[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 72 (Friday, April 15, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19952-19953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7571]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6662-5]


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 the Federal Register dated 
April 1, 2005 (70 FR 16815).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20040549, ERP No. D-FHW-D40326-MD, Intercounty Connector (ICC) 
from I-270 to US-1, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, 
Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, MD.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with the Corridor 1 
alternative, due to impacts to wetlands and stream habitat in forested 
parkland. EPA expressed environmental concerns with the Corridor 2 
Alternative due to potential impacts from secondary development, 
natural resource and community impacts and potential impact to a nearby 
reservoir. Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20040600, ERP No. D-FHW-D40327-PA, Southern Beltway 
Transportation Project, Improvement from US-22 in Robinson Township to 
Interstate 79 in South Fayette Township and Cecil Township, Funding and 
U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Washington and Allegheny Counties, 
PA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to potential 
impacts to surface water, wetlands, forested habitat, threatened and 
endangered species, and possible environmental justice areas. Rating 
EC2.

EIS No. 20050012, ERP No. D-IBR-K39090-CA, Central Valley Project Long-
Term Water Service Contract Renewals--American River Division, Proposes 
to Renew Long-Term Water Service Contracts, Sacramento, Placer, and El 
Dorado Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns due to cumulative impacts and 
environmental tradeoffs of potential increased water diversions from 
the American River. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050024, ERP No. D-AFS-J65437-CO, Gold Camp Road Plan, Develop 
a Feasible Plan to Manage the Operation of Tunnel 3 and the 
8.5 mile Road Segment, Pike National Forest, Pike Peak Ranger District, 
Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to air quality, 
water quality, and wildlife habitat impacts. Watersheds in the project 
area are in a degraded condition, and opening the road to motorized 
vehicles has the potential to increase sediment loads to the 
watersheds. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050028, ERP No. DS-FHW-L40203-AK, Juneau Access 
Transportation Project, Improvements in the Lynn Canal/Taiya Inlet 
Corridor between Juneau and Haines/Skagway, Updated Information, 
Special-Use-Permit and COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Tongass National 
Forest, Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, Haines State Forest, 
City and Borough of Juneau, Haines Borough, Cities Haines and Skagway, 
AK.

    Summary: EPA has environmental objections with the proposed 
project, since there was insufficient information to demonstrate that 
the preferred alternative is the least environmentally damaging 
practicable alternative in compliance with the Clean Water Act Section 
404(b)(1) Guidelines. EPA recommends that the Final EIS include a 
preliminary 404(b)(1) evaluation, compensatory mitigation for 
unavoidable wetland impacts, site specific hydrological information and 
analysis for bridge/culvert designs, monitoring and adaptive 
management, and further analysis of indirect and cumulative effects. 
Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20050051, ERP No. DS-AFS-F65033-IL, Kudzu Eradication, Proposal 
to Eradicate Known Kudzu Infestations, Updated Information, Shawnee 
National Forest, Application for Herbicide and Mechanical Treatment, 
Jackson, Alexander and Pope Counties, IL.

    Summary: EPA has no objections to the use of the two selected 
herbicides for control of Kudzu. Rating LO.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20040469, ERP No. F-COE-L01009-ID, 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: The Final EIS responded to EPA's previous concerns.

EIS No. 20050073, ERP No. F-AFS-L65464-ID, South Bear River Range 
Allotment Management Plan Revisions, Continued Livestock Grazing on Ten 
Allotments, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Montpelier Ranger 
District, Bear Lake and Franklin Counties, ID.

    Summary: The Final EIS provided additional information on 
alternatives, however EPA continues to have concerns about water 
quality and recommends long term protection and restoration of streams.

EIS No. 20050029, ERP No. FS-FHW-E40183-FL, FL-23 Extension (Branan

[[Page 19953]]

Field-Chaffee Road), Construction from FL-134 (103rd Street) to FL-8 
(I-10) and FL-10 (US-90/Beaver Street), NPDES and U.S. Army COE Section 
404 Permits Issuance, Clay and Duval Counties, FL.

    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns due to 
impacts to wetlands.

    Dated: April 12, 2005.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 05-7571 Filed 4-14-05; 8:45 am]
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