NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS AND ENERGY FY2015 ABANDONED MINE LAND CONSOLIDATED GRANT The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s (DMME) Division of Mined Land Reclamation (DMLR) is submitting a grant request to the U. S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation Enforcement (OSMRE) for funding of the Fiscal Year 2015 Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Consolidated Grant. The AML Consolidated Grant provides support for program administration and construction projects for Virginia’s AML Programs. The AML Administration Program provides support for Virginia’s AML Program to protect the public health, safety and general welfare from the adverse effects of coal mining practices that occurred prior to the enactment of the Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The AML Construction Reclamation Program provides funding for the reclamation of abandoned mine sites that endanger public health, safety and general welfare and are the results of adverse impacts of past coal mining practices prior to the Federal Act. Subject to federal funding, the following projects will be pursued. 1. Special Set-Aside Project FY2015 Special set-aside monies will be used to study, design, construct and monitor acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation projects. 2. Engineering Project FY2015 Engineering provides for design work, realty and environmental permitting for AML reclamation projects. 3. Maintenance FY2015 Maintenance provides for repair work on previously completed projects. 4. Water Supply Projects FY2015 Projects to assist with public water system expansions in AML areas will be conducted. * Hurley Regional Water, Phase VI: Project is primarily located in the Hurley area of Buchanan County and consists of installing approximately 13.5 miles (71,300 linear feet) of water line, two pitless pump stations, and two hydropneumatic tanks. Approximately 211 households will benefit from the project. 5. Coalfield Projects FY2015 Coalfield Projects will be performed in accordance with Virginia’s Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Plan, as amended, and in accordance with the provisions of P.L. 95-87, as amended, the Title IV Regulations, and the Federal Assistance Manual. The intent of reclamation will be to address Priority 1, 2, and 3 features within specific problem areas. Reclamation of Priority 3 features will be either an integral part of, or incidental to reclamation of Priority 1 and 2 features. * Box Camp Road Portals: Project areas are located approximately 1.0 mile south of Deskins in Buchanan County and will close portals and remove old mining equipment and debris at Box Camp Road, Hairpin Branch and Lesters Branch. * Harman Memorial Baptist Church: Project area is located on Route 609/Bull Creek Road at Harman Memorial Church in Buchanan County and will dewater mine works and correct drainage problems. * Hunters Shaft: Project is located under a transmission line approximately 2.0 miles south of Subletts in Powhatan County and will close one vertical mine opening. * Junior Cline Drainage: Project area is approximately 0.7 miles off of State Route 649 near Hurley in Buchanan County and will close portals, remove old mine equipment and stabilize a slide and stream channel. * Poplar Street Subsidence: Project is located off Poplar Street in the City of Norton in Wise County and will stabilize two subsidence areas. * Slumber Road Portals: Project area is approximately one mile north off of State Route 701 near Stacy in Buchanan County and will close mine portals and correct drainage problems. * Vanover Impoundment: Project is located approximately 1.8 miles southeast of Pound off State Route 632 in Wise County and will dewater underground mine works and correct drainage problems. AML Enhancement Projects: Projects wherein a contractor can remove and sell incidental coal and use the revenue to offset the cost of AML reclamation will be considered throughout the coalfields. DMLR will accomplish these projects as government financed construction exemption projects. No-Cost Highwall Elimination Projects: Highwalls and other AML features will be eliminated using excess spoil from active mining operations. Projects will be accomplished at no cost to the Virginia AML program in cooperation with active mining operations (in accordance with 4 VAC 25-130-816.76 of the Coal Surface Mining Reclamation Regulations). Tree Planting Projects: Trees will be planted on AML sites throughout the southwest Virginia coalfields. Trees will also be planted on AML Enhancement Projects as a component of government financing of enhancement projects. Further information about this grant can be obtained by contacting the DMLR’s AML Section at (276) 523-8206. Written comments concerning this grant request will be received for fourteen (14) days following publication of this notice. Address all comments to: Division of Mined Land Reclamation, P. O. Drawer 900, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219, Attn: Richard V. Davis. In addition, a public meeting about the proposed grant will be held at 9:30 A.M., February 11, 2015, in Room #116 at the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s Buchanan-Smith Building, located at 3405 Mountain Empire Rd., Big Stone Gap, Virginia. (In the event that adverse weather precludes holding the conference on this date, the conference will be held on February 12, 2015, at the same time and location.) Anyone needing special accommodations for a disability should contact the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy at (276) 523-8206 or the Virginia Relay Center TTY/TDD 1-800-828-1120 or 1140 by February 25, 2015. DEPARTMENT OF MINES, MINERALS AND ENERGY DIVISION OF MINED LAND RECLAMATION (Owner) RICHARD V. DAVIS ABANDONED MINE LAND PROJECT COORDINATOR (Authorized Representative) By: