[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 86 (Friday, May 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24279-24280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9709]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6698-5]


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 11, 2008 (73 FR 19833).

Draft EISs

    EIS No. 20070524, ERP No. D-BLM-J65502-00. PROGRAMMATIC EIS--Oil 
Shale and Tar Sands Resource Management (RMP) Amendments to Address 
Land Use Allocations in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential 
for adverse impacts to air quality, surface water and groundwater. In 
addition, EPA suggested that the final EIS should strengthen the No 
Action alternative analysis, broaden the alternative analysis, and 
consider reasonably foreseeable development scenarios in the cumulative 
impacts analysis. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080002, ERP No. D-BLM-K08066-CA. Sunrise Powerlink 
Transmission Line Project, Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment, 
Construction and Operation of a New 91-mile 500 kilovolt (kV) Electric 
Transmission Line from Imperial Valley Substation (in Imperial Co. near 
the City of El Centro) to a New Central East Substation (in Central San 
Diego Co,) Imperial and San Diego Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
adverse impacts to watershed resources, air quality, and the Anza-
Borrego Desert State Park. We recommend further discussion on basic 
project objectives, including the demonstration of purpose and need and 
the disclosure of economic costs and benefits. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080021, ERP No. D-SFW-L64053-AK. Yukon Flats National 
Wildlife Refuge Project, Proposed Federal and Public Land Exchange, 
Right-of-Way Grant, Anchorage, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about potential habitat 
fragmentation impacts; the lack of appraisal information and other data 
for exchange lands; and the limited range and number of alternatives 
considered. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080037, ERP No. D-AFS-L65548-ID. Yakus Creek Project, 
Proposes Timber Harvest, Watershed Improvement, and Access Management 
Activities, Lochsa Ranger District, Clearwater National Forest, Idaho 
County, ID.
    Summary: EPA supports actions to improve forest and watershed 
health. However, the final EIS should consider increasing the rate of 
decommissioning closed roads and review the need for the proposed OHV 
connector trails which could potentially adversely impact water quality 
in source water areas. Rating EC1.
    EIS No. 20080045, ERP No. D-BIA-K69008-CA. North Fork Rancheria of 
Mono Indians Fee-to-Trust and Casino/Hotel Project, Proposed 305-Acres-
Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition in Unincorporated Madera County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
groundwater impacts, and requested that a mitigation monitoring and 
enforcement program be included in the final EIS. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080048, ERP No. D-BLM-J67034-MT. Montana Tunnels Mine 
Project, Proposed M-Pit Mine Expansion to Existing Mine Pit to Access 
and Mine Additional Ore Resources, Jefferson County, MT.
    Summary: EPA identified potential significant adverse impacts to 
water quality that should be avoided by ensuring that metals 
contamination of surface and ground-water will be adequately mitigated, 
and that pollutant loads are consistent with TMDLs for impaired waters. 
EPA requested that the final EIS include information regarding mine 
site water management, TMDL consistency, mitigation, closure, and 
bonding. Rating EO2.
    EIS No. 20080070, ERP No. D-AFS-K65338-AZ. Warm Fire Recovery 
Project, Removal of Fire-Killed Trees Reforestation, Fuel Reduction and 
Road Reconstruction of Wildland Fire Burn Portion, Coconino County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern about water resource and habitat 
impacts. EPA requested additional information on these impacts and 
suggested that the selection of Alternative 3--Winter Logging would 
reduce many of the impacts. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080076, ERP No. D-AFS-L65549-ID. Bussel 484 Project Area, 
Manage the Project Area to Achieve Desired Future Conditions for 
Vegetation, Fire, Fuels, Recreation, Access, Wildlife, Fisheries, Soil 
and Water, Idaho Panhandle National Forest, St. Joe Ranger District, 
Shoshone County, ID.
    Summary: EPA supports the proposed actions for managing forest 
health goals at the landscape level. However, EPA has environmental 
concerns with impacts to water quality from new road construction in 
the Bussel Creek Trail; impacts to riparian resources along the Norton 
Creek and Lines Creek trails under the proposed alternative; and the 
proposed time line for riparian plantings (10-15 years). The final EIS 
should include information on mitigation and whether new roads will be 
temporary. Rating EC1.
    EIS No. 20080078, ERP No. D-AFS-J65512-MT. Butte Lookout Project, 
Proposed Timber Harvest, Prescribed Burning, Road Work and Management 
Activities, Missoula Ranger District, Lola National Forest, Missoula 
County, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports activities to reduce bark beetle infestations 
and risks of wildfire, rehabilitate degraded watersheds, and provide 
timber for local and regional economies. However, EPA expressed 
environmental concerns about water quality impacts from logging and 
road construction and available funding to implement road 
decommissioning to achieve consistency with the downstream Lolo Creek 
TMDL. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080079, ERP No. D-USN-A11081-00. Introduction of the P-8A 
MMA into the U.S. Navy Fleet, To Provide Facilities and Functions That 
Support the Homebasing of 12 P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) 
Fleet Squadrons (72 Aircraft) and one Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS), 
which include the Following Installations: Naval Air Station 
Jacksonville, FL; Naval Air Station

[[Page 24280]]

Whidbey Island, WA; Naval Air Station North Island, CA; Marine Corps 
Base HI and Kaneohe Bay, HI.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action. Rating LO.
    EIS No. 20080063, ERP No. DS-USN-K11119-HI. Hawaii Range Complex 
(HRC) Project, Additional Information, To Support and Maintain Navy 
Pacific Fleet Training, and Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation 
(RDT&E) Operations, Kauai, Honolulu, Maui and Hawaii Counties, HI.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about impacts to marine mammals 
from mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar. Rating EC2.
    EIS No. 20080084, ERP No. DS-AFS-J65448-UT. West Bear Vegetation 
Management Project, Additional Information To Improve a Portion of the 
Cumulative Effects Analysis and Correct the Soils Analysis, Timber 
Harvesting, Prescribed Burning, Roads Construction, Township 1 North, 
Range 9 East, Salt Lake Principle Meridian, Evanston Ranger District, 
Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Summit County, UT.
    Summary: This DSEIS responded adequately to our concerns on soil 
erosion and compactions; therefore, EPA does not object to the proposed 
action. Rating LO.
    EIS No. 20080096, ERP No. DS-NOA-K39102-CA. Cordell Bank, Gulf of 
the Farallones and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries, Updated 
Information, Proposes a Series of Regulatory Changes, Offshore of 
Northern/Central, CA.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed project. Rating LO.

Final EISs

    EIS No. 20080082, ERP No. F-AFS-L65542-ID. Cherry Dinner Project, 
Management of Vegetation, Hazardous Fuels, and Access Plus Watershed 
Improvements, Amendment to the Forest Plan, Palouse Ranger District, 
Clearwater National Forest, Latah County, ID.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.
    EIS No. 20080085, ERP No. F-NPS-L65515-WA. Olympic National Park 
General Management Plan, Implementation, Clallam, Grays Harbor, 
Jefferson and Mason Counties, WA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    EIS No. 20080100, ERP No. F-AFS-L65482-ID. Aspen Range Timber Sale 
and Vegetation Treatment Project, New Updated Version, Preferred 
Alternative is 5, Proposal To Treat Forested and Nonforested 
Vegetation, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Soda Springs Ranger 
District, Caribou County, ID.
    Summary: EPA supports the Preferred Alternative that decreases 
roads in riparian areas and meets Forest Plan standards and guidelines 
including Goshawk Habitat.
    EIS No. 20080108, ERP No. FR-WPA-K08024-CA. Sacramento Area Voltage 
Support Project, Revision to FSEIS Filed February 2008, Selected 
Preferred Alternative B, Proposal to Build a Double-Circuit 230-kV 
Transmission Line, Placer, Sacramento and Sutter Counties, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: April 29, 2008.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E8-9709 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P