[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76941-76942]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-28096]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6658-9]


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-E65071-FL Rating EC1, Ocala National Forest Access 
Designation Process, Roads and Trail Systems Development, 
Implementation, Lake, Marion, and Putnam Counties, FL.
    Summary: While EPA supports the access designation process, it has 
environmental concerns that there are no commitments to either close, 
decommission, or monitor the remaining unclassified roads and trails to 
ensure that unregulated public travel will not continue.
    ERP No. D-BIA-J02044-WY Rating EC1, Wind River Natural Gas Field 
Development Project, Construction, Drilling and Production Operation of 
Natural Gas Wells, Fremont County, WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding air quality and visual 
environmental impacts to Class 1 Airsheds, and recommended mitigation 
measures such as: Using electric drill rigs and new technology diesel 
engines; purchasing wind-generated electricity; and the Tribes should 
investigate and consider developing their own renewable electricity 
generation capability to power tribal related projects to reduce air 
emissions.
    ERP No. D-BLM-J02043-CO Rating EO1, Northern San Juan Basin Coal 
Bed Methane Project, Proposed to Drill Approximately 300 Wells to 
Produce Natural Gas from Coal Beds on Federal, State and Private Owned 
Lands, Special-Use-Permit, Application for Permit to Drill and U.S. 
Army COE Section 404 Permit, LaPlata and Archulea Counties, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because of 
potential adverse impacts to human health from methane gas mitigation 
into home/businesses, impacts to drinking water wells and the potential 
of reduced visibility at Mesa Verde NP and Weminuche WA, and surface 
disturbing activities in an inventoried Roadless Area. EPA suggests the 
final EIS include additional mitigation measures for the employment of 
newer drilling technologies to reduce impacts.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-G40172-TX TX-121 Highway Construction, I-30 to Farm-
to-Market 1187 (FM 1187), Funding, USCG Section 9 and US Army COE 
Section 10 and 404 Permits Issuance, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, TX.
    Summary: EPA has no comments on the Final EIS. ERP No. F-FRC-
L05227-00 Box Canyon Hydroelectric Project, (FERC Project No. 2042-
013), New License Application for an existing 72-megawatt (Mw) 
Hydroelectric Project, Public Utility District (PUD) No. 1, Pend 
Oreille River, Pend Oreille County, WA and Bonner County, ID.

[[Page 76942]]

    Summary: EPA continues to have concerns that studies and analyses 
needed to define project impacts and identify needed mitigation 
measures have been deferred until after issuance of a new license.
    ERP No. F1-AFS-L61190-OR Mt. Ashland Ski Area Expansion, Site 
Specific Project, Maintenance and Enhancements of Environmental 
Resources, Implementation, Special Use Permit, Ashland Ranger District, 
Rogue River National Forest and Scott River Ranger District, Klamath 
National Forest, Jackson County, OR.
    Summary: EPA supports the selection of Modified Alternative 2, 
which should mitigate sediment yield into streams.

    Dated: December 20, 2004.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-28096 Filed 12-22-04; 8:45 am]
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