[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 171 (Friday, September 1, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53296-53297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22553]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6610-6]


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-K65226-00 Rating EO2, Sierra Nevada Forest Plan 
Amendment Project, Implementation, several counties, CA and NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections based on problems 
with purpose and need, alternative development, water and air quality 
impacts, analysis of cumulative effects, and the relationship of the 
Forest Plan Amendment to the Quincy pilot project. EPA offered specific 
suggestions and requests that the final EIS address the issues 
addressed above as well as the decision to defer consideration of 
strategies to address adverse impacts associated with the Forest 
Service road system in the planning area.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65357-ID Rating EC2, East Beaver and Miner's Creek 
Timber Sales and Prescribed Burning Project, Implementation, Caribou-
Targhee National Forest, Dubois Ranger District, Clark County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern with the preferred alternative due 
to potential impacts to aquatic ecosystem health and lack of data/
analysis to support conclusions; uncertain funding of restoration/
mitigation projects upon which impact analyses were based; and the 
aggressive approach to prescribed burning that may not achieve intended 
goals.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65360-AK Rating EC2, Madan Timber Sale, 
Implementation, Tongass National Forest, Wrangell Ranger District, COE 
Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about the potential impacts from 
roads and Log Transfer Facilities (LTFs) to water quality, aquatic 
resources, and wildlife in the project area. EPA recommends that the 
EIS clarify proposed road maintenance activities, try to realign roads 
to avoid wetlands, and decommission roads following harvesting. In 
addition, EPA recommends that hardened surfaces be placed at permanent 
LTF sites to help capture spilled fuels and that the Forest Service 
consult with National Marine Fisheries Service about the potential 
impacts of LTFs to Essential Fish Habitat.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65361-ID Rating EC2, Myrtle-Cascade Project, 
Implementation of Resource Management Activities, Idaho Panhandle 
National Forests, Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Boundary County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about impacts to water quality from 
proposed reconstruction of roads without a commensurate commitment of 
funds to maintain or obliterate those roads, and about declines in 
woodland caribou populations that occurred recently, and the potential 
impacts of the project to the caribou population in the area. EPA 
recommends that the EIS discuss in greater detail the effect on water 
quality if obliteration is not funded and the impacts on woodland 
caribou from project implementation.
    ERP No. D-COE-K39061-CA Rating EC2, Rancho Palos Verdes Restoration 
Project, Implementation, City of Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the water 
quality impacts projected to occur with construction and operation of 
the dike, and because the Corps did not evaluate alternatives that 
would avoid or minimize the placement of dredged or fill material in 
waters of the United States. EPA expressed additional concerns 
regarding potential air quality impacts, cumulative impacts, and 
environmental justice considerations.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F54013-IL Rating EO2, Chicago--St. Louis High-Speed 
Rail Project, Improvement from Chicago to St. Louis to enhance the 
Passenger Transportation Network, NPDES Permit and COE Section 404 
Permit, Cook, Will, Kankakee Grundy, Livington, McLean, Sangemon, 
Macoupin, Jersey, Madison and St. Louis Counties, IL and St. Louis 
County, MO.
    Summary: EPA believes the RIA Alternative is environmentally 
preferable and lacks objections to it. The other two alternatives, NSA 
and IUA, distinctly have a greater impact to the environment. EPA 
therefore objects to these two alternatives and requests additional 
information regarding potential impacts to air quality as well as to 
threatened and endangered species.
    ERP No. D-FHW-H40168-MO Rating LO, New Mississippi River Crossing, 
Relocated I-70 and I-64 Connector, Funding, COE Section 404 and 10 
Permits and NPDES Permit, St. Louis County, MO.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K36132-CA Rating EO2, Colusa Basin Drainage District, 
Developing an Integrated Resource Management Program for the Control of 
Flooding, Glenn, Colusa and Yolo Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA strongly objected to the reliance on detention dams 
and reservoirs since they are likely to have significant adverse 
impacts to scarce high value habitats and the proposed mitigation (1:1 
vs 3:1 compensation). In addition it is unlikely that the proposed 
alternatives will comply with the CWA 404(b)(1) Alternatives Analysis. 
EPA believes that the flood control program should provide an overall 
framework for local and regional flood control and include a broad 
range of nonstructural, managerial, and engineering options. The 
Program should not preclude opportunities to implement a comprehensive 
basin-wide solution for

[[Page 53297]]

water supply, natural resource enhancement, and flood protection.
    ERP No. D-UAF-J11018-WY Rating EC2, F. E. Warren Air Force Base 
Deactivation and Dismantlement of the Peacekeeper Missile System, To 
Comply with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Laramie, 
Platte and Goshen Counties, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential 
ground water and tank removal impacts.
    ERP No. DA-NOA-E64016-FL Rating LO, Florida Keys National Sanctuary 
Comprehensive Management Plan, New Information Concerning the 
Establishment of the Tortugas Marine Reserves in Seven Fishery 
Management Plans in the Gulf of Mexico.
    Summary: While EPA has no objection to the proposed action, it did 
suggest that environmental justice issues and ecological monitoring be 
further clarified.
    ERP No. DS-UAF-G11031-TX Rating EC2, Programmatic EIS--Kelly Air 
Force Base (AFB), Disposal and Reuse, Implementation, San Antonio 
County, TX.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding noise 
related impacts. In addition, EPA requested clarification of the air 
impact analysis and attainment status designations. EPA requested that 
the additional information/data be incorporated in the final EIS.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-COE-G36151-TX, Programmatic EIS--Upper Trinity River 
Basin Feasibility Study, To Provide Flood Damage Reduction, 
Environmental Restoration, Water Quality Improvement and Recreational 
Enhancement, Trinity River, Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Dallas, Denton 
and Tarrant Counties, TX.
    Summary: The Final EIS responded fully to EPA's comments on the 
Draft Programmatic Statement.
    ERP No. F-FAA-F51045-OH, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, 
To Provide Capacity, Facilities, Highway Improvements and Enhancement 
to Safety, Funding, Cugahoga County, OH.
    Summary: EPA's environmental concerns identified in the draft EIS 
have been adequately addressed in FEIS. Consequently, our Agency has no 
objections to project implementation.
    ERP No. F-FHW-K40234-HI, Puainako Street Extension and Widening, 
Traffic Circulation Improvements, Funding, South Hilo, Hawaii County, 
HI.
    Summary: EPA continues to express concern regarding cumulative 
impacts and potential non-point source water pollution issues. EPA 
supports the commitment to including a cumulative impact analysis of 
the project area in subsequent regional transportation EISs and the 
development of detailed non-point source pollution prevention plans.
    ERP No. F-IBR-K39050-CA, PROGRAMMATIC--CALFED Bay-Delta Program, 
Long-Term Comprehensive Plan to Restore Ecosystem Health and Improve 
Water Management, Implementation, San Francisco Bay--Sacramento/San 
Joaquin River Bay-Delta, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. FA-NOA-K91007-00, Pacific Coast Salmon Plan (1997) for 
Amendment 14, Fishery Management Plan, Comprehensive Updating, 
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Off the Coasts of WA, OR and CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: August 29, 2000.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-22553 Filed 8-31-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U