[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27782-27784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12959]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6242-8]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared April 26, 1999 Through April 
30, 1999 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 9, 1999 (64 FR 
17362).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-BLM-A99217-00 Rating EO2, Programmatic EIS-Surface 
Management Regulations for Locatable Mineral Operations, (43 CFR part 
3809), Public Land.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections regarding 
environmental performance standards and goals; bonding, reclamation and 
monitoring plans; and implementing of the definition of unnecessary and 
undue degradation. EPA also commented on state government coordination, 
most appropriate technology and practices, and protections for riparian 
areas. EPA requested that these issues be addressed in the final EIS 
and proposed rule.
    ERP No. D-COE-E39046-00 Rating EC2, Apalachicola-Chattahochee-Flint 
(AFC) River Basin Water Allocation, Allocation Formula Approval, FL and 
GA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern that the Draft EIS may 
not adequately assess the impacts of the water allocation formulas. EPA 
recommended that comprehensive river basin water quality models be 
developed to predict impacts to indigenous fish and aquatic life, water 
quality, consumptive uses, groundwater and recreation for the affected 
reservoirs and rivers within each basin. EPA also recommended that a 
baseline be established that would define the water needs for the river 
basins to function in an acceptable manner and that would delineate the 
limit for maximum water withdrawals.
    ERP No. D-COE-E39047-AL Rating EC2, Jackson Port Project, Proposal 
for the Public Port Facilities on the Tombigbee River, City of Jackson, 
Clark County, AL.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns over the potential impacts to the 
federal portion of this project, i.e., the spur canal. In regard to the 
City of Jackson's planned phased development, which will convert 
important bottom land hardwood habit to commercial property, EPA 
expressed objections and requested additional information.
    ERP No. D-COE-L32010-OR Rating EC2, Columbia and Lower Willamette 
River Federal Navigation Channel, Improvement Channel Deepening, OR and 
WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding the lack of information on 
upland and instream dredged disposal sites; impacts of the new channel 
and sediment regimes in the Columbia and Willamette Rivers; cumulative 
impacts from past, present and future activities in the project area; 
the absence of firm commitments to implement and follow through on the 
referenced proposed Ecosystem Restoration measures; and the 
relationship between the proposed dredging activities and the future 
decision on whether to draw down the John Day Reservoir and selected 
dams on the Lower Snake River.
    ERP No. D-FHW-K50013-00 Rating EC2, US 93 Hoover Dam Bypass 
Project, Construction of a New Bridge and Highway, Funding, Right-of-
Way Easement, US Coast Guard, NPDES and COE Section 404 Permits, 
Federal Lands--Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Hoover Dam 
Reservation, Clark County, NV and Mohave County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding cumulative effects, 
indirect impacts (particularly regarding utility relocations), 
excavation, erosion and runoff impacts, hazardous materials impacts and 
recreational impacts.
    ERP No. D-FTA-L40210-WA Rating EC2, Central Link Light Rail 
Transmit Project, (Sound Transit) Construct and Operate an Electric 
Rail Transit System, Funding and COE Section 10 and 404 Permits in the 
Cities of Seattle, Sea Tac and Tuckwila, King County, WA.
    Summary: EPA's concerns relate to the lack of evaluation of options 
to offset impacts to salmon, ecosystems, and neighborhoods; the need to 
expand the cumulative effects analysis; and the need to have clearly 
defined mitigation measures in the EIS.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K39056-CA Rating EC2, Contra Loma Reservoir Project,

[[Page 27783]]

Future Use and Operation of Contra Costa Water District, COE Section 
404 Permit, Contra Costa County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns over the proposed action's ability 
to safeguard the drinking water supply. EPA believes that additional 
information concerning the quality of the water and a more complete 
analysis of the alternatives is necessary to fully assess the potential 
environmental and public health impacts.
    ERP No. DB-COE-E32022-NC Rating EO1, Manteo (Shallowbag) Bay 
Project, Enlarging and Deepening Basin at Wanchese, Dare County, NC.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the construction 
of the proposed jetty system for Oregon Inlet, and urged the Corps to 
consider a ``dredging-only'' alternative as means to meet the 
navigation expectations of local interests.
    ERP No. DS-FHW-K40157-CA Rating EO2, CA-1 Improvement, Carmel River 
Bridge to CA-1/Pacific Grove (Route 68) Interchange, Updated and 
Additional Information, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, Monterey 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections due to adverse 
impacts to wetlands and other jurisdictional waters of the United 
States, which are subject to regulatory provisions of Section 404 of 
the Clean Water Act as well as potential impacts to the Monterey Pine 
Forest.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-K65205-CA, Telephone Flat Geothermal Power Plant 
within the Glass Mountain Known Geothermal Resource Area, Construction, 
Operation and Decommissioning of a 48 megawatt (MW) Geothermal Plant, 
Modoc National Forest, Siskiyou County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed continuing concerns regarding the projects 
purpose and need, inconsistency with prior NEPA analysis, significant 
unmitigable impacts to Native American traditional cultural values, 
cumulative impacts from additional development, NEPA segmentation, and 
prior agreements between Bonneville Power Administration and CalEnergy 
that may prejudice the Record of Decision. EPA requested that the 
Record of Decision not be issued until these issues are resolved.
    ERP No. F-CGD-K50012-CA, CA-92/San Mateo Hayward Bridge, 
Improvements to the East Approach and the Trestle Portion of the 
bridge, Coast Guard Bridge Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Alameda 
and San Mateo Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA does not believe its previously expressed concerns 
were adequately addressed and in particular that the 92/880 Interchange 
project was not included in the analysis.
    ERP No. F-COE-F35045-MN, Duluth-Superior Harbor Phase II, Dredge 
Material Management Plan, Cities of Duluth, St. Louis County, MN and 
Douglas County, WI.
    Summary: The Final EIS adequately addressed most issues raised 
previously by EPA. However, EPA continues to be concerned that the 
sediment quality evaluation analysis was completed only for Hearding 
Island Hole. EPA requested that before any other deep holes are used 
for disposal, they should also be assessed.
    ERP No. F-COE-F36161-IL, Chicagoland Underflow Plan, McCook 
Reservoir Construction and Operation for Temporary Retention of 
Floodwaters in Metropolitan Chicago, Implementation, Cook County, IL.
    Summary: The Final EIS adequately responded to most issues raised 
by EPA. However, EPA continues to be concerned that no information was 
provided regarding operation and maintenance of the pumps around the 
reservoir installed to protect the surrounding groundwater.
    ERP No. F-COE-K39052-CA, Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project, 
Tidal Salt Marsh Habitat, Alameda County, CA.
    Summary: EPA is pleased with the selection of Alternative 5, which 
would support a diversity of important wetland habitat types and 
expressed no objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-COE-L03008-AK, Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Development 
Northstar Project, Implementation, NPDES Permit, Sea Island, Alaskan 
Beaufort Sea, Offshore Marine Environment and Onshore Northslope of 
Alaskan Coastal Plain, AK.
    Summary: The final EIS adequately addressed EPA concerns related to 
oil spill prevention and response issues and the manner in which issues 
and concerns of the Inupiat Eskimo have been integrated into the NEPA 
process. However, EPA indicated that the analysis of double-walled 
pipeline technology should continue to be pursued and that this 
technology should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis for all 
subsequent off-shore development projects in the Beaufort Sea.
    ERP No. F-FHW-E40755-NC, US 70 Improvements Project, I-40 to the 
Intersection of US 70 and US 70 Business, Funding and COE Section 404 
Permit, Wake and Johnston Counties, NC.
    Summary: In general FHWA satisfied EPA's concerns raised at the 
DEIS stage. EPA's remaining environmental concerns are for maintenance 
of surface water quality for the endangered dwarf-wedged mussel present 
in the Swift Creek drainage area which will be subject to Multiple 
highway projects in the foreseeable future. Also, a likely shortfall is 
noted in wetlands loss mitigation.
    ERP No. F-IBR-K39028-NV, Clark County Wetlands Park Master Plan, 
Construction and Operation, Erosion Control Structures in Las Vegas 
Wash, COE Section 404 Permit, Right-of-Way Permit and Endangered 
Species Act Section 4, Clark County, NV.
    Summary: EPA commend the Bureau's efforts to implement a thoughtful 
Wetlands Park Plan which considers both local community and 
environmental concerns. EPA has no object to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-USA-F11036-IN, Newport Chemical Depot, Construction and 
Operation, Pilot Testing of Neutralization/Supercritical Water 
Oxidation of VX Agent, Vermillion County, IN.
    Summary: EPA's previous objections have been resolved by the 
inclusion of the requested information. Therefore, EPA has no objection 
to the proposed action.
    ERP No. FA-NOA-K90020-CA, Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery 
Management Plan Amendment 8, (Formerly Known as Northern Anchovy 
Fishery Management Plan), Approval and Implementation, WA, CA and OR.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No 
formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. FS-TVA-E07013-TN, Kingston Fossil Plant Alternative Coal 
Receiving Systems, New Rail Spur Construction near the Cities of 
Kingston and Harriman, Roane County, TN.
    Summary: EPA commented favorably on TVA's proposal to use a source 
of cleaner (low sulfur) coal. However, there are longer coal delivery 
distances (and attendant air emissions) and train lengths associated 
with such sources as well as some additional noise from such deliveries 
and from coal handling, crushing and blending operation.
    ERP No. F1-FHW-G40140-TX, Grand Parkway Segment (TX-99) Volume IV, 
Segment 1-2, Improvement Project from TX-225 to I-10 (East), Funding, 
COE Section 404 Permit and Right-of-Way Grant, Harris and Chamber 
Counties, TX.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS has been completed and the project 
found to

[[Page 27784]]

be satisfactory. No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing 
agency.

Other

    ERP No. LD-USA-L11032-AK Rating E02, Alaska Army Lands Withdrawal 
Renewal for Fort Wainwright and Fort Greely West Training Area, 
Approval of Permits and Licenses, City of Fairbanks, City of North Pole 
and City of Delta Junction, North Star Borough, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the proposed 
project on the basis of a restricted range of alternatives and the 
potential environmental impacts. EPA requested more information on 
existing environmental conditions, more site-specific evaluation of 
direct and cumulative impacts, and a consideration of additional 
renewal periods.

    Dated: May 18, 1999.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-12959 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M