[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 1995)] [Notices] [Pages 47944-47946] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-23007] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [ER-FRL-5228-8] Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments Availability of EPA comments prepared August 28, 1995 Through September 01, 1995 pursuant to the Environmental Review Process (ERP), under Section 309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act as amended. Requests for copies of EPA comments can be directed to the Office of Federal Activities at (202) 260-5076. An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 14, 1995 (60 FR 19047). [[Page 47945]] Draft EISs ERP No. D-AFS-J65238-MT Rating EC2, Bull Sweats Vegetation Manipulation Project, Implementation, Helena National Forest, Helena Ranger District, Lewis and Clark Counties, MT. SUMMARY: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential air quality impacts of proposed prescribed burning, and believes additional information on air quality impacts, timber harvest prescriptions, and water quality/wetlands impacts are needed to fully assess and mitigate all potential impacts of the management actions. ERP No. D-AFS-J65239-MT Rating EC2, South Fork Yaak Salvage Project, Implementation, Kootenai National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District, Lincoln County, MT. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the existing condition, sensitivity to disturbance, and slow recovery of Fowler and Can Creeks, and potential air quality impacts of proposed activities. The EPA also believes additional information is needed to fully assess and mitigate all potential environmental impacts of the management actions. ERP No. D-AFS-L65172-ID Rating EC2, Idaho Panhandle National Forests Noxious Weed Management Projects, Implementation, Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Boundary County, ID. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and believes that information is required to effectively address risks associated with the proposed herbicide treatments related to specific management objectives. Potential impacts to ground and surface water should be expanded. ERP No. D-BLM-J01073-WY Rating EC2, Jackpot Underground Uranium Mine Project, Construction and Operation, Plan of Operation Approval, NPDES Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Fremont and Sweetwater Counties, WY. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and believes that air dispersion modeling in a screening mode should be performed to estimate impacts to NAAQS. The final EIS should address procedures when PM-10 has been trigged and include a contingency plan for the permit. ERP No. D-BLM-L65243-OR Rating EC2, Lake Abert Area Designation as an Area of Critical Environmental Concerns (ACEC), High Desert Management Framework Amendment Plan, Right-of-Way Grant and Drilling Permit, Valley Falls, Lake County, OR. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and recommends that a grazing-prohibition alternative be considered, and that potential noise impacts should be addressed in the final EIS. ERP No. D-NOA-A29004-00 Rating LO, Programmatic EIS--Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program, Implementation, Approval for 29 States and Territories Coastal Nonpoint Program. Summary: EPA rated the draft EIS as ``LO'' (lack of objections). As a cooperating agency on the EIS EPA provided some suggestions to strengthen the document in providing a thorough explanation of the program and the problems it is designed to address. ERP No. D-NPS-K65171-CA Rating EC2, Cabrillo National Monument, General Management Plan/Development Concept Plans, Implementation, San Diego County, CA. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns in these the major areas: air quality, National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permitting, and Coastal Zone Management Act requirements. The draft EIS lacked discussion of air impacts and EPA provided extensive comments and guidance for conformity determinations and analyzing air impacts to be included in the final EIS. ERP No. DR-DOE-L91009-WA Rating EC2, Yakima River Basin Fisheries Project, Updated and Additional Information, Construction, Operation and Maintenance, Funding, COE Section 10/404 Permits and NPDES Permit, Yakima Indian Nation, Yakima County, WA. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on the potential impacts to fisheries resources and the need to ensure that the BPA and other responsible parties are evaluating opportunities to complement their respective management actions/objectives within the Yakima River Basin. EPA has requested additional information on fish habitat conditions, and clarification on the relationship of the proposed action with the Bureau of Reclamation's water enhancement project. ERP No. DS-NPS-L65229-AK Rating EC2, Brooks River Area, Katmai National Park and Preserve Development Concept Plan, Updated Information Concerning a New Proposal Alternative for Beaver Pond Terrace, Implementation, AK. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about wetlands, water quality and mitigation. Final EISs ERP No. F-BLM-K60026-CA, Mesquite Regional Landfill Project, Implementation, Federal Land Exchange, Right-of-Way Approval, Conditional-Use-Permit and General Plan Amendment, Imperial County, CA. Summary: The final EIS satisfactorily addressed issues raised in EPA's comments on the draft EIS. EPA believed it may be possible to further reduce air quality impacts by implementing EPA's proposed New Source Performance Standard for MSW landfills (56 FR 24476, May 30, 1991). ERP No. F-NPS-D61036-DC, Rock Creek Park Tennis Center and Associated Recreation Fields, Implementation, Northwest Quadrant of Washington, DC. Summary: EPA believes the documentation and range of alternatives discussed are sufficient and no further comments are warranted. EPA had no objections to the preferred alternative described in the FEIS. ERP No. F-NPS-K61133-CA, Joshua Tree National Monument General Management Plan and Development Concept Plan, Implementation, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, CA. Summary: The final EIS has been responsive to concerns expressed in EPA's comments on the draft EIS. ERP No. F-NPS-K61135-AZ, Grand Canyon National Park General Management Plan, Implementation, Coconino and Mohave Counties, AZ. Summary: EPA had environmental concerns with the potential adverse impacts with road realignment on the east rim, development of area services on the south rim and compliance with drinking water standards. ERP No. F-NPS-L61197-OR, Fort Clatsop National Memorial General Management and Development Concept Plans, Implementation, Astoria, Clatsop County, OR. Summary: Review of the final EIS has been completed and the project found to be satisfactory. EPA provided no formal written comments. EPA had no objection to the preferred alternative as described in the FEIS. ERP No. F-USN-E11035-SC, Charleston Naval Base Disposal and Reuse, Implementation, Charleston and Dorchester Counties, SC. Summary: EPA environmental concerns with the DEIS were addressed. However, EPA expressed environmental concerns with water quality and radiological issues in the FEIS. ERP No. FS-AFS-J65183-UT, East Fork Blacks Fork Multiple Use Management Project, Implementation, Additional Information, Wasatch- Cache National Forest, Evanston Ranger District, Summit County, UT. [[Page 47946]] Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections to the proposed action. Regulations ERP No. R-AFS-A65162-00, Forest Service Handbook for Review of FERC Hydropower Authorizations on National Forest Service Lands--RIN 0596- AA47. Summary: EPA agrees that the USFS and FERC should streamline their process and interactions concerning hydropower projects, however it is critical that the USFS maintain sufficient, independent authority to ensure that its environmental responsibilities with regard to National Forest Lands are met. Dated: September 12, 1995. B. Katherine Biggs, Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities. [FR Doc. 95-23007 Filed 9-14-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-U