[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 150 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40698-40699]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-19506]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6620-6]


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-J65345-MT Rating EC2, Pink Stone Fire Recovery and 
Associated Activities, To Reduce Existing and Expected Future Fuel 
Accumulations, Kootena National Forest, Rexford Ranger District, 
Lincoln County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with adverse impacts 
of timber harvest to fire stressed streams with increased peak flows. 
EPA recommended that the final EIS assure that the preferred 
alternative avoid and minimize further adverse impacts to already fire 
stressed water bodies and include the necessary monitoring and 
mitigation of watershed effects.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65373-AK Rating EO2, Gravina Island Timber Sale, 
Implementation, Timber Harvest and Related Activities, Ketchikan-Misty 
Fiords Ranger District, Tongass National Forest, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the severity of 
impacts from building and operating new roads in roadless areas, 
cumulative impacts to adjacent non-federal lands, to old growth forest 
and associated deer habitat, to an important subsistence resource, and 
to aquatic resources. EPA recommends that the final EIS further analyze 
cumulative impacts, the range of alternatives, including a new 
alternative that combines helicopter and ground based harvest and 
mitigation measures, such as better management of forest roads 
following timber harvest, including road obliteration.
    ERP No. D-FHW-G40165-NM Rating LO, US 70 Corridor Improvement, 
Between Ruidoso Downs to Riverside, Implementation, Right-of-Way 
Acquisition, Lincoln County, NM.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the selection of the preferred 
alternative with implementation of the mitigation measures as described 
in the DEIS. The final mitigation plan must be incorporated into the 
Record of Decision Document as presented in the Final EIS.
    ERP No. D-FHW-G40166-LA Rating EC2, I-49 Connector, Construction 
from Evangeline Thruway US-90 and US-197 in Urbanized Lafayette, 
Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Parish of Lafayette, LA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding air 
quality, water resources, solid waste sites, and mitigation 
commitments. EPA suggested additional information be presented in the 
FEIS regarding these issues.
    ERP No. D-FHW-K40244-CA Rating EC2, CA-120 Oakdale Expressway 
Project, Construction and Operation, Post Mile 3.0 to Post Mile R12.9 
near Oakdale, Funding, US Army COE Section 404 and NPDES Permits 
Issuance, Stanislaus County, CA.
    Summary: EPA supported the need to alleviate congestion and improve 
safety, but expressed concern with potential indirect and cumulative 
impacts and the adequacy of proposed mitigation measures. EPA also 
acknowledged that Alternative 2A appeared to have the least 
environmental impacts on high quality riparian forest, oak woodlands, 
and specific threatened and endangered species and appeared to have the 
most balanced earthwork and minimal to moderate impacts on agricultural 
lands, business and home relocations, utilities, and visual quality.
    ERP No. D-FTA-E54010-NC Rating EC1, Phase I Regional Rail System 
Improvements, Durham to Raleigh to North Raleigh, Implementation, 
Durham and Wake Counties, NC.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding wetlands, noise, and 
minority and low-income populations impacts.
    ERP No. D-FTA-K54024-CA Rating EC2, San Fernando Valley East-West 
Transit Corridor Project, Bus Rapid Transit ((BRT) ) on former Burbank/
Chandler Southern Pacific Rail, Right-of-Way, Development and 
Implementation, Los Angeles County. CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding air conformity analysis 
and the provision of adequate mitigation measures as well as the 
potential environmental justice impacts of the park-and-ride facility 
proposed at the Oxnard/Van Nuys Station. EPA requested additional 
analysis and documentation on both of these issues.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-G40159-TX, US Highway 183 Alternate Project,

[[Page 40699]]

Improvements from RM-620 to Approximately Three Miles North of the City 
of Lander, Williamson County, TX.
    Summary: EPA had no additional comments to offer on the FEIS.
    ERP No. F-FHW-K40219-CA, U.S. Highway 101 Transportation 
Improvement Project, between Vineyard Avenue to Johnson Drive, Funding, 
in the Cities of Oxnard and San Buenaventura, Ventura County, CA.
    Summary: EPA is satisfied that the FEIS has adequately addressed 
our comments in the DEIS and the supplemental DEIS.
    ERP No. F-FTA-K54025-CA, ADOPTION--64-Acre Tract Intermodal Transit 
Center, Construction and Operation, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, 
Tahoe City, Placer County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-IBR-K38007-CA, Grassland Bypass Project (2001 Use 
Agreement), New Use Agreement for a Period from October 1, 2001 through 
December 21, 2009, Implementation, San Joaquin River and Merced River, 
Fresno, Merced and Stanslaus Counties, CA.
    Summary: ERP No. F-JUS-L81012-WA Tacoma/Seattle Area Detention 
Center, Construction and Leasing, Pierce County, WA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NRC-E06020-GA, Generic EIS--Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant, 
Unit 1 and 2, License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Supplement 4 to NUREG-
1437, Altamaha River, Appling County, GA.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about the 
project. Specifically, surface and groundwater use conflicts and future 
implementation plans merit further discussion as the project 
progresses.

    Dated: July 31, 2001.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities
[FR Doc. 01-19506 Filed 8-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P