The public is invited to attend meetings about and to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the application by Alcoa, Inc., for a Department of the Army permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has prepared the DEIS, which evaluates potential impacts to the natural, physical and human environment that would result from construction and operation of Alcoa's proposed Three Oaks Mine in Lee and Bastrop Counties. Alcoa must obtain a permit from the Corps under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act because the activity would involve the discharge of dredged and fill material into waters of the United States. The DEIS is available on the Corps' website at www.swf.usace.army.mil and at numerous public libraries, courthouses and city halls. (See attached list.)Individuals with questions about the DEIS are invited to attend the Corps' open house information meeting from 6-8 p.m., Oct. 1, at the Elgin High School, 1400 County Line Road in Elgin, Texas. The Corps will accept written comments on the DEIS at this meeting as well as have a court reporter available for individuals who want to make comments.
The Corps will hold a formal public hearing to gather information about the DEIS from 6:30-10 p.m., Oct. 2, at Elgin High School. A court reporter will record comments made during the hearing, and a second court reporter will be available for individuals who want to make their comments more privately or who must leave the meeting before their turn to speak. The Corps will not be answering questions at this meeting.
The public may also mail or email written comments about the DEIS to the Corps any time during the public comment period. Comments can be mailed to
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
ATTN: Jennifer Walker, CESWF-PER-R
PO Box 17300
Fort Worth, TX 76102
or emailed to [email protected].The Corps must receive all comments on the DEIS on or before Oct. 22, 2002, the close of the comment period.
For more information about submitting comments or about the DEIS, call 817-886-1731.
Availability of DEIS
Copies of the DEIS may be obtained by contacting the Corps at 817/886-1731 or by printing copies from Corps' Internet homepage at www.swf.usace.army.mil. Copies of the DEIS also are available for inspection at the following locations.-- Bastrop City Hall, 902 Main Street, Bastrop, TX 78602.
-- Lexington City Hall, P.O. Box 56, Lexington, TX 78947.
-- Austin City Hall, 124 West 8th Street, P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767.
-- Rockdale City Hall, P.O. Box 586, Rockdale, TX 76567.
-- Elgin City Hall, P.O. Box 591, Elgin, TX 78621.
-- Giddings City Hall, 118 E. Richmond Street, Giddings, TX 78942.
-- Lee County Courthouse, P.O. Box 390, Giddings, TX, 78942.
-- Milam County Courthouse, P.O. Box 1008, Cameron, TX 76520.
-- Bastrop County Courthouse, 804 Pecan Street, Bastrop, TX 78602.
-- Travis County Courthouse, 1000 Guadalupe Street, P.O. Box 1748, Austin, TX 78767.
-- City of Austin Library - Millwood Branch, 12500 Amherst Drive, Austin, TX 78727.
-- City of Austin Library - John Henry Faulk Branch, 800 Guadalupe, Austin, TX 78701.
-- City of Austin Library - Will Hampton at Oak Hill Branch, 5125 Convict Hill Road, Austin, TX 78749.
-- City of Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church Street, Bastrop, TX 78602.
-- City of Elgin Public Library, 404 North Main Street, Elgin, TX 78621.
-- City of Giddings Public Library, 177 South Madison Street, Giddings, TX 78942.
-- City of Rockdale Public Library, 201 Ackerman Street, Rockdale, TX 76567.
Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
