[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 140 (Friday, July 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42318-42320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-14552]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6665-6]


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

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20040548, ERP No. D-BLM-J65432-CO, Roan Plateau Resource 
Management Plan Amendment, Including Former Naval Oil Shale Reserves 1 
and 2, Garfield and Rio Blanco Counties, CO.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts from increased access to the top of the plateau, to 
Colorado Cutthroat from sedimentation from new roads, fragmentation of 
critical winter habitat for mule deer, and reduction of areas with 
wilderness characteristics, and recommended that the Final EIS include 
mitigation measures identified in the analysis to reduce these impacts. 
Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050104, ERP No. D-NPS-K61161-CA, Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area (GGNRA) Fire Management Plan, Implementation, Muir 
Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, San

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Mateo, San Francisco and Marin Counties, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding smoke 
management, use of herbicides, and the protection of air quality, water 
quality, and wetlands. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050111, ERP No. D-AFS-K65280-CA, Power Fire Restoration 
Project, To Reduce Long-Term Furel Loading for the Purpose of Reducing 
Future Severity and Resistance to Control, Amador Ranger District, 
Eldorado National Forest, Amador County, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the very high 
risk of cumulative watershed effects and potential effects on water 
quality, aquatic resources, and air quality, and requested additional 
information be provided on Clean Air Act conformity requirements, 
mitigation measures to reduce priority pollutants and consultation with 
tribal governments. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050133, ERP No. D-AFS-F65056-OH, Wayne National Forest, 
Proposed Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, Implementation, 
Several Counties, OH.

    Summary: EPA supports the proposed alternative, which should 
improve watershed condition and wildlife habitat as well as meet other 
multiple use objectives. However, EPA requested additional information 
on the management of early successional and grassland habitat which 
could have impacts to declining populations of interior forest birds. 
The Final EIS should consider additional monitoring to determine 
invertebrate viability and trends of other important populations. 
Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050151, ERP No. D-AFS-K61162-CA, Ansel Adams and John Muir 
Wildernesses, Trail and Commercial Pack Sock Management, 
Implementation, Inyo, Mono, Madera, and Fresno Counties, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the minimal 
water quality and ecological improvement predicted with implementing 
the action alternatives. The Final EIS should include additional 
management actions, a detailed monitoring and enforcement strategy, 
especially for special use permits, to improve degraded trails and 
water quality in meadows, wetlands, and streams. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050160, ERP No. D-AFS-L65483-ID, Three Basins Timber Sale 
Project, Proposal to Treat 760 Acres of Mature Forest, Implementation, 
Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Montpellier Ranger District, Bearlake 
and Caribou Counties, ID.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with identified air 
impacts from prescribed burning, potential impacts on water quality 
near 303(d) listed streams, and exceeding Forest Service guidelines. 
EPA requested that the FEIS estimate PM10 and PM2.5 emissions, clarify 
the location of 303(d) listed streams relative to project actions, and 
explain the basis for deviating from the Forest Plan guideline for 
Visual Quality Objectives. Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20050176, ERP No. D-FAA-L51017-AK, Juneau International 
Airport, Proposed Development Activities to Enhance Operations Safety, 
Facilitate Aircraft Alignment, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, City 
and Borough of Juneau, AK.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because at the loss 
of high quality estuarine wetlands and related impacts to 303(d) listed 
streams and wetland functions, and requested a compensatory mitigation 
option be developed for unavoidable impacts. Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20050177, ERP No. D-AFS-K65282-AZ, Coconino National Forest 
Project, Re-authorize Grazing on the Pickett Lake and Padre Canyon 
Allotments, Implementation, Mormon Lake Range District, Coconino 
County, AZ.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with impacts to 
wetlands and requested a commitment in the Record of Decision to 
require fencing of additional wetlands for the 10 year permit. The 
Final EIS should disclose locations of grazing impaired soils related 
to grazing areas and the potential for additional impacts. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050199, ERP No. D-DOD-D11037-DC, Armed Forces Retirement Home 
(AFRH-W), Proposed Master Plan for Campus Located 3700 North Capitol 
Street, NW., AFRH Trust Fund, Washington, DC.

    Summary: EPA expressed concerns related to project impacts to 
ponds, wetlands, and terrestrial/aquatic biota. Rating EC2.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20050201, ERP No. F-AFS-G65093-NM, San Diego Range Allotment 
Project, Proposes to Revise Grazing Program, Santa Fe National Forest, 
Jemez Ranger District, Township 17-19 North, Range 1-3 East, Sandoval 
County, NM.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20050217, ERP No. F-AFS-G65094-NM, Ojo Caliente Proposed 
Transmission Line, Propose to Authorize, Construct, Operate and 
Maintain a New 115kV Transmission Line and Substation, Carson National 
Forest and BLM Taos Field Office, Taos and Rio Arriba Counties, NM.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20050245, ERP No. F-COE-K36140-CA, Prado Basin Water Supply 
Feasibility Study, To Increase Conservation of Surplus Water at Prado 
Dam and Flood Control Basin, Orange County Water District, Orange, 
Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, CA.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20050257, ERP No. F-AFS-J65440-MT, Northeast Yaak Project, 
Proposed Harvest to Reduce Fuels in Old Growth, Implementation, 
Kootenai National Forest, Three Rivers Ranger District, Lincoln County, 
MT.

    Summary: EPA supports the proposed action to improve old growth and 
grizzly bear habitats, reduce road impacts to streams and fisheries, 
noting the importance of adequate funding to implement restoration 
work. However, EPA has environmental concerns about the proposed 
opening of Vinal Lake Road 746 because of increased motorized access 
and potential adverse impacts to wildlife habitat by reducing 
connectivity.

EIS No. 20050273, ERP No. F-AFS-L65280-ID, Porcupine East, 9 Allotment 
Grazing Analysis Project, Authorizing Livestock Grazing, Caribou-
Targhee National Forest, Dubois Ranger District, Centennial Mountains, 
Clark County, ID.

    Summary: EPA continues to have concerns potential impacts to 
impaired streams in the project; and supports features of the Preferred 
alternative that minimize impacts to water quality. However, EPA 
recommends that once TMDLs are finalized that permits be modified when 
needed to meet load allocation targets.

EIS No. 20050244, ERP No. FS-NPS-K65325-CA, Merced Wild and Scenic 
River Revised Comprehensive Management Plan, Amend and Supplement 
Information, Yosemite National Park, El Portal Administrative Site, 
Tuolume,

[[Page 42320]]

Merced, Mono, Mariposa, and Madera Counties, CA.

    Summary: No formal letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: July 19, 2005.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 05-14552 Filed 7-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P