[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9187-9188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5075]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5477-9]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared February 10, 1997 Through 
February 14, 1997 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-BLM-K67040-CA Rating EC2, Imperial Open-Pit Heap Leach 
Precious Metal Mine Project, Plan of Operation, Right-of-Way Approval, 
Conditional-Use-Permit and Reclamation Program Approval, Imperial 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential 
impacts to surface waters and recommendations for improved facilities 
design, and requested additional information regarding avoidance and 
mitigation of impacts to waters of the U.S., reduction of PM10 
emissions, and facilities design.
    ERP No. D-COE-C36074-NJ Rating EC2, Townsends Inlet to Cape May 
Inlet Feasbility Study, New Jersey Shore Protection Study, Storm Damage 
Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration, with in the Communities of Avalon, 
Stone Harbor and North Wildwood, Cape May County, NJ.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over the alternatives 
analysis, potential impacts to benthic communities and water quality 
from beach nourishment activities, and the potential impacts associated 
with this and other erosion/storm damage protection projects in New 
Jersey. Additional information is requested in the final EIS to address 
these issues.
    ERP No. D-COE-G39031-LA Rating LO, Mississippi River--Gulf Outlet 
(MRGO) New Lock and Connecting Channels Replacement and Construction 
for Connection to the Mississippi River, Implementation, Orleans and 
St. Bernard Parishes, LA.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection of the Tentatively 
Selected Plan provided that the described mitigation measures are 
implemented.
    ERP No. D-FHW-L40201-WA Rating EC2, US 101 Highway Aberdeen-Hoquian 
Corridor Project, Improvements, US Coast Guard and COE Section 404 
Permit, Grays Harbor County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on unavoidable 
impacts to wetlands and potential impacts to other waters of the US. 
Additional information is needed to clarify design specifications 
resulting from certain flood frequency data, and to ensure that proper 
stormwater management practices will be implemented to protect 
receiving-water quality appropriately.
    ERP No. D-FTA-D54038-MD Rating EC2, Metrorail Extension--Addison 
Road Station to the Largo Town Center, Transportation Improvements, 
Prince George's County, MD.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that environmental 
issues have not been adequately addressed. The alternatives analysis 
does not adequately compare alternatives. Secondary and cumulative 
impacts were not fully addressed as well. Information regarding 
environmental justices issues was not clearly documented.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K29000-CA Rating EO2, Interim South Delta Program 
(ISDP), Construction and Operation, Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta, 
Implementation, COE Section 404 Permit, Alameda, Contra Costa and San 
Joaquin Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections and is concerned 
that all of the alternatives analyzed could have significant adverse 
impacts on fish and aquatic resources and that, generally, the proposed 
project does not advance that long-term objectives of ecosystem 
restoration as expressed through the CALFED Long-Term Bay-Delta 
Program. EPA asked that alternatives be redesigned and evaluated in the 
context of the Long-Term Program.
    ERP No. D-NAS-E12005-00 Rating EC2, Engine Technology Support, 
Implementation, With Emphases on Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene, Advanced 
Space Transportation Program, Test Sites: Marshall Space Flight Center 
(MSFC) in Huntsville, AL; Stennis Space Center (SSC) near Bay St. 
Louis, MS and Phillips Laboratory, Edwards Air Force Base, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding wetlands, 
groundwater and other unresolved issues; however, these can be 
addressed by the requested additional information.
    ERP No. DS-FHW-K40099-HI Rating EC2, Makai Boulevard Concept/Nimitz 
Highway Improvements, Updated Information, Construction from Keehi 
Interchange to Pier 16 (AWA Street) in the Kalihi-Palama District, 
Funding, US Coast Guard and COE Section 404 Permits, City of Honolulu 
and Honolulu County, HI
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the project and 
asked FHA to provide more information regarding the sole source 
aquifer, erosion and stormwater impacts to water quality, and the 
alternative analysis.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-K67038-NV Ruby Hill Gold Mining Operations Project, 
Implementation, Battle Mountain District, Plan of Operations and COE 
Section 404 Permit, Eureka County, NV.
    Summary: EPA's concerns regarding the project's air emissions have 
been addressed in the FEIS, however mitigation measures remain vague. 
EPA supports BLM's decision to add partial backfilling to the preferred 
alternative and EPA urged BLM to reduce project disturbance by 120 
acres.
    ERP No. F-FHW-E40757-AL 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's review found that impacts to wetlands were of 
concern and that additional wetland mitigation and agency coordination 
was needed.
    ERP No. F-FHW-E40767-FL Tampa Interstate Project, Funding, I-275 to 
just north of Cypress Street and I-275 from the Howard Frankland 
Bridge/Kennedy Boulevard ramps north to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Boulevard and I-4 from I-275, Hillsborough County, FL.
    Summary: EPA's review found that noise impacts to urban residents 
were of concern and that the affected communities and housing 
developments should be allowed to participate in noise abatement plans.
    ERP No. F-FRC-L05206-WA Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project

[[Page 9188]]

(FERC Project No. 2493), Relicensing, Snoqualmie River, King County, 
WA.
    Summary: Review of the final EIS has been completed and the project 
found to be satisfactory. No formal comment letter was sent to the 
preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-L61211-AK Denali National Park and Reserve, 
``Frontcountry'' Entrance Area and Road Corridor, Development Concept 
Plan, AK.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No 
formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: February 25, 1997.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
[FR Doc. 97-5075 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M