[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 90 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25023-25026]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-11633]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6640-1]


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

[[Page 25024]]

Federal Register dated April 01, 2003 (68 FR 16511).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-E65038-FL Rating LO, USDA Forest Service and State of 
Florida Land Exchange Project, Assembled Exchange of both Fee, 
Ownership Parcels and Partial Interest Parcels, Baker, Citrus, 
Franklin, Hernando, Lake, Liberty, Okaloosa, Osceola, Santa Rosa and 
Sumter Counties, FL.
    Summary: EPA supports the proposed objectives of land consolidation 
and has identified opportunities to improve upon the proposed action 
through additional mitigative commitments involving Tribal interests.
    ERP No. D-AFS-F65039-WI Rating EC2, McCaslin Project, Vegetation 
Management Activities Consistent with Direction in the Nicolet Forest 
Plan, Lakewood/Laona District, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, 
Oconto and Forest Counties, WI.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns relating to adverse 
impacts from roads to water quality and habitat and forest 
fragmentation of wildlife. The final EIS should update the predicted 
percent decline from the preferred alternative on the Golden-Winged 
Warbler, a management indicator species.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65408-ID Rating EC2, Salmon-Challis National Forest 
Noxious Weed Management Program, Integrated Series of Weed Treatment 
and Non-Treatment Practices, Implementation, Custer, Lemhi, Butte and 
Blaine Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the range of 
alternatives evaluated in detail and the continued reliance on 
strategies that focus on treatment of invasive weed species instead of 
strategies designed to prevent the spread of noxious weeds. EPA 
recommended that the final EIS further evaluate approaches to reduce 
the spread of invasive weeds and assess the environmental effects of 
using herbicides, grazing treatment options and effects of multi-
chemical applications.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65416-ID Rating NS, Upper Bear Timber Sale Project, 
Fuel Reduction, Forest Vegetation and Roads Management, Payette 
National Forest, Council Ranger District, Adams County, ID.
    Summary: Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited 
review of this action. Based on this screen, EPA does not foresee 
having any environmental objections to the proposed project and will 
not be conducting a detailed review.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L67042-OR Rating EO2, Steamboat Mountain Mining 
Operations, Surface Quarry or ``Open Pit'' Mineral Extraction, Plan-of-
Operation Approval, Appelgate Adaptive Management Area, Rogue River 
National Forest, Applegate Ranger District, Jackson County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with potential 
adverse impacts to water quality and aquatic resources. Existing 
mineral pyrite deposits pose a high risk for Acid Rock Drainage. 
Cumulative impacts from milling activities have not been well 
characterized. EPA recommends that the final EIS identify the location 
and potential impacts of secondary and tertiary milling processing, 
characterize bedrock and waste rock acid generating potential, and 
include a plan to prevent erosion at the mine site and along transport 
roads.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L67044-ID Rating EC2, Golden Hand No. 3 and No. 4 
Lode Mining Claims Plan of Operations Approval, Implementation, Frank 
Church-River of No Return (FC-RONR) Wilderness, Payette National 
Forest, Krassel Ranger District, Valley County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
environmental impacts to water quality, salmonids and wilderness 
resources. The final EIS should discuss connected actions and potential 
impacts associated with tailings disposal, further characterize and 
describe the use of waste rock, disclose post-mining land use 
objectives and implementation, provide a cost estimate for meeting 
post-closure objectives, predict compliance with water quality 
standards and include quality assurance protocols.
    ERP No. D-BLM-J01079-WY Rating EC2, South Powder River Basin Coal 
Project, Application for Leasing of Five Federal Coal Tracts: NARO 
Tracts: NARO North and NARO South (North Antelope/Rochelle Mine 
Complex), Little Thunder (Black Thunder Mine), West Roundup (North 
Rochelle Mine), and West Antelope (Antelope Mine), Campbell and 
Converse Counties, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
adverse impacts to air quality from fugitive dust and nitrogen oxides. 
In addition, EPA has concerns about the cumulative impact assessment, 
impacts to wetlands and sage grouse habitat.
    ERP No. D-FHW-J40158-MT Rating EC2, I-15 Corridor Project, 
Transportation Improvements from Montana City to the Lincoln Road 
Interchange, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, 
Jefferson and Lewis & Clark Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding direct and 
indirect environmental impacts. EPA recommends the development of a 
detailed wetland mitigation plan, and consultation with the MDEQ to 
assure concurrence on proposed transportation improvements with TMDL 
development for Tenmile Creek and Silver Creek. Information is needed 
to fully assess and mitigate all potential impacts of the management 
actions.
    ERP No. D-FRC-K05058-CA Rating EC2, EL Dorado Hydroelectric 
Project, Application for a New License, South Fork of the American 
River Basin and Truckee River Basin (FERC NO. 184-065), EL Dorado 
National Forest, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Alpine, Amador and 
El Dorado Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested 
additional information regarding impacts to threatened and endangered 
species and Tribal resources.
    ERP No. D-JUS-G81011-TX Rating LO, Rio Grande Operation Project, 
Reduction or Elimination of Illegal Drug Activities and Illegal 
Immigrants, Starr, Hidalgo and Cameron Counties, TX.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection of the preferred 
alternative.
    ERP No. D-JUS-K81028-CA Rating LO, Juvenile Justice Facility and 
East County Hall of Justice Development, Potential Construction of Both 
Projects on the Same Site or on Separate Sites, Alameda County, CA.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to this project but recommended that 
the Federally preferred alternative be identified in the Final EIS.
    ERP No. D-JUS-K99031-AZ Rating EO2, Programmatic EIS--US Border 
Patrol Activities within Border Areas of the Tucson and Yuma Sectors to 
Gain, Maintain, and Extend Control of the Border to Prevent Unlawful 
Entry of Persons into the US, Cochise, Santa Cruz, Pima and Yuma 
Counties, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the preferred 
alternative based on the project's significant environmental 
degradation of cultural/tribal resources, wetlands and water quality, 
wildlife habitat, endangered species, ecologically or historically 
unique areas and air quality, that should be corrected by project 
modification or implementation of other feasible alternatives. EPA also 
expressed concerns about potential impacts to human health and safety 
and transboundary environmental effects.
    ERP No. D-NPS-F65038-OH Rating EC2, Cuyahoga Valley National Park

[[Page 25025]]

Rural Landscape Management Program, Rural Landscape Resources 
Preservation and Protection, Cuyahoga River, Cuyahoga and Summit 
Counties, OH.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential 
deer over grazing which damage native plant communities, herd health 
and the lack of invasive species control measures.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-J65334-MT Rating EC2, Keystone-Quartz Ecosystem 
Management Plan, Implementation, Updated Information on Alternatives, 
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Wise River Ranger District, 
Beaverhead County, MT.
    Summary: While EPA supports the preferred alternative EPA expressed 
environmental concerns with recommended soil protection measures and 
recommends restoration and upgrading of existing low standard roads 
which can impact water quality.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-J65353-MT Rating EC2, Threemile Stewardship Project, 
Additional Information concerning the Potential Effects on the Goshawk 
Habitat, Ashland Ranger District, Custer National Forest, Powder and 
Rosebud Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the preferred alternative to 
harvest and thin timber, use prescribed fire and manage road systems. 
EPA did express environmental concerns with the disclosure project 
effects on Goshawk nest territories and implementation via stewardship 
contracting to adequately address environmental and ecological 
concerns.
    ERP No. DS-FHW-E40183-FL Rating EC2, FL-23 Extension (Branan Field-
Chaffee Road), Construction from FL-134 (103rd Street) to FL-8 (I-10) 
and FL-10(US-90/Beaver Street), NPDES and US Army COE Section 404 
Permits Issuance, Clay and Duval Counties, FL.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns with the project due 
primarily to a substantial direct impact to wetlands as well as 
potential impacts to air quality. EPA requests additional wetlands 
avoidance and minimization as well as further information regarding 
compensatory mitigation. An analysis of direct and cumulative impacts 
is also requested by EPA.
    ERP No. DS-JUS-K81010-AZ Rating LO, Pinal County Private Detention 
Facility, Updated Information, Single Contract for Approximately 3,000 
Beds, Possible Sites: Undeveloped Parcel of Land in the City of Eloy 
and the Existing Central Arizona Detention Center Located in Florence, 
Pinal County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA has a lack of objections to the proposed project. 
Based on our review, it is unlikely that implementation of the proposed 
action, with proposed mitigation measures, will result in significant 
adverse environmental impacts.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-J02039-MT, Montana Statewide Conventional Oil and Gas 
and Coal Bed Methane Gas Exploration and Development Management Plan 
within the Bureau of Land Management's Powder River and Billings 
Resources Management Plan Areas and the State of Montana, 
Implementation, MT.
    Summary: While the final EIS addressed EPA's objections on 
disclosing environmental impacts, particularly for water quality 
issues, mitigation issues relating to air and water quality remain. 
These may be addressed in the Record of Decision (ROD). Long term 
mitigation implementation will be addressed by both the State of 
Montana and EPA in Region 8. Mitigation for coalbed methane development 
will be addressed by EPA as it meets its responsibilities for direct 
implementation and oversight of state and Tribal programs.
    ERP No. F-BLM-J65358-WY, Powder River Basin Oil and Gas Project, 
Extraction, Transportation and Oil and Natural Gas Resources Sale, 
Application for a Permit to Drill (APD), Special Use Permit and Right-
of-Way Grants, Campbell, Converse, Johnson and Sheridan Counties, WY.
    Summary: While the final EIS addressed EPA's objections related to 
disclosing environmental impacts, particularly water quality, 
mitigation issues realted to air and water remain and may be addressed 
in the Record of Decision (ROD). Implementation of long term mitigation 
will be addressed by both the State of Montana and EPA in Region 8 
related to its direct implementation and oversight of state Tribal 
programs.
    ERP No. F-BLM-L65371-OR, Rogue National Wild and Scenic River 
Hellgate Recreation Area (Applegate River to Grave Creek) Management 
Plan, Implementation, Bedford District, Josephine County, OR.
    Summary: EPA continued to express environmental concerns that 
levels of recreation activity predicted under the preferred alternative 
may cause adverse impacts to wetlands and fishery resources. The 
selected alternative should achieve a better balance between visitors 
and recreation activities and impacts to the river ecosystem.
    ERP No. F-COE-C30012-NJ, South River Raritan River Basin Hurricane 
and Storm Damage Reduction and Ecosystem Restoration, Implementation, 
Middlesex County, NJ.
    Summary: EPA continues to have outstanding environmental concerns 
with regards to wetland and air quality impacts.
    ERP No. F-JUS-K80043-CA, Juvenile Justice Campus (JJC) Construction 
and Operation of a 1,400 Bed and Related Functions Facility, 
Conditional Use Permit, Fresno County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-JUS-K80044-CA, Sacramento County Juvenile Hall Expansion 
Project, Accommodation of 90 New Beds in the Short-Term and 240 New 
Beds in the Long-Term, Sacramento County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NRS-H34029-MO, Little Otter Creek Watershed Plan, 
Installation of One Multi-Purpose Reservoir and Development of Basic 
Facilities for Recreational Use, Implementation, Caldwell County, MO.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the proposed watershed plan and 
appreciates the additional information provided in the FEIS concerning 
land acquisition, watershed conservation programs and aquatic habitat.
    ERP No. FS-AFS-L65290-ID, North Lochsa Face Ecosystem Management 
Project, Updated Information on the Potential Effects of Vegetation and 
Aquatic Restoration Management, Clearwater National Forest, Lochsa 
Ranger District, Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. FS-COE-H32002-00, Missouri River Fish and Wildlife 
Mitigation Project to Restore Fish and Wildlife Habitat Losses 
Resulting from Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Missouri 
River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP), Missouri River, 
Sioux City, Iowa to the Mouth near St. Louis, NB, KS and MO.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed action. EPA supports 
the Congressional land acquisition target of 166,750 acres, with 
associated habitat development. EPA recommended that the Record of 
Decision provide details of possible incentive-based land acquisition 
opportunities.
    ERP No. FS-JUS-K81010-AZ, Pinal County Private Detention Facility, 
Updated Information, Single Contract for 3,000 Beds, Possible Sites: 
Undeveloped Parcel of Land in the City of Eloy or the Existing Central 
Arizona Detention Center in Florence, Pinal County, AZ.

[[Page 25026]]

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: May 6, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-11633 Filed 5-8-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P