[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51036-51037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25026]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6622-5]


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 27647).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-F65029-IL Rating EC2, Midewin National Tallgrass, 
Proposed Land and Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Prairie 
Plan Development, Will County, IL.

[[Page 51037]]

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts to water and air quality, existing wetland functions, 
from invasive species and of the non-target impacts of agricultural 
practices.
ERP No. D-AFS-G65079-NM Rating LO, Talpa-to-Penasco Proposed to 
Construct and Operate 69 kV Transmission Line, Kit Carson Electric 
Cooperative, Carson National Forest, Camine Real Ranger District, Taos 
County, NM.
    Summary: While EPA has no objections to the selection of the 
preferred alternative (Alternative B), EPA did recommend that the Final 
EIS make a commitment that mitigation measures be incorporated into the 
Record of Decision document.
ERP No. D-FAA-K51039-CA Rating EO2, Los Angeles International Airports, 
Proposed Master Plan Improvements on Runway, New Taxiways, New 
Terminal, New Air Cargo and Maintenance, Funding, Los Angeles, Los 
Angeles County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections due to projected 
violations of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards; 
disproportionately high, adverse effects on low income and minority 
communities from aircraft noise; potential health effects from air 
pollutants; and the failure to fully evaluate a regionally-based 
alternative. EPA requested additional information on these issues and 
appropriate mitigation to reduce projected impacts.
ERP No. D-FHW-E40789-MS Rating EO2, East Harrison County Connector 
Construction, I-10 to US 90, Funding, US Army COE and US Coast Guard 
Permits Issuance and Possible Transfer of Federal Lands, Harrison 
County, MS.
    Summary: EPA expressed objections due to extensive wetland impacts, 
noise impacts, and hazardous waste impacts. EPA requested additional 
information and mitigation of these issues.
ERP No. D-FHW-H40397-MO Rating LO, Interstate 70 Corridor Improvements, 
Kansas City to St. Louis, Funding, US Army COE Section 404 and 10 and 
US Coast Guard Section 9 Permits Issuance, several counties, MO.
    Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections to the First Tier DEIS. 
EPA recommended that the FHWA also examine the merits of including 
``truck only'' features (in addition to widening existing 1-70) in the 
Metropolitan Kansas City and St. Louis sections of the I-70 
improvements for enhancing the project's ability to meet stated 
purposes(s) and need(s).
ERP No. D-UAF-J11019-MT Rating EC2, Montana Air National Guard Air-to-
Ground Training Range Development for Use by the 120th Fighter Wing 
(120th FW), Implementation, Phillips and Blaine Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impact to 
people and wildlife from noise and visual stimuli from low altitude F-
16 flights, and noted the need for monitoring for hazardous 
contaminants, and development of a weed control strategy, and improved 
analysis and disclosure of environmental justice concerns. EPA also 
recommended that the FEIS include a more comprehensive alternatives 
matrix to more fully summarize environmental consequences and provide a 
clearer basis for choice among alternatives.
ERP No. DS-FAA-F51046-MN Rating EC2, Flying Cloud Airport, Substantive 
Changes to Alternatives and New Information, Extension of the Runways 
9R/27L and 9L/27R, Long-Term Comprehensive Development, In the City of 
Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, MN.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding future noise levels and 
requested that the FEIS identify and discuss what provisions will be in 
place to monitor and mitigate, if necessary, any future significant 
increases in noise levels from those estimated in the SDEIS.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L65366-AK

    Woodpecker Project Area, Timber Harvesting, Dispersed Recreation 
Opportunities and Watershed Improvements, Implementation, Tongass 
National Forest, Petersburg Ranger District, Mitkof Island, Petersburg, 
AK.
    Summary: No formal comment letter sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65369-OR Mill Creek Timber Sales and Related 
Activities, To Implement Ecosystem Management Activities, Prospect 
Ranger District, Rogue River National Forest, Jackson County, OR.
    Summary: EPA has a lack of objections to the proposed timber sale 
and related activities.
    ERP No. F-FAA-E51048-CA Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, 
Construction and Operation of the 9,000-Foot Fifth Runway and 
Associated Projects, Approval of Airport Layout Plan (ALP), City of 
Atlanta, Fulton and Clayton Counties, GA.
    Summary: EPA continues to express concern regarding noise, air 
quality and EJ impacts. EPA recommended additional mitigation and that 
all mitigation be committed to in the ROD.
    ERP No. F-FAA-F51047-00 Chicago Terminal Airspace Project (CTAP), 
For Proposed Air Traffic Control Procedures and Airspace Modification 
for Aircraft Operations to/from the Chicago Region, Including Chicago 
O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway Airport, Milwaukee 
Mitchell International Airport, IL, IN and WI.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-FHW-E40769-TN TN-385 (Collierville-Arlington Parkway) 
Improvement Project, Construction from Mt. Pleasant Road to South of 
Interstate 40, Shelby and Fayette Counties, TN.
    Summary: EPA remains concerned about degradation of water quality 
in the Wolf River and other tributaries not meeting designated uses 
from erosion, situation and and other pollutants associated with road 
construction and operations.
    ERP No. F-FHW-G40161-AR Southeast Arkansas I-69 Connector 
Construction, US-278 in the vicinity of Monticello to I-530 in Pine 
Bluff, Funding and US Army COE Section 404 and NPDES Permits Issuance, 
Drew, Lincoln, Cleveland and Jefferson Counties, AR.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection of the preferred 
alternative. EPA has no other comments to offer on the FEIS.

    Dated: October 2, 2001.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 01-25026 Filed 10-4-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P