Comments Sought for Big South Fork Contaminated Mine Drainage Remediation Environmental Assessment

Date: December 9, 2014
Contact: Tom Blount, 423-569-9778
Contact: Niki Stephanie Nicholas, 423-569-9778

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are developing an Environmental Assessment for remediation of selected contaminated mine drainage sites in the Kentucky side of the Big South Fork.

This Environmental Assessment will address the construction and operation of conservation measures to be implemented by the Corps on National Park Service lands for the purpose of improving aquatic habitat conditions in the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River for the endangered duskytail darter. The darter was identified in a 2013 aquatic survey in the section of the river affected by Lake Cumberland. The lake is being returned to normal pool operations after completion of the repairs to the Wolf Creek Dam on the Cumberland River. This Environmental Assessment will provide descriptions of seven possible combinations of remediation sites near the Blue Heron area between Laurel Branch and the Blue Heron Mining Community. At least three of the seven sites would be selected as those deemed to have the best benefits to water quality and aquatic habitat improvements for the duskytail darter.

Comments regarding the development of this Environmental Assessment can be sent to the park until January 15, 2015. Please address comments to:

Superintendent
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area
4564 Leatherwood Road
Oneida, TN 37841

Comments may also be received via email at e-mail us. For more information, please call [phone].