[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 211 (Friday, October 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62073-62074]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27476]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6645-1]


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 FR dated April 4, 2003 (68 FR 
16511).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-E65067-AL

    Rating EC1, Forest Health and Red-Cockade Woodpecker (RCW) 
Initiative, Implementation, Talladega National Forest, Talladega and 
Shoal Creek Ranger Districts, Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Clebourne and 
Talladega Counties, AL.
    Summary: While EPA supports the efforts to restore the longleaf 
pine ecosystem and enhance red-cockade woodpecker habitat, EPA has 
environmental concerns related to potential water quality impacts and 
herbicide use.

ERP No. D-AFS-J70020-CO

    Rating EC1, Upper Blue Stewardship Project, Vegetation Management, 
Travel Management, and Dispersed Camping Sites Designation, 
Implementation, U.S. Army COE 404 Permit, White River National Forest, 
Dillon Ranger District, Summit County, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the creation of 
permanent, recreation timber clearings in lynx corridor and foraging 
habitat.

ERP No. D-AFS-K65258-CA

    Rating EC2, Emigrant Wilderness Dams Project, Reconstruct, Repair, 
Maintain and Operate 12 Dams; Snow, Bigelow, Huckleberry, Emigrant 
Meadow, Middle Emigrant, Emigrant, Leighton, Long, Lower Buck, Y-Meadow 
and Bear, Stanislous National Forest, Summer Ranger District, Tuolumne 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the 
potential impacts to wilderness, air and water quality, and wildlife as 
a result of the maintenance of twelve dams. EPA requested additional 
information on water quality impacts, compliance with wilderness 
policy, and rationale to support the proposed alternative be included 
in the final EIS.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65426-OR

    Rating EC2, Flagtail Fire Recovery Project, To Address the 
Differences between Existing and Desired Conditions, Blue Mountain 
Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, Grant County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
impacts from harvesting activities and grazing, and the removal and 
destruction of nest structures for landbirds in dry forest habitats.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65430-OR

    Rating EC2, Monument Fire Recovery Project and Proposed Non 
Significant Forest Plan Amendments, Implementing Four Alternatives for 
Recovery, Malheur National Forest, Prairie City Ranger District, Grant 
and Baker Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts from harvesting which can result in disturbance and 
habitat loss primary cavity excavator bird species.

ERP No. D-BLM-J02042-UT

    Rating EC2, Uinta Basin Natural Gas Project, Proposed to Produce 
and Transport Natural Gas in the Atchee Wash Oil and Gas Production 
Region, Resource Development Group, Right-of-Way Grant, U.S. Army COE 
Section 404 Permit and Endangered Species Act Permit, Uintah County, 
Utah.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the regional air 
quality analysis and impacts to wetlands.

ERP No. D-BLM-J65387-CO

    Rating EC1, Silverton Outdoor Learning and Recreation Center, 
Authorization for Long-Term Use of 1,300 acres for Backcountry-type 
Skiing, Summer Recreation and Educational Activities, Amendment of the 
San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan, San Juan County, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the 
potential adverse impacts to alpine vegetation, lynx habitat, and from 
foreseeable future development.

ERP No. D-BLM-L65431-OR

    Rating EC2, Timbered Rock Fire Salvage and Elk Creek Watershed 
Restoration Project, Implementation, Northwest Forest Plan, Butte Falls 
Resource Area, Medford District, Douglas, Jackson, and Josephine 
Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding indirect 
and cumulative effects, project restoration activities and proposed 
salvage prescriptions that are inconsistent with the Northwest Forest 
Plan.

ERP No. D-HUD-L85027-WA

    Rating LO, Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) Hope VI Salishan 
Redevelopment Project, Revitalize the Community Neighborhood, Funding, 
NHPA Section 106, NPDES Permit, City of Tacoma, WA.
    Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited 
review of this action. Based upon this screen, EPA does not foresee 
having any environmental objections to the proposed project.

ERP No. D-NPS-F61021-WI

    Rating LO, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Wilderness Study, 
Wilderness Designation or Nondesignation, Ashland and Bayfield 
Counties, WI.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the proposed 
wilderness designation.

ERP No. DR-COE-K39066-CA

    Rating EC2, Port J Long Beach Pier J South Terminal Expansion 
Project, Additional Cargo Requirements Associated with Growing Export 
and Import Volumes, Port Master Plan (PMP) Amendment, COE Section 404, 
401, and 10 Permits, City of Long Beach, CA.
    Summary: EPA raised environmental concerns on potential impacts to 
air quality and aquatic resources, and the adequacy of mitigation for 
these impacts. The EIS appears to underestimate the project's air 
pollutant emissions; additional air quality mitigation may be needed. 
EPA has concerns that the EIS did not address the source(s) from which 
material for the project's landfill component would be obtained; 
impacts associated with obtaining this fill material; and consistency 
with Federal Regulations at 40 CFR 230, including identification of the 
Least Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternative.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-J65379-CO

    Green Ridge Mountain Pine Beetle Analysis Project, Proposal to 
Reduce the Spread of Mountain Pine Beetle and Associated Tree 
Mortality, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest & Thunder

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Basin National Grassland, Parks Ranger District, Jackson County, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with adverse impacts 
to aquatic resources from soil disturbance.

ERP No. F-AFS-L65360-AK

    Madan Timber Sale, Implementation, Tongass National Forest, 
Wrangell Ranger District, COE Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, AK.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-BLM-J65240-WY

    Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Proposal (WYW148816), Exchange of 
Private Owned Land P&M for Federally-Owned Coal, Lincoln, Carbon and 
Sheridan Counties, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
cumulative air quality impacts from this coal mine, when added to other 
energy development in northeastern Wyoming. Exceedances of Clean Air 
Act criteria on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana, and 
extinguishing the coal seam fire should be addressed before completing 
the proposed land exchange.

ERP No. F-CGD-G03021-LA

    Port Pelican Deepwater Port Construction and Operation, License 
Approval, Vermillion Lease Block 140 on the Continental Shelf in the 
Gulf of Mexico southwest of Freshwater City, LA.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the proposed action.

ERP No. F-COE-K39077-CA

    East Cliff Drive Bluff Protection and Parkway Project, Alternatives 
Evaluation for Coastal Bluff Erosion Protection, City of Santa Cruz, 
Santa Cruz County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-NPS-D61053-VA

    Green Spring Colonial National Historical Park Management Plan, 
Implementation, James City County, VA.
    Summary: EPA's concerns were adequately addressed in the final EIS.

    Dated: October 28, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-27476 Filed 10-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P