Notice2026-18606
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 11, 2026
Issuing agencies
Defense Department
Abstract
Pursuant to the provisions of Title 41 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) (42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 4370m et seq.), The DoD (referred to herein as "the Department of War" or "DoW") announces the availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), following DoW's evaluation of the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of an integrated non-ferrous smelting and refining facility and associated infrastructure in Montgomery County, Tennessee.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 175 (Friday, September 11, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57864-57865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18606]
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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Secretary
Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment and
Finding of No Significant Impact
AGENCY: Department of Defense (DoD).
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of Title 41 of the Fixing America's
Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41) (42 United States Code (U.S.C.)
4370m et seq.), The DoD (referred to herein as ``the Department of
War'' or ``DoW'') announces the availability of the Final Environmental
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), following
DoW's evaluation of the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of an integrated non-ferrous smelting and
refining facility and associated infrastructure in Montgomery County,
Tennessee.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rose Johnson, Office of the Assistant
Secretary of War for Energy, Installations, and Environment, (571) 372-
6793, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ceef3eff9b2f1b2f6f3f4f2eff3f2ada8acb2fff5eadcf1fdf5f0b2f1f5f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5d2f322e38733073373235332e32336c696d733e342b1d303c343173303431">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project Crucible is a covered project under
the FAST-41 statute. FAST-41 is intended to provide transparency into
the environmental review and authorization process for infrastructure
projects, which is accomplished by posting projects on the Permitting
Dashboard. The Project Crucible FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard can be
viewed at <a href="https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/project-crucible">https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/project-crucible</a>.
The Final EA evaluates the reasonably foreseeable environmental
effects associated with the construction and operation of Project
Crucible, an integrated non-ferrous smelting and refining facility near
Clarkesville, Montgomery County, Tennessee. The EA was prepared in
accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) and DoW NEPA Implementing Procedures to inform DoW's
decision whether to provide financial assistance through the DoW Office
of Strategic Capital to Crucible Metals, LLC for Project Crucible and
to inform the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) decision-making
responsibilities associated with the Connected Actions. The U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),
Tennessee State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), federally
recognized Indian Tribes, TVA, and other participating agencies were
involved in review and consultation related to the Proposed Action.
The Final EA evaluates the reasonably foreseeable environmental
effects of the Proposed Action and no action alternative. Environmental
resource areas carried forward for detailed analysis in the EA include
air quality and greenhouse gases, water resources, acoustic
environment, biological resources, cultural resources, utilities, solid
and hazardous waste and hazardous materials, transportation, and
socioeconomics. Based on the analysis presented in the EA, which was
prepared in accordance with the requirements of NEPA and DoW NEPA
Implementing Procedures, and in coordination with the USACE, Tennessee
SHPO, federally recognized Indian Tribes, USFWS, and TVA, DoW finds
that implementation of the Proposed Action would not significantly
affect the quality of the human environment.
Endangered Species Act Section 7. The DoW consulted with the USFWS
under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act regarding the proposed
action and received concurrence with DoW's finding that the Proposed
Action may affect but is not likely to adversely affect ESA-listed
species. USFWS also acknowledged DoW's ``no jeopardy'' conference
determinations for species proposed for listing. There are no federally
designated critical habitats in the proposed project area.
National Historic Preservation Act Section 106. In consultation
with
[[Page 57865]]
federally recognized Tribes, Tennessee SHPO, and the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation, DoW found that construction activities
associated with the project would adversely affect three archaeological
resources and one historic site. DoW proposed phased identification and
assessment of effects resulting from construction of the connected
utility infrastructure. The Tennessee SHPO concurred with this finding,
the phased approach, the proposed conditions on the undertaking to
avoid and minimize effects, and the proposed mitigation measures to
resolve adverse effects. DoW has documented its decision, including the
final conditions on the undertaking and the measures to resolve adverse
effects, in the FONSI.
The Final EA and FONSI will be available to view and download
electronically at <a href="https://www.denix.osd.mil/ProjectCrucible">https://www.denix.osd.mil/ProjectCrucible</a> on
September 11, 2026. The documentation is available from any internet
access including from computers freely available at public libraries.
Dated: September 9, 2026.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2026-18606 Filed 9-10-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6001-FR-P
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