[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 227 (Friday, November 22, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59436-59437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29918]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5475-2]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared October 28, 1996 Through 
November 1, 1996 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 
5, 1996 (61 FR 15251).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-G65065-AR Rating LO, Renewal of the Shortleaf Pine/
Bluestem Grass Ecosystem and Recovery of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, 
Amendment No. 22 to the Ouachita National Forest Land and Resource 
Management Plan, Scott and Polk Counties, AR.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the preferred 
alternative described in the draft EIS.
    ERP No. D-COE-E30038-FL Rating EC2, Coast of Florida Erosion and 
Storm Effects Study Region III, Construction, Operation and 
Maintenance, Shore Protection Project, Palm Beach, Broward and Dade 
Counties, FL.
    Summary: EPA expressed some environmental concerns regarding the 
long-term consequences of how these actions will affect the ecology of 
the Florida shoreline.
    ERP No. D-COE-K36117-CA Rating EC2, Kaweah River Basin 
Investigation Feasibility Study, Flood Protection of Terminus Dam, 
Increase Storage Space in Lake Kaweah for Irrigation of Water Supply, 
Construction, Modification and Operation, San Joaquin Valley, Tulare 
and King Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern with proposed 
mitigation and recommended selection of the Locally Preferred Plan 
(LPP) alternative which would address these adverse impacts while 
meeting project purposes. EPA also expressed concern with the potential 
adverse impact to riparian and oak woodland/savannah habitat.
    ERP No. D-COE-K39044-CA Rating EC2, Norco Bluffs Bank Stabilization 
Measures, Implementation, Riverside County Flood Control and Water 
Conservation District, National Economic Development, Santa Ana River, 
City of Norco, Riverside County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential 
impacts associated with herbicides, consistency with applicable water 
quality protection requirements.
    ERP No. D-DOE-C06012-NY Rating EO2, West Valley Demonstration 
Project for Completion and Western New York Nuclear Service Center 
Closure or Long-Term Management, Appalachian Plateau, City of Buffalo, 
NY.
    Summary: EPA had environmental objections to this project because 
of the limited information concerning site contamination, clean-up 
levels, waste disposal, ground and surface water radiation risk 
assessment, and institutional controls. Additional information is 
requested in the final EIS to address these items. A follow up meeting 
has also been requested.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-J65198-WY, Green River Resource Area Land and 
Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Rock Springs District, 
Sweetwater, Fremont, Uinta, Sublette and Lincoln Counties, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed no comments or concerns.
    ERP No. F-COE-E01002-NC, Texasgulf Open Pit Mine Continuation, 
Construction and Operation, Permit Approval, Pamlico River, Aurora, 
Beaufort County, NC.
    Summary: EPA supported mining configuration Alternatives D, E-1, 
and E-2 because these minimize impacts on wetlands of special concern. 
The up-front mitigation being provided is satisfactory pending 
resolution of some technical wetland issues. EPA would object to 
Alternatives a, B {the applicant's choice}, and C, as these would 
destroy most of the wetlands of special concern.
    ERP No. F-COE-E32193-00, Savannah Harbor Navigation Project, 
Operation and Maintenance, Long Term Management Strategy Study, Chatham 
County, GA and Jasper County, SC.
    Summary: Because operational changes to the Savannah Harbor are so 
comprehensive. EPA continued to have some concerns regarding the long-
term consequences of how all of the proposed elements of the management 
plan will be coordinated and subsequently function.
    ERP No. F-COE-G36146-LA, Amite River and Tributaries Flood Control 
Project, Implementation, East Baton Rouge Parish Watershed, Florida 
Parishes, LA.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the selection of the preferred 
alternative.
    ERP No. F-FRC-L05213-WA, Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project (FERC 
No. 2145) Operating License Amendment Issuance to Increase Lake Entiat 
Reservoir, Chelan and Douglas Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA concurs with the Final EIS's conclusion that amending 
the license for the Rocky Reach project under the applicant's proposal 
and the FERC staff's two alternatives would not adequately protect Mid-
Columbia River salmon stocks. EPA supports FERC's selection of the no-
action alternative as the preferred alternative.
    ERP No. FB-COE-E36013-MS, Mississippi River and Tributaries Flood 
Control Plan, Big Sunflower River Maintenance Project, Yazoo Basin, 
Sunflower, Washington, Humphreys, Sharkey and Yazoo Counties, MS.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern over the environmental consequences 
associated with channelizing over one hundred miles of streams in the 
Big Sunflower watershed. EPA also suggested that a non-structural 
approach may provide needed flood protection with minimal environmental 
impacts.


[[Page 59437]]


    Dated: November 19, 1996.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 96-29918 Filed 11-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P