[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 69 (Friday, April 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 18897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8098]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6650-2]


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 2, 2004 (69 FR 17403).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L65443-OR Rating EO2, Biscuit Fire Recovery Project, 
various management activities alternatives, implementation, Rogue River 
and Siskiyou National Forests, Josephine and Curry Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with adverse 
impacts to water quality under the preferred alternative. Impacts from 
increased sediment delivery to already impaired surface waters could 
cause long term exceedances in State Water Quality standards and 
effects on designated beneficial uses (salmonid rearing). EPA's other 
concerns included impacts to waters in the Northwest Forest Plan-
designated key watersheds, Wild and Scenic Rivers, and potential 
wilderness values in Inventoried Roadless Areas.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F40420-MN Rating EC2, I-94/TH-10 Interregional 
connection from St. Cloud to Becker, transportation improvements, 
funding and U.S. Army COE section 404 permit, in the cities of Becker 
and St. Cloud, Sherburn, Stearns and Wright Counties, MN.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns with the proposed project 
related to the secondary land use and cumulative impacts associated 
with the project. EPA also recommends that a mitigation plan with 
specific mitigation measures be developed and included in the FEIS for 
the preferred alternative identified.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K65262-CA Rating EC2, Lake Berryessa Visitor Services 
Plan, future use and operation, Solano Project Lake Berryessa, Napa 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that significant 
increases in visitor use under the proposed VSP could result in 
negative impacts to air and water quality. EPA requested information on 
estimated future use and environmental impacts be included in the FEIS.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-C65003-PR, Caribbean National Forest, Rio Sabana 
picnic area construction, Rio Sabana Trail Reconstruction and PR-191 
Highway Reconstruction from km.21.3 to km 20.0, implementation and 
special-use permit issuance, PR.
    Summary: Based upon the additional information provided in the 
final EIS, EPA does not have any objections to the implementation of 
the preferred alternative.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65383-MT, Logan Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project, 
hazardous fuel reduction across the landscape and vegetation management 
restoration or maintenance, Flathead National Forest, Tally Lake Ranger 
District, Flathead County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with short-term water 
quality effects of road construction and vegetation treatments. 
However, modifications to the preferred alternative should improve 
water quality and fisheries habitat, and reduce risk of severe wildfire 
over the long term.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65388-UT, North Rich Cattle Allotment, proposal to 
authorize grazing, implementation, Logan District, Wasatch-Cache 
National Forest, Cache and Rich Counties, UT.
    Summary: EPA continued to express environmental concerns about 
impacts to water quality and aquatic resources, soil resources, and 
wildlife habitat.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65391-WY, Blackhall-McAnulty Analysis Area, proposal 
to reduce the spread of Dwarf Mistletoe and Mountain Pine Beetle in 
Lodgepole Pine Stands, Brush Creek/ Hayden Ranger District, Medicine 
Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland, Carbon 
County, WY.
    Summary: EPA continued to express environmental concerns with 
disturbances to terrestrial habitat and watersheds and impacts within 
the project area. The final EIS did however propose to minimize impacts 
on the landscape and decommission roads while meeting project goals.
    ERP No. F-AFS-K61158-CA, 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: The final EIS adequately addresses issues raised in our 
comment letter on the DEIS.
    ERP No. F-AFS-K65260-AZ, Rodeo-Chediski Fire Salvage Project, 
timber harvest of merchantable dead trees as sawtimber and products 
other than lumber (POL), implementation, Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto 
National Forests, Apache, Coconino and Navajo Counties, AZ.
    Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concerns regarding 
cumulative impacts and potential impacts to watershed conditions.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65426-OR, Flagtail Fire Recovery Project, addressing 
the differences between existing and desired conditions, Blue Mountain 
Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, Grant County, OR.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-FRC-H03000-00, Cheyenne Plains Pipeline Project, natural 
gas transmission pipeline construction and operation, NPDES permit and 
U.S. Army COE section 404 permit issuance, several counties, CO and 
several counties, KS.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the proposed action since previous 
issues were resolved.
    ERP No. FA-COE-E36167-FL, Central and Southern Florida Project, 
Tamiami Trail Feature (US Highway 41), modified water deliveries to 
Everglades National Park, Dade County, FL.
    Summary: EPA has no environmental objections to the measures 
proposed to protect the Tamiami roadway.

    Dated: April 6, 2004.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-8098 Filed 4-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P