[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8634-8635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4369]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5489-2]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared February 02, 1998 Through 
February 06, 1998 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 Offices 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 11, 1997 (62 
FR 16154).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-BLM-J39027-CO Rating EC2, Plateau Creek Pipeline 
Replacement Project, Operation and Maintenance, Ute Water Conservancy 
District, Right-of-Way Permit, Mesa County, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
impacts to wetlands and requested the purpose and need include future 
water needs.
    ERP No. D-FRC-B03008-00 Rating EO2, Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System Project (PNGTS) and (PNGTS)/Maritimes & Northeast 
Pipeline L.L.C., Phase II Joint Facilities Project, Construction and 
Operation, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, MA, York and Cumberland 
Counties, ME, Coos County, NH and Essex County, VT.
    Summary: EPA commented that the scope of the environmental review 
may have been to limited, resulting in a potentially segmented review 
of related and/or interconnected projects. EPA requested additional 
information with regard to wetlands, drinking water, groundwater supply 
and secondary impacts in order to fully evaluate the environmental 
impacts of the proposed project.
    ERP No. D-STB-A53053-00 Rating EC2, Conrail Acquisition (Finance 
Docket No. 33388) by CSX Corporation and CSX Transportation Inc., and 
Norfolk Southern Corporation and Norfolk Southern Railway Company

[[Page 8635]]

(NS), Control and Operating Leases and Agreements, To serve portion of 
eastern United States.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns for the project's 
potential impact to air quality and requested additional information 
regarding the noise analysis and mitigation for communities identified 
by-the STB's environmental justice review.
    ERP No. DS-APH-A82124-00 Rating EO2, Logs, Lumber and Other 
Unmanufactured Wood Articles Importation, Additional Updated 
Information, Improvements to the existing system to Prohibit 
Introduction of Plant Pests into the United States.
    Summary: EPA had environmental objections to the proposed project 
and requested additional information. The objections focused on the 
adequacy of analysis for assessing risk and consequences of pest 
introduction, compliance of regulations by exporters, human health 
effects of the program, and the comparison of alternatives. EPA also 
had concerns about the use of methyl bromide in the program.
    ERP No. DS-NOA-L91001-AK Rating EC2, Juneau Consolidated Facility, 
Additional Information, Space for the University of Alaska Fairbanks 
School of Fisheries and Ocean Science (UAF), Possible Site Lena Point, 
Fisheries Management Operation, ``Vision for 2005'', Juneau, AK.
    Summary: EPA still has environmental concerns regarding water 
quality/groundwater, noise, wastewater treatment, and mitigation 
measures. Clarification of these issues was requested.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J65261-MT, 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 
anticipated slow rate of improvement or restoration of existing 
degraded riparian areas with the preferred alternative. EPA recommended 
more timely attainment of proper functioning condition and desired 
future condition, and recommended inclusion of water quality protection 
language in the objectives.
    ERP No. F-IBR-J64006-ND, Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, 
Implementation, Water Management Capability to Mitigate for Past, 
Present and Future Impacts of Jamestown Reservoir, Stutsman and Foster 
Counties, ND.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential water 
quality impacts, and recommended that downstream water quality should 
be monitored and an adaptive operations plan be developed to ensure 
that water quality standards are met.

    Dated: February 17, 1998.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-4369 Filed 2-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U