[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 131 (Friday, July 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41982-41983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-17272]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6608-9]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared 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 14, 2000 (65 FR 20157).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L36113-WA Rating EC2, Upper Charley Subwatershed 
Ecosystem Restoration Projects, Implementation, Pomeroy Ranger 
District, Umatilla National Forest, Garfield County, WA.
    Umatilla National Forest, Garfield County, WA.

[[Page 41983]]

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts to fish and wildlife populations, including big game 
and air quality within and surrounding the analysis area. The final EIS 
should supply information on existing air quality and an analysis of 
projected air quality impacts.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L61223-OR Rating EC2, Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion, 
Implementation, Ashland Ranger District, Rogue River National Forest 
and Scott River Ranger District, Klamath National Forest, Jackson 
County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns with the purpose and need, range of 
alternatives and potential impacts to water quality, especially 
Riparian Reserves, and sensitive plants. EPA also commented on the 
mitigation and monitoring plans, skier demand, and transportation 
options.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65350 -ID Rating EC2, JJ (Jerry Johnson) Ecosystem 
Restoration Project, Ranger District (Powell), Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential 
adverse impacts of concentrated tree removal, especially old growth, 
and disturbing highly unstable terrain increasing the risk of sediment 
delivery to streams. EPA requests that the final EIS further address 
the ecological impacts, especially cumulative effects, monitoring and 
CWA Section 303(d) listed waters.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65355-ID Rating EC2 Summary: EPA expressed 
environmental concerns with entry into the Sheep Gulch Roadless Area 
and potential adverse impacts to water quality, fish and wildlife. The 
final EIS should clarify how the proposed road treatments will restore 
soils and hydrologic function, as well as impacts from OHVs and 
information on landslide events in the project area.
    ERP No. D-BLM-L65347-00 Rating EC2, Cascade Siskiyou Ecological 
Emphasis Area Management Plan, To Maintain, Protect, Restore or Enhance 
the Ecological Processes, Planning Area for Designation as a National 
Monument by the President, OR and CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about potential adverse impacts 
from grazing and OHV use on water quality, soils, sensitive plants and 
wildlife, especially in non-designated areas.
    ERP No. D-SFW-K64019-NV Rating EC2, Stillwater National Wildlife 
Refuge Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Boundary Revision, 
Implementation, Churchill and Washoe Counties, NV.
    Summary: While EPA supported the preferred alternative, the 
preferred alternative did not express concerns with the water quality 
of inflows and management options to help ensure that water entering 
the wetlands is of sufficient quality to meet water quality standards 
and protect beneficial uses. EPA urged the Service to commit to 
implementation of mitigation measures, monitoring, and adaptive 
management.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-J65268-CO Rating EO2, Legislative--DSEIS--North Fork 
of the South Platte Rivers Wild and Scenic River Study for the 
Designation or Non-Designation into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers 
System, Pike and San Isabel National Forests, Comache and Cimarron 
National Grasslands, Douglas, Jefferson, Park and Teller Counties, Co.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with the selection 
of the ``not suitable'' alternative, lack of implementing documents, 
and absence of protection for recognized attributes of the North Fork.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-K65345-CA Pendola Fire Restoration Project, 
Implementation, Tahoe National Forest, Downieville Ranger District, 
Yuba County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-L65331-WA Whitman Mission National Historic Site, 
General Management Plan, Development Concept Plan, Implementation, 
Walla Walla County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-SFW-K05056-CA High Desert Power Project, Construction and 
Operation, A Combined-Cycle Natural Gas-Fueled Electrical Generation 
Power Planet, Approval of Incidental Taking Authorization under 
Sections 7 and 10 of the Federal ESA, San Bernardino County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: July 3, 2000.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities
[FR Doc. 00-17272 Filed 7-6-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U