[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 175 (Friday, September 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54779-54780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20509]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6655-6]


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 2, 2004 (69 FR 17403).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-G65092-NM Rating LO, Invasive Plant Control Project, 
To Protect the Abundance and Biological Diversity of Desired Native 
Plant, Carson National Forest and Santa Fe National Forest, Rio Arriba, 
Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora and San Miguel Counties, NM.
    Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection of the preferred 
alternative.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65021-MT Rating EC2, Gallatin National Forest 
Noxious and Invasive Weed Control Project, To Prevent and Reduce Loss 
of Native Plant, Bozeman, Carbon, Madison, Gallatin, Meagher, Park, and 
Sweet Grass Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that without adequate environmental 
protection measures to reduce the potential for herbicide transport 
there is the potential of adverse impacts to water quality and biota. 
The Final EIS should include additional information on herbicide 
monitoring and aquatic toxicity.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65417-MT Rating EC2, Frenchtown Face Ecosystem 
Restoration Project, Maintain or Improve Forest Health and Reduce the 
Risk of Damage Insects and Disease, Lolo National Forest, Ninemile 
Ranger District, Missoula County, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports project purpose and need, but has concerns 
regarding potential adverse effects to 303(d) listed waters. EPA 
recommends that the final EIS include additional analysis and 
information regarding impacts to water quality effects, monitoring, and 
mitigation.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65420-SD Rating EC2, Southeast Geographic Area 
Rangeland Management on National Forest System Lands of the Buffalo Gap 
National Grassland, To Implement Best Management Grazing Practices, 
Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Falls River Ranger District, Falls 
River Ranger District, Fall River County, SD.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to impacts to 
water quality, and aquatic habitat and resources from livestock grazing 
in streams, riparian zones and wetlands. The Final EIS should include 
additional measures and mitigation to protect riparian areas and 
aquatic resources as well as monitoring thresholds and management 
responses to be used with the adaptive management approach.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65269-CA Rating EC2, Southern California National 
Forests Land Management Plans, Revision of the Angeles, Cleveland, Los 
Padres and San Bernardino National Forests Land Management Plans, San 
Bernadino, Riverside and San Diego Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns due to impacts related to water 
quality and quantity, air quality, and sensitive resources; integration 
of fire use as a management tool; and adequate funding for monitoring.
    ERP No. D-DOI-K99033-00 Rating EC2, Programmatic EIS--Lower 
Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, Issuing an 
Incidental Take Permit based on the Plan, Extending from Lake Mead to 
the Southerly International Boundary with Mexico, AZ, NV and CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the project 
meeting National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for particulate 
matter, adverse effects of chemical contaminants on backwater biota, 
potential adverse impacts of water diversions, and outreach to 
environmental justice populations. Concerns were also expressed 
regarding future actions required for specific projects, funding of the 
MSCP, and lack of information on revised NAAQS.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-F65041-MN, Chippewa and Superior National Forests 
Land and Resource Management Plans Revision, Implementation, Beltrami, 
Cass, Itasca, Cook, Lake and St. Louis Counties, MN.
    Summary: While EPA's previous concerns on invasive species and 
nonpoint source water pollution were addressed, the Final EIS did not 
provide clarification on deer herbivory monitoring.
    ERP No. F-AFS-K65261-CA, Larson Reforestation and Fuel Reduction 
Project, Implementation, Stanislaus National Forest, Groveland Ranger 
District, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, CA.

[[Page 54780]]

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-BLM-J65325-WY, Jack Morrow Hills Coordinated Activity 
Plan, Implementation, Rock Springs, Portion of Sweetwater, Fremont and 
Subelette Counties, WY.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-COE-K39078-CA, Napa River Salt Marsh Restoration Project, 
Salinity Reduction and Habitat Restoration in the Napa River Unit, 
Implementation, San Pablo Bay, Napa and Solano Counties, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-DOD-A10075-00, Programmatic EIS--Chemical and Biological 
Defense Program, Protection of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and 
Airmen on the Battlefield, United States and other Countries.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-NPS-C65004-NY, Saratoga National Historical Park General 
Management Plan, Implementation, Hudson River Valley, Towns of 
Stillwater and Saratoga, Saratoga County, NY.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to proposed action.
    ERP No. F-UAF-D52001-WV, Aircraft Conversion for the 167th Air Wing 
(167 AW) of the West Virginia Air National Guard, Converting C-13OH 
Transport Aircraft to the Larger C-5 Transport Aircraft, Acquisition of 
Land via Lease, and Construction of Facilities on existing and acquired 
Parcel, Berkely County, WV.
    Summary: While many of EPA's previous concerns were resolved, EPA 
continues to have environmental concerns about noise and safety related 
to the closure of Runway 17/35.

    Dated: September 7, 2004.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-20509 Filed 9-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P