[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47289-47290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-23943]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5495-2]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared August 3, 1998 Through August 
7, 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 OFFICE OF FEDERAL ACTIVITIES at (202) 
260-5076. An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental 
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 10, 1998 (62 
FR 17856).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J67027-MT Rating EC2, Stillwater Mine Revised Waste 
Management Plan and Hertzler Tailings Impoundment, Construction and 
Operation, Plan-of-Operation, and COE Section 404 Permit, Custer 
National Forest, Stillwater County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impact to water 
quality and suggested linkage between NPDES and groundwater permit, 
application of non-degradation water quality standard and water 
balance/pollutant load data.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65289-00 Rating EC2, Eastside Ecosystem Based Lands 
Management Plan, Implementation, Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem 
Management Project, WA, OR, ID and MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns. EPA's most 
significant concerns are: (1) the lack of adequate provisions to 
identify and protect high quality waters and aquatic habitats, (2) the 
uncertainty with how impaired waters will be addressed, (3) the 
uncertainty with the nature of restoration and conservation efforts and 
their associated impacts, (4) the lack of a clear protocol for 
determining how conflicts between competing objectives and needs will 
be resolved, (5) the implications of less than full budget for 
implementation. EPA suggests combining some of the features of 
Alternatives 7 and with Alternative 4. EPA strongly supports ecosystem 
management principles on a broad scale to analyze resource issues that 
transcend jurisdictional boundaries.
    ERP No. D-FHW-G40150-NM Rating EC2, I-25/I-40 Interchange and 
Adjacent Sections of I-25 and I-40, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue 
to Comache Road and Carlise Boulevard to South Street, Reconstruction, 
Funding and Right-of-Way Acquisition, Bernalillo County, NM.
    Summary: EPA identified environmental concerns in the area of 
relocation, economic impacts, noise, and cumulative impact that need to 
be included in the final EIS. This information will complement the NEPA 
document and assure full compliance with the CEQ regulations.
    ERP No. D-FHW-L40206-WA Rating EC2, WA-104/Edmonds Crossing 
Project, Connecting Ferries, Bus and Rail, Funding, NPDESs Permit and 
COE Section 10 and 404 Permit, City of Edmonds, Snohomish County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding the traffic analysis and 
how the alternative would result in decreased single-occupancy vehicle 
use as it related to air quality impacts. EPA also expressed concern 
regarding disposition of pier and terminal impact, and hazardous waste 
issues. EPA requested that there issues be clarified in the final 
document.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-COE-C39009-NY, Atlantic Coast of Long Island Jones Inlet 
to East Rockaway Inlet Storm Damage Reduction Project, Construction, 
Long Beach Island, Nassau County, NY.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the Corp's proposed storm damage 
protection project. EPA recommended that fully evaluate cumulative 
impacts prior to issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD), and commit 
to a flexible beach nourishment schedule in the ROD.
    ERP No. F-FHW-E40355-FL, Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), 
Construction, Bounded by FL-112 on the north, FL-836 on the south, 
Miami International Airport landside terminal NW 27th Avenue on the 
east, along FL-836 that extends West to NW 57th Avenue, Dade County.
    Summary: EPA review of the document finds that the environmental 
impacts of concern to EPA agency have been adequately addressed.
    ERP No. FS-COE-E34002-00, Lake Seminole Hydrilla Action Plan 
Updated Information to the Lake Seminole and Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, 
Operation and Maintenance Project, Implementation, Gadsden and Jackson 
Counties, FL; Decatur and Seminole Counties, GA and Houston County, AL.
    Summary: EPA noted that the proposed modified aquatic weed control 
plan has some adverse environmental consequences, the plan represents a 
reasonable approach to balancing the many interests involved in this 
issue.


[[Page 47290]]


    Dated: September 1, 1998.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-23943 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U