[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 124 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38323-38324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-16333]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6641-5]


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) 564-7167. An explanation of the ratings 
assigned to draft environmental impact statements (EISs) was published 
in FR dated April 04, 2003 (68 FR 16511).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J65380-UT Rating EC2, Prima East Clear Creek Federal 
No. 22-42 Gas Exploration Well, Application for Permit to Drill (APD) 
including a Surface Use Plan of Operations, Approval, Castle Valley

[[Page 38324]]

Ridge, Ferron/Price Ranger District, Manti-La Sal National Forest, 
Carbon and Emery Counties, UT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential direct 
and indirect adverse environmental impacts from gas development and 
road construction in an Inventoried Roadless Area. The final EIS should 
include additional information regarding the management of produced 
water and impacts to aquatic resources, soils and water quality as well 
as from OHV use.

    ERP No. D-DOE-E09809-SC Rating EC1, Savannah River Site 
Construction and Operation of a Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication 
Facility, NUREG-1767, Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale Counties, SC.
    Summary: EPA is pleased with the quality of this draft EIS, 
especially the mitigation plans. However, EPA is concerned possible 
impacts from the hazardous and radioactive wastes generated during 
operation of the proposed facility.

    ERP No. D-NPS-K65251-AZ Rating LO, Petrified Forest National Park 
General Management Plan Revision, Implementation, Navajo and Apache 
Counties, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections to the proposed plan, 
but recommended more detailed information in the Final EIS regarding 
mitigation measures that will be used to protect water quality from 
facility improvement activities.

    ERP No. DR-DOE-A09824-00 Rating EC2, Hanford Site Solid 
(Radioactive and Hazardous) Waste Program, New Information on Waste 
Management Alternatives, Waste Management Practices Enhancement for 
Low-Level Radioactive Waste, Mixed Low-Level Radioactive Waste and 
Transuranic Waste, Richland, Benton County, WA.
    Summary: EPA is pleased that the revised draft EIS responds to 
issues we raised in our review of the earlier draft, particularly the 
analysis of new alternatives. EPA is still concerned, however, that the 
EIS provides insufficient information to differentiate the 
environmental effects among alternatives and to ensure compliance with 
environmental standards. EPA recommends that the final EIS provide 
additional groundwater analysis and impact information. Also, the final 
EIS should further describe mitigation measures and their effectiveness 
in the environmental consequences chapter.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J65363-MT Post Fire Vegetation and Fuels Management 
Project, Fuel Reduction, Bark Beetle Sanitation and Maintenance, and/or 
Restoration of Vegetative Communities, Beaverhead Deerlodge National 
Forest, Wisdom and Pintler Ranger Districts, Beaverhead and Deerlodge 
Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports the elimination of proposed riparian 
harvests, and noted that activities need to be consistent with 
Montana's development of TMDLs and water quality restoration plans for 
303(d) listed waters. EPA also recommended consideration of additional 
seeding and revegetation on barren hillsides.

    Dated: June 24, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-16333 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P