PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING NOTICE FOR COAL RIVER WATERSHED PROJECT SET FOR JULY 21, 2025 (Charleston, WV – July 8, 2025) – The Capital Conservation District (Local Sponsors), in coordination with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), are holding a Public Scoping Meeting for the development of a Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment (Plan-EA) to discuss options for limiting or eliminating the liability associated with the dam located on the Coal River in Tornado, West Virginia, while addressing resource concerns including watershed protection, public fish and wildlife, and public recreation. This planning effort is under the authority of the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act (Public Law PL 83-566) and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, and corresponding NRCS policy and guidelines. You are invited and encouraged to learn more about this project at a public and agency scoping meeting. The meeting will be held at Andrews Heights Elementary School 7776 Coal River Road, Tornado, West Virginia 25202, on July 21st from 6PM to 8PM, with a virtual option using Microsoft Teams. Representatives from the Local Sponsors, NRCS, and the sponsors’ consultant (GFT), will provide information on the watershed operations program, planning activities to date for the dam on Coal River, describe potential alternatives which may be considered for this structure, and answer questions and concerns about the planned activities. The participation of resource agencies and the public is a vital component of the project, providing those who are interested in or potentially affected by the proposed project, an opportunity to share their comments, ideas, and concerns during project initiation. To support development of the Plan-EA, we are requesting your input to the scoping process by (1) identifying relevant issues or concerns to be considered, and (2) providing information or data which would be helpful in evaluating potential alternatives. Federal funding has been received to assist the Local Sponsors in developing the plan but has not yet been secured for the design or construction of this project. NRCS provides reasonable accommodations to enable all persons with disabilities to participate in agency programs and activities. If you require special accommodations, please contact Terry Hudson by July 14th. If you have any questions or comments which you would like to be considered as part of the Plan-EA process, or to request the virtual meeting information, please forward your comments and any associated information to Eric Neast, Project Manager, GFT at 717-886-5453, or email [email protected]. Please provide any comments by August 22, 2025, so that we can adequately consider and incorporate your response into the Plan-EA evaluation process, as appropriate. Virtual Public Meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Zjg1NzgwMDYtMDNkZi00MjdmLWEzZTMtYTVkZDU2ZDk1Mjlm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ed5b36e7-01ee-4ebc-867e-e03cfa0d4697%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%229adb2555-d8dd-4b9b-9ad1-bb82a847f177%22%7d Call in: Phone number: +1 202-650-0123 Phone conference ID: 339 095 994# LC-296803 07-08;2025