[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 247 (Friday, December 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 80856-80857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32771]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6613-9]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared December 4, 2000 Through 
December 8, 2000 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

[[Page 80857]]

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-L67039-ID Rating EO2, El Luky Duk Gold Suction 
Dredging, Proposal to Mine Gold, Plan-of-Operation, Implementation, Nez 
Perce National Forest, Red River Ranger District, ID.

Summary

    EPA expressed objections due to the potential of the project to 
further degrade water quality and fish habitat in the South Fork 
Clearwater River, a listed water body due to sediment, temperature, and 
habitat alteration. EPA recommend that the EIS better quantify the risk 
to water quality, listed species, and their habitats from proposed 
suction dredging and demonstrate that water quality standards (e.g., 
turbidity) could be met at ``end-of-pipe'' allowing for the issuance of 
an NPDES permit.
    ERP No. D-JUS-L81012-WA Rating EC2, Tacoma/Seattle Area Detention 
Center, Construction and Leasing, Pierce County, WA.

Summary

    EPA expressed concerns regarding the manner in which the proposed 
action alternatives were evaluated, how stormwater runoff would be 
managed, the lack of a clear strategy for site remediation, and the 
failure to initiate consultations with potentially affected Native 
American Tribes. EPA requested that the EIS be revised to better 
differentiate the potential effects of the action alternatives, clarify 
how stormwater discharges would be controlled, explain the relationship 
of hazardous waste cleanup to the site selection process, and reflect 
that appropriate consultations with the Nisqually and Puyallup Tribes 
have taken place.
    ERP No. D-NPS-K61151-CA Rating LO, Lassen Volcanic National Park 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Lassen, Plumas, Shasta and 
Tehama Counties, CA.

Summary

    EPA expressed no objection to the proposed action. However, EPA 
requested the inclusion of a cumulative impacts analysis and additional 
information on proposed actions and environmental impacts.
    ERP No. D-UAF-G11039-TX Rating LO, Brooks City Base Project, To 
Improve Mission Effectiveness and Reduce Cost of Quality Installation 
Support, Implementation, Brooks Air Force Base, Bexar County, TX.

Summary

    EPA expressed no objection to the lead agency's proposed action. 
EPA requested some additional information to be included in the FEIS to 
strengthen the document.
    ERP No. DR-NPS-K65212-CA Rating LO, Mojave National Preserve 
General Management Plan, Revised and New Alternatives the Proposed 
Management Approach and Two Alternatives for the Management of the 1.6 
Million-Acre, Implementation, San Bernardio County, CA.

Summary

    While EPA had no objection to the proposed action, EPA did request 
that the Final EIS include a more thorough description of the impacts 
to water resources and projections of future visitor use and traffic 
levels.
    ERP No. DS-FTA-L40210-WA Rating NS, Central Link Light Rail Transit 
Project, (Sound Transit), Construction and Operation, Alternative Route 
Considered, Tukwila Freeway Route, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, 
Cities of Tukwila, SeaTac, Seattle, King County, WA.

Summary

    EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited review of 
this action. Based upon this screen, EPA does not foresee having any 
environmental objections to the proposed project. Therefore, EPA did 
not conduct a detailed review.
    ERP No. DS-NPS-K65209-00 Rating LO, Death Valley National Park 
General Management Plan, Proposed Management Approach and Two 
Alternatives for the Management of the 3.3 Million Acres, 
Implementation, Mojave Desert, Inyo and San Bernardino Counties, CA and 
Nye and Esmeralda Counties, NV.

Summary

    While EPA had no objection to the proposed action, EPA did request 
that the Final EIS include a comparison of current and expected levels 
of visitor activity and how changes in visitor use will be accomodated 
in area specific plans.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J67028-MT Rocky Mountain Front Mineral Withdrawal, 
Implementation, Helena and Lewis and Clark National Forests, Great 
Falls, MT.

Summary:

    EPA had no objection with the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65362-ID West Mountain North Project, Timber 
Harvest, Road Construction and Reconstruction), Boise National Forest, 
Cascade Ranger District, Valley County, ID.

Summary

    No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-COE-H36109-MO Chesterfield Valley Flood Control Study, 
Improvement Flood Protection, City of Chesterfield, St. Louis County, 
MO.

Summary

    EPA continues to express objections over three significant issues, 
cumulative impacts, floodplain management issues, and project 
alternatives.

    Dated: December 19, 2000.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-32771 Filed 12-21-00; 8:45 am]
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