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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.

 [Federal Register: August 4, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 151)]
[Notices]
[Page 47987-47988]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04au00-71]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6609-8]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared pursuant to the Environmental
Review An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 14, 2000 (65
FR 20157).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J65300-CO Rating LO, Upper Blue Stewardship Project,
Implementation of Vegetation Management, Travel Management, Designation
of Dispersed Camping Sites, White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger
District, Summit County, CO.
    Summary: Based on a limited review, EPA does not foresee having any
environmental objections to the proposed project.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65324-WY Rating EC2, State of Wyoming School Section
16 T.12N., R.83W., 6th P.M., Issuing a Forest Road Special-Use-Permit
for Access, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Brush Creek/Hayden
Ranger District, Carbon County, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about potential impacts on
fisheries, threatened/endangered species and the roadless character of
the land.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J67028-MT Rating LO, Rocky Mountain Front Mineral
Withdrawal, Implementation, Helena and Lewis and Clark National
Forests, Great Falls, MT.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65358-ID Rating EC2, Starbucky Restoration Project,
Implementation of Vegetative Treatment, Road Construction and Watershed
Improvements, Nez Perce National Forest, Red River Ranger District,
Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential for sediment
entering Santiam and Buckhorn Creeks; probability of intrusions into
Buckhorn watershed riparian zone by off-road vehicles; uncertainty of
whether restoration projects would receive funding; and degradation
from possible mine exploration activities in the watersheds. The EPA
requested that these concerns be addressed in final EIS and ROD.
    ERP No. D-BIA-L65352-WA Rating EC2, Colville Indian Reservation
Integrated Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Colville Indian
Reservation, Okanogan and Ferry Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern that there appeared to be no clear
NEPA process for use on projects that would tier off this document. EPA
requested that the final document discuss the tiered NEPA process and
also include additional information on potential air and water quality
issues.
    ERP No. D-FHW-H40169-MO Rating LO, US Route 65/US Route 36 in
Livingston County, Transportation Improvements, Funding and COE Section
404 Permit, Livingston County, MO.
    Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections to the proposed
project, but recommended that MoDOT evaluate compatibility of the C-1
sub-alignment, with the City of Chillicothe's draft land use plan.
    ERP No. D-FHW-K53008-NV Rating EC2, Reno Railroad Corridor,
Implementation of the Freight Railroad Grade Separation Improvements in
the Central Portion of the City of Reno, Washoe County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding the treatment of
contaminated groundwater during construction, the treatment of
stormwater during operation, the impact of the project on the Glendale
Water Treatment Plant, PM-10 emissions during construction, and diesel
emissions during operations. EPA requested the development of more
stringent stormwater quality controls, fugitive dust PM-10 controls,
and the reconsideration of build alternative along alternative
alignments located away from heavily populated areas and riparian
areas.
    ERP No. D-GSA-D80030-DC Rating LO, Department of Transportation
Headquarters, Proposal to Lease 1.3 to 1.35 Million Rentable Square
Feet of Consolidated and Upgraded Space, Five Possible Sites, Located
in the Central Employment Area, Washington, DC.
    Summary: While EPA has no objection to the alternative as
presented, it did request that GSA mitigate any adverse Environmental
Justice impacts, impacts to historic resources/archeology, including
historic views and traffic impacts on local streets that may develop as
the project proceeds.
    ERP No. D-NPS-B61024-MA Rating LO, Boston Harbor Islands National
Recreation Area, Implementation, General Management Plan, Boston, MA.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the project described in the EIS.
    ERP No. D-SFW-K99029-NV Rating EC2, Clark County Multiple Species
Habitat Conservation Plan, Issuance of a Permit to Allow Incidental
Take-of-79 Species, Clark County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about mitigation that relies on
increased funding and coordination for conservation measures primarily
on existing public lands. EPA asked that the FEIS describe how the plan
would result in improved on-the-ground conditions which would not
otherwise be achieved through existing resource management plans. EPA
also believes a commitment to growth which is town-centered, transit
and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial
and retail uses would significantly enhance the benefits of the
regional conservation planning effort. In addition, EPA urged the
adoption of the 20-year permit duration versus the preferred
alternative's 30-year permit.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-J65287-UT Rating LO, Rhyohite Fuel Ecosystem
Rehabilitation Project to the South Spruce Ecosystem Rehabilitation
Project, Implementation, Dixie National Forest, Cedar City Ranger
District, Iron County, UT.
    Summary: Based on a limited review. EPA does not foresee having any
environmental objections to the proposed project.
    ERP No. RD-AFS-L61208-00 Rating EC2, Hells Canyon National
Recreation Area (HCNRA), Comprehensive Management Plan, Revised and
Updated Information on Five Alternatives, Implementation, Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest, Nez Perce and Payette National Forests, Bake
and Wallowa Counties, OR and Nez Perce and Adam Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential impacts to
water

[[Page 47988]]

quality and existing impaired waterbodies. EPA recommends that the EIS
include plans to obliterate roads versus closing them; a comprehensive
road plan that balances environmental effects, funding constraints, and
access needs and includes maintenance and monitoring elements; and a
strategy to restore impaired waters that is based on the 303(d)
protocol.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-L65313-ID, Silver Creek Integrated Resource Project,
Implementation, Middle Fork Payette River, Boise National Forest, Boise
and Valley Counties, ID.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65329-AK, Skipping Cow Timber Sale, Harvesting
Timber, South half of Zarembo Island, Tongass National Forest, Wrangell
Ranger District.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-BLM-L67037-ID, Dry Valley Mine--South Extension Project,
Construction of two New Open Pit Mine, Special-Use-Permit, COE Section
404 Permit, Public and Private Land Used, Caribou County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the area surrounding the
proposed project would be at risk without commitments in the ROD. EPA
requested that the ROD require regular analysis and reporting of data,
a strategy for dealing with unforeseen circumstances at the site,
bonding adequate to reclaim the site, and clear acknowledgment that
land application of wastewater has not been approved by BLM.
    ERP No. F-COE-K36130-AZ, Tres Rios Feasibility Study Project,
Ecosystem Restoration, Located at the Salt, Gila and Agua Fria Rivers,
City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-TVA-E70001-TN, Tim Ford Reservoir Land Management and
Disposition Plan, Implementation, Tim Ford Reservoir, Franklin and
Moore Counties, TN.
    Summary: EPA continues to be concerned about potential water
quality concerns involving shoreline development of the reservoir.

    Dated: August 1, 2000.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-19847 Filed 8-3-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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