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Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 
PDF Version (2 pp, 78K, About PDF)

[Federal Register: May 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 86)]
[Notices]
[Page 24279-24280]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my08-76]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6698-5]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared 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 11, 2008 (73 FR 19833).

Draft EISs

    EIS No. 20070524, ERP No. D-BLM-J65502-00. PROGRAMMATIC EIS--Oil
Shale and Tar Sands Resource Management (RMP) Amendments to Address
Land Use Allocations in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential
for adverse impacts to air quality, surface water and groundwater. In
addition, EPA suggested that the final EIS should strengthen the No
Action alternative analysis, broaden the alternative analysis, and
consider reasonably foreseeable development scenarios in the cumulative
impacts analysis. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080002, ERP No. D-BLM-K08066-CA. Sunrise Powerlink
Transmission Line Project, Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment,
Construction and Operation of a New 91-mile 500 kilovolt (kV) Electric
Transmission Line from Imperial Valley Substation (in Imperial Co. near
the City of El Centro) to a New Central East Substation (in Central San
Diego Co,) Imperial and San Diego Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
adverse impacts to watershed resources, air quality, and the Anza-
Borrego Desert State Park. We recommend further discussion on basic
project objectives, including the demonstration of purpose and need and
the disclosure of economic costs and benefits. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080021, ERP No. D-SFW-L64053-AK. Yukon Flats National
Wildlife Refuge Project, Proposed Federal and Public Land Exchange,
Right-of-Way Grant, Anchorage, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about potential habitat
fragmentation impacts; the lack of appraisal information and other data
for exchange lands; and the limited range and number of alternatives
considered. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080037, ERP No. D-AFS-L65548-ID. Yakus Creek Project,
Proposes Timber Harvest, Watershed Improvement, and Access Management
Activities, Lochsa Ranger District, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho
County, ID.
    Summary: EPA supports actions to improve forest and watershed
health. However, the final EIS should consider increasing the rate of
decommissioning closed roads and review the need for the proposed OHV
connector trails which could potentially adversely impact water quality
in source water areas. Rating EC1.
    EIS No. 20080045, ERP No. D-BIA-K69008-CA. North Fork Rancheria of
Mono Indians Fee-to-Trust and Casino/Hotel Project, Proposed 305-Acres-
Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition in Unincorporated Madera County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
groundwater impacts, and requested that a mitigation monitoring and
enforcement program be included in the final EIS. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080048, ERP No. D-BLM-J67034-MT. Montana Tunnels Mine
Project, Proposed M-Pit Mine Expansion to Existing Mine Pit to Access
and Mine Additional Ore Resources, Jefferson County, MT.
    Summary: EPA identified potential significant adverse impacts to
water quality that should be avoided by ensuring that metals
contamination of surface and ground-water will be adequately mitigated,
and that pollutant loads are consistent with TMDLs for impaired waters.
EPA requested that the final EIS include information regarding mine
site water management, TMDL consistency, mitigation, closure, and
bonding. Rating EO2.
    EIS No. 20080070, ERP No. D-AFS-K65338-AZ. Warm Fire Recovery
Project, Removal of Fire-Killed Trees Reforestation, Fuel Reduction and
Road Reconstruction of Wildland Fire Burn Portion, Coconino County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern about water resource and habitat
impacts. EPA requested additional information on these impacts and
suggested that the selection of Alternative 3--Winter Logging would
reduce many of the impacts. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080076, ERP No. D-AFS-L65549-ID. Bussel 484 Project Area,
Manage the Project Area to Achieve Desired Future Conditions for
Vegetation, Fire, Fuels, Recreation, Access, Wildlife, Fisheries, Soil
and Water, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, St. Joe Ranger District,
Shoshone County, ID.
    Summary: EPA supports the proposed actions for managing forest
health goals at the landscape level. However, EPA has environmental
concerns with impacts to water quality from new road construction in
the Bussel Creek Trail; impacts to riparian resources along the Norton
Creek and Lines Creek trails under the proposed alternative; and the
proposed time line for riparian plantings (10-15 years). The final EIS
should include information on mitigation and whether new roads will be
temporary. Rating EC1.
    EIS No. 20080078, ERP No. D-AFS-J65512-MT. Butte Lookout Project,
Proposed Timber Harvest, Prescribed Burning, Road Work and Management
Activities, Missoula Ranger District, Lola National Forest, Missoula
County, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports activities to reduce bark beetle infestations
and risks of wildfire, rehabilitate degraded watersheds, and provide
timber for local and regional economies. However, EPA expressed
environmental concerns about water quality impacts from logging and
road construction and available funding to implement road
decommissioning to achieve consistency with the downstream Lolo Creek
TMDL. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080079, ERP No. D-USN-A11081-00. Introduction of the P-8A
MMA into the U.S. Navy Fleet, To Provide Facilities and Functions That
Support the Homebasing of 12 P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA)
Fleet Squadrons (72 Aircraft) and one Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS),
which include the Following Installations: Naval Air Station
Jacksonville, FL; Naval Air Station

[[Page 24280]]

Whidbey Island, WA; Naval Air Station North Island, CA; Marine Corps
Base HI and Kaneohe Bay, HI.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action. Rating LO.
    EIS No. 20080063, ERP No. DS-USN-K11119-HI. Hawaii Range Complex
(HRC) Project, Additional Information, To Support and Maintain Navy
Pacific Fleet Training, and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation
(RDT&E) Operations, Kauai, Honolulu, Maui and Hawaii Counties, HI.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about impacts to marine mammals
from mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080084, ERP No. DS-AFS-J65448-UT. West Bear Vegetation
Management Project, Additional Information To Improve a Portion of the
Cumulative Effects Analysis and Correct the Soils Analysis, Timber
Harvesting, Prescribed Burning, Roads Construction, Township 1 North,
Range 9 East, Salt Lake Principle Meridian, Evanston Ranger District,
Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Summit County, UT.
    Summary: This DSEIS responded adequately to our concerns on soil
erosion and compactions; therefore, EPA does not object to the proposed
action. Rating LO.
    EIS No. 20080096, ERP No. DS-NOA-K39102-CA. Cordell Bank, Gulf of
the Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries, Updated
Information, Proposes a Series of Regulatory Changes, Offshore of
Northern/Central, CA.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed project. Rating LO.

Final EISs

    EIS No. 20080082, ERP No. F-AFS-L65542-ID. Cherry Dinner Project,
Management of Vegetation, Hazardous Fuels, and Access Plus Watershed
Improvements, Amendment to the Forest Plan, Palouse Ranger District,
Clearwater National Forest, Latah County, ID.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.
    EIS No. 20080085, ERP No. F-NPS-L65515-WA. Olympic National Park
General Management Plan, Implementation, Clallam, Grays Harbor,
Jefferson and Mason Counties, WA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    EIS No. 20080100, ERP No. F-AFS-L65482-ID. Aspen Range Timber Sale
and Vegetation Treatment Project, New Updated Version, Preferred
Alternative is 5, Proposal To Treat Forested and Nonforested
Vegetation, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Soda Springs Ranger
District, Caribou County, ID.
    Summary: EPA supports the Preferred Alternative that decreases
roads in riparian areas and meets Forest Plan standards and guidelines
including Goshawk Habitat.
    EIS No. 20080108, ERP No. FR-WPA-K08024-CA. Sacramento Area Voltage
Support Project, Revision to FSEIS Filed February 2008, Selected
Preferred Alternative B, Proposal to Build a Double-Circuit 230-kV
Transmission Line, Placer, Sacramento and Sutter Counties, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: April 29, 2008.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E8-9709 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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