[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 78 (Friday, April 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21417-21418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10029]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6253-5]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA Comments Prepared April 3, 2000 Through April 
7, 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-L65345-WA Rating NR, Deadman Creek Ecosystem 
Management Projects, Implementation, Kettle Falls Ranger District, 
Colville National Forest, Ferry County, WA.
    Summary: EPA Region X used a screening tool to conduct a limited 
review of this action. Based upon this screen, EPA does not foresee 
having any environmental objections to the proposed project. Therefore, 
EPA will not be conducting a detailed review.
    ERP No. D-BLM-K67051-NV Rating EO2, Marigold Mine Expansion 
Project, Implementation, COE Section 404 Permit, Special-Use-Permit, 
Humboldt County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed objections with the project's potential 
impacts to surface and ground water quality from mine facilities, 
including the post-closure pit lake; and to air quality, especially 
from mercury emissions. Additional information was requested regarding 
impacts to water and air quality, ecological risks, bonding and 
closure, mitigation measures, and geochemical characterization.
    ERP No. D-BLM-L65338-OR Rating EC2, John Day River Management Plan, 
Implementation, John Day River Basin, Gilliam, Grant, Wheeler, Crook, 
Harney, Jefferson, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union and Wasco Counties, 
OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern about the degraded environmental 
conditions in the wild and scenic corridor and the relatively minor 
adjustments being proposed for land management, which may not be 
sufficient to protect/enhance the resource values, or comply with state 
water quality standards. EPA requested that the plan include both 
implementation and effectiveness monitoring to measure progress in 
meeting goals/objectives, and to enable BLM and partners to make needed 
adjustments.
    ERP No. D-FHW-G40156-TX Rating EC2, TX-130 Construction, I-35 of 
Georgetown to I-10 near Seguin, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit, 
Williamson, Travis, Caldwell, Guadalupe Counties, TX.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding impacts 
relating to farmlands, relocation/displacement, air quality, wetlands, 
and cultural resources. EPA requested that additional information on 
these issues be included in the final document.
    ERP No. D-FHW-G40157-TX Rating EC2, Tyler Loop 49 West, 
Construction from the TX-155 Highway to I-20 Highway, Funding, NPDES 
and COE Section 404 Permits, Smith County, TX.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding farmland 
impacts, air quality impacts, and noise impacts. EPA requested that 
additional information on these issues be incorporated in the final 
EIS.
    ERP No. D-NPS-K65325-CA Rating LO, Merced Wild and Scenic River 
Comprehensive Management Plan, Implementation, Yosemite National Park 
and the EL Portal Administrative Site, Tuolumne, Merced, Mono, Mariposa 
and Madera Counties, CA.
    SUMMARY: EPA had no objections to the over all management plan, 
future concerns might exist for specific tiered projects.
    ERP No. DA-AFS-L65155-00 Rating EC2, Northern Spotted Owl 
Management Plan, Updated Information for Amendment to the Survey and 
Manage, Protection Buffer and Other Mitigating Measures, Standards and 
Guidelines (to the Northwest Forest Plan), Late-Successional and Old 
Growth Forest Related Species Within the Range of the Northern Spotted 
Owl, OR, WA and CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding project impacts for those 
species removed from protection and/or provided less protection than in 
the original plan. EPA also expressed concern about certain aspects of 
the proposed management direction for those species that will continue 
to be covered by these Standards and Guidelines and about the social/
economic implications of the plan.

[[Page 21418]]

    ERP No. DS-COE-H36012-MO Rating EU3, St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid 
Floodway, Channel Enlargement and Improvement, Flood Control, National 
Economic Development (NED) Mississippi River & Tributaries, MO.
    Summary:EPA expressed significant objections regarding the lack of 
information regarding potential impacts to over 36,000 acres of 
wetlands in the Mississippi River floodplain. EPA requested that the 
Corps formally revise the Draft Supplemental EIS to include further 
development of alternatives, improved wetlands determinations, 
cumulative impact analysis, water quality impacts, and appropriate 
mitigation measures.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-K40216-AZ, AZ-260 Transportation Improvements, 
between Payson and Heber, Funding, NPDES and COE Section 404 Permits, 
Gila, Coconino and Navajo Counties, AZ.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-H61020-00, Missouri National Recreational River, 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Cedar and Dixon Counties, NB 
and Yakton, Clay and Union Counties, SD.
    Summary: EPA has no objections with the General Management Plan 
described in the FEIS.

    Dated: April 18, 2000.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division.
[FR Doc. 00-10029 Filed 4-20-00; 8:45 am]
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