal adverse effects on tribal rights (including treaty rights), protected tribal resources, or tribal lands.

 14. The prospective permittee is responsible for ensuring their action complies with the Migratory  Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. The prospective permittee is responsible for contacting appropriate local office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to determine applicable measures to reduce impacts to migratory birds or eagles, including whether ‘‘incidental take’’ permits are necessary and available under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for a particular activity.

15.    If the prospective permittee receives a RGP verification letter from the Corps, the prospective Permittee must provide a signed certification documenting completion of the authorized 
activity and any required compensatory mitigation.  The Corps will provide the prospective permittee with a copy of the certification document with the RGP verification letter.

16.    A RGP activity that requires permission from the Corps pursuant to 33 U.S.C. 408 because it will alter or temporarily or permanently occupy or use a USACE federally authorized Civil Works project (a ‘‘USACE project’’) is not authorized by RGP until the appropriate Corps office issues the section 408 permission to alter, occupy, or use the USACE project, and the district engineer issues a written RGP verification.  Information on the location of federally authorized Civil Works projects in the State of West Virginia can be obtained by contacting the Corps District.

17.    The District Engineer will consider the following factors when determining appropriate and practicable mitigation necessary to ensure that the individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects are not more than minimal:
a.    The activity must be designed and constructed to avoid and minimize adverse effects, both temporary and permanent, to waters of the United States to the maximum extent practicable at the project site (i.e., on site). 
b.    Mitigation in all its forms (avoiding, minimizing, rectifying, reducing, or compensating for resource losses) will be required to the extent necessary to ensure that the individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects are no more than minimal. 
c.    Compensatory mitigation projects provided to offset losses of aquatic resources must  comply with the applicable provisions of 33 CFR Part 332.
d.    The prospective permittee is responsible for proposing an appropriate compensatory mitigation option if compensatory mitigation is necessary to ensure that the activity results  in no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. The preferred mechanism for providing compensatory mitigation is mitigation bank credits or in-lieu fee program credits  (see 33 CFR § 332.3(b)(2) and (3)). However, if an appropriate number and type of mitigation bank or in-lieu credits are not available at the time the PCN is submitted to the district engineer, the district engineer may approve the use of permittee-responsible mitigation.

18.    If the permittee sells the property associated with a RGP verification, the permittee may transfer the RGP verification to the new owner by submitting a letter to the appropriate Corps district  office to validate the transfer. A copy of the RGP verification must be attached to the letter, and the letter must contain the following statement and signature:

“When the structures or work authorized by this RGP are still in existence at the time the property is transferred, the terms and conditions of this RGP, including any special conditions, will continue to be binding on the new owner(s) of the property. To validate the transfer of this  RGP and the associated liabilities associated with compliance with its terms and conditions, have the transferee sign and date below.”
              
              _________________________________________________
              (Transferee)


              _________________________________________________
      (Date) 

19. If the permittee discovers any previously unknown historic, cultural, or archaeological remains and artifacts while accomplishing the activity authorized by this RGP, they must immediately notify the district engineer of that you have found, and to the maximum extent practicable, avoid construction activities that may affect the remains and artifacts until the required coordination has been completed. The district engineer will initiate the Federal, Tribal, and state coordination required to determine if the items or remains warrant a recovery effort or if the site is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
    
20. Representatives from the Corps will be allowed to inspect the authorized activity at any time deemed necessary to insure that it is being or has been accomplished in accordance with the terms and conditions.

IV. Agency Notification Procedures of Regional General Permit (RGP) for Abandoned Mine Lands Reclamation for the State of West Virginia

Notification to the appropriate resource agencies, including the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History and the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service will be required for the following types of projects:

1.    conversion, degradation or elimination of greater than 0.25 acre of waters of the United States;
2.    relocation of streams;
3.    discharge of dredged or fill material into greater than 300 linear feet of stream for projects involving valley fill construction necessary to provide for the disposal of excess spoil; 
4.    projects involving the discharge of dredged or fill material that include the lining of perennial streams or lining of greater than 500 linear feet of intermittent streams; and
5.    projects involving the discharge of dredged or fill material that include increases in perennial or intermittent stream channel capacities in excess of 500 linear feet.  

The Corps will provide the resource agencies copies of the permit application and plans.  These agencies will have (thirty) 30 calendar days to provide substantive, site-specific comments. To expedite this review, it is requested that permit applications for projects subject to agency notification be submitted electronically. The district engineer will fully consider agency comments received within the specified time frame concerning the proposed activity’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the RGP, including the need for mitigation to ensure the net adverse environmental effects of the proposed activity are no more than minimal. The district engineer will provide no response to the resource agency. The district engineer will indicate in the administrative record associated with each PCN that the resource agencies’ concerns were considered. 

        V. District Engineer’s Decision

           1. In reviewing the PCN for the proposed activity, the district engineer will determine whether the activity authorized by the RGP will result in more than minimal individual or cumulative adverse environmental effects or may be contrary to the public interest.
         
          2. When making minimal adverse environmental effects determinations the district engineer will will consider the direct and indirect effects caused by the RGP activity. He or she will also consider the cumulative adverse environmental effects caused by activities authorized by RGP and whether those cumulative adverse environmental effects are no more than minimal. The district engineer will also consider site specific factors, such as the environmental setting in the vicinity of the RGP activity,  the type of resource that will be affected by the RGP activity, the functions provided by the aquatic resources that will be affected by the RGP activity, the degree or magnitude to which the aquatic resources perform those functions, the extent that aquatic resource functions will be lost as a result of the RGP activity (e.g., partial or complete loss), the duration of the adverse effects (temporary or  permanent), the importance of the aquatic resource functions to the region (e.g., watershed or ecoregion), and mitigation required by the district engineer. If an appropriate functional or condition assessment method is available and practicable to use, that assessment method may be used by the district engineer to assist in the minimal adverse environmental effects determination. The district engineer may add case-specific special conditions to the RGP authorization to address site-specific environmental concerns.

     3. If the district Engineer determines that the adverse environmental effects of the proposed activity are more than minimal, then the district engineer will notify the prospective permittee either: (a) That the activity does not qualify for authorization under the RGP and instruct the prospective permittee on the procedures to seek authorization under an individual permit; (b) that the activity is authorized under the RGP subject to the submission of a mitigation plan that would reduce the adverse environmental effects so that they are no more than minimal; or (c) that the activity is authorized under the RGP with specific modifications or conditions.

    VI. Further Information:

        1. Congressional Authorities: This activity has been authorized pursuant to Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

        2. Limits of this authorization:
            a. This permit does not obviate the need to obtain other Federal, state, or local authorizations
                required by law.
            b. This permit does not grant any property rights or exclusive privileges.
            c. This permit does not authorize any injury to the property or rights of others.
            d. This permit does not authorize interference with any existing or proposed Federal project.

        3. Limits of Federal Liability: In issuing this permit, the Federal Government does not assume any  Liability for the following:
            a. Damages to the permitted project or uses thereof as a result of other permitted or un-permitted activities or from natural causes.
            b. Damages to the permitted project or uses thereof as a result of current or future activities undertaken by or on behalf of the United States in the public interest.
            c. Damages to persons, property, or to other permitted or unpermitted activities or structures caused by the activity authorized by this permit. 
            d. Design or construction deficiencies associated with the permitted work. 
            e. Damage claims associated with any future  modification, suspension, or revocation of this permit. 

       4. Reliance on Applicant’s Data:  The determination of this office that the activity is not contrary to the public interest was made in reliance on the information provided pursuant to the notification requirement.  Any change to the proposed work may make the project ineligible for authorization by this RGP.

        5. Reevaluation of Permit Decision: This office may reevaluate its decision on this permit at any time the circumstances warrant. Circumstances that could require a reevaluation include, but are not limited to, the following:
            a. Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of this RGP.
            b. The information provided with the submitted permit application proves to have been false, incomplete, or inaccurate (See 4 above).
            c. Significant new information becomes available which this office did not consider in reaching the original public interest decision. 

Such a reevaluation may result in a determination that it is appropriate to use the suspension, modification, and revocation procedures contained in 33 CFR § 325.7 or enforcement procedures such as those contained in 33 CFR § 326.4 and § 326.5.

  6. Consent to easement over and under land identified as a flowage easement is attached, if applicable.