[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 70 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17800-17801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8948]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6639-3]


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 04, 2003 (68 FR 16511).

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-E40791-SC James E. Clyburn Connector Project, 
Construction of a Two-Lane Rural Roadway Northeast of Orangeburg and 
Southwest of Sumter, Funding and US Army COE Section 404 Permit 
Issuance, Calhoun, Sumter and Claredon Counties, SC.
    Summary: EPA appreciates the responses to our comments regarding 
the draft EIS. However, EPA still has environmental concerns regarding 
wetland and agricultural land impacts, traffic noise and the adequacy 
of mitigation for these impacts.
    ERP No. F-FHW-K40251-CA Butte 70/149/99/191 Highway Improvement 
Project, Update State Route 149 to Four-Lane Expressway from 70 North 
of Oroville to Route 99 South of Chico, Funding, Right-of-Way 
Acquisition, and U.S. Army Section 404 Permit Issuance, Butte County, 
CA.
    Summary: EPA has continuing environmental concerns regarding the 
potential cumulative impacts to vernal pools and the listed species 
they support. EPA recommends that FHWA prepare a more thorough 
cumulative impacts analysis in the future for transportation projects 
in the Sacramento-Chico corridor.
    ERP No. F-FTA-K54026-NV Las Vegas Resort Corridor Transportation

[[Page 17801]]

Improvements, Funding, City of Las Vegas, Clark County, NV.
    Summary: EPA found that the final EIS sufficiently discussed the 
environmental impacts of the proposed project and incorporated all of 
EPA's previous recommendations. Consequently, EPA lacks objections to 
the proposed project.
    ERP No. F-MMS-L02028-AK Beaufort Sea Planning Area Multiple Sale 
186, 195 and 202 Oil and Gas Lease Sales, Alaska Outer Continental 
Shelf, Offshore Marine Environment, Beaufort Sea Coastal Plain, and the 
North Slope Borough of Alaska.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental objections due to 
potential impacts to subsistence resources used by environmental 
justice and Tribal communities. Subsequent EISs addressing oil and gas 
exploration and development will need to significantly add information 
and protective measures if these activities affect areas containing 
subsistence resources.
    Amended Notices: EPR No. D-AFS-K65248-CA Rating EC2 North Fork Fire 
Salvage Project, Harvest Salvage, Merchantable Timber Volume Sale and 
Sierra National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, 
Implementation, Bass Lake Ranger District, Madera County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts to water quality given the only action alternative does 
not address consistency with EPA approved water quality standards. EPA 
also expressed concerns that the DEIS fully evaluated just one action 
alternative.
    Revision of FR Notice Published on 3/28/2003: Correction of ERP 
Summary Paragraph.
    ERP No. D-BIA-k60034-CA Rating EC2 Jamul Indian Village (Tribe) 101 
Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and Casino Project, Implementation, San 
Diego County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the 
project's potential impacts to ground water from effluent disposal and 
how Best Management Practices and mitigation would ensure compliance 
with EPA approved water quality standards.
    Revision of FR Notice Published on 03/28/2003: Correction of ERP 
Summary Paragraph.

    Dated: April 8, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-8948 Filed 4-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P