[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48726-48727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24493]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5495-4]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared August 10, 1998 Through 
August 14, 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) 564-7167. 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-L65293-00 Rating EC2, Upper Columbia River Basin 
Ecosystem Based Lands Management Plan, Implementation, Interior 
Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project, ID, MT, WY, NV and UT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with these issues: 
(1) the lack of adequate provisions to identify and protect high 
quality waters and aquate 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

[[Page 48727]]

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 6 with Alternative 4. EPA strongly 
supports ecosystem management principles on a broad scale to analyze 
resources issues that transcend jurisdictional boundaries.
    ERP No. D-COE-E32078-00 Rating EO3, Savannah Harbor Section 203 
Expansion Project, Channel Deepening, Harbor Improvements, Georgia 
Ports Authority, Federal Navigation Project, Chatham County, Ga and 
Jasper County, SC.
    Summary: EPA concluded that the document does not contain adequate 
modeling and sediment chemistry information necessary to make a 
decision as to the biotic and water quality impacts. EPA also had 
environmental objections about the extent/duration of adverse impacts 
resulting from the magnitude of channel deepening and whether necessary 
mitigation for functional losses is practicable.
    ERP No. D-FHW-D40143-MD Rating EC2, MD-331--Dover Bridge, 
Construction, Right-of-Way Grant, US Coast Guard Bridge Permit and COE 
Section 404 Permit, Easton, Talbot and Caroline County, MD.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding impacts to 
aquatic resources, including associated tidal marsh wetlands. EPA 
requested additional information on storm water run-off, bridge shading 
effects and wetland mitigation.
    ERP No. D-FHW-L40207-WA Rating EC2, Interstate 90 (I-90) South 
Sammamish Plateau Access Road and Sunset Interchange Modifications, 
Construction, COE Section 404 Permit, Coastal Zone Management and NPDES 
Permits, King County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential 
adverse environmental effects to waters of the United States from the 
project and undisclosed potential cumulative affects from planned 
activities in lands adjacent to the project site. More information is 
needed to clarify design specifications to ensure that proper 
stormwater management practices will be implemented to appropriately 
protect receiving-water quality.
    ERP No. D-NOA-B91026-ME Rating EC1, Atlantic Herring (Clupea 
harengus harengus) Fishery Management Plan (FWP), Management Measures, 
Exclusive Ecosystem Zone (EEZ), Gulf of Maine, George Bank, ME.
    Summary: EPA supports the actions proposed by NMFEs; additional 
information was requested for enforcement of fishery management plan, 
and adulteration of scallop meat.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-COE-E32077-GA Brunswick Harbor Deepening Federal 
Navigation Project, Improvements, Brunswick, Glynn County, GA.
    Summary: EPA continues to be concerned about the project's adverse 
impacts and mitigations, while a number of modifications/clarifications 
were made to the channel upgrade. Future interagency coordination will 
be necessary.

Other

    ERP No. LD-COE-L36111-WA Rating EC2, Howard A. Hanson Dam (HHD 
Additional Water Storage (AWS) Phase I Project, Construction and 
Operation, Green River Basin, Pierce and King Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns on potential 
cumulative impacts of activities in adjacent lands, potential indirect 
effects on fish habitat and water quality, and discussion of a possibly 
restricted range of alternatives. EPA also identified the need for a 
clear statement of public disclosure of Phase I monitoring results 
before initiating Phase II of the project.

    Dated: September 8, 1998.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-24493 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
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