[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 46 (Friday, March 7, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12411-12412]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4598]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6696-7]


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 6, 2007 (72 FR 
17156).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20070471, ERP No. D-DOE-F09804-MN, Mesaba Energy Project, 
Proposes to Design, Construct and Operate a Coal-Based Integrated 
Gasification Cycle (IGCC) Electric Power Generating Facility, located 
in the Taconite Tax Relief Area (TTRA), Itasca and St. Louis Counties, 
MN.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because of 
significant wetland impacts, and requested additional alternative 
analysis that might avoid/reduce wetland impacts and mitigation for 
unavoidable wetland impacts. Rating EO2.

[[Page 12412]]

EIS No. 20070504, ERP No. D-FRC-F03011-00, Rockies Express Pipeline 
Project, (REX-East), Construction and Operation of Natural Gas Pipeline 
Facilities, WY, NE, MO, IL, IN and OH.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
impacts to surface and ground water quality (including sole source 
aquifers), wetlands, air quality, and upland forest habitat. EPA 
requested additional information regarding impacts and mitigation 
measures be included in the FEIS. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20070510, ERP No. D-FHW-C40173-NJ, I-295/I76/Route 42 Direct 
Connection Project, To Improve Traffic Safety and Reduce Traffic 
Congestion, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, 
Borough of Bellmawr, Borough of Mount Ephraim and Gloucester City, 
Camden County, NJ.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern about wetlands 
impacts, stormwater impacts, air quality/mobile source air toxics 
impacts, and impacts from hazardous materials. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20070533, ERP No. DA-AFS-K65286-CA, Watdog Project, Additional 
Clarification of Changes Between the Final EIS (2005) and Final 
Supplement EIS (2007), Feather River Ranger District, Plumas National 
Forest, Butte and Plumas Counties, CA.

    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about 
cumulative impacts to watersheds and short-term impacts to the old-
forest species present and recommends further consideration a less 
harvest intensive alternative, such as Alternative D. Rating EC1.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20070520, ERP No. F-FHW-C40164-NY, NY-17-Elmira to Chemung 
Project, Proposed Highway Reconstruction, New Highway Construction, 
Bridge Rehabilitation/Replacement, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 
404 Permit, Town and City of Elmira, Town of Ashland and Chemung, 
Chemung County, NY.

    Summary: EPA's previous issues have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.
EIS No. 20070552, ERP No. F-FHW-F40437-MN, Scott County State Aid 
Highway (CSAH) 21 Project, Extension from CSAH 42 in Prior Lake to CSAH 
18 at Southbridge Parkway in Shakopee, U.S. Army COE Section 404 
Permit, Scott County, MN.

    Summary: EPA's previous issues have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.
EIS No. 20080001, ERP No. F-COE-G32060-TX, Brazos Harbor Navigation 
District Project, Proposed Port Freeport Channel Widening to the 
Entrance and Jetty Reach of the Freeport Harbor Jetty Channel and 
Entrance, Brazoria County, TX.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20080005, ERP No. F-NRS-H34031-00, West Tarkio Creek Watershed 
Plan, Construction of a Multiple-Purpose Structure for Rural Water 
Supply, Recreational Opportunities and Agricultural Pollution Control, 
Page, Montgomery and Fremont Counties, IA and Atchison County, MO.

    Summary: EPA recommended that the Record of Decision contain 
additional discussion on the project need, alternatives analysis and 
cumulative impacts.
EIS No. 20080011, ERP No. F-FHW-L59002-AK, Knik Arm Crossing Project, 
To Provide Improved Access between the Municipality of Anchorage and 
Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because avoidable 
adverse impacts to wetlands and aquatic resources. EPA also expressed 
concern about water quality impacts, sedimentation impacts, and air 
quality/air toxics impacts.
EIS No. 20080020, ERP No. F-FRC-C03016-NY, Broadwater Liquefied Natural 
Gas (LNG) Project, Construction and Operation a Natural Gas Pipeline 
Facilities, (Docket Nos. CP06-54, et al.), Long Island Sound, NY.

    Summary: EPA noted that the FEIS responded to the majority of EPA's 
comments on the DEIS. However, EPA continues to have concerns about air 
quality/permitting issues.
EIS No. 20080022, ERP No. F-NOA-L91029-AK, Alaska Eskimo Whaling 
Commission for a Subsistence Hunt on Bowhead Whale for the Years 2008 
through 2012 for Issuing Annual Quotas, Proposes to Authorize 
Subsistence Harvests of the Western Arctic Stock of Bowhead Whales, 
Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, AK.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20080029, ERP No. F-IBR-K39048-CA, Truckee River Operating 
Agreement (TROA) Modify Operations of Five Federal Two Non-Federal 
Reservoirs to Facilitate Distribution of Water, Truckee River Basin, 
Alpine, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sierra Counties, CA and Carson City, 
Churchill Douglas, Lyon, Pershing, Storey, and Washoe Counties, NV.

    Summary: No formal letter sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20080033, ERP No. F-BLM-K09809-CA, Truckhaven Geothermal 
Leasing Area, Addresses Leasing of Geothermal Resources, El Centro 
Field Office, Imperial County, CA.

    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about 
potential impacts on air quality, recreational use in the OWSVRA, 
underestimation of geothermal capacity, and water resources.
EIS No. 20080069, ERP No. F-NPS-K61167-AZ, Saguaro National Park 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Rincon Mountain District and 
Tucson Mountain District, Pima County, AZ.

    Summary: No formal letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20070560, ERP No. FA-NOA-K91012-00, Bottomfish and Seamount 
Groundfish Fisheries of the Western Pacific Region, Amendment 14 to the 
Fishery Management Plan, Additional Information to Analyze a Range of 
Management Alternatives to End Bottomfish Overfishing in the Hawaiian 
Archipelago, HI, GU and AS.

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

    Dated: March 4, 2008.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E8-4598 Filed 3-6-08; 8:45 am]
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