News Release

Public Comments Sought on Contaminated Mine Lands Drainage Projects at Big South Fork NRRA

Date: August 1, 2018
Contact: Tom Blount, [phone]
Contact: Christopher Derman

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Park Service is releasing a Contaminated Mine Drainage Mitigation and Treatment; Programmatic and Site Specific Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for review and comment. The purpose of this project is to address contaminated mine drainage remediation and to create a programmatic approach to considering future treatment options at former mining sites throughout the entire park. These actions will address the need to improve water quality in tributaries of the Big South Fork River.

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area region has been extensively mined for coal since the early 1900s, and mining waste materials were typically dumped near the mines. Surface and groundwater that comes in contact with mine spoils or that is discharged from the mines is often acidic and has elevated concentrations of heavy metals. Contaminated mine drainage pollutes aquatic systems and is considered to be partly responsible for a reduction in biological diversity of lakes and streams in the Big South Fork area.

The National Park Service would like to hear any comments on the scope of the proposed project by Monday, September 17, 2018. The DEIS is available for review and comment online on Friday, August 3, at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BISOCMD. 

There will also be three public meetings in August for open discussion regarding the DEIS:

• August 28, 2018 – Oak Ridge, Tennessee: Children's Museum of Oak Ridge, 4:00-6:00 PM (ET)
• August 29, 2018 – Huntsville, Tennessee: Scott County Visitor Center, 1:00-3:00 PM (ET)
• August 30, 2018 – Stearns, Kentucky: Stearns Ranger Station, 4:00-6:00 PM (ET)

For more information, please contact park headquarters at [phone].