[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 20 (Monday, January 31, 2000)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 4606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-2111]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6250-6]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared January 10, 2000 Through 
January 14, 2000 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 (63 FR 17856).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L65333-OR Rating EC2, Five Rivers Watershed Landscape 
Management Project, To Restore Terrestrial and Aquatic Habitat, 
Special-Use-Permit, Siuslaw National Forest, Waldport Ranger District, 
Lincoln and Lane Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential water quality 
impacts from roads, increased logging, and entry into riparian buffers. 
EPA requested the Forest Service discuss these concerns in the FEIS.
    ERP No. D-BLM-G65071-NM Rating LO, Albuquerque Field Office 
Riparian and Aquatic Habitats Management, To Restore and Protect, Rio 
Puerco Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA), Cibola, Sandoval, 
McKinley, Rio Arriba, Bernalillo, Valencia and Santa Fe Counties, NM.
    Summary: Because the EIS is programmatic in content and the 
alternatives considered promote environmental enhancement, EPA has 
limited its review to insure that the DEIS meets the minimal 
administrative and procedural requirements established by the NEPA and 
CEQ Regulations and finds the DEIS to satisfy these requirements and 
takes no position on the preferred action or the alternatives.
    ERP No. D-BLM-G65073-NM Rating LO, Farmington Field Office Riparian 
and Aquatic Habitat Management, To Restore and Protect, Farmington 
Riparian and Aquatic Habitat Management Plan, San Juan, McKinley, Rio 
Arriba and Sandoval Counties, NM.
    Summary: Since the EIS is programmatic in content and the 
alternatives considered promote environmental enhancement, EPA Region 6 
has limited its review to ensure that the DEIS meets the minimal 
administrative and procedural requirements established by NEPA and CEQ 
Regulations. EPA's limited review finds the DEIS to satisfy these 
requirements and takes no position on the preferred action or the 
alternatives.
    ERP No. D-FRC-F03007-00 Rating EO2, TriState Pipeline Project, 
Construction and Operation of Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities, Docket 
Nos.: CP99-61-000, CP99-62-000, CP99-63-000 and CP99-64-000, 
Presidential Permit, IL, IN and MI.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with the project. 
The issues raised include alternatives evaluation, waterbody crossings, 
sole source aquifer, wetland and woodland impacts and mitigation.
    ERP No. D-FRC-J05079-00 Rating EC2, Cabinet Gorge (No. 2058-014) 
and Noxon Rapids (No. 2075-014) Hydroelectric Project, Relicensing, MT 
and ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding 
continuation of potential adverse impacts to bull trout, and bank and 
shoreline erosion and aquatic habitat degradation that results from 
project operations. EPA also believes further information is needed to 
explain why a minimum flow release from Noxon Rapids Dam was not 
recommended. EPA believes the USFWS recommended terms and conditions to 
protect the bull trout should be included as license conditions, and 
that corrective actions need to be developed to address bank and 
shoreline erosion problems.
    ERP No. D-NPS-H65007-KS Rating LO, Tallgrass Prairie National 
Preserve General Management Plan, Implementation, Flint Hills Region, 
Chase County, KS.
    Summary: EPA had a lack of objections to the proposed project.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-C40142-NY US-20/Broadway (Transit Road to Lancaster 
East Village Line) Reconstruction, Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 
Permit, in the Villages of Depew and Lancaster, Erie County, NY.
    Summary: EPA has no further issues with the project.
    ERP No. F-FHW-F40365-WI US 151 Highway Project, from Dickeyville to 
to Belmont, Improvements, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, Grant and 
Lafayette Counties, WI.
    Summary: The FEIS addressed EPA's previous comments on wetlands, 
floodplains and other resources.

    Dated: January 27, 2000.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-2111 Filed 1-28-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P