[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 54 (Friday, March 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13035-13036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-6219]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6649-5]


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-BLM-A65174-00 Rating EC2, Programmatic EIS--Proposed 
Revision to Grazing Regulations for the Public Lands, 42 CFR Part 4100, 
In the Western Portion of the United States.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts to water quality and quantity, riparian habitat and 
related wildlife and vegetation.
    EPA requested that the final EISs provide data to support predicted 
impacts to these resources. The final EIS should also include specific 
implementation information on how BLM will conduct the proposed new 
monitoring, assessments, and documentation.
    ERP No. D-BLM-L65432-OR Rating EC2, Upper Siuslaw Late-Successional 
Reserve Restoration Plan, To Protect and Enhance Late-Successional and 
Old-Growth Forest Ecosystems, Eugene District Resource Management Plan, 
Northwest Forest Plan, Coast Range Mountains, Lane and Douglas 
Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and recommends that 
the FEIS include a full comparison and analyses of all the alternative, 
including adequate baseline data and disclosure of potential adverse 
impacts on surface water quality and late successional forests.
    ERP No. D-BLM-L65438-OR Rating EC2, Andrews Management Unit/Steens 
Mountain Cooperative, Cooperative Management and Protection Area, 
Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Harney and Malheur Counties, 
OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns with adverse impacts to water 
quality from grazing and mining. The FEIS should fully discuss 
cumulative impacts

[[Page 13036]]

from mining and grazing and compare the environmental impacts of 
alternatives. The FEIS should also include detailed mitigation measures 
to protect aquatic resources.
    ERP No. D-COE-E09810-MS Rating LO, Enhanced Evaluation of 
Cumulative Effects Associated with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Permitting Activity for Large-Scale Development in Coastal Mississippi, 
Mississippi, Hancock, Harrison and Jackson Counties, MS.
    Summary: While EPA has no objections to the proposed project, EPA 
did request clarification on the recreation and parking improvements 
proposed as part of the project.
    ERP No. D-COE-L01009-ID Rating EC2, Emerald Creek Garnet Project, 
Proposal to Mine Garnet Reserves within the St. Maries River Floodplain 
near Fernwood, Walla Walla District, Issuance of Several Permits, 
Benewah and Shoshone Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns over the potential impacts of 
mining proposals on water quality. EPA recommends that adequate 
mitigation and reclamation be implemented to move the St. Maries River 
towards its designated beneficial uses. EPA also expressed concern over 
alternatives that do not avoid ecologically valuable oxbow complexes 
and recommended that if an alternative is selected that does not avoid 
oxbows, additional mitigation measures be implemented to ensure the 
long-term protection and restoration of wetland functions.
    ERP No. D-USA-K11111-HI Rating EC2, Transformation of the 2nd 
Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) to a Stryker Brigade Combat 
Team in Hawaii, Implementation, Honolulu and Hawaii Counties, HI.
    Summary: EPA raised concerns that the project exceeds the Federal 
Air Quality Standard for particulate matter less than 10 microns in 
diameter (fugitive dust) from training operations. Although the DEIS 
offers mitigation for fugitive dust emissions, it does not quantify 
reductions expected from controls nor a commitment to implement such 
mitigation. The Final EIS should evaluate the feasibility of monitoring 
at sites where the Federal standard is exceeded, and adopting 
additional mitigation if needed. EPA raised concerns that increased 
fugitive dust levels may have a disproportionately high adverse effect 
on low-income or minority populations when transported offsite.
    ERP No. DS-COE-C39016-PR Rating EO2, Port of the Americas Project, 
Additional Information on the Development of a Deep-Draft Terminal at 
the Port of Ponce to Receive Post-Panamax Ships, COE Section 10 and 404 
Permits, Municipalities of Guyanilla-Penuelas and Ponce, Puerto Rico.
    Summary: EPA believes that the permit applicant failed to 
adequately document compliance with the Clean Water Act Section 
404(b)(1) Guidelines, and until further information is received, that 
the proposed discharges of fill material would have a substantial and 
unacceptable impact on aquatic resources of national importance. EPA 
recommended denial of the permit application for the project as 
currently proposed.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-J40158-MT 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 has no objections to the preferred alternative.
    ERP No. F-NOA-K91010-00 US West Coast Fisheries for Highly 
Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Approval and 
Implementation, Ocean Waters off the States of Washington, Oregon and 
California a portion of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), WA, OR and 
CA.
    Summary: EPA continues to express concerns regarding bycatch and 
research actions needed to address information gaps.

    Dated: March 15, 2004.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-6219 Filed 3-18-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P