[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 16225]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7320]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6616-6]


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-IBR-K38007-CA Rating EC2, Grassland Bypass Project (2001 
Use Agreement), To Implement the New Use Agreement for the period from 
October 1, 2001 through December 21, 2009, San Joaquin River and Merced 
River, Fresno, Merced and Stanslaus Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA strongly supports improving water quality and the 
elimination of agricultural drainwater from 93 to 100 miles of wetland 
channels. Nevertheless, EPA expressed concerns regarding gaps in the 
information provided by the DEIS, including future treatment of the 
sediment accumulation in the San Luis Drain, cumulative impacts, and 
the formulation of alternatives.
    ERP No. D-NPS-C67000-NJ Rating EC2, Maurice National Scenic and 
Recreational River (NS&RR) Comprehensive Management Plan, 
Implementation, Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, NJ.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the timely 
implementation and monitoring of the management plan. More detail is 
needed for the recommendations to enhance and protect open space, water 
quality, and wildlife corridor values. The final EIS should include a 
water quality monitoring plan and a detailed plan for periodic 
evaluation of the implementation of the plan.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FRC-E08020-00 Gulfstream Natural Gas System Project, 
Construction and Operation, To Provide Natural Gas Transportation 
Service, AL, MS and FL.
    Summary: By employing alternate technology and different routes, 
the applicant has substantially reduced turbidity impacts to marine 
live bottom communities in the proposed pipeline right-of-way (ROW). 
Wetland losses were reduced by restricting construction ROW and 
proposing wetland enhancements and restoration as mitigation. Despite 
these efforts, EPA continues to have concerns about live bottom 
destruction and recommends seeding of benthic organisms and placement 
of habitat modules as mitigation for live bottom impacts.
    ERP No. F-MMS-G39008-00 Programmatic EIS--Proposed Use of Floating 
Production, Storage and Offloading Systems on the Gulf of Mexico, Outer 
Continental Shelf, Western and Central Planning Areas, TX, LA, MS, AL 
and FL.
    Summary: EPA has no further comments to offer on the FEIS.
    ERP No. F-NPS-C61010-NJ Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and 
Recreation River, Comprehensive Management Plan, Implementation, 
Altantic Gloucester, Camden and Cape May Counties, NJ.
    Summary: The final EIS adequately addressed our concerns.

    Dated: March 20, 2001.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 01-7320 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U