[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24105-24106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11474]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5479-8]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared April 14, 1997 Through April 
18, 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 4, 1997 (62 FR 
16154).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-K65195-CA Rating EC2, Desolation Wilderness 
Management Guidelines Revisions for the Eldorado National Forest and 
the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), Limits of Acceptable 
Change (LAC), Eldorado County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern with alternatives that 
do not promote restoring areas currently exceeding standards set for 
the Desolation Wilderness. EPA recommended including the closure of the 
Rockbound grazing allotment in its preferred alternative.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65281-ID Rating EC2, White Pine Creek Salvage Timber 
Sale, Implementation, Clearwater National Forest, Palouse Ranger 
District, Benewah and Latah Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that implementation 
of best management practices and associated mitigation measures may not 
ensure protection of beneficial uses downstream of the project area.
    ERP No. D-FHW-E40771-NC Rating EO2, Wilmington Bypass 
Transportation Improvements, US 17 to US 421,

[[Page 24106]]

Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits and US Coast Guard Bridge 
Permit Issuance, Burnswick and New Hanover Counties, NC.
    Summary: EPA had environmental objections or concerns with all four 
alternatives evaluated in detail. Alternatives 2 and 3 have greater 
wetlands impact and occupy Red-cockaded woodpecker forage areas. All 
alternatives would impact adversely a minority/low-income community at 
the interchange with US 17. EPA requested additional mitigation for 
secondary impacts and wetland losses.
    ERP No. D-FHW-E40772-AL Rating EC2, Industrial Parkway Connector 
Project, Transportation Improvement, from Lott Road (AL-217) to US 45, 
Funding, COE Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, Mobile County, AL.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that wetlands and 
forested areas be avoided. Details on wetland mitigation are needed in 
final EIS.
    ERP No. D-FHW-L40202-WA Rating EO2, I-5 Toutle Park Road to 
Maytown, Transportation Improvements, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit, 
US Coast Guard and NPDES Permits, Cowlitz, Lewis and Thurston Counties, 
WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objection related to the 
structuring of the draft EIS as a project-specific document. Based on 
EPA's early participation in the development of the project tiered 
documents would be used in support of specific projects as they come 
on-line. EPA does not believe the present document provides sufficient 
information to adequately disclose the potentially significant impacts 
from the project and serve as the sole NEPA documentation for the 
entire 42.5 mile project. EPA believed that additional information and 
technical analyses related to alternatives, wetlands, avoidance/
impacts/mitigation, floodplain impacts, surface and groundwater 
impacts, and indirect/secondary/cumulative effects are needed.
    ERP No. D-NPS-L65277-WA Rating LO, Lake Crescent Management Plan, 
Implementation, Olympic National Park, WA.
    Summary: Our abbreviated review has revealed no EPA concerns on 
this project.
    ERP No. DS-FHW-E40758-NC Rating EO2, Wilmington Bypass 
Transportation Improvement Program, Updated Information, Construction 
from I-40 to US 421, Funding, NPDES and U.S. Coast Guard, and COE 
Section 10 and 404 Permits, New Hanover County, NC.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the Southern 
Alternative because it would impact more wetlands, relocate more than 
twice as many residents, and has more noise impacts. However, EPA also 
recognizes the Center Alternative may have greater impact to low income 
and minority communities. The Document also is deficient in providing 
wetlands mitigation.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-E61037-TN Upper Ocoee River Corridor Land and Water-
Based Recreational Development, Implementation, Cherokee National 
Forest, Ocoee Ranger District, Polk County, TN.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with increased 
traffic and its potential impacts.
    ERP No. F-NPS-C61009-NY Manhattan Sites General Management Plans, 
Implementation, Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National 
Memorial, General Grant National Memorial, Saint Paul's Church National 
Historic Site and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, 
New York and Westchester Counties, NY.
    Summary: EPA determinate that it had no objections to the proposed 
project.

    Dated: April 29, 1997.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 97-11474 Filed 5-1-97; 8:45 am]
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