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: October 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 211)]
[Notices]
[Page 62073-62074]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31oc03-54]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6645-1]
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 4, 2003 (68 FR
16511).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-E65067-AL
Rating EC1, Forest Health and Red-Cockade Woodpecker (RCW)
Initiative, Implementation, Talladega National Forest, Talladega and
Shoal Creek Ranger Districts, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Clebourne and
Talladega Counties, AL.
Summary: While EPA supports the efforts to restore the longleaf
pine ecosystem and enhance red-cockade woodpecker habitat, EPA has
environmental concerns related to potential water quality impacts and
herbicide use.
ERP No. D-AFS-J70020-CO
Rating EC1, Upper Blue Stewardship Project, Vegetation Management,
Travel Management, and Dispersed Camping Sites Designation,
Implementation, U.S. Army COE 404 Permit, White River National Forest,
Dillon Ranger District, Summit County, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the creation of
permanent, recreation timber clearings in lynx corridor and foraging
habitat.
ERP No. D-AFS-K65258-CA
Rating EC2, Emigrant Wilderness Dams Project, Reconstruct, Repair,
Maintain and Operate 12 Dams; Snow, Bigelow, Huckleberry, Emigrant
Meadow, Middle Emigrant, Emigrant, Leighton, Long, Lower Buck, Y-Meadow
and Bear, Stanislous National Forest, Summer Ranger District, Tuolumne
County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the
potential impacts to wilderness, air and water quality, and wildlife as
a result of the maintenance of twelve dams. EPA requested additional
information on water quality impacts, compliance with wilderness
policy, and rationale to support the proposed alternative be included
in the final EIS.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65426-OR
Rating EC2, Flagtail Fire Recovery Project, To Address the
Differences between Existing and Desired Conditions, Blue Mountain
Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, Grant County, OR.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential
impacts from harvesting activities and grazing, and the removal and
destruction of nest structures for landbirds in dry forest habitats.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65430-OR
Rating EC2, Monument Fire Recovery Project and Proposed Non
Significant Forest Plan Amendments, Implementing Four Alternatives for
Recovery, Malheur National Forest, Prairie City Ranger District, Grant
and Baker Counties, OR.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential
adverse impacts from harvesting which can result in disturbance and
habitat loss primary cavity excavator bird species.
ERP No. D-BLM-J02042-UT
Rating EC2, Uinta Basin Natural Gas Project, Proposed to Produce
and Transport Natural Gas in the Atchee Wash Oil and Gas Production
Region, Resource Development Group, Right-of-Way Grant, U.S. Army COE
Section 404 Permit and Endangered Species Act Permit, Uintah County,
Utah.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the regional air
quality analysis and impacts to wetlands.
ERP No. D-BLM-J65387-CO
Rating EC1, Silverton Outdoor Learning and Recreation Center,
Authorization for Long-Term Use of 1,300 acres for Backcountry-type
Skiing, Summer Recreation and Educational Activities, Amendment of the
San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan, San Juan County, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the
potential adverse impacts to alpine vegetation, lynx habitat, and from
foreseeable future development.
ERP No. D-BLM-L65431-OR
Rating EC2, Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and Elk Creek Watershed
Restoration Project, Implementation, Northwest Forest Plan, Butte Falls
Resource Area, Medford District, Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine
Counties, OR.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding indirect
and cumulative effects, project restoration activities and proposed
salvage prescriptions that are inconsistent with the Northwest Forest
Plan.
ERP No. D-HUD-L85027-WA
Rating LO, Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) Hope VI Salishan
Redevelopment Project, Revitalize the Community Neighborhood, Funding,
NHPA Section 106, NPDES Permit, City of Tacoma, WA.
Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited
review of this action. Based upon this screen, EPA does not foresee
having any environmental objections to the proposed project.
ERP No. D-NPS-F61021-WI
Rating LO, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wilderness Study,
Wilderness Designation or Nondesignation, Ashland and Bayfield
Counties, WI.
Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the proposed
wilderness designation.
ERP No. DR-COE-K39066-CA
Rating EC2, Port J Long Beach Pier J South Terminal Expansion
Project, Additional Cargo Requirements Associated with Growing Export
and Import Volumes, Port Master Plan (PMP) Amendment, COE Section 404,
401, and 10 Permits, City of Long Beach, CA.
Summary: EPA raised environmental concerns on potential impacts to
air quality and aquatic resources, and the adequacy of mitigation for
these impacts. The EIS appears to underestimate the project's air
pollutant emissions; additional air quality mitigation may be needed.
EPA has concerns that the EIS did not address the source(s) from which
material for the project's landfill component would be obtained;
impacts associated with obtaining this fill material; and consistency
with Federal Regulations at 40 CFR 230, including identification of the
Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-J65379-CO
Green Ridge Mountain Pine Beetle Analysis Project, Proposal to
Reduce the Spread of Mountain Pine Beetle and Associated Tree
Mortality, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest & Thunder
[[Page 62074]]
Basin National Grassland, Parks Ranger District, Jackson County, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with adverse impacts
to aquatic resources from soil disturbance.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65360-AK
Madan Timber Sale, Implementation, Tongass National Forest,
Wrangell Ranger District, COE Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, AK.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-BLM-J65240-WY
Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Proposal (WYW148816), Exchange of
Private Owned Land P&M for Federally-Owned Coal, Lincoln, Carbon and
Sheridan Counties, WY.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential
cumulative air quality impacts from this coal mine, when added to other
energy development in northeastern Wyoming. Exceedances of Clean Air
Act criteria on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, and
extinguishing the coal seam fire should be addressed before completing
the proposed land exchange.
ERP No. F-CGD-G03021-LA
Port Pelican Deepwater Port Construction and Operation, License
Approval, Vermillion Lease Block 140 on the Continental Shelf in the
Gulf of Mexico southwest of Freshwater City, LA.
Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed action.
ERP No. F-COE-K39077-CA
East Cliff Drive Bluff Protection and Parkway Project, Alternatives
Evaluation for Coastal Bluff Erosion Protection, City of Santa Cruz,
Santa Cruz County, CA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-NPS-D61053-VA
Green Spring Colonial National Historical Park Management Plan,
Implementation, James City County, VA.
Summary: EPA's concerns were adequately addressed in the final EIS.
Dated: October 28, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-27476 Filed 10-30-03; 8:45 am]
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