[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 185 (Friday, September 24, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51753-51754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24967]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6246-5]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared August 16, 1999 Through 
August 20, 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-L67037-ID  Rating EO2, Dry Valley Mine--South 
Extension Project, Construction of two New Open Pit Mine, Special-Use-
Permit, COE Section 404 Permit, Public and Private Land Used, Caribou 
County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed the following objections: an inadequate 
discussion of the fate, transport, and speciation of selenium; an 
abridged

[[Page 51754]]

range of alternatives; a monitoring plan that lacks sufficient detail; 
concerns about selenium contamination of ground and surface waters; and 
proposed wetland mitigation at a site that is currently contaminated 
and one that could attract and subsequently harm wildlife.
    ERP No. D-FHW-B40089-CT  Rating EO2, CT-2/2A/32 Transportation 
Improvement Study, Construction, Funding, Coast Guard Bridge Permit, 
NPDES Permit, COE Section 10 and 404 Permit, New London County, CT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections regarding impacts 
to the wetlands, air quality, and ground/surface waters and the level 
of information provided in the DEIS. EPA also requested additional 
analysis of community sensitive alternatives that may resolve the 
identified transportation problem.
    ERP No. D-USN-B11024-ME  Rating EO2, South Weymouth Naval Air 
Station, Disposal and Reuse, Norfolk and Plymouth Counties, ME.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential direct and 
indirect impacts of the project related to traffic/air quality, water 
supply, wastewater treatment, and the potential for other growth 
related secondary and cumulative impacts. EPA requested that the Navy 
provide information to fully characterize the impacts of the project 
and to demonstrate that significant adverse impacts can be effectively 
mitigated.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-J65287-SD  Rating EC2, Veteran/Boulder Area Project, 
Updated Information on Additional Analysis for the Forbes Gulch Portion 
within the Beaver Park Roadless Area, Implementation, Black Hills 
National Forest, Spearfish and Nemo Ranger District, Lawrence and Meade 
Counties, SD.
    Summary: EPA suggested that the analysis be expanded to include 
disclosure of future steps that would be required should the proposed 
treatments fail to control the pine beetle outbreak in the Beaver Park 
Roadless Area or should the outbreak spread to the Spearfish source-
water watershed.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-B40071-CT  I-95 at New Haven Harbor Crossing 
(Quinnipiac River Bridge) Improvement, from Interchange 43 southwest to 
Interchange 53 northeast, Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, U.S. 
Coast Guard Bridge Permit, New Haven, East and West Haven, CT.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the rationale for selecting a 
preferred alternative was not clear. EPA requested the FHWA/CTDOT to 
provide supplemental information which would further explain the basis 
for selection of one action over another and why certain transit 
measure were eliminated.
    ERP No. F-FRC-B05192-MA  Holyoke Hydroelectric Relicensing Project, 
(FERC Nos. 2004-073 and 11607-000), Construction, Operation and 
Maintenance, Located on the Connecticut River, Hampshire, Hampden and 
Franklin Counties, MA.
    Summary: EPA remains concerned about fish passage, bypass flow, and 
alternative issues which remain largely unaddressed in the FEIS. EPA 
encouraged FERC to provide additional information concerning these 
issues prior to the conclusion of the NEPA process.
    ERP No. F-USA-B11023-CT  Stratford Army Engine Plant (SAEP) 
Disposal and Reuse, Implementation, City of Stratford, Fairfield and 
New Haven Counties, CT.
    Summary: EPA had no outstanding objections to the proposal and 
continues to support the transfer of intertidal land to the USFWS.

    Dated: September 21, 1999.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-24967 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U