[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 231 (Friday, December 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69561-69562]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20350]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6681-7]


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. 20060204, ERP No. D-AFS-L65512-OR, Mt. Hood National Forest and 
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Site-Specific Invasive Plant 
Treatments, Forest Plan Amendments 16, Mt. Hood National 
Forest and Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Clackamas, Hood 
River, Multnomah and Wasco Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the mix of 
options presented in the DEIS for controlling invasive, and suggested 
there be more consideration of IPM, biological controls and the use of 
prescribed fire and careful consideration when using herbicides.
    Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20060218, ERP No. D-FHW-C40167-NY, Williamsville Toll Barrier 
Improvement Project, Improvements from New York Thruway, Interstate 90 
between Interchange 48A and 50, Funding, Erie and Genesee Counties, NY.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about wetlands and water 
quality impacts, and recommends an expanded cumulative effects 
analysis.
    Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060239, ERP No. D-NPS-L65515-WA, Olympic National Park 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Clallam, Grays Harbor, 
Jefferson and Mason Counties, WA.
    Summary: While EPA has no objections to the proposed action, but 
requested that future monitoring include more quantitative measures of 
water quality.
    Rating LO.

EIS No. 20060286, ERP No. D-BLM-L65518-ID, Eastside Township Fuels and 
Vegetation Project, Address the Forest Health, Fuels, Safety, and 
Watershed Issues, Elk City, Idaho County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about water quality 
impacts, and requested that the assessment of cumulative impacts 
include other watershed restoration activities.
    Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20060345, ERP No. D-AFS-L65521-WA, Buckhorn Access Project, To 
Utilize the Marias Creek

[[Page 69562]]

Route to Construct and Reconstruct Roads, Funding, NPDES Permit and 
U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Okanogan and Wenatchee National 
Forests, Tonasket Ranger District, Okanogan County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about water resource 
impacts, and requested that information about water resources be 
updated. EPA is also expressed concern about monitoring and mitigation 
issues.
    Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060347, ERP No. D-BLM-L70014-ID, Cottonwood Resource 
Management Plan, Implementation, Latah, Clearwater, Nez Perce, Lewis, 
Idaho and Adams Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about water quality/
source water protection impacts and monitoring/maintaining old growth 
forest habitat. EPA supports the higher level of resource protection 
and improvement activities described in Alternative C.
    Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060372, ERP No. D-COE-F67004-MN, East Reserve Project, 
Construct and Operate an Open Pit Taconite Mine between the Towns of 
Biwabik and McKinley, St. Louis County, MN.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to potential 
environmental impacts and requested additional analysis regarding 
project alternatives, wetland mitigation, water quality impacts, 
cumulative effects, impacts to Tribal rights, and impacts from the 
potential presence of asbestos and asbestiform material.
    Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20060383, ERP No. D-NPS-E61078-00, South Florida and Caribbean 
Parks Exotic Plant Management Plan, Manage and Control Exotic Plants in 
Nine Parks, Five in South Florida Parks: Big Cypress National Preserve, 
Biscayne National Park, Canaveral National Seashore, Dry Tortugas 
National Park, Everglades National Park and Four in Caribbean Parks: 
Buck Island Reef National Monument, Christiansted National Historic 
Site, Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve and 
Virgin Islands National Park, Florida and Caribbean.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the Preferred 
Alternative(copyright) as the most effective solution for controlling 
invasive plant species, and recommended monitoring to determine if 
pesticide residues are accumulating in selected indicator species.
    Rating LO.

EIS No. 20060399, ERP No. D-USA-D11040-VA, Fort Lee, Virginia and Fort 
A. P. Hill, Virginia Project, Implementation of Base Closure and 
Realignment (BRAC) Recommendations and Other Army Actions, Prince 
George County, Petersburg, Virginia Hopewell, Virginia; Caroline 
County, Essex County, VA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern about wetlands, 
natural habitats, wildlife, noise, and water resources impacts at Fort 
Lee.
    Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20060416, ERP No. D-NOA-E91017-00, Gulf of Mexico Red Snapper 
Total Allowable Catch and Reduce Bycatch in the Gulf of Mexico Directed 
and Shrimp Trawl Fisheries, To Evaluate Alternatives, Gulf of Mexico.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.
    Rating LO.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20060341, ERP No. F-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's previous issues have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20060417, ERP No. F-COE-C40162-NJ, NJ-92 Project, New Jersey 
Turnpike Authority, Transportation Improvement from East-West Highway 
Link connecting U.S. Route 1 in South Brunswick Township with the New 
Jersey Turnpike at Interchange 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County, 
NJ.
    Summary: EPA recommended that the Corps consider several issues in 
its upcoming permitting evaluation and decision document, i.e., issues 
regarding the alternatives screening process, impacts to surface water, 
wetlands mitigation and air quality regional emissions analysis.

EIS No. 20060421, ERP No. F-AFS-L65487-OR, Blue Mountain Land 
Exchange--Oregon Project, Proposed Exchange of Federal and Non-Federal 
Lands, Malheur, Umatilla, and Wallowa-Whitman National Forests, Baker, 
Grant, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa Counties, OR.
    Summary: The Final EIS addressed EPA's concerns; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.

    Dated: November 28, 2006.
Dawn R. Roberts,
Management Analyst, Office of Federal Activities.
 [FR Doc. E6-20350 Filed 11-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P