[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 141 (Friday, July 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45374-45375]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18551]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6609-4]


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-A65168-00 Rating EC2, Forest Service Roadless Area 
Conservation, Implementation, Proposal to Protect Roadless Areas.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the proposed 
alternative, citing potential adverse impacts to water quality and 
aquatic habitat. EPA also commented that the draft EIS does not 
adequately justify excluding the Tongass National Forest from the 
proposed rulemaking.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J61103-MT Rating EC2, Discovery Ski Area Expansion, 
Implementation, Special-Use-Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Pintler Ranger District, Rumsey 
Mountain, Granite County, MT.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the lack of 
information to support expansion of the ski area; inadequate analysis 
and disclosure of indirect effects of induced development; and effects 
of additional snowmaking and increased wastewater pollutant loadings to 
area ground water. EPA requested additional information in the final 
document to assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts of the 
management actions.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65227-CA Rating EC2, 64-Acre Tract Intermodal 
Transit Center, Construction and Operation, Lake Tahoe Basin Management 
Unit, Tahoe City, Placer County, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding water 
quality impacts and cumulative impacts associated with the proposal. 
EPA also had concerns because there is no provision for solid waste 
recycling nor integration of pollution prevention mechanisms in the 
project.
    ERP No. D-NPS-K61149-CA Rating EC2, Yosemite Valley Plan, A 
Comprehensive Look of at Four Areas of Concern: Resource Preservation 
and Restoration, Visitor Enjoyment, Transportation, and Employee 
Housing, from Happy Isles to El Portal Road/Big Oak Flat Road, Merced 
River, several counties, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding the vehicle emission 
impacts from the proposed shuttle bus systems. EPA requested more 
information on the standards and criteria that will be used to select 
the fuel(s) technology used in the shuttle bus fleets.
    ERP No. D-USN-K39059-HI Rating EC2, North Pacific Acoustic 
Laboratory Project, Reuse of Low Frequency Sound Source and Cable for 
Use in Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) Research, Kauai, 
HI.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential 
direct, indirect and cumulative impacts to marine fish specie, turtles, 
seabirds and marine mammals. EPA recommended an implementing program 
lasting 24 to 36 months rather than the proposed 60 months, because of 
uncertainties regarding potential impacts to marine species. EPA also 
recommended Federal agency coordination to determine if marine mammal 
monitoring should be expanded to monitor populations of turtles and 
marine fish.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-L65289-00 Rating EC2, Interior Columbia Basin 
Ecosystem Management Projects, Updated and New Information on three 
Management Alternatives, Implementation, WA, OR, ID and MT.

    Summary: EPA continues to have concern that there is no discussion 
on how the FS and BLM will address competing objectives and the 
implications of implementing the preferred alternative with 
insufficient funding. In addition, there is no oversight process to 
ensure proper implementation and monitoring of the project. EPA 
requested that a multi-agency oversight organization be chartered.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-L65275-00  Targhee National Forest Plan Oil and Gas 
Leasing Analysis, Implementation, Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Fremont and 
Madison Counties, ID and Teton County, WY.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-BLM-J02038-WY  Pinedale Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration 
and Development Natural Gas Wells Project, Implementation, Sublette 
County, WY.

    Summary: ERP No. F-BLM-K67049-CA  Soledad Canyon Sand and Gravel 
Mining Project, Proposal to Mine, Produce and Sell, ``Split Estate'' 
Private Owned and Federally Owned Lands, Transit Mixed Concrete, Los 
Angeles County, CA.

    Summary: EPA concurred with BLM's conformity determination and is 
satisfied that air quality standards will be protected. EPA expressed 
continuing concerns that a jurisdictional analysis has not yet been 
conducted for waters of the U.S., and potential impacts and appropriate 
mitigation measures remain uncertain.
    ERP No. F-IBR-K64018-CA  Lower Mokelumne River Restoration Program, 
Implementation, Resource Management Plan, San Joaquin County, CA.

    Summary: EPA has no objection to the action as proposed since EPA's 
comments on the Draft were adequately addressed. EPA did recommend that 
the Record of Decision clearly state the

[[Page 45375]]

specific actions to be taken in response to comments.
    ERP No. F-NPS-K65325-CA  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: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. FS-NOA-A91065-00  Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and Sharks, 
Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan.

    Summary: EPA concurs with the proposed time/area closures to reduce 
longline bycatch but recommends resolving the potential adverse effects 
on protected turtles prior to any issuance of the ROD and Final Rule. 
Further research under the auspices of NOAA/NMFS should be pursued 
regarding the effectiveness of the considered longline gear 
modifications such as use of circle hooks.

    Dated: July 18, 2000.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division,, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-18551 Filed 7-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P