[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 165 (Friday, August 24, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44621-44622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21450]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6621-3]


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) 260-5076. An explanation of the ratings 
assigned to draft environmental impact statements (EISs) was published 
in FR dated May 18, 2001 (66 FR 27164).

DRAFT EISs

    ERP No. D-COE-K36135-CA Rating EC2, White Slough Flood Control 
Study, To Improve Tidal Circulation, Continuing Authorities Program 
Section 205, Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District, City of 
Vallejo, Solano County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns, and requested additional 
information on the project's purpose and need, alternatives considered, 
and impacts to habitat, water quality, biological resources, air 
quality, community growth and traffic.
    ERP No. D-DOE-K03024-AZ Rating EC2, Big Sandy Energy Project, 
Construction and Operation a 720-megawatt (MW) Natural Gas-Fired 
Combined-Cycle Power Plants, Right-of-Way Grant, Mohave County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding water quality, wetlands, 
air quality, hazardous material and threatened and endangered species. 
EPA urged avoidance of impacts versus relying on mitigation measures to 
reduce impacts to a level of insignificance, a commitment to 
directional drilling for the pipeline crossing of the Big Sandy River, 
and an evaluation of the need for additional generation capacity.
    ERP No. D-FRC-L05221-WA Rating EC2, Cowlitz River Hydroelectric 
Project (No. 2016-044), Relicensing of the Existing 462-megawatt, 
Cowlitz River, City of Tacoma, WA.

[[Page 44622]]

    Summary: EPA identified concerns related to potential effects to 
water quality, fisheries and flood control and the narrow range of 
alternatives evaluated in the EIS. EPA recommended additional 
information related to those concerns as well as the duration of the 
proposed license and the purpose and need for the project.
    ERP No. D-NPS-G03019-TX Rating EC2, Lake Meredith National 
Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument Oil and 
Gas Management Plan, Hutchinson, Moore and Potter Counties, TX.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested that 
the FEIS further address socioeconomics, environmental justice, and 
visitor use.
    ERP No. DS-BLM-J67019-MT Rating LO, Zortman and Landusky Mines 
Reclamation Plan, Modifications and Mine Life Extensions, Updated 
Information To Analyze Additional Reclamation Alternatives, Approval of 
Mine Operation, Mine Reclamation and COE Section 404 Permit, Little 
Rocky Mountains, Phillip County, MT.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the preferred alternative which 
will take $22 million to implement. However, EPA would have 
environmental objections to the other less expensive alternatives 
should this funding not be available given that they do not adequately 
control the generation of acid mine drainage.

    Dated: August 21, 2001.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 01-21450 Filed 8-23-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P