[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 151 (Friday, August 4, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47987-47988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19847]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6609-8]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared pursuant to the Environmental 
Review 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-J65300-CO Rating LO, Upper Blue Stewardship Project, 
Implementation of Vegetation Management, Travel Management, Designation 
of Dispersed Camping Sites, White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger 
District, Summit County, CO.
    Summary: Based on a limited review, EPA does not foresee having any 
environmental objections to the proposed project.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65324-WY Rating EC2, State of Wyoming School Section 
16 T.12N., R.83W., 6th P.M., Issuing a Forest Road Special-Use-Permit 
for Access, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests, Brush Creek/Hayden 
Ranger District, Carbon County, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about potential impacts on 
fisheries, threatened/endangered species and the roadless character of 
the land.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J67028-MT Rating LO, Rocky Mountain Front Mineral 
Withdrawal, Implementation, Helena and Lewis and Clark National 
Forests, Great Falls, MT.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65358-ID Rating EC2, Starbucky Restoration Project, 
Implementation of Vegetative Treatment, Road Construction and Watershed 
Improvements, Nez Perce National Forest, Red River Ranger District, 
Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential for sediment 
entering Santiam and Buckhorn Creeks; probability of intrusions into 
Buckhorn watershed riparian zone by off-road vehicles; uncertainty of 
whether restoration projects would receive funding; and degradation 
from possible mine exploration activities in the watersheds. The EPA 
requested that these concerns be addressed in final EIS and ROD.
    ERP No. D-BIA-L65352-WA Rating EC2, Colville Indian Reservation 
Integrated Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Colville Indian 
Reservation, Okanogan and Ferry Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern that there appeared to be no clear 
NEPA process for use on projects that would tier off this document. EPA 
requested that the final document discuss the tiered NEPA process and 
also include additional information on potential air and water quality 
issues.
    ERP No. D-FHW-H40169-MO Rating LO, US Route 65/US Route 36 in 
Livingston County, Transportation Improvements, Funding and COE Section 
404 Permit, Livingston County, MO.
    Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections to the proposed 
project, but recommended that MoDOT evaluate compatibility of the C-1 
sub-alignment, with the City of Chillicothe's draft land use plan.
    ERP No. D-FHW-K53008-NV Rating EC2, Reno Railroad Corridor, 
Implementation of the Freight Railroad Grade Separation Improvements in 
the Central Portion of the City of Reno, Washoe County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding the treatment of 
contaminated groundwater during construction, the treatment of 
stormwater during operation, the impact of the project on the Glendale 
Water Treatment Plant, PM-10 emissions during construction, and diesel 
emissions during operations. EPA requested the development of more 
stringent stormwater quality controls, fugitive dust PM-10 controls, 
and the reconsideration of build alternative along alternative 
alignments located away from heavily populated areas and riparian 
areas.
    ERP No. D-GSA-D80030-DC Rating LO, Department of Transportation 
Headquarters, Proposal to Lease 1.3 to 1.35 Million Rentable Square 
Feet of Consolidated and Upgraded Space, Five Possible Sites, Located 
in the Central Employment Area, Washington, DC.
    Summary: While EPA has no objection to the alternative as 
presented, it did request that GSA mitigate any adverse Environmental 
Justice impacts, impacts to historic resources/archeology, including 
historic views and traffic impacts on local streets that may develop as 
the project proceeds.
    ERP No. D-NPS-B61024-MA Rating LO, Boston Harbor Islands National 
Recreation Area, Implementation, General Management Plan, Boston, MA.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the project described in the EIS.
    ERP No. D-SFW-K99029-NV Rating EC2, Clark County Multiple Species 
Habitat Conservation Plan, Issuance of a Permit to Allow Incidental 
Take-of-79 Species, Clark County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about mitigation that relies on 
increased funding and coordination for conservation measures primarily 
on existing public lands. EPA asked that the FEIS describe how the plan 
would result in improved on-the-ground conditions which would not 
otherwise be achieved through existing resource management plans. EPA 
also believes a commitment to growth which is town-centered, transit 
and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial 
and retail uses would significantly enhance the benefits of the 
regional conservation planning effort. In addition, EPA urged the 
adoption of the 20-year permit duration versus the preferred 
alternative's 30-year permit.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-J65287-UT Rating LO, Rhyohite Fuel Ecosystem 
Rehabilitation Project to the South Spruce Ecosystem Rehabilitation 
Project, Implementation, Dixie National Forest, Cedar City Ranger 
District, Iron County, UT.
    Summary: Based on a limited review. EPA does not foresee having any 
environmental objections to the proposed project.
    ERP No. RD-AFS-L61208-00 Rating EC2, Hells Canyon National 
Recreation Area (HCNRA), Comprehensive Management Plan, Revised and 
Updated Information on Five Alternatives, Implementation, Wallowa-
Whitman National Forest, Nez Perce and Payette National Forests, Bake 
and Wallowa Counties, OR and Nez Perce and Adam Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential impacts to 
water

[[Page 47988]]

quality and existing impaired waterbodies. EPA recommends that the EIS 
include plans to obliterate roads versus closing them; a comprehensive 
road plan that balances environmental effects, funding constraints, and 
access needs and includes maintenance and monitoring elements; and a 
strategy to restore impaired waters that is based on the 303(d) 
protocol.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-L65313-ID, Silver Creek Integrated Resource Project, 
Implementation, Middle Fork Payette River, Boise National Forest, Boise 
and Valley Counties, ID.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65329-AK, Skipping Cow Timber Sale, Harvesting 
Timber, South half of Zarembo Island, Tongass National Forest, Wrangell 
Ranger District.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-BLM-L67037-ID, Dry Valley Mine--South Extension Project, 
Construction of two New Open Pit Mine, Special-Use-Permit, COE Section 
404 Permit, Public and Private Land Used, Caribou County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the area surrounding the 
proposed project would be at risk without commitments in the ROD. EPA 
requested that the ROD require regular analysis and reporting of data, 
a strategy for dealing with unforeseen circumstances at the site, 
bonding adequate to reclaim the site, and clear acknowledgment that 
land application of wastewater has not been approved by BLM.
    ERP No. F-COE-K36130-AZ, Tres Rios Feasibility Study Project, 
Ecosystem Restoration, Located at the Salt, Gila and Agua Fria Rivers, 
City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, AZ.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-TVA-E70001-TN, Tim Ford Reservoir Land Management and 
Disposition Plan, Implementation, Tim Ford Reservoir, Franklin and 
Moore Counties, TN.
    Summary: EPA continues to be concerned about potential water 
quality concerns involving shoreline development of the reservoir.

    Dated: August 1, 2000.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-19847 Filed 8-3-00; 8:45 am]
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