[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15564-15565]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7359]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-4721-5]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared February 20, 1995 Through 
February 24, 1995 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) 260-5076.
    An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental 
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 10, 1995 (59 
FR 16807).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-FHW-E40757-AL Rating EC2, Eastern Pleasure Island 
Hurricane Evacuation Route Construction, AL-182 in Orange Beach to CR-
95 near CR-20 (on the mainland) and CR-95 near CR-20 to I-10, Funding 
and US Coast Guard Bridge and COE Section 404 Permits Issuance, Baldwin 
County, AL.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the projects 
will impact between 66.7 and 75 acres of wetlands and that the 
documents do not evaluate impacts to terrestrial resources.
    ERP No. D-FHW-G40140-TX Rating EC2, Grand Parkway Segment (TX-99) 
Improvements Project, from TX-225 to I-10, Funding, COE Section 404 
Permit and Right-of-Way Grant, Harris and Chambers Counties, TX.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the proposal 
and requested that the additional information needed in the final EIS 
primarily focus on project alternatives, cumulative impacts, a current 
air quality analysis, and environmental justice.
    ERP No. D-FHW-K53007-CA Rating EC2, Alameda Railroad Corridor 
Consolidated Project, Construction from Downtown Los Angeles to the 
Badger Avenue Bridge/CA-91, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit and ICC 
Approval, Los Angeles County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns primarily with the 
draft EIS's assessment of the project's potential air quality impacts 
and the mitigation measures described in the project documentation. EPA 
commended the inclusion of a worst-case emergency response plan for 
hazardous material incidents, and pollution prevention features to 
reuse/recycle waste material from existing rail lines.
    ERP No. DS-FTA-K51035-CA Rating EC2, Bay Area Rapid Transit 
District (BART) Transportation Improvements, San Francisco to San 
Francisco International Airport Extension, Updated and Additional 
Information, Approval, Funding, COE Section 404 and Possible FHWA 
Encroachment Permits Issuance, San Mateo County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to potential 
impacts to wetlands, endangered species, and groundwater that is a 
drinking water source for area residents. EPA asked that the final EIS 
provide more information on issues associated with the Clean Water Act 
Section 404 permit, including the least environmentally damaging 
practicable alternative; and potential groundwater impacts from project 
construction and operation including mitigation and monitoring for 
adverse impacts.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-L65173-OR Buzzard Project Area Timber Sale and Road 
Construction, Implementation, Umatilla National Forest, Walla Walla 
Ranger District, Union and Wallowa Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on 
[[Page 15565]] uncertain sediment output from the proposed timber 
harvest and potential effects on water quality and the lack of a 
monitoring feedback loop.
    ERP No. F-FHW-D40261-WV US 19/Corridor L Improvements from Nicholas 
County High School to I-79, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, 
Nicholas and Braxton Counties, WV.
    Summary: EPA believed that the mitigative measures to offset 
unavoidable impacts to aquatic and terrestrial resources are 
insufficient and that noise and visual impact mitigation are not 
sufficiently described.
    ERP No. F-USA-A11072-00 Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Extended Test 
Range, Demonstration and Operation, Missile Flight Test, 
Implementation, United States, Republic of the Marshall Islands and 
Wake Island, Pacific.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the final EIS 
did not properly address alternatives analysis, noise issues, hazardous 
waste issues, and response to federal and state comments.

Regulations

    ERP No. R-DOA-A99201-00 7 CFR Part 335, Plant Pests: Introduction 
of Non-Indigenous Organisms--Proposed Rule.
    Summary: The proposed regulation on the importation of non-
indigenous species does not indicate how the Animal and Plant Health 
Inspection Service (APHIS) intends to deal with the issue of the 
importation of genetically altered species or with the issue of 
overlapping authority between APHIS and the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) with regard to the importation of species used in 
pesticidal activities. The proposed regulation also does not clearly 
define the standards which APHIS will apply when making permitting 
decisions and does not clearly define the information which will be 
required in a permit application.

    Dated: March 21, 1995.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 95-7359 Filed 3-23-95; 8:45 am]
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