[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 139 (Friday, July 18, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41349-41350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16472]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-8583-8]


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. 20080028, ERP No. D-BLM-J02055-UT, West Tavaputs Plateau 
Natural Gas Full Field Development Plan, Develop the Natural Gas 
Resource on Leased and Unleased Lands, Carbon County, UT.

    Summary: EPA believes the Draft EIS inadequately assessed 
potentially significant environmental impacts to air quality from the 
proposed development of 807 natural gas wells on the West Tavaputs 
Plateau. Plans are being developed to conduct additional air quality 
modeling and possibly additional air emission controls to further 
reduce the project's contribution to ozone by reducing volatile organic 
compounds and nitrous oxide emissions associated with the proposed 
project. Rating 3.

EIS No. 20080136, ERP No. D-BIA-K65340-CA, Ione Band of Miwok Indians 
Project, Proposed 228.04 Acre Fee-to-Trust Land Transfer and Casino 
Project, Amador County, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections about water quality 
and reservoir construction impacts, and recommended recycled water use 
be maximized and that wastewater discharges occur through seasonal 
discharge to surface waters. Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20080160, ERP No. D-SFW-K91015-CA, Cullinan Ranch Unit 
Restoration Project, Proposing a Restoration Plan for 1,500 Acres of 
Former Hayfield Farm Land, San Pablo Bay, Issuance of Permits and/or 
Approval from Section 7 Endangered Species Act and U.S. Army COE 
Section 404 Permit, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about contaminated 
sediment management, and requested additional information regarding 
impacts to the larger San Pablo Bay sediment budget, and the adaptive 
management strategy. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080192, ERP No. D-AFS-J65514-MT, Sheppard Creek Post-Fire 
Project, Timber Salvage, Implementation, Flathead National Forest, 
Flathead and Lincoln Counties, MT.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about adverse impacts 
from the proposed salvage and road construction on water quality and 
the adequacy of watershed restoration measures to assure consistency 
with the TMDL, as well as the proposed Alternative D salvage harvests 
in riparian areas. Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20080193, ERP No. D-AFS-L67047-AK, Spencer Mineral Materials 
Project, Proposal to Develop and Extract Quarry Rock and Gravel from a 
Mineral Materials Site near Spencer Glacier, Chugach National Forest, 
Kenai Borough, AK.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential 
impacts to water quality, wetlands, and local air quality, as well as 
the proposed mitigation measures and anticipated effectiveness. The 
final EIS should include additional information and analysis concerning 
these impacts. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080194, ERP No. D-SFW-G99007-TX, Williamson County Regional 
Habitat Conservation Plan, Application for an Incidental Take Permit, 
Williamson County, TX.

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

EIS No. 20080080, ERP No. DA-COE-K36098-CA, Santa Ana River Interceptor 
(SARI) Protection/Relocation Project, Reduce the Risk of Damage to the 
SARI to allow for the Operation of Santa Ana River Project (SARP), and 
Releases from Prato Dam of up to 30,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), 
Right-of-Way Permit and U.S. COE section 404 Permit, Orange and 
Riverside Counties, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the preferred 
alternative and recommended further evaluation of alternatives that 
avoid river crossings. EPA also recommended additional construction 
emission controls to meet air quality requirements and additional 
analysis of potential groundwater contamination. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080166, ERP No. DR-AFS-F65035-WA, Cayuga Project, New 
Information Regarding American Marten, Regional Forester Sensitive 
Species (RFSS), Changed Condition on the Landscape from Spruce Decline 
and New Non-Native Invasive Species Survey Information, Chequamegon-
Nicolet National Forest, Great Divide Ranger District, Ashland County, 
WI.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because the proposed 
action would have adverse impacts on Regional Forester Species of 
Concern, and recommended selection of a different preferred alternative 
based new information in the EIS and the Biological Opinion. Rating 
EC2.

FINAL EISs

EIS No. 20070549, ERP No. F-BLM-J02050-UT, Chapita Wells-Stagecoach

[[Page 41350]]

Area Natural Gas Development, Drilling and Production Operations of 
Natural Gas Wells and Associated Access Road, and Pipelines, Uintah 
County, UT.

    Summary: The final EIS has addressed EPA's concerns about drilling 
new wells in the 100-year floodplain of the White River. However, EPA 
continues to have environmental concerns about impacts to air quality 
from this and other energy development projects in the airshed because 
the final EIS did not include an updated cumulative, air quality impact 
assessment for the Uinta Basin, or include new air quality information 
from the Vernal monitoring station. EPA also recommended additional 
mitigation measures that would reduce air emissions or phase the 
development over a longer time period to maintain air quality 
standards.

EIS No. 20080142, ERP No. F-COE-K28022-CA, Carryover Storage and San 
Vicente Dam Raise Project, Providing Additional Storage Capacity for 
100,000 area feet of Water by the Year 2011, Issuance of Permits, 
section 10 and 404 Permits, San Diego County, CA.

    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about the 
discussion of Clean Water Act jurisdiction for certain aquatic 
resources and the adequacy of proposed mitigation measures, the lack of 
enforceable water rationing, and impacts to air quality from 
construction activities.

EIS No. 20080174, ERP No. F-AFS-L65528-OR, Crawford Project and 
Proposed Nonsignificant Forest Plan Amendments, Commercial Timber 
Harvest, Prescribed Burning, Adjustments to Dedicated Old Growth Areas, 
and Road Closure and Decommissioning Activities, Implementation, Blue 
Mountain Ranger District, Malheur National Forest, Grant County, OR.

    Summary: The Final EIS addressed EPA's concerns about roads and 
sediment impacts, information on road miles, costs, and timing of 
restoration and road decommissioning; therefore, EPA does not object to 
this project.

EIS No. 20080175, ERP No. F-AFS-K65333-00, Sage Steppe Ecosystem 
Restoration Strategy, Implementation, Modoc National Forest, Modoc, 
Lassen, Shasta Counties, CA and Washoe County, NV.

    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20080187, ERP No. F-AFS-J65489-MT, Marten Creek Project, 
Proposed Timber Harvest, Prescribed Fire Burning, Watershed 
Restoration, and Associated Activities, Cabinet Ranger District, 
Kootenai National Forest, Sanders County, MT.

    Summary: The Final EIS addressed EPA's concerns; therefore, EPA 
does not object to this project.

EIS No. 20080214, ERP No. F-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: The final EIS has adequately addressed our concerns with 
impacts to source water, level of road closures, and the OHV connector 
trails; therefore, EPA does not object to this project.

EIS No. 20080221, ERP No. F-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: The Final EIS has adequately addressed EPA's concerns with 
impacts to water quality from new road construction and reduced new 
road construction should reduce long-term impacts to water quality; 
therefore, EPA does not object to this project.

EIS No. 20080223, ERP No. F-AFS-J65392-MT, Beartooth Ranger District 
Travel Management Planning, Proposing to Designate Routes for Public 
Motorized Use, and Change Management of Pack and Saddle Stock on 
Certain Trail, Beartooth Ranger District, Custer National Forest, 
Carbon, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, and Park Counties, MT.

    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about 
potential effects to water quality, fisheries, wildlife and other 
resources from roads and motorized uses. Specifically, about roads in 
high risk areas and the lack of commitment to provide adequate 
resources to maintain roads and enforce travel limitations.

EIS No. 20080224, ERP No. F-STB-G53010-TX, Southwest Gulf Railroad 
Project, Construction and Operation Exemption, To Transport Limestone 
from Vulcan Construction Materials (VCM) Quarry to Del Rio Subdivision, 
Medina County, TX.

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

EIS No. 20080226, ERP No. F-FRC-G03037-00, Midcontinent Express 
Pipeline Project, (Docket Nos. CP08-6-000), Construction and Operation 
to Facilitate the Transport of 1,500,000 dekatherms per day of Natural 
Gas from Production Fields in eastern TX, OK, and AR to Market Hub, 
Located in various counties and parishes in OK, TX, LA, MS and AL.

    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20080232, ERP No. F-AFS-K65339-CA, Orleans Community Fuels 
Reduction and Forest Health Project, To Manage Forest Stands to Reduce 
Hazardous Fuel Conditions, Orleans Ranger District, Six Rivers National 
Forest, Humboldt County, CA.

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

EIS No. 20080236, ERP No. F-BIA-L65523-WA, Spokane Tribes Integrated 
Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for the Spokane Indian Reservation, 
Implementation, Stevens County, WA.

EIS No. 20080191, ERP No. FS-AFS-J65424-MT, Fishtrap Project, Updated 
Information on Past Maintenance/Restorative Treatments within Old 
Growth Stands, Timber Harvest, Prescribed Burning, Road Construction 
and Other Restoration Activities, Lolo National Forest, Plains/Thompson 
Falls Ranger District, Sanders County, MT.

    Summary: The Final EIS addressed EPA's concerns about impacts to 
water quality and fisheries in the watershed as well as restoration 
actions over the long-term; therefore, EPA does not object to the 
proposed action.

EIS No. 20080246, ERP No. FS-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: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: July 15, 2008.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
 [FR Doc. E8-16472 Filed 7-17-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P