[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 144 (Friday, July 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41322-41324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-14569]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6689-4]


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 6, 2007 (72 FR 
17156).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20070038, ERP No. D-BLM-J65475-WY, Pinedale Resource Management 
Plan (RMP), Implementation of Public Lands Administered, Sublette and 
Lincoln Counties, WY.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential 
for adverse impacts to air and water quality with full field 
development, and suggested that the final EIS include additional 
information and discussion on cumulative impacts analysis, mitigation 
measures, and adaptive management. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20070168, ERP No. D-FTA-K59006-CA, Alameda-Contra Transit (AC 
Transit) East Bay Bus Rapid Transit Project, Improve Transit Serve in 
cities of Berkeley, Oakland and San

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Leandro, San Francisco Bay Area, Alameda County, CA.

    Summary: While EPA does not object to the proposed project, but 
suggested additional mitigation measures to minimize air quality 
impacts during construction. Rating LO.

EIS No. 20070177, ERP No. D-AFS-L65536-OR, Spears Vegetation Management 
Project, Proposal to Use Commercial Timber Harvest, Pre-commercial 
Thinning, Prescribed Fire, Grapple Piling and Hand Piling in the Mark 
Creek Watershed and Veaqie Creek Subwatershed, Lookout Mountain Ranger 
District, Ochoco National Forest, Crook and Wheeler Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
impacts to water quality and if the level of monitoring is sufficient. 
The final EIS should provide additional information on mitigation 
related to roads and reducing sedimentation, and on methodology for 
determining critical shade in riparian areas proposed for harvest. 
Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20070184, ERP No. D-AFS-J65480-MT, North Bridger Allotment 
Management Plan Update, Proposal to Update Allotment Management Plan on 
11 Livestock Grazing Allotments, Bozeman Ranger District, Gallatin 
National Forest, Gallatin County, MT.

    Summary: EPA supports the proposed grazing improvements and the 
preferred alternative, but believes additional information should be 
provided regarding sites degraded by grazing and the management actions 
that would be taken to address the degradation in each allotment, and 
the updated riparian grazing guidelines, and recommends that some 
inconsistencies in information disclosure be corrected. EPA also has 
concerns about the availability of adequate funds and resources to 
implement proposed range improvements and the proposed monitoring 
program. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20070187, ERP No. D-COE-G39049-TX, Calhoun County Navigation 
District's (CCND), Proposed Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project 
to Widened and Deepen Berthing Facilities, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 
404 Permits, Calhoun and Matagorda Counties, TX.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts related 
to ocean disposal of dredged material and air quality. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20070190, ERP No. D-AFS-J65481-MT, Lolo National Forest 
Integrated Weed Management, To Establish Beneficial Vegetation and Weed 
Resistant Plant Communities, Missoula, Mineral, Sanders, Granite, 
Powell, Lewis and Clark, Flathead, Ravalli and Lake Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports improvements to the Integrated Weed 
Management Program, but suggests additional measures to further 
mitigate potential environmental effects of proposed weed treatments. 
EPA expressed environmental concerns about herbicide drift into streams 
and leaching into groundwater; the final EIS should include additional 
information on monitoring programs that will be used to validate the 
program's effectiveness. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20070200, ERP No. D-AFS-F65067-WI, Fishel Vegetation and 
Transportation Management Project, To Implement Land Management 
Activities, Eagle River-Florence Ranger District, Chequamegor-Nicolet 
National Forest, Forest and Vilas Counties, WI.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the Preferred 
Alternative's ability to provide sufficient snags and coarse woody 
debris, implement measures to promote species health, and treatments 
within goshawk nest territories to support management objectives. 
Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20070208, ERP No. D-HUD-K80048-CA, Vista Village Workforce 
Housing Project, To Provide Professional Managed Affordable Housing, 
Tahoe Vista, Placer County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about air quality and 
water quality impacts, and suggested that Alternative D-72 Units be 
selected as this alternative has fewer environmental impacts. EPA also 
recommended that the project utilize the Leadership in Energy and 
Environmental Design (LEED) standard for green building. Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20070211, ERP No. D-AFS-L65538-OR, Thorn Fire Salvage Recovery 
Project, Salvaging Dead and Dying Timber, Shake Table Fire Complex, 
Malheur National Forest, Grant County, OR.
    Summary: EPA supports the mitigation measures such as helicopter 
logging included for the proposed salvage harvest; however, we have 
environmental concerns about potential impacts to non-motorized, semi-
primitive management areas from salvage activities and long term 
recreational activities. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20070241, ERP No. D-NPS-J61023-00, Quarry Visitor Center 
Treatment Project, To Address the Structural Deterioration, Dinosaur 
National Monument, CO and UT.
    Summary: EPA recognizes that the proposed action is fostered by the 
need to protect, preserve and reduce physical hazards and we support 
the green practices and mitigation measures included in the proposed 
project. Rating LO.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20070032, ERP No. F-AFS-K61164-CA, Commercial Pack Station and 
Pack Stock Outfitter/Guide Permit Issuance, Implementation, Special-
Use-Permit to Twelve Pack Station and Two Outfitter/Guides, Inyo 
National Forest, CA.
    Summary: EPA supports the improvements that will result from 
Amendment 6, which include forage utilization standards for 
all pack stock grazing; additional water quality mitigation measures; 
reduced use levels in the GT/SS Wilderness; and a detailed monitoring, 
enforcement, and adaptive management plan providing greater riparian 
protection in 6 pastures. However, EPA continues express environmental 
concerns about water quality impacts and recommends relocating of 
Truman Camp out of the riparian area, limits on cross-country travel, 
and alignment of pack stock trail use levels with the level of trail 
development.

EIS No. 20070036, ERP No. F-AFS-K65309-00, Heavenly Mountain Resort 
Master Plan Amendment 2005 (MPA 05), Improve and Enhance the Resorts 
Over Winter and Summer Recreation Opportunities, Special-Use-Permit, 
Lake Tahoe Basin, El Dorado County, CA and Douglas County, NV.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about 
watershed and habitat impacts, especially to old growth habitat if 
Alternative 4 is selected.

EIS No. 20070186, ERP No. F-SFW-K64025-AZ, Cabeza Prieta National 
Wildlife Refuge, Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Wilderness 
Stewardship Plan, Implementation, Ajo, AZ.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20070194, ERP No. F-AFS-L65504-ID, Payette National Forest 
Travel Management Plan, Designate a System of Roads, Trails and Areas 
Open to Motorized and Non-Motorized Use, Implementation, Adam, 
Washington, Idaho, Valley Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns and 
encourages

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the further reduction of designated ATV and OHV trails, and review the 
decision to retain road and trail miles that would have been eliminated 
under Alternative B. Also, we recommend giving consideration to the 
commitment of resources in Alternative E and its consistency with 
existing planning direction in the 2003 Forest Plan, and interagency 
agreements such as the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management 
Protocol for Addressing Clean Water Act Section 303(d) Listed Waters.

EIS No. 20070199, ERP No. F-FHW-E40771-NC, Wilmington Bypass 
Transportation Improvements, U.S. 17 to U.S. 421, Funding, COE Section 
10 and 404 Permits and U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Permit Issuance, 
Brunswick and New Hanover Counties, NC.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about stream 
and wetland impacts, indirect and cumulative air quality impacts from 
Mobile Source Air Toxics and impacts to Significant Natural Heritage 
Areas. EPA requested additional avoidance and minimization measures be 
considered to lessen these impacts.

EIS No. 20070220, ERP No. F-BLM-J65468-WY, Casper Field Office Planning 
Area Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Natrona, Converse, 
Goshen, and Platte Counties, WY.
    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about air 
quality impacts and the need to do a quantitative analysis based on 
dispersion modeling. In addition, there is potential for adverse 
impacts to wetlands from OHV use.

EIS No. 20070228, ERP No. F-AFS-G65102-NM, Canadian River Tamarisk 
Control, Proposes to Control the Nonnative Invasive Species Tamarisk 
(also known as salt cedar) Cibola National Forest, Canadian River, 
Harding and Mora Counties, New Mexico.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20070242, ERP No. F-COE-F36167-OH, Dover Dam Safety Assurance 
Program Project, Modifications and Upgrades, Funding, Muskingum River 
Basin, Tuscarawas County, OH.
    Summary: EPA's previous issues have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20070245, ERP No. F-FHW-C40336-NY, Long Island Expressway (LIE) 
Rest Area Upgrade Project, Upgrading the Existing Rest Area from Route 
1-495/Long Island Expressway between Exits 51 and 52, Funding, Town of 
Huntington, Suffolk County, NY.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20070246, ERP No. F-MMS-L02033-AK, Chukchi Sea Planning Area 
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 and Seismic Surveying Activities, Offshore 
Marine Environment, Chukchi Sea Coastal Plain, and the North Slope 
Borough of Alaska.
    Summary: EPA's previous concerns have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the action as proposed.

EIS No. 20070223, ERP No. FA-AFS-K65283-CA, Empire Vegetation 
Management Project, Reducing Fire Hazards, Harvesting of Trees Using 
Group Selection (GS) and Individual Trees Selection (ITS) Methods, Mt. 
Hough Ranger District, Plumas National Forest, Plumas County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20070225, ERP No. FD-AFS-L65155-00, Northern Spotted Owl 
Management Plan, Removal or the Modification to the Survey and Manage 
Mitigation Measures, Standards and Guidelines (to the Northwest Forest 
Plan) New Information to Address Three Deficiencies Final Supplemental 
EIS (2004), Northwest Forest Plan, OR, WA, and CA.
    Summary: The analysis in FEIS supports both the utilization of the 
Special Status Species Programs and previous determinations made as a 
part of the Annual Species Review Process. Given the importance of the 
current network of late successional forests in late-successional 
species' persistence and viability, EPA continues to encourage the 
Agencies to consider any reasonably foreseeable reserve network or 
management changes when predicting habitat outcomes.

EIS No. 20070226, ERP No. FS-AFS-J65417-MT, Frenchtown Face Ecosystem 
Restoration Project, Additional Information Maintenance and Improvement 
of Forest Health, Risk Reduction of Damage Insects and Disease, Lolo 
National Forest, Ninemile Ranger District, Missoula County, MT.
    Summary: The final supplement addressed EPA's concerns about the 
preferred alternative. EPA believes watershed restoration activities 
included in the project will likely result in overall water quality 
improvement in the long-term.

    Dated: July 24, 2007.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E7-14569 Filed 7-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P