[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63314-63315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30290]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6248-3]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared November 01, 1999 through
November 05, 1999 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) 564-7167.
An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 10, 1999 (63
FR 17856).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J65312-WY--Rating EO2, Squirrel Meadows--Grand
Targhee Land Exchange Proposal, Implementation, Targhee National
Forest, Teton County, WY.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about the lack of analysis
on the direct and indirect impacts to wetlands and wildlife habitat
from the additional development in proposed alternatives B, C, and D.
Because the land exchange and resulting base area development are
``connected actions'' EPA believe a more detailed environmental
analysis is required.
ERP No. D-AFS-K65219-CA--Rating EC2, Eldorado and Tahoe National
Forests Land and Resource Management Plan, Standard and Guidelines for
the Grazing Allotments, Implementation, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the potential
resource shortfalls that might prevent monitoring and restoration
activities as well as a lack of mandatory reductions in AUMs,
elimination of grazing on specific allotments, or the triggering of
additional protections when monitoring goals are not achieved.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65332-OR--Rating LO, Ashland Creek Watershed
Protection Project, Proposal to Manage Vegetation, Rogue River National
Forest, Ashland Ranger District, City of Ashland, Jackson County, OR.
Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited
review of this action. Based upon the screen, EPA does not foresee
having any environmental objections to the proposed project.
ERP No. D-FAA-A52169-00--Rating LO, Programmatic EIS--Commercial
Launch Vehicles, Implementation, Issuing a Launch License.
Summary: EPA had no objection to the proposed action, although some
text clarification suggestion were provided.
ERP No. D-FHW-J40151-WY--Rating EC2, Wyoming Forest Highway 23
Project, Louis Lake Road also known as Forest Development Road 300,
Improvements from Bruce's Parking Lot to Worthen Meadow Road, Funding,
NPDES Permits and COE Section 404 Permit, Shoshone National Forest,
Fremont County, WY.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the
analysis of cumulative/indirect impacts and the range of alternatives.
EPA requested that mitigation be included to reduce erosion and
sedimentation of adjacent water and also requested additional
information on alternatives for the existing roadway and potential
cumulative effects to wildlife in the Forest.
ERP No. D-FRC-L05220-WA--Rating EC2, Warm Creek (No. 10865) and
Clearwater Creek (No. 11485) Hydroelectric Project, Issuance of License
for the Construction and Operation, Located in the Middle Fork Nooksack
River (MFNR) Basin, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed concerns over the purpose and need for the
projects, given their very small size; potential impacts to salmonids
in the event of access above the Middle Fork Nooksack River diversion
dam, which is downstream from the projects; and a lack of a true cost
benefit analysis.
ERP No. DS-FHW-G50008-00--Rating EC2, Great River Bridge,
Construction, US 65 in Arkansas to MS-8 in Mississippi, Funding, COE
Section 404 Permit and US Coast Guard Bridge Permit, Desha and Arkansas
Counties, AR and Bolivar County, MS.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding wetland and
wildlife habitat impacts and the mitigation of these impacts. EPA
requested that additional information be provided on these issues in
the next document.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-L60106-ID, Long Prong Project, Timber Harvesting,
Road Construction and Reconstruction, Boise National Forest, Cascade
Ranger District, Valley County, ID.
Summary: No formal comment letter sent to the lead agency.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65290-ID, North Lochsa Face Landscape and Watershed
Assessment Project, Implementation, Clearwater National Forest, Lochsa
Ranger District, Idaho County, ID.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65303-WA, I-90 Land Exchange between Forest Service
and Plum Creek, within the Vicinity of the Wenatchee, Mt. Baker-
Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot National Forests, Kittitas, King,
Pierce, Lewis, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections.
ERP No. F-COE-L32010-OR, Columbia and Lower Willamette River
Federal Navigation Channel,
[[Page 63315]]
Improvement Channel Deepening, OR and WA.
Summary: EPA's previous concerns have been addressed, therefore EPA
has no objection to the proposed action.
ERP No. F-FHW-F40375-IL, IL-315 Federal Aid Primary (FAP)
(Illinois-336) Transportation Project, Construction from FAP 315, IL
336 (Southeast of Carthage) to US 136 (Just West of Macomb), Funding,
COE 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, Hancock and McDonough Counties, IL.
Summary: EPA's previously expressed concerns for documentation of
wetlands avoidance/minimization and identification of a satisfactory
conceptual wetlands compensation plan have been resolved. Therefore,
EPA has no objections to the action as proposed.
ERP No. F-FHW-F40381-MN, Phalen Boulevard Project, Construction of
a new 4.3 Kilometer Roadway, from I35E to Johnson Parkway, Funding, in
the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN.
Summary: Final EIS provided adequate information and analysis to
address EPA's previous environmental concerns, therefore, EPA has no
objection to the proposed action.
ERP No. F-NOA-B91026-ME, Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus
harengus) Fishery Management Plan (FWP), Management Measures, Exclusive
Ecosystem Zone (EEZ), Gulf of Maine, George Bank, ME.
Summary: EPA had no objections to the project.
ERP No. F-NOA-B91027-00, Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthras) Fishery
Management Plan, Implementation, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Labrador to
Florida.
Summary: EPA had no objection to the project and offered general
comments with respect to ghost fishing and the characterization of
ocean disposal issues.
ERP No. F-NPS-K61123-CA, Backcounty and Wilderness Management Plan,
General Management Plan Amendment, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside
and San Bernardino Counties, CA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-NPS-L61160-AK, Lower Sheenjek River Wild/Scenic River
Study, Designation or Non-Designation for Inclusion in the National
Wild and Scenic River System, Tributary of the Porcupine River, Yukon
Flats National Wildlife Refuge, AK.
Summary: No formal comment letter sent to the preparing agency.
Dated: November 16, 1999.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-30290 Filed 11-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U