[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54478-54479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15343]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6679-3]


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 7, 2006 (71 FR 17845).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20050459, ERP No. D-BLM-A82127-00, Programmatic--Vegetation 
Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Public Lands 
in 17 Westerns, including Alaska

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about surface and 
ground water impacts, protected beneficial uses and non-targeted flora 
and fauna. Additionally, EPA recommended that the final EIS address how 
meeting goals and endpoints will be evaluated and how monitoring will 
be conducted. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060164, ERP No. D-AFS-J65462-00, Dakota Prairie Grasslands 
Noxious Weed Management Project, Implementation, Billings, Slope, 
Golden Valley, Sioux, Grant, McHenry, Ransom and Richard Counties, ND 
and Carson, Perkins, and Zwieback Counties, SD.

    Summary: EPA supports the proposed integrated weed management 
project. Rating LO.

EIS No. 20060178, ERP No. D-WPA-J08026-00, Big Stone II Power Plant and 
Transmission Project, Propose Power Plant, Transmission Alternatives, 
and Substation Modification, (DOE/EIS-0377), US Army COE Section 10 and 
404 Permits, Big Stone City, Grant County, SD and Big Stone County, MN.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because of the 
project's anticipated wetland impacts, and asked for additional 
information to determine the least environmentally damaging practicable 
alternative. Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20060184, ERP No. D-COE-D35062-MD, Masonville Dredge Material 
Containment Facility (DMCF), Construction from Baltimore Harbor Channel 
north of Point-Rock Point Line, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 
Permits, Baltimore, MD.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
impacts associated with the placement of fill into a large area of 
Patapsco River, and requested that a mitigation plan be developed and 
be approved by the resource agencies prior to the Final EIS and before 
the issuance of the Section 404 permit for the project. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060220, ERP No. D-BLM-L65513-ID, Snake River Birds of Prey 
National Conservation Area, Resource Management Plan, Implementation, 
Ada, Canyon, Elmore, Owyhee Counties, ID.

    Summary: EPA supports proposed conservation efforts to protect and 
enhance raptor and raptor prey habitats, but suggests incorporating 
elements from Alternative C which reduce land disturbances and mitigate 
for impacts such as erosion, sedimentation, reduced streambank 
stability, reduce opportunities for spreading noxious plants. Rating 
EC1.

EIS No. 20060242, ERP No. D-FHW-F40436-WI, TIER 1-DEIS--US 8 Project, 
Construction from Wisconsin 35 (N) to U.S. 53, Funding and Right-of-Way 
Permit, Polk and Barron Counties, WI.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to 
wetlands, sensitive watersheds and streams, impaired waters and upland 
forest. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060268, ERP No. D-FHW-C40337-DC, 11th Street Bridges Project, 
Anacostia Freeway I-295/DC 295, to the Southeast/Southwest Freeway (I-
695) Improvements, Funding, NPDES Permit , U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 
404 Permits, Washington, DC.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about wetland, water 
quality, aquatic habitat and noise impacts. EPA requested additional 
information and mitigation. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060271, ERP No. D-CGD-A11078-00, Programmatic--Implementation 
of the U.S. Coast Guard Nationwide Automatic Identification System 
Project, Providing Vessel Identification, Tracking and Information 
Exchange Capabilities to Support National Maritime Interests.

    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action. Rating LO.

EIS No. 20060280, ERP No. D-AFS-J65466-00, North Zone Range 05 Project, 
Reauthorizing Livestock Grazing on Eight Existing Allotments, Black 
Hill National Forest, Bearlodge and Northern Hills Ranger Districts, 
Crook County, WY and Lawrence County, SD.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because range 
condition assessments appear to be used as a replacement for inventory 
and monitoring protocols providing biological information on riparian 
areas. The Final EIS should address inconsistencies between the 
information presented and stated conclusions regarding current 
conditions of allotments, and impacts of grazing on soil and water 
quality. In addition, the Final EIS should include water quality data, 
site-specific monitoring and/or mitigation plan with identified trigger 
points, and any other supplemental information used to support range 
management decisions. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060299, ERP No. D-FRC-C05149-NY, Niagara Project, 
Hydroelectric Relicensing Application FERC No. 2216, Niagara River, 
Niagara County, NY.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
cumulative impacts to water levels, and requested that this issue be 
fully discussed in the final IS. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060269, ERP No. DS-COE-D35062-MD, Masonville Dredged Material 
Containment Facility, New Information, New Source of Dike Building 
Material from the Seagirt Dredging Project within the Patapsco River, 
Funding, Baltimore, MD.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
impacts associated with the placement of fill into a large area of 
Patapsco River, and requested that a mitigation plan be

[[Page 54479]]

developed and be approved by the resource agencies prior to the Final 
EIS and before the issuance of the Section 404 permit for the project. 
Rating EC2.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20060197, ERP No. F-FHW-J40171-CO, US Highway 160, 
Transportation Improvements from Junction U.S. 160/550 Durango--East to 
Bayfield, US Army COE Section 404 Permit, La Plata County, CO.

    Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concerns about 
wetland impacts and the mitigation of those impacts. EPA is also 
concerned about construction-related air quality impacts, and requested 
mitigation be developed to reduce those impacts.

    EIS No. 20060293, ERP No. F-SFW-F64005-00, Upper Mississippi River 
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Comprehensive Conservation Plan, A 
New Alternative E: Modified Wildlife and Integrated Public Use, 
Implementation, MN, WI, Il and IA.

    Summary: EPA does not object to the selection of the preferred 
alternative.

EIS No. 20060304, ERP No. F-AFS-L65505-ID, Clear Prong Project, Timber 
Harvest, Temporary Road Construction, Road Maintenance, Road 
Decommissioning, Thinning of Sub-Merchantable Tree, and Prescribed 
Fire, Boise National Forest, Cascade Ranger District, Valley County, 
ID.

    Summary: EPA's previous concerns have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20060319, ERP No. F-NPS-G61043-AR, Pea Ridge National Military 
Park General Management Plan, Implementation, AR.

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

EIS No. 20060174, ERP No. FS-AFS-J65438-WY, Dean Project Area, Proposes 
to Implement Multiple Resource Management Actions, New Information to 
Disclose Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Environmental Impacts, Black 
Hills National Forest, Bearlodge Ranger District, Sundance, Crook 
County, WY.

    Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concerns about 
cumulative impacts to water quality, aquatic life, and terrestrial 
wildlife.

    Dated: September 12, 2006.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
 [FR Doc. E6-15343 Filed 9-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P