[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 12349]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6196]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6638-5]


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) 564-7153.
    An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental 
impact statements (EISs) was published in the Federal Register dated 
April 12, 2003 (67 FR 17992).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J65372-CO Rating EC2, Trout-West Hazardous Fuels 
Reduction Project, Proposed Action to Reduce Fuels, Pike-San Isabel 
National Forest, Trout and West Creek Watersheds, Teller, El Paso and 
Douglas Counties, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to 
aquatic resources, including 303(d)-listed streams. EPA recommended 
mitigation measures to improve impaired conditions in these streams 
with protecting structures and allowing timber harvest and other fuels 
treatment in designated high-value management areas.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65410-ID Rating EC2, Gaylord North Timber Sale 
Project, Harvesting Timber, Council Ranger District, Payette National 
Forest, Adam County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the lack of 
substantive differences between the alternatives and that road closures 
and decommissioning should better meet Forest Plan road density 
standards for wildlife. EPA requested the FEIS include more detail on 
the management of closed roads and present a clearer analysis of 
cumulative impacts including comparison of predicted impacts to 
established resource threshold.
    ERP No. D-NPS-L65413-WA Rating NS, Fort Vancouver National Historic 
Site, General Management Plan and Development Concept Plans, 
Implementation, Oregon County, WA.
    Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited 
review of this action. Based upon the screen, EPA does not foresee 
having any environmental objections to the proposed project.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-D65014-00, American Electirc Power 765 kV 
Transmission Line Construction, Operation and Maintenance, Wyoming 
Station to Cloverdale Station, Special Use Permit Issuance and Right-
of-Way Grants Federal and Non-Federal Lands, George Washington and 
Jefferson National Forests, several counties, WV and VA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns from impacts to water 
quality and natural resources on federal lands from construction and 
maintenance of 11 miles of transmission line. Described measures to 
avoid and minimize impacts should continue through the final stages of 
the project.
    ERP No. F-SFW-L02029-AK, Swanson River Satellites Natural Gas 
Exploration and Development Project, Evaluation of a Right-of-Way 
Permit Application and U.S. Army COE Section 404 and NPDES Permits 
Issuance, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Peninsula, AK.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. FS-BLM-K67011-NV, Betze-Post Project, Updated Information 
concerning Dewatering Operations and Additional Underground Pipeline 
Construction, Elko and Eureka Counties, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed continuing environmental concerns regarding 
the potential ecological risks to biological resources from the project 
and adverse impacts to water quality, including levels of selenium. EPA 
recommended additional analysis of cumulative impacts and additional 
mitigation measures.

    Dated: March 11, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-6196 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P