[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 226 (Friday, November 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70429-70430]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-29782]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6635-3]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared pursuant to the Environmental 
Review Process (ERP), under section

[[Page 70430]]

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 17922).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L65404-AK Rating EC2, Kosciusko Island Timber 
Sale(s), Timber Harvesting, Tongass National Forest, Thorne Bay Ranger 
District, Kosciusko Island, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
adverse impacts to water quality and quantity from road construction 
and timber harvest and aquatic resources in roadless areas, especially 
the Van Sant Creek watershed. EPA recommends that the final EIS include 
additional information on project impacts to these resources and on the 
drinking water supply.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F40407-IN Rating EO2, I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis 
Corridor Study, I-69 Completion in Southwestern Indiana and Corridor 
Selection, IN.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections regarding the 
magnitude of impacts to wetland and aquatic resources, forests, 
farmland, and potential impacts to sensitive karst features. EPA 
expressed concern regarding future project compliance with Section 404 
of the Clean Water Act and recommended the agencies reevaluate 
alternatives.
    ERP No. D-FHW-J40156-ND Rating EC2, US 2 Highway Transportation 
Improvements from near U.S. 85 (milepost 31.93) to west of U.S. 52 
(milepost 131.24), Funding, NPDES and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permits 
Issuance, Williams, Mountrail and Ward Counties, ND.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about substantial losses of 
wetlands as a result of expanding the highway from two to four lanes. 
EPA recommends the development of an alternative with fewer impacts to 
wetlands and inclusion of sufficient information that is necessary to 
streamline the NEPA and 404 permit processes.
    ERP No. D-NPS-J61022-MT Rating EC2, Glacier National Park--Going-
to-Sun Road Rehabilitation Plan to Protect and Preserve a National 
Historic Landmark, Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, The 
World's First International Peace Park, A World Heritage Site, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
construction impacts to water quality, especially consistency of 
proposed road improvements with restoration and TMDL development. EPA 
also has concerns about potential impacts from disturbance to sensitive 
and fragile vegetation (e.g., State rare velvet-leaf blueberry plant), 
and wildlife and habitat adjacent to the roadway and near proposed 
visitor facility improvements.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-F05123-00 Rating LO, Bond Falls Hydroelectric 
Project related to Terms and Conditions for Geology and Soils, Water 
Quality and Quantity, Fisheries, Terrestrial, Recreation, Aesthetic, 
Cultural, Socioeconomic and Land Use Resources, Ontonagon River Basin, 
Valas County, WI and Ontonagon and Gogebic Counties, MI.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed terms and conditions 
for the Bond Falls Hydroelectric Relicensing Project.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-L61199-ID Rating NS, Salmon Wild and Scenic River 
Management Plan, Timeline Change From December 31, 2002 to December 31, 
2005 and Clarification of Economic Impacts on the Camps, Stub Creek, 
Arctic Creek and Smith Gulch Creek, Salmon National Forest, Salmon 
County, ID.
    Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited 
review of the Salmon Wild and Scenic River Management Plan. Based upon 
the screen, EPA does not foresee having any environmental objections to 
the proposed project. Therefore, EPA will not be conducting a detailed 
review.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J65361-MT 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's environmental concerns about increased potential for 
erosion and sediment transport and compaction of sensitive post-fire 
soils during salvage logging were reduced with the selection of a new 
winter logging alternative. EPA recommended mitigation measures to 
avoid rutting of logging roads during spring breakup that could 
increase sediment to down-gradient 303(d) listed streams.
    ERP No. F-NPS-E65058-GA Fort Frederica National Monument General 
Management Plan, Implementation, Saint Simons Island, Glynn County, GA.
    Summary: EPA did not identify any potential environmental impacts.

    Dated: November 18, 2002.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-29782 Filed 11-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P