[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 96 (Friday, May 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35106-35108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12471]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6629-4]


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 12, 2002, (67 
FR 17992).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J82016-MT Rating EC2, Bitterroot National Forest 
Noxious Weed Treatment Project, Ground and Aerial Herbicides 
Application, Mechanical, Biological and Cultural Weed Treatment and 
Public Awareness Measures, Implementation, Stevensville Ranger 
District, Bitterroot National Forest, Ravalli County, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports the need for an integrated weed management 
program, but expressed environmental concerns regarding potential for 
herbicide transport to surface and ground water, and recommended 
improved mitigation measures to reduce risk of drift or herbicides to 
aquatic areas during aerial application. Specifically, the final EIS 
should include information regarding application rates for herbicide 
treatments, and information on herbicide leaching potential and aquatic 
toxicity and a minimal level of monitoring for herbicides in selected 
sensitive waters to validate effectiveness of mitigation measures.
    ERP No. D-DOE-L08059-WA Rating EC2, Schultz-Hanford Transmission 
Line Project, New 500 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Construction, 
Central Washington, north of Hanford connecting to existing line at the 
Schultz Substation, Kittitas, Yakima, Grant and Benton Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the purpose and 
need and alternatives evaluated, characterization of expected effects 
and proposed mitigation measures. EPA recommended that the FEIS include 
a monitoring and evaluation plan and include a discussion of the 
rationale for evaluating two specific project segments (Segment A 
Reroute and Segment B).
    ERP No. D-DOE-L08060-00 Rating EC2, Wallula Power Project and 
Wallula-McNary Transmission Line Project, Construction and Operation, 
1300 megawatt(MW) Natural Gas Fired Combustion Gas Turbine Facility and 
a new 500-kilovolt(kV) Transmission Line and Upgrade of the McNary 
Substation, US COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Walla-Walla Co., WA and 
Umatilla Co., OR.
    Summary: EPA had environmental concerns and identified issues with 
the project purpose and need and alternatives, air quality impact 
assessment, cumulative effects, lack of a monitoring and evaluation 
plan, noise effects on wildlife and vegetation management. EPA 
recommended that these issues be addressed in the final EIS.
    ERP No. D-DOE-L08061-00 Rating EC2, McNary-John Day Transmission 
Line Project, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of a 79-mile-long 
500-Kilovolt-Transmission Line between McNary Substation and John Day 
Substation, Umatilla and Sherman Counties, OR and Benton and Klickitat 
Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns due to the lack of a 
demonstrated need for the project, an effectively constrained range of 
alternatives and the general, programmatic analyses for a site specific 
project. EPA recommends that the final EIS demonstrate the need for the 
project, examine the full range of reasonable alternatives, and include 
site-specific information and analyses about the project corridor, 
proposed project and mitigation measures.
    ERP No. D-FHW-E40793-00 Rating EC2, Appalachian Corridor I-66 
Highway Construction, US 23/119 south of Pikeville, KY eastward to the 
King Coal Highway southeast of Matewan, Funding and US Army COE Section 
404 Permits Issuance, Pike County, KY and Mingo County, WV.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding locations 
of Alternates and Connectors, avoidance and mitigation of wetlands and 
stream impacts, and potential secondary and cumulative impacts. EPA 
requested additional information on these issues and clarification of 
study area maps.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F40399-MI Rating EC2, M-15 Reconstruction, I-75 to I-
69, Funding and NPDES and US Army COE Section 404 Permits Issuance, 
Oakland and Genesse Counties, MI.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns and have identified issues 
relating to: Alternatives, wetland impacts/ mitigation, surface/
groundwater water and cumulative impacts.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F40402-MI Rating EC2, I-94 Jackson Freeway 
Modernization Project, Improvements between Michigan State Route-60 
(MI-60) and Sargent Road, Funding and NPDES and US Army COE Section 404 
Permits Issuance, Jackson County, MI.
    Summary: EPA identified environmental concerns with respect to 
wetland and stormwater impacts.
    ERP No. D-FRC-J03014-00 Rating EC2, Kern River 2003 Gas 
Transmission Project, Expansion of the existing (KRGT) Interstate 
Pipeline System from southwestern Wyoming to southern California, 
Right-of-Way Grant, NPDES and US Army COE Section 404 Permits Issuance, 
(FERC Docket NO. CP01-422-000), WY, UT, NV and CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to 
wetlands and riparian areas, as well as the need to include information 
on revegetation plans and methods for controlling erosion.
    ERP No. D-FRC-L05222-ID Rating EO2, Four Mid-Snake River 
Hydroelectric Projects, Applications for New License for the Existing 
Projects: Shoshane Falls-FERC No. 2778, Upper Salmon Falls-FERC No. 
2777, Lower Salmon Falls-FERC No. 2061 and Bliss-FERC No. 1975, Snake 
River, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed objections to three of the alternatives 
evaluated in the DEIS as they would not result in any appreciable 
improvement to instream or riparian environmental conditions. EPA 
expressed concerns with the Year-Round Run-of-River alternative due to 
the lack of clarity as to whether this alternative would effectively 
deliver the quantity and quality of water needed for downstream salmon 
recovery efforts. EPA recommended that the FEIS include additional 
information related to project purpose and need, issues

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identified during scoping, relationship to salmon recovery efforts, 
water quality and project impacts and mitigation.
    ERP No. D-FTA-G54006-TX Rating LO, Southeast Corridor Light Rail 
Transit Project, Construction and Operation, Funding, NPDES Permit and 
US Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance and, Mobility 2025 Plan Update, 
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), City of Dallas, Dallas County, TX.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the alternative presented in the 
Draft EIS.
    ERP No. D-JUS-K99007-CA Rating EO2, 14-Mile Border Infrastructure 
System Completion along the United States and Mexico Border, Areas I, V 
and VI, Pacific Ocean to just east of Tin Can Hill, San Diego County, 
CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections regarding the 
preferred alternative. EPA requested that the FEIS address the 
environmental degradation of ecologically sensitive habitat, wetlands 
and water quality. EPA also expressed concerns regarding impacts to 
cultural and recreational resources.
    ERP No. D-NPS-F65031-MN Rating EC2, Grand Portage National Monument 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Cook County, MN.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns of potential impacts 
to sensitive cultural resources and the need for clarification on the 
extent and potential disturbance from new and expanded trail systems.
    ERP No. D-SFW-K70013-CA Rating LO, Multiple Habitat Conservation 
Program for Threatened and Endangered Species Due to the Urban Growth 
within the Planning Area, Adoption and Incidental Take Permits 
Issuance, San Diego County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections with the DEIS and 
proposed project, and indicated EPA's support for a multi-species, 
multi-habitat approach as well as implementing ``adaptive management'' 
techniques.
    ERP No. DR-FHW-L40199-WA Rating EC2, WA-509 Corridor Completion/I-
5/South Access Road Project, Improvements to WA-509 Extension, 
Enhancement of Southern Access to and from Sea-Tac International 
Airport and I-5 Improvements between South 210th Street and 310th 
Street, Funding, US Army COE Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit 
Issuance, King County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns relating to impacts 
associated with aquatic resources, air quality, direct/indirect, and 
cumulative effects, environmental justice and Tribal consultation.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-G65049-00 Rating LO, Vegetation Management in the 
Ozark/Quachita Mountains, Proposal to Clarify Direction for Conducting 
Project-Level Inventories for Biological Evaluations (BEs), Qzark, 
Quachita and St. Francis National Forests, AR and McCurtain and LeFlore 
Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA has lack of objections to the preferred alternative.
    ERP No. DS-COE-F36163-00 Rating LO, Upper Des Plaines River, Flood 
Damage Reduction at Site 37, Construction of a Concrete Floodwall along 
Des Plaines River, Milwaukee Avenue, Willow Road, and Palatine Road in 
Mt. Prospect, Cook County, IL.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed project, and 
commended the Corps for the extensive wetland mitigation proposals.
    ERP No. DS-FAA-E40785-FL Rating EC2, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood 
International Airport, New Information and Changes to the Aviation 
Activity Forecasts as Presented, Proposed Expansion of Runway 9R-2FL 
and other Associated Improvements, Funding, Broward County, FL.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns regarding the 
Proposed Project, primarily the mitigation of future noise impacts of 
the southern area and full disclosure of the cumulative impacts of 
local vision plans as they relate to FLL.
    ERP No. DS-FRC-L05208-WA Rating EO2, Irene Creek Hydroelectric 
Project, (FERC No. 10100-002) and Anderson Creek Hydroelectric Project 
(FERC No. 10416-003), Construction and Operation, Issuance of Amended 
License Applications, Skagit and Whatcom Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA has environmental objections to the proposed projects 
because they would undermine provisions of the Northwest Forest Plan 
that protect sensitive species, degrade State-designated 
``extraordinary'' water quality in Anderson and Irene Creeks, and 
likely adversely affect bull trout stocks listed as threatened under 
the Endangered Species Act. EPA recommended that FERC select the no-
action alternative due to these impacts and the lack of a demonstrated 
public need for future power. The FEIS should also fully analyze the 
affected environment and environmental consequences instead of 
proposing such analysis at a later time.
    ERP No. DS-FTA-K40241-HI Rating LO, Oahu Primary Corridor 
Transportation Project, Updated Information on the Refined Bus Rapid 
Transit (BRT) Alternative, Major Investment Study, City and County of 
Honolulu, HI.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the proposed action.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-G65079-NM Talpa-to-Penasco Construction and Operation 
of a 69 kV Transmission Line, Carson National Forest, Camine Real 
Ranger District, Tasos County, NM.
    Summary: EPA had no comment on the FEIS.
    ERP No. F-BLM-G65077-NM Santo Domingo Pueblo and Bureau of Land 
Management Proposed Land Exchange Project, Sandoval and Santa Fe 
Counties, NM.
    Summary: EPA had no comments on the FEIS.
    ERP No. F-COE-G39035-AR Greers Ferry Lake Shoreline Management Plan 
(SMP), Implementing Revision to Replace the 1994 Shore Management Plan, 
Revision include Zoning of Limited Development Areas, Vegetation 
Modification Provisions for Grandfathered Docks and Restrictions on 
Boats, Van Buren, Cleburne, Searcy Stone, White, Independence and Pope 
Counties, AR.
    Summary: The Final EIS adequately responded to EPA's comments 
offered on the DEIS.
    ERP No. F-FHW-C40154-NY Interstate 86/Route 15 Interchange and 
Route 15/ Gang Mills Interchange, New Roadway and Ramp
    Construction, Intersection Reconstruction, New Bridges Construction 
and Bridge Rehabilitation, Funding, Town of Erwin, Steuben County, NY.
    Summary: EPA's concerns with impacts to wetlands in the draft EIS 
have been adequately addressed in the final EIS, therefore EPA has no 
objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-FHW-F40361-MI MI-59 Proposed Right-of-Way Preservation 
Project, Funding for Right-of-Way Acquisition, I-96 to US 23, 
Livingston County, MI.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the right-of-way action as 
construction will be addressed in a future Tier 2 Draft EIS.
    ERP No. FS-TVA-A06018-AL Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Operating 
License Renewal, Units 2 and 3 and Potentially Unit 1 Operations 
Extension, Athens, Limstone County, AL.
    Summary: EPA has five remaining environmental concerns: (1) TVA's 
preference for Alternative 2 with its 2D cooling option was 
inconclusively presented, (2) cooling option 2D selected in the FSEIS 
was not presented in the DSEIS, (3) thermal discharge modeling of 2D 
was not included until the FSEIS, (4) the proposed action would likely 
contribute to the thermal

[[Page 35108]]

load of downstream 303(d) segment of the Tennessee River listed for 
temperature and other pollutants of concern and (5) cooling option 2D 
provides the lowest capacity cooling of the four presented cooling 
tower options and therefore would allow the hottest average thermal 
discharge.

    Dated: May 14, 2002.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-12471 Filed 5-16-02; 8:45 am]
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