[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63314-63315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30290]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6248-3]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared November 01, 1999 through 
November 05, 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 10, 1999 (63 
FR 17856).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J65312-WY--Rating EO2, Squirrel Meadows--Grand 
Targhee Land Exchange Proposal, Implementation, Targhee National 
Forest, Teton County, WY.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about the lack of analysis 
on the direct and indirect impacts to wetlands and wildlife habitat 
from the additional development in proposed alternatives B, C, and D. 
Because the land exchange and resulting base area development are 
``connected actions'' EPA believe a more detailed environmental 
analysis is required.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65219-CA--Rating EC2, Eldorado and Tahoe National 
Forests Land and Resource Management Plan, Standard and Guidelines for 
the Grazing Allotments, Implementation, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the potential 
resource shortfalls that might prevent monitoring and restoration 
activities as well as a lack of mandatory reductions in AUMs, 
elimination of grazing on specific allotments, or the triggering of 
additional protections when monitoring goals are not achieved.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65332-OR--Rating LO, Ashland Creek Watershed 
Protection Project, Proposal to Manage Vegetation, Rogue River National 
Forest, Ashland Ranger District, City of Ashland, Jackson County, OR.
    Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited 
review of this action. Based upon the screen, EPA does not foresee 
having any environmental objections to the proposed project.
    ERP No. D-FAA-A52169-00--Rating LO, Programmatic EIS--Commercial 
Launch Vehicles, Implementation, Issuing a Launch License.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the proposed action, although some 
text clarification suggestion were provided.
    ERP No. D-FHW-J40151-WY--Rating EC2, Wyoming Forest Highway 23 
Project, Louis Lake Road also known as Forest Development Road 300, 
Improvements from Bruce's Parking Lot to Worthen Meadow Road, Funding, 
NPDES Permits and COE Section 404 Permit, Shoshone National Forest, 
Fremont County, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the 
analysis of cumulative/indirect impacts and the range of alternatives. 
EPA requested that mitigation be included to reduce erosion and 
sedimentation of adjacent water and also requested additional 
information on alternatives for the existing roadway and potential 
cumulative effects to wildlife in the Forest.
    ERP No. D-FRC-L05220-WA--Rating EC2, Warm Creek (No. 10865) and 
Clearwater Creek (No. 11485) Hydroelectric Project, Issuance of License 
for the Construction and Operation, Located in the Middle Fork Nooksack 
River (MFNR) Basin, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns over the purpose and need for the 
projects, given their very small size; potential impacts to salmonids 
in the event of access above the Middle Fork Nooksack River diversion 
dam, which is downstream from the projects; and a lack of a true cost 
benefit analysis.
    ERP No. DS-FHW-G50008-00--Rating EC2, Great River Bridge, 
Construction, US 65 in Arkansas to MS-8 in Mississippi, Funding, COE 
Section 404 Permit and US Coast Guard Bridge Permit, Desha and Arkansas 
Counties, AR and Bolivar County, MS.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding wetland and 
wildlife habitat impacts and the mitigation of these impacts. EPA 
requested that additional information be provided on these issues in 
the next document.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-L60106-ID, Long Prong Project, Timber Harvesting, 
Road Construction and Reconstruction, Boise National Forest, Cascade 
Ranger District, Valley County, ID.
    Summary: No formal comment letter sent to the lead agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65290-ID, North Lochsa Face Landscape and Watershed 
Assessment Project, Implementation, Clearwater National Forest, Lochsa 
Ranger District, Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65303-WA, I-90 Land Exchange between Forest Service 
and Plum Creek, within the Vicinity of the Wenatchee, Mt. Baker-
Snoqualmie and Gifford Pinchot National Forests, Kittitas, King, 
Pierce, Lewis, Cowlitz and Skamania Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections.
    ERP No. F-COE-L32010-OR, Columbia and Lower Willamette River 
Federal Navigation Channel,

[[Page 63315]]

Improvement Channel Deepening, OR and WA.
    Summary: EPA's previous concerns have been addressed, therefore EPA 
has no objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-FHW-F40375-IL, IL-315 Federal Aid Primary (FAP) 
(Illinois-336) Transportation Project, Construction from FAP 315, IL 
336 (Southeast of Carthage) to US 136 (Just West of Macomb), Funding, 
COE 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, Hancock and McDonough Counties, IL.
    Summary: EPA's previously expressed concerns for documentation of 
wetlands avoidance/minimization and identification of a satisfactory 
conceptual wetlands compensation plan have been resolved. Therefore, 
EPA has no objections to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-FHW-F40381-MN, Phalen Boulevard Project, Construction of 
a new 4.3 Kilometer Roadway, from I35E to Johnson Parkway, Funding, in 
the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN.
    Summary: Final EIS provided adequate information and analysis to 
address EPA's previous environmental concerns, therefore, EPA has no 
objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-NOA-B91026-ME, Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus 
harengus) Fishery Management Plan (FWP), Management Measures, Exclusive 
Ecosystem Zone (EEZ), Gulf of Maine, George Bank, ME.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the project.
    ERP No. F-NOA-B91027-00, Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthras) Fishery 
Management Plan, Implementation, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, Labrador to 
Florida.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the project and offered general 
comments with respect to ghost fishing and the characterization of 
ocean disposal issues.
    ERP No. F-NPS-K61123-CA, Backcounty and Wilderness Management Plan, 
General Management Plan Amendment, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside 
and San Bernardino Counties, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-L61160-AK, Lower Sheenjek River Wild/Scenic River 
Study, Designation or Non-Designation for Inclusion in the National 
Wild and Scenic River System, Tributary of the Porcupine River, Yukon 
Flats National Wildlife Refuge, AK.
    Summary: No formal comment letter sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: November 16, 1999.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-30290 Filed 11-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U