[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 53 (Friday, March 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14558-14559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-6707]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6252-2]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared February 28, 2000 Through 
March 03, 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 
09, 1999 (63 FR 17856).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L65341-OR Rating EC2, Tower Fire Recovery Project, 
Restoration and Salvage, Implementation, Umatilla National Forest, 
North Fork John Day Ranger District, Umatilla and Grant Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns with the lack of information on 
related TMDL efforts by the Oregon Dept. of Environmental Quality, and 
the potential impacts to federally listed salmonid species, especially 
increased sedimentation and habitat fragmentation from current and 
proposed roads.
    ERP No. D-BLM-J65318-00 Rating EC2, Montana, North Dakota and 
Portions of South Dakota Off-Highway Vehicle Management and Plan 
Amendment, Implementation, MT, ND and SD.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to potential 
adverse impacts to water quality, wetlands and endangered species 
habitat from non-system roads and user exemptions. The final EIS should 
include information related to monitoring, enforcement and an inventory 
of non-system roads. EPA suggests that the selected alternative 
consider the exclusion of non-system

[[Page 14559]]

roads and trails for OHV access prior to site-specific analysis to 
identify appropriate use areas.
    ERP No. D-BLM-L65339-OR Rating LO, North Bank Habitat Management 
Area (NBHMA)/Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), Federally 
Endangered Columbian White-Tailed Deer (CWTD) and Special Status 
Species Habitat Enhancements to Ensure Viability Over Time, 
Implementation, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections and expects that road 
restrictions, trail maintenance, camping restrictions and environmental 
education programs will help improve deer habitat while maintaining 
recreation opportunities within the area.
    ERP No. D-FHW-D40303-PA Rating EC2, Mon/Fayette Transportation 
Project, Improvements from Uniontown to Brownsville Area, Funding and 
COE Section 404 Permit, Fayette and Washington Counties, PA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern due to potential impacts on 
cultural/natural resources and residential/commercial properties. EPA 
requested that the final document provide additional mitigation to 
avoid/protect aquatic and terrestrial resources.
    ERP No. D-NPS-J65319-UT Rating LO, Zion National Park, General 
Management Plan, Implementation, Washington, Iron and Kane Counties, 
UT.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. DS-FHW-G40145-00 Rating LO, US 71 Highway Improvement 
Project, Updated Information, between Texarkana, (US71) Arkansas and 
DeQueen, Texarkana Northern Loop Funding, Right-of-Way Approval and COE 
Section 404 Permit, Little River, Miller and Sevier Counties, AR and 
Bowie County, TX.
    Summary: EPA's previous review indicated that there was no 
objection to the preferred alternative. EPA has no objections to the 
two new alternatives now identified in the document.
    ERP No. DS-UAF-E11032-FL Rating EO2, Homestead Air Force Base (AFB) 
Disposal and Reuse Updated and Additional Information on Disposal of 
Portions of the Former Homestead (AFB), Implementation, Dade County, 
FL.
    Summary: EPA objects to the proposed action to convert the former 
HAFB into a commercial regional airport. EPA believes that siting a 
commercial airport between the Everglades and Biscayne National Parks 
is inappropriate and strongly recommend an environmentally sensitive 
mixed use alternative be selected as the preferred alternative. Of the 
presented alternatives, EPA believes that the Collier Mixed Use 
Proposal with some modifications and assurances is the environmentally 
preferred alternative and should be pursued further in the final EIS.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-G65051-NM  New Mexico Standards for Public Land 
Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management, Implementation, 
NM.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-COE-E39051-FL Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule Study, 
To Maintain or Improve Existing Water Storage, St. Lucie and 
Caloosahatchee River Estuaries, FL.
    Summary: EPA continue to express concern regarding the lack of a 
comprehensive downstream monitoring program. EPA requested the ROD 
commit to a monitoring program and that the acquired data be shared 
with involved state and federal agencies in determining the effects of 
short-term phosphorous increases on the Everglades Protection Area.
    ERP No. F-FHW-F40380-IN IN-641 Terre Haute Bypass, Improve access 
between US 41 South to I-70 East of Terre Haute, Funding and COE 
Section 404 Permit, Vigo County, In.
    Summary: EPA's previous issues were resolved, therefore EPA has no 
objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-FHW-G50008-00 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's previous issues have been resolved, therefore EPA 
has no objection to the selection of the Southern Alternative as the 
preferred transportation corridor.
    ERP No. F-FHW-J40150-ND Interstate 29 Reconstruction Project, 
Improvements from Rose Coulee to Cass County Road No. 20, Funding, City 
of Fargo, ND.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-FHW-K40193-CA I-215 Improvements, Orange Show Road to CA-
30, Funding, City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed continued concern that cumulative impacts 
were not fully addressed. EPA requested that additional comments on air 
and water quality mitigation, solid waste, pollution prevention, and 
cumulative impacts be addressed in the Record of Decision.
    ERP No. F-FRC-J05079-00 Cabinet Gorge (No. 2058-014) and Noxon 
Rapids (No. 2075-014) Hydroelectric Project, Relicensing, MT and ID.
    Summary: EPA recommended that FERC include a minimum flow release 
from Noxon Rapids Dam to reduce the magnitude of flow, velocity, and 
depth fluctuations in the river channel below Noxon Rapids Dam. EPA 
also recommended that the recommended measures, terms and conditions of 
the US Fish and Wildlife Service to minimize an incidental take of the 
bull trout be included as FERC license conditions.
    ERP No. F-NPS-D61051-VA Booker T. Washington National Monument 
(BOWA), General Management Plan, Implementation, Franklin County, VA.
    Summary: EPA's previous issues have been adequately addressed, 
therefore EPA no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-UAF-G11038-00 Realistic Bomber Training Initiative, 
Improve the B-52 and B-1 Aircrews Mission Training and Maximize Combat 
Training Time, Barksdale Air Force Base, LA, NM and TX.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-USN-K11099-NV Fallon Naval Air Station (NAS), Proposal 
for the Fallon Range Complex Requirements, Federal and Private Lands, 
Churchill, Eureka, Lander, Mineral, Nye and Washoe Counties, NV.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: March 14, 2000.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-6707 Filed 3-16-00; 8:45 am]
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