[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37956-37957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18201]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6620-2]


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-AFS-E65056-FL Rating LO, Ocklawaha River Restoration 
Project, Continued Occupation of Florida National Forest Lands, 
Portions of Kirkpatrick Dam, Rodman Reservoir and Eureka Lock and Dam 
in Conjunction with Partial Restoration of the Ocklawaha River, 
Operation and Maintenance, Permit Issuance and Implementation, Marion 
and Putnam Counties, FL.
    Summary: EPA has not identified any potential environmental impacts 
requiring substantive changes to the proposal. The temporary impacts 
caused by the release of nutrients should not be a factor in delaying 
project implementation.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65343-MT Rating EC2, North Elkhorns Vegetation 
Project, Elkhorn Wildlife Management Unit, Implementation, Strawberry 
Butte Area, Helena National Forest, Jefferson County MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the limited 
range of alternatives evaluated and asked for additional explanation 
and additional alternatives analysis. Of the two action alternatives 
presented EPA favored logging during winter on snow to reduce erosion 
and sediment transport. EPA requests that the final EIS provide 
information regarding impacts to wetlands and air quality impacts to 
fully assess and mitigate all potential impacts.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65382-ID Rating NS, Meadow Face Stewardship Pilot 
Project, Implementation, Nez Perce National Forest, Clearwater Ranger 
District, Idaho County, ID.
    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 will not be conducting a detailed review.
    ERP No. D-BLM-K65340-NV Rating EC2, Reno Clay Plant Project, 
Construct and Operate an Open-Pit Clay Mine and Ore Processing 
Facility, Plan-of-Operations, Oil-Dri Corporation of Nevada, Hungry 
Valley, Washoe County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential impacts to air 
and water quality, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and cultural resources; 
and recommended that the FEIS include additional information regarding 
these impacts, mitigation measures to reduce or offset impacts, and 
bonding.
    ERP No. D-FRC-C05147-NY Rating EC2, Upper Hudson River 
Hydroelectric Project, Relicensing the E.J. West Project (FERC-No. 
2318-002), Stewart Bridge Project (FERC-No. 2047-004), Hudson River 
Project (FERC-No. 2482-014) and Feeder Dam Hydroelectric Project (FERC-
No. 2554-003), Saratoga, Fulton and Hamilton Counties, NY.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential impacts to 
aquatic resources and wetlands. EPA also requested additional 
information on alternatives and the consultation process with tribal 
nations.
    ERP No. D-HUD-K81026-CA Rating EC2, West Hollywood Gateway Project, 
Constructing from Santa Monica Boulevard, Romaine Street LaBrea Avenue 
and Formosa Avenue, Public/Private Partnership, City of West Hollywood, 
Los Angeles County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns, and requested additional 
information regarding: impacts to traffic and air quality in the 
region, proposed traffic mitigation measures and environmental justice 
impacts.
    ERP No. D-USA-E11049-KY Rating EC1, U.S. Army Armor Center and Fort 
Knox Northern Training Complex, Construction and Operation of a Multi-
Purpose Digital Training Ranger and a Series of Maneuver Areas, Drop 
and Landing Zones, Fort Knox, KY.
    Summary: Environmental concerns result from off- and on-post 
impacts attendant to the increased intensity/duration of proposed 
training upgrades. Army will have to work with local entities to 
mitigate adverse effects on encroaching residential/commercial 
development.
    ERP No. D2-AFS-J65143-00 Rating E02, Flat Canyon Federal Coal Lease 
Tract (UTU-77114), Application for Leasing, Manit-La Sal National 
Forest, Ferron-Price Ranger District, Sanpete and Emery Counties, UT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with the proposed 
coal mine expansion which is expected to adversely impact current water 
quality problems of high salinity, phosphorus and effluent toxicity. 
Depending on the selected discharge location, the expansion may expand 
the area of water quality problems into a relatively pristine 
watershed. Subsidence from the underground mine may also adversely 
affect fen wetlands and riparian habitat.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-F61020-MN Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Fuel 
Treatment, Implementation, Superior National Forest, Cook, Lake and St. 
Louis, MN.
    Summary: The USFS addressed EPA's concerns in a clearly written 
FEIS. EPA concurs with the USFS selection of Modified Alternative B in 
implementing controlled burns in the blowdown area to reduce the risk 
of wildfires and protect public safety.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65324-WY 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: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-K65230-CA Fuels Reduction for Community Protection 
Phase 1 Project on the Six Rivers National Forest, Proposes to Reduce 
Fuels High Severity Burned Stands, Lower Trinity Ranger District, 
Humboldt and Trinity Counties, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-K65359-00 Northern Sierra Amendment to the Toiyabe 
Land and Resource Management, To Unify and Revise Management Direction, 
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Carson Ranger District, Stanislaus 
National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Douglas and Washoe 
Counties, NV and Alpine and Toulomne Counties, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65370-OR South Bend Weigh and Safety Station 
Establishment, Special Use Permit for Construction, Maintenance and 
Operation, Deschute National Forest Lands along US 97 near the Newberry

[[Page 37957]]

National Volcanic Monument, Deschutes County, OR.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-K65209-00 Death Valley National Park General 
Management Plan, Implementation, Mojave Desert, Inyo and San Bernardino 
Counties, CA and Nye and Esmeralda Counties, NV.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-K65212-CA Mojave National Preserve General Management 
Plan, Implementation, San Bernardino County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: July 17, 2001.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 01-18201 Filed 7-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M