[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34746-34747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16937]



[[Page 34746]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5481-9]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared June 09, 1997 through June 
13, 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 04, 1997 (62 
FR 16154).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J65261-MT Rating EC2, Beaverhead Forest Plan Riparian 
Amendment, Implementation, Beaverhead--Deerlodge National Forest, 
Beaverhead, Madison, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge and Gallatin Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the rate of 
restoration of existing degraded water quality and fisheries in the 
project area, and believed additional information is needed to describe 
alternatives and fully assess and mitigate all potential impacts of the 
proposed project (e.g., description of the new alternative suggested in 
the Forest Supervisor's letter dated November 25, 1996).
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65264-UT Rating EC2, Sheepherder Hill Sanitation 
Salvage Sale, Management of Selected Vegetation Stands, Implementation, 
Uinta National Forest, Spanish Fork District, Nebo Management Area, 
Utah County, UT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
adverse impacts to water quality and wetlands. EPA requested 
clarification and additional information concerning possible use of 
riparian buffers and sediment control measures in the final EIS.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65265-WY Rating EC2, Tie Camp Timber Sale, 
Harvesting Timber and Road Construction, Medicine Bow-Routt National 
Forest, Brush Creek/Hayden Ranger District, Carbon County, WY and 
Jackson County, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested 
clarification and additional information on the use of best management 
practices (BMPs) for sediment control.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65197-CA Rating EC2, Canyons Analysis Area, 
Implementation, Tahoe National Forest, Trucker Ranger District, Sierra 
and Nevada Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
adverse effects to water quality from the construction of a new road/
trail solely for OHV recreation. EPA also proposed that additional road 
obliterations be identified and implemented in the final EIS.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65278-ID Rating EC2, Middle Fork Analysis Area 
Management Plan, Implementation, Nez Perce National Forest, Selway 
Ranger District, Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about water and air 
quality and that implementation of best management practices and 
associated mitigation measures may not ensure protection of beneficial 
uses downstream of the project area. Additional information is needed 
on how proposed BMPs and mitigation measures will offset the proposed 
timber harvest activities.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65285-AK Rating EC2, Chasina Timber Sale, Harvesting 
Timber and Road Construction, Tongass National Forest, Craig Ranger 
District, Ketchikan Administrative Area, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns related to the 
purpose and need for the project, potential impacts of water quality 
and the marine environment, and the commitment to implement necessary 
and appropriate mitigation measures.
    ERP No. D-BLM-J67024-MT Rating LO, Cooke City Area Mineral 
Withdrawal, Implementation, Gallatin and Custer National Forests, Cooke 
City, Park County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections but suggested that the 
Final EIS include specific guidance from the Department of Interior's 
latest updates on national water management and acid rock drainage 
policies and how these will be integrated into the proposed action.
    ERP No. D-BLM-K60105-CA Rating EC2, U.S. Army National Training 
Center, and Acquisition, Implementation, Fort Irwin, San Bernardino 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA had environmental concerns that the draft EIS did not 
discuss compliance with the Clean Water Act and the Water Quality 
Control Plan; did not discuss opportunities to reduce the amount of 
hazardous materials and hazardous waste; did not provide for solid 
waste and hazardous materials mitigation; stated that Army 
environmental mitigation commitments are subject to funding 
availability; and did not discuss consistency with an Executive Order 
on Indian sacred sites. Lastly, the draft EIS does not provide rational 
for obtaining more acreage than is indicated for the mission objective.
    ERP No. D-BLM-K67042-CA Rating EC2, Castle Mountain Mine Open Pit 
Heap Leach Gold Mine Expansion Project, Plan of Operations Modification 
and Mine and Reclamation Plans Amendment, Approvals, San Bernardino 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding acid 
generation potential, cumulative impacts to the Lanfair Valley aquifer, 
and rock competence following the cessation of mining.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J65215-MT Elk Creek Land Exchange and Granting an 
Easement to Plum Creek, Implementation, Flathead National Forest, Swan 
Lake Ranger District, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about adverse environmental impacts 
to water quality, fish and wildlife habitat. EPA noted that Squeezer 
and Goat Creeks were included on the State's listing of impaired 
surface waters, and EPA expressed concern that additional roading and 
timber harvesting in these watersheds by Plum Creek Timber Company 
could aggravate existing water quality problems. EPA also expressed 
concerns about the potential for future mining or oil and gas 
development on the acquired Elk Creek lands to degrade bull trout 
spawning habitat.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65243-MT Castle Mountains Allotment Management Plan, 
Implementation, Lewis and Clark National Forest, Musselshell and King 
Hill Ranger Districts, White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the selection 
of a new preferred alternative in the Final EIS and Record of Decision 
(Alternative 10). EPA believed Alternative 4A provided a more 
appropriate balance among resource trade-offs, and represents 
management that would allow greater and more rapid recovery of degraded 
streams, and thus, be more protective of the public resource.
    ERP No. F-AFS-K65193-NV Griffon Mining Project, Implementation, 
Plan of Operations Approval, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forests, Ely 
Ranger District, White Pine County, NV.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No 
formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

[[Page 34747]]

    ERP No. F-AFS-L65234-ID Hobo Cornwall Project Area Timber Sale and 
Ecosystem Management Plan, Implementation, Idaho Panhandle National 
Forests, St. Joe Ranger District, Shoshone County, ID.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS has been completed and the project 
found to be satisfactory. EPA had no objection to the preferred 
alternative as described in the EIS.
    ERP No. F-BLM-J01075-WY North Rochelle Mine, Application for 
Federal Coal Lease (WYW127221), Special-Use-Permits and NPDES Permit, 
Campbell County, WY.
    Summary: The Final EIS responds to concerns and recommendations 
expressed by EPA's comments on the draft EIS. EPA agreed that the 
preferred alternative, Alternative A, can be implemented without 
significant impact to the environment.
    ERP No. F-BLM-J67023-UT Lisbon Valley Copper Project, Plan of 
Operations Approval for an Open Pit Copper Mine and Heach Operation in 
Lower Lisbon Valley, San Juan and Grand Counties, UT.
    Summary: The Final EIS addresses comments raised by EPA in the 
draft EIS on water management and monitoring. EPA is still concerned 
about potential groundwater ponding in the mine pits and adverse 
effects on migrating water fowl, and the adequacy of the bond post 
mining.
    ERP No. F-USN-L11030-ID Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), 
Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD), Carderock Division (CD), Capital 
Improvements Plan, Implementation, in the Town of Bayview, Kootenai 
County, ID.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS has been completed and the project 
found to be satisfactory. EPA had no objection to the preferred 
alternative as described in the EIS.

    Dated: June 24, 1997.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 97-16937 Filed 6-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U