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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: July 11, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 133)]
[Notices]
[Page 41336-41338]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy03-49]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6641-9]
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 04, 2003 (68 FR 16511).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J36053-UT Rating EC2, Monticello and Blanding
Municipal Watershed Improvement Projects, Implementation, Manti-La Sal
National Forest, Monticello Ranger District, San Juan County, UT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the loss of
wetlands and impacts from logging. EPA supports replacing the failing
water collection system in this watershed and will be providing grant
funding for this project.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65420-AK Rating EC2, Greens Creek Tailings Disposal
Project, Additional Dry Tailings Disposal Storage Facilities
Construction, Authorization, Admiralty National Park Monument, Tongass
National Forest, AK.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the preferred
alternative given uncertainty with achieving water quality standards
for sulfate and selenium, lack of water quality data for 8 parameters,
inconsistent use of standards and NPDES effluent limits, and use and
effectiveness of carbon to effectively immobilize dissolved metals. The
final EIS should disclose more commitments to using the existing
treatment plant, and describe the methodology for meeting water quality
standards.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65421-WA Rating EC2, 49 Degrees North Mountain
Resort Revised Master Development Plan, Implementation, Colville
National Forest, Newport Ranger District, Stevens County, WA.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns regarding the Purpose and
Need of the project and recommended an additional alternative that does
not require additional ski terrain and the need for alternatives with
Comfortable Carrying Capacities that exceed the proposed parking
capacity should be provided. The final EIS should disclose information
on consultation with Native American Tribes.
ERP No. D-BLM-J65376-CO Rating LO, Gunnison Gorge National
Conservation Area Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Montrose
and Delta Counties, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections.
ERP No. D-BLM-K65251-CA Rating EC2, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains National Monument Management Plan, Implementation, Public
Lands Management, Riverside County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the following
issues and requested clarification regarding the preferred alternative,
tribal consultation, mitigation for impacts to recreation,
implementation schedule and funding, land exchanges, acquisition
strategy, existing conditions, Section 7 Endangered Species Act
consultation and water resources.
ERP No. D-BLM-L67043-ID Rating EC2, North Rasmussen Ridge Mine,
Agrium Conda Phosphate Operations, Proposal to Extend the Existing
Mining Operations, Federal Phosphate Leases I-04375 and I-07619 within
the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, and State Lease I-9313, Soda
Springs, Caribou County, ID.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with habitat loss
from mining activities, sedimentation and selenium contamination of
water resources and uptake by wildlife. The draft EIS used extensive
modeling to predict possible pathways of contaminants and size of
[[Page 41337]]
plume but analysis relied heavily on lab experimentation given lack of
actual field data. Field verification of modeled results should be
included in the final EIS as well as more detail on the placement of
monitoring wells.
ERP No. D-COE-E39061-MS Rating LO, Royal D'Iberville Hotel and
Casino Development Project, Construction and Operation, U.S. Army COE
Section 10 and 404 and NPDES Permits Issuance, City of D'Iberville on
the Back Bay, Mississippi, Gulf Coast, Harrison County, MS.
Summary: EPA has no significant environmental concerns regarding
construction of this casino/hotel complex.
ERP No. D-COE-G35022-TX Rating LO, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in
the Laguna Madre, Maintenance Dredging from the JFK Causeway to the Old
Queen Isabella Causeway, Nueces, Kleberg, Kennedy, Willacy and Cameron
County, TX.
Summary: EPA has no objections to the selection of the preferred
alternative with implementation of the mitigation measures as described
in the DEIS.
ERP No. D-COE-K39078-CA Rating LO, Napa River Salt Marsh
Restoration Project, Salinity Reduction and Habitat Restoration in the
Napa River Unit, San Pablo Bay, Napa and Solano Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA supports the objectives of the proposed project to
restore salt marsh and managed pond habitat analyzed in the Napa River
Salt Marsh Restoration DEIS. EPA has no objections to the proposed
project, but requested clarification on the need for a National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.
ERP No. D-FHW J40160 UT Rating EC2, Southern Corridor Construction,
I-15 at Reference Post 2 in St. George to UT-9 near Hurricane, Funding,
Right-of-Way Grant and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, St.
George, Washington and Hurricane, Washington County, UT.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about the lack of
appropriate analysis for a BLM right-of-way, mitigation for habitat
fragmentation, the lack of a comparative analysis for potential
interchanges on the highway, and no indirect and cumulative impacts
they may have. EPA also recommends additional mitigation for air
quality impacts from construction activities and additional mitigation
for water quality impacts.
ERP No. D-FHW-L40218-WA Rating EC2, I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV
Operation Project, Provision of Reliable Transportation between Seattle
and Bellevue, Sound Transit Regional Express, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S.
Army COE Nationwide Permits Issuance, King County, WA.
Summary: While supporting the goals of the project, EPA has
environmental concerns about the potential risk of cumulative impacts
and induced growth in eastern King County, resulting from the proposed
project. EPA also has concerns about user safety, and recommends more
of an emphasis on transportation demand and safety management measures.
ERP No. D-NPS-D61056-DC Rating LO, Rock Creek Park and the Rock
Creek and Potomac Parkway Project, General Management Plan,
Implementation, Washington, DC.
Summary: EPA expressed no objection to the proposed action.
However, we requested clarifying information on motorist and
visitor safety related to road improvements, including Beach Drive
weekday closing and mid-afternoon reopening to motorists and more
detail on the implementation plans to protect federally protected
species and historic resources in the final EIS.
ERP No. D-NPS-K65253-CA Rating LO, Whiskeytown Fire Management
Plan, Implementation, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, Klamath
Mountains, Shasta County, CA.
Summary: EPA believes that the mitigation measures proposed for
smoke impacts are adequate, therefore EPA has no objection to the
action as proposed.
ERP No. D-NPS-L61225-AK Rating EC2, Denali National Park and
Preserve Backcountry Management Plan and General Management Plan
Amendment, Implementation, AK.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
impacts of expanded snowmobile use under the revised plan to aquatic
resources, streams, wetlands, soil, vegetation and wildlife. The final
EIS should address concerns with recreational snowmobile use and Plan
consistency with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act
and the Wilderness Act.
ERP No. D-NRS-E36181-TN Rating LO, Cane Creek Watershed Remedial
Plan, Widening and Degradation of the Cane Creek Channel, Lauderdale
County, TN.
Summary: EPA has no significant environmental concerns regarding
construction of the remedial structural and non-structural features as
documented.
ERP No. D-NSA-G81012-NM Rating LO, Chemistry and Metallurgy
Research Building Replacement Project, Consolidation and Relocation,
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos County, NM.
Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection of the preferred
alternative and mitigation measures as proposed in the DEIS.
ERP No. DS-AFS-L65357-ID Rating EC2, East Beaver and Miner's Creek
Timber Sale and Prescribed Burning Project, Timber Harvesting to
Provide Forest Products, Implementation, Dubois Ranger District,
Caribou-Targee National Forest, Clark County, ID.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns related to cumulative
impacts from grazing on water quality and adverse impacts to fish and
their habitat. The final EIS should further address how the purpose and
need and management direction is tied to achieving the desired future
condition, the status of road decommissioning in the project area and
impacts to tribes, as well as information on tribal consultation.
ERP No. DS-BLM-J65325-WY Rating EC2, Jack Morrow Hills Coordinated
Activity Plan/Draft Green River Resource Management Plan Amendment,
Updated Information, Rock Springs, Portion of Sweetwater, Fremont and
Subelette Counties, WY.
Summary: EPA continued to express environmental concerns that the
preferred alternative may cause adverse impacts to wildlife and their
habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse, and deer and elk herds. More
detail is needed in the adaptive management plan.
ERP No. D1-FHW-L40184-WA Rating EO2, WA-167 Freeway Project, WA-161
(Meridian Street North) in the City of Puyallup to the WA-509 Freeway
in the City of Tacoma, Funding, U.S. Coast Guard, NPDES and U.S. Army
COE Section 10 and 404 Permits Issuance, Cities of Puyallup, Fife,
Edgewood, Milton, and Tacoma, Pierce County, WA.
Summary: EPA has environmental objections to the proposed project's
potential direct, secondary, and cumulative impacts to aquatic
resources (wetlands, groundwater, surface water, and overall
hydrological function and connectivity). The quality, quantity and
overall effectiveness of mitigative actions should be improved with
more analysis and application of the information to target actions. EPA
has further objections regarding effects to threatened fish species,
the Puyallup Tribe, air toxins, prime farmland, noise impacts, and lack
of transportation demand management measures and facilities.
[[Page 41338]]
Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-F65030-IL Natural Area Trails Project, Construction,
Reconstruction, Maintenance and Designation of Trails for Hikers and
Equestrian Use, Approval of Site-Specific Mitigation and/or Monitoring
Standards, Shawnee National Forest, Jackson, Pope, Johnson, Union,
Hardin and Saline Counties, IL.
Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed repair, relocation
and establishment of trails in the Shawnee National Forest which are
intended to reduce erosion and exotic plant introductions while
providing a quality recreational experience for equestrian users and
hikers.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65406-ID North Kennedy-Cottonwood Stewardship
Project, Existing Transportation System Modifications and Forest Health
Improvements through Vegetation Management both Commercial and Non-
Commercial Methods, Boise National Forest, Emmett Ranger District, Gem
and Valley Counties, ID.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the level of
restoration of degraded riparian areas, lack of differentiation between
action alternatives and analysis of impacts. More details should be
included in the final EIS on the selection of the preferred
alternative.
ERP No. F-AFS-L67044-ID Golden Hand No. 3 and No. 4 Lode Mining
Claims Plan of Operations Approval, Implementation, Frank Church-River
of No Return (FC-RONR) Wilderness, Payette National Forest, Krassel
Ranger District, Valley County, ID.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-BLM-K81027-NV Nevada Test and Training Range Resource
Management Plan, (formerly known as the Nellis Air Force Range (NAFR)),
Implementation, Clark, Nye and Lincoln Counties, NV.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-COE-G01015-TX Three Oaks Mine Project, Construction and
Operation of a Surface Lignite Mine, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit
Issuance, Lee and Bastrop Counties, TX.
Summary: EPA has no objections to the selection of the preferred
alternative.
ERP No. F-FHW-C40144-NY US 219 between Springville to Salamanca
Improvements from NY-39 to NY-17, Funding and US Army COE Section 404
Permit Issuance, Erie and Cattaraugus Counties, NY.
Summary: EPA has environmental objections to the selection of the
freeway alternative as the preferred alternative. This alternative has
greater impacts to wetlands and farmlands, as well as impacts from
induced development, when compared to the upgrade alternative.
ERP No. F-FHW-L53003-WA Vancouver Rail Project, Rail Improvements
at the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Rail Yard and Possible
Elimination of the West 39th Street At-Grade Crossing, Funding and
NPDES Permit Issuance, Clark County, WA.
Summary: The final EIS adequately discloses the impacts and
satisfactorily responded to most of EPA's previous comments on the
draft EIS. In addition, EPA is pleased that the final EIS positively
addressed issues of safety and accessibility. Therefore, EPA has no
objection to the action as proposed.
ERP No. F-GSA-F11037-WI Badger Army Ammunition Plant, Property
Disposal, Implementation, Townships of Sumpter and Merrimac, Sauk
County, WI.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns and requested that open
burning, as a means of demolition of structures, be addressed before
the property is transferred.
ERP No. F-TVA-E29001-TN Rarity Pointe Commercial Recreation and
Residential Development on Tellico Reservoir Project, Request for TVA's
Land and Approval of Water Use Facilities, Tellico Reservoir, Loudon
County, TN.
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concern regarding
water quality impacts and requested specific commitments to mitigation
measures in the ROD.
ERP No. FB-AFS-L65137-AK Tongass Land Management Plan Revision for
Roadless Area Evaluation for Wilderness Recommendations,
Implementation, Tongass National Forest, AK.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. FS-COE-G36148-TX Dallas Floodway Extension, Flood Damage
Reduction and Environmental Restoration, New Information concerning
Additional Formulation, Trinity River Basin, Dallas County, TX.
Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection of the preferred
alternative.
ERP No. FS-NPS-J61102-00 Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks
and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, Winter Use Plans,
Updated and New Information on New Generation of Snowmobiles that
Produce fewer Emissions and are Quieter, Fremont County, ID; Gallatin
and Park Counties, MT and Park and Teton Counties, WY.
Summary: EPA continued to express environmental objections given
the final supplemental EIS predicts the preferred alternative will
result in localized visibility impairment and adverse human health
effects in this Class 1 airshed. Additional mitigation to avoid these
impacts should be considered along with an ongoing rule making process.
Dated: July 8, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-17620 Filed 7-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P