[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 139 (Friday, July 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47539-47540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-18283]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6631-3]


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) 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-J65361-MT Rating EC2, Black Ant Salvage Project, 
Salvage of 739 Acres of Dead Merchantable Trees from the Lost Fork Fire 
of 2001, Lewis and Clark National Forest, Meagher Basin County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to impacts on 
soils stated to have high to very high erosion hazards in watersheds of 
303(d) listed streams, when a winter logging alternative is available 
that reduces the impacts. EPA requested additional cumulative effects 
information and mitigation measures to reduce impacts of the management 
actions.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65362-MT Rating EC2, Pipestone Timber Sale and 
Restoration Project, Timber Harvest, Prescribed Fire Burning, Watershed 
Restoration and Associated Activities, Kootenai National Forest, Libby 
Ranger District, Lincoln Lincoln County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about adverse impacts 
to water quality and recommends consideration of logging methods that 
reduce ground disturbance in areas with sensitive soils and greater 
erosion and sediment production potential. EPA will evaluate potential 
water quality issues and consistency with TMDL development on private 
industrial timber land in the 303(d) listed Bobtail Creek drainage.
    ERP No. D-FRC-E03009-00 Rating EC2, Patriot Project, Construction 
and Operation of Mainline Expansion and Patriot Extension in order to 
Transport 510.00 dekatherms per day (dth/day) of Natural Gas, TN, VA 
and NC.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns regarding potential impacts 
to wetlands, nosie and air quality, as well as concerns over 
environmental justice and the need for an improved alternatives 
analysis. Specific concerns include sidecasting of spoil in wetlands, 
compressor station noise, crossing of numerous waterbodies including 
potential contaminated sediments, and proximity/safety of numerous 
homes within 25-50 ft of the proposed pipeline route.
    ERP No. D-FRC-L05225-OR Rating EC2, North Umpqua Hydroelectric 
Project (FERC Project 1927), New License Issuance for the existing 
185.5-megawatt (MW) Facility, North Umpqua River, Douglas County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the proposed 
project in that a number of plans, analyses and surveys needed to 
define project baseline conditions, expected environmental effects and 
needed mitigation measures have not been completed. EPA recommends that 
this work be completed and incorporated in the EIS. EPA also recommends 
that a monitoring and evaluation plan be developed and included in the 
EIS along with evidence that required government-to-government 
consultations with affected Tribal governments have been undertaken and 
completed.
    ERP No. D-FRC-L05226-ID Rating EO2, C.J. Strike Hydroelectric 
Project (FERC NO. 2055), New License Issuance, Snake and Bruneau 
Rivers, Owyhee and Elmore Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to three of the 
alternatives evaluated in the EIS as they would not result in any 
appreciable improvement to instream or riparian environmental 
conditions. EPA expressed concerns with the Run-of-River alternative 
due to the lack of a strategy for complying with applicable water 
quality standards. EPA recommended that the EIS include project impacts 
and mitigation, the white sturgeon conservation strategy, government-
to-government consultation with tribes, and issues identified during 
scoping.
    ERP No. D-TVA-E65059-00 Rating EC1, Pickwick Reservoir Land 
Management Plan (Plan), Proposal to use the Plan to Guide Land-Use 
Approvals, Private Water Use Facility Permitting and Resource 
Management Decisions, Colbert and Lauderdale Counties, AL and 
Tishomingo County, MS and Hardin County, TN,.

[[Page 47540]]

    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns and recommends that TVA 
select an updated land management plan based on the management goals 
for Pickwick Reservoir considering existing reservoir water quality, 
shoreline development, natural resources, public comments, and the 
potential impacts of further development. EPA also recommends that TVA 
develop a specific watershed protection plan for the reservoir for TVA-
owned and managed lands and be an important stakeholder in the 
community regarding larger watershed issues.
    ERP No. DA-FRC-L05208-WA Rating EO2, Rocky Creek Hydroelectric 
Project, (FERC No. 10311-002) Construction and Operation of a 8.3-
megawatt (Mw) Project, Application for License, Rocky Creek, Skagit 
County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections over potential 
significant impacts to aquatic and riparian habitat, as well as water 
quality. EPA recommended additional analyses to define the affected 
environment, define project impacts and identify mitigation measures to 
be incorporated in the FSEIS. EPA recommended selection of the No 
Action alternative.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-COE-E36180-MS

    Yalobusha River Watershed, Demonstration Erosion Control Project, 
Construction of Six Floodwater-Retarding Structures, Yazoo Basin, 
Webster, Calhoun and Chickasaw Counties, MS.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the long-
term effects of the selected channelization and reservoir alternative, 
and suggest that these concerns could be addressed if measures 
protective of the environmental quality of Grenada Lake are 
implemented.

ERP No. F-DOD-A11076-00

    Assembled Chemical Weapons Destruction Technologies at One or More 
Sites: Design, Construction and Operation of One or More Pilot Test 
Facilities, Anniston Army Depot, AL; Pine Bluff Arsenal, AR; Blue Grass 
Army Depot, KY and Pueblo Chemical Depot, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern and requested that the 
Record of Decision contain commitments for further monitoring on air 
releases and the impacts to human health, and nearby agricultural 
areas.

ERP No. F-IBR-K39070-CA

    American River Pump Station Project, Providing Placer County Water 
Agency (PCWA) with the Year-Round Access to its Middle Fork Project 
(MFP) Water Entitlements from the American River, Placer County, CA.
    Summary: EPA's previous concerns on the adequacy of documentation 
regarding air quality impacts, water quality and quantity, and 
cumulative impacts have been addressed in the FEIS. EPA encouraged the 
Bureau of Reclamation to continue to work with Placer County and other 
entities to minimize secondary and cumulative impacts that may occur as 
a result of the project.

ERP No. F-SFW-K64019-NV

    Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge Complex Comprehensive 
Conservation Plan and Boundary Revision, Implementation, Churchill and 
Washoe Counties, NV.
    Summary: EPA supported the new preferred Alternative E and agrees 
that it will best serve the protection and enhancement of natural 
diversity. EPA encouraged the Service to continue to work with the 
state and local jurisdictions to implement policies and projects that 
will improve overall water quality. EPA recommended that the Service 
explore ways to blend the different water sources leading to the 
wetlands to help meet state water quality standards. EPA encouraged the 
consideration of mitigation actions identified in the FEIS to reduce 
wildlife exposure to toxic contamination.

    Dated: July 16, 2002.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-18283 Filed 7-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P