[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 156 (Friday, August 11, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 49238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20437]



[[Page 49238]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6610-2]


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-COE-E35085-MS Rating EU2, Destination Broadwater Project, 
Proposed Redevelopment and Construction of a large-scale Casino 
Destination Resort in Biloxi, Approval of Permits for Section 10 of the 
River and Harbor Act and Section 404 of the CWA, Harrison County, MS.
    Summary: EPA rated the applicant's proposal as environmentally 
unsatisfactory based on the potential for significant adverse 
consequences to important aquatic resources of the Mississippi Sound, 
as well as the availability of other less environmentally damaging 
alternatives.
    ERP No. D-COE-E36178-00 Rating LO, Wolf River Ecosystem 
Restoration, Memphis, Tennessee Feasibility Study, Marshall, Benton and 
Tippah Counties, MS and Shelby, Fayette and Harderman, TN.
    Summary: Structural measures of the proposed action will 
significantly improve fish and wildlife habitat in the watershed. 
Therefore, EPA has no objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. D-COE-H36108-NB Rating EC2, Sand Creek Watershed 
Restoration Project, To Develop Environmental Restoration, City of 
Wahoo, Saunders County, NB.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern that the need for the project was 
not demonstrated given the current state of the watershed. The effects 
of improved agricultural management practices which have been 
implemented over the past thirteen years were not addressed and many 
contemporary farming practices, (such as conservation tillage, no-till, 
etc.) have been implemented for the express purpose of improving water 
quality and controlling soil and nutrient loss.
    ERP No. D-NPS-E61075-FL Rating EC2, Dry Tortugas National Park 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Monroe County, FL.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns and requested additional 
information on management plan implementation, enforcement, and 
mitigation of both existing conditions and possible future impacts.
    ERP No. DS-NOA-E64016-FL Rating EC2, Florida Keys National Marine 
Sanctuary (FKNMS), Comprehensive Management Plan, Updated Information, 
Proposal to Establish a No-Take Ecological Reserve in the Tortugas 
Region, FL.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the proposed 
management plan. EPA requested details of the plan be included in the 
final document.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-F65026-MN, Gunflint Corridor Fuel Reduction, 
Implementation, Superior National Forest, Gunflint Ranger District, 
Cook County, MN.
    Summary: The FEIS adequately addressed our concerns, regarding 
potential impacts to wetlands, water, and air quality. Therefore, EPA 
has no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-DOE-E09804-FL, JEA Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) 
Combustor Project, 300 Megawatt-Electric, Coal and Petroleum Coke-
Fired, CFB Combustor and Boiler to Repower an existing Steam Turbine at 
JEA's North-side Generating Station Construction and Operation, 
Funding, Jacksonville, Duval County, FL.
    Summary: EPA appreciates the mitigation measures DOE will employ to 
address potential impacts of this project, but we continue to have 
environmental concerns about potential process releases.
    ERP No. F-FRC-K05055-CA, Potter Valley Project Proposed Changes in 
Minimum Flow Requirements, License Amendment, (FERC Project No. 77-
110), Lake and Mendocino Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed continuing concerns involving the range of 
alternatives and the relative weight given to economic factors 
unrelated to fishery health in selecting a preferred alternative.
    ERP No. F-TVA-E65054-TN, Tellico Reservoir Land Management Plan, 
Implementation of Seven Mainstream and Two Tributary Reservoirs, 
Blount, Loudon and Monroe, Tn.
    Summary: EPA recognized that the preferred management plan should 
environmentally improve the management of the Tellico Reservoir lands. 
EPA expressed concern over the continued pressure for development, 
timbering and recreation in the southeast, and the resulting impacts to 
water quality and other environmental resources.

Regulations

    ERP No. R-APH-A99020-00, Pipeline Safety: Areas Unusually Sensitive 
to Environmental Damage
    Summary: EPA had objections to the proposed regulations. EPA 
believes that the proposed regulations do not adequately address our 
substantial concerns about how the Unusually Sensitive Areas will be 
defined. Several recommendation were offered.

    Dated: August 8, 2000.
Joseph P. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-20437 Filed 8-10-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P