[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 20386]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10273]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6639-7]


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 the Federal Register dated April 1, 2003 (68 FR 16511).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-F65037-MI Rating LO, Interior Wetlands Project, 
Timber Harvest, White Pine Trees Pruning, Growth System Adjustment, 
Wildlife Openings Creation and Maintenance and Transportation System 
Improvements, Hiawatha National Forest, Eastside Administrative Unit, 
Chippewa County, MI.
    Summary: EPA did not identify any potential environmental impacts 
requiring substantive changes to the 2 main project alternatives. EPA 
believes that A5 would better accomplish old growth stand improvement 
and road conversion to forests and wetlands.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65371-WY Rating EC2, Medicine Bow National Forest 
Revised Draft Land and Resource Management Plan, Implementation, 
Albany, Carbon and Laramie Counties, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that without 
specifically outlining the baseline by which future projects are tiered 
from this Plan, potential impacts to ecosystem processes, water and 
habitat quality may occur.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K61158-CA Rating EC2, Silver Pearl Land Exchange 
Project, Proposal to Exchange 2,153 Acres of National Forest System 
(NFS) Land for up to 3,963 Acres of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) 
Land within the boundary of Eldorado National Forest, Eldorado and 
Placer Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested 
additional information regarding impacts to threatened and endangered 
species and Forest Service sensitive species. EPA also requested 
additional information on cumulative impacts.
    ERP No. D-SFW-K99032-CA Rating EC2, Western Riverside County 
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP), Implementation, 
Incidental Take Permits Issuance, Riverside and Orange County, CA.
    Summary: EPA raised environmental concerns that information from 
other regional plans has not been fully integrated with the analysis 
and conclusions of the MSHCP. Other EPA concerns are the assumptions 
regarding the level of species protection provided by Public/Quasi-
Public lands, the scientific basis of MSHCP assumptions and 
conclusions, enforcement, and consultation with and evaluation of 
potential impacts on Indian Tribes. EPA also recommended the Service 
provide future opportunities for public and agency input, and consult 
with Indian Tribes on a government-to-government basis.
    ERP No. DS-COE-C36031-NY Rating LO, Irondequoit Creek at Panorama 
Valley Flood Damage Reduction Project, New Information concerning 
Resumption and Evaluation of a Flood Damage Reduction Project, Town of 
Penfield, Monroe County, NY.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the implementation of the 
proposed project.
    ERP No. DS-DOE-L08055-WA Rating EC2, Kangley--Echo Lake 
Transmission Line Project, New 500 Kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line 
Construction, Updated Information concerning Re-evaluating Alternatives 
not Analyzed, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits Issuance, King 
County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the lack of 
clearly defined mitigation measures to protect drinking water sources 
and ensure the integrity of the City of Seattle's Habitat Conservation 
Plan. EPA recommended that the EIS not be finalized until such 
mitigation has been determined. EPA also recommended that the final EIS 
more clearly identify the significance of predicted effects of the 
project.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-E65053-NC Croatan National Forest Revised Land and 
Resource Management Plan (1986), Implementation, Carteret Craven and 
Jones Counties, NC.
    Summary: The final EIS is responsive to issues raised in the draft 
EIS and EPA has no objections to the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J82016-MT 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's review has not identified potential environmental 
impacts requiring substantive changes to the proposal.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65403-WA Quartzite Watershed Management Project, 
Watershed Management Activities including Vegetation Management, 
Riparian/Wetland Management and Road Management, Colville National 
Forest, Thomason Sherwood-Cottonwood Creek, Three Rivers Ranger 
District, Stevens County, WA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-DOE-L08059-WA Schultz-Hanford Transmission Line Project, 
New 500 kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Construction, Central 
Washington north of Hanford connecting to an existing line at the 
Schultz Substation, Kittitas, Yakima, Grant and Benton Counties, WA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: April 22, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-10273 Filed 4-24-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8010-01-P