[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 29025]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13665]



[[Page 29025]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6243-1]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared May 3, 1999 Through May 7, 
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) 
564-7176. 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-AFS-L65321-00 Rating EC2, Douglas-fir Beetle Project, 
Harvest Tree, Regenerated Forest, Aquatic Restoration and Fuels 
Reduction, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Coeur d'Alene River and 
Priest Lake Ranger District and Colville National Forest, Newport 
Ranger District, Kootenai, Shoshone and Bonner Counties, ID and Pend 
Orielle County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the 
document's discussion of purpose and need, alternatives, monitoring and 
road management. EPA requested that these issues be clarified in the 
final document. In addition, EPA requested that the Forest Service 
developed a comprehensive plan for dealing with beetle damaged timber 
in an area that covers nearly 270,100 acres.
    ERP No. D-COE-E39032-AL Rating EC2, Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) 
River Basin Compact, Water Allocation, several counties, AL and GA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns 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 
rivers basins to function in an acceptable manner and that would 
delineate the limit for maximum water withdrawals.
    ERP No. D-DOE-G60007-NM Rating EC2, The Conveyance and Transfer of 
Certain Land Tracts Administered by the US DOE and Located at Los 
Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos and Santa Fe Counties, NM.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns since there is no 
assurance that the measures identified would be implemented by the 
transferee once transfer occurs. EPA suggests that DOE consider 
imposing deed restrictions and easements for those transfer lands 
having resources considered sensitive and having natural, cultural, 
historical and environmental importance. Further discussion on this 
matter should be incorporated in the FEIS.
    ERP No. D-TVA-E05122-00 Rating EC2, Peaking Capacity Additions, 
Construction and Operation of Natural Gas-Fired Combustion Turbines, 
NPDES and COE Section 404 Permits; Three Sites Proposed: Colbert Fossil 
Plant, Colbert County, AL, Gallatin Fossil Plant, Sumner County, TN and 
Johnsonville Fossil Plant, Humphreys County, TN.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding 
coordination of air quality Prevention of Significant Deterioration 
permits. EPA also requested additional information on commitments for 
mitigation and the impact related to the natural gas pipeline 
alternative routes for the Colbert Plant.
    ERP No. DS-NOA-B91005-00 Rating LO, Northeast Multispecies Fishery 
Management Plan, Updated Information concerning Overfishing of Red Hake 
and Silver Hake Fishiers, Northeast United States.
    Summary: Review of this EIS was not deemed necessary. No formal 
comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-DOE-E00007-SC Tritium Extraction Facility (TEF), 
Construction and Operation near the Center of Savannah River Site at H 
Area, (DOE/EIS-0271), Aiken and Barnwell Counties, SC.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns regarding 
response to accidental releases. These issues should be addressed in 
further detail during the design and permitting phases of the project.
    ERP No. F-DOE-E09802-00 Commercial Light Water Reactor for the 
Production of Tritium at one or more Facilities: Watt Bar 1. Spring 
City, TN; Sequoyah 1 and 2 Soddy Daisy, TN; Bellefonte Unit 1 and 2, 
Holloywood, AL, Approval of Permits and Licenses, (DOE/EIS-0288) TN and 
AL.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns regarding 
potential air quality impacts. These issues should be addressed in 
further detail during the design and permitting phases of the project.
    ERP No. F-DOE-E09803-SC Accelerator for Production of Tritium at 
the Savannah River Site (DOE/EIS-0270), Site Specific, Construction and 
Operation, Aiken and Barnwell Counties, SC.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns regarding 
wetlands, groundwater, and surface water impacts.
    ERP No. FA-NOA-B91017-00 Atlantic Sea Scallop, Placopecten 
Magellanicus, (Gmelin), Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Updated and 
Additional Information, Amendment No. 7.
    Summary: Review of the EIS was not deemed necessary. No formal 
comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: May 25, 1999.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-13665 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]
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