[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 221 (Friday, November 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67509-67510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27108]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-8587-6]


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

[[Page 67510]]

copies of EPA comments can be directed to the Office of Federal 
Activities at 202-564-7146. An explanation of the ratings assigned to 
draft environmental impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated 
April 6, 2008 (73 FR 19833).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20080336, ERP No. D-AFS-L65557-OR, Farley Vegetation Management 
Project, To Conduct Timber Harvest Commercial and Non-Commercial 
Thinning, Fuels Treatment Prescribed Burning and Reforestation, 
Desolation Creek, North Fork John Day Ranger District, Umatilla 
National Forest, Grant County, OR.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about wildfire 
analysis, potential unauthorized public vehicle use, and water quality 
impacts from grazing. EPA recommends that the final EIS include 
assurances that appropriate subsequent treatments will be conducted to 
maintain the decreases in fire risk. Also, the final EIS should 
consider increasing riparian plantings and enclosures and modifying 
project design elements for road closure/decommissioning enforcement 
and monitoring. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080344, ERP No. D-COE-F39042-MN, Mississippi River Headwaters 
Reservoir Operating Plan Evaluation (ROPE), Proposed Revision to the 
Operating Plan for the Reservoirs, Upper Mississippi River Headwaters, 
Bemidji to St. Paul, MN.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about impacts to water quality, 
migratory bird populations and tribal harvests of wild rice. EPA also 
recommended that the Final EIS include additional detailed and 
quantitative information and analyses regarding the potential 
environmental impacts, as well as more information regarding the 
project purpose and need. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080345, ERP No. D-USN-E11067-NC, Navy Cherry Point Range 
Complex, Proposed Action is to Support and Conduct Current and Emerging 
Training and Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDT&E) 
Activities, South Atlantic Bight, Cape Hatteras, NC.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the deposition 
of expended training materials and their potential impacts over time to 
reef complexes and hard bottom habitat. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080348, ERP No. D-USN-E11068-00, Undersea Warfare Training 
Range Project, Installation and Operation, Preferred Site Jacksonville 
Operating Area, FL and Alternative Sites (within the Charleston, SC; 
Cherry Point, NC; and VACAPES Operating Areas, VA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the deposition 
of expended training materials and their potential impacts over time to 
reef complexes and hard bottom habitat. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080395, ERP No. D-AFS-J65523-00, Sioux Ranger District Travel 
Management Project, To Designate the Road and Trail and Areas Suitable 
for Public Motorized Travel, Sioux Ranger District, Custer National 
Forest, Carter County of MT and Harding County of South Dakota.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
effects to water quality, aquatic habitat, wildlife and other resources 
from roads and motorized uses. EPA supports the preferred alternative 
(B) and recommends further reductions in motorized routes in areas with 
high hazard (erosive) soils and in high risk watersheds. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080396, ERP No. D-AFS-J65524-MT, Ashland Ranger District 
Travel Management Project, Proposing to Designate Routes for Public 
Motorized Use, Ashland Ranger District, Custer National Forest, Rosebud 
and Power River Counties, MT.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
adverse impacts to water quality, aquatic habitat, wildlife and other 
resources from roads and motorized uses. EPA supports the preferred 
alternative (B), but recommends further reductions in motorized routes 
in areas with high hazard (erosive) soils and in high risk watersheds. 
Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20080356, ERP No. DS-AFS-K65298-CA, Kings River Project, New 
Information regarding Pacific Fisher (Martes pennanti), Proposal to 
Restore Historical Pre-1850 Forest Conditions, Implementation, High 
Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the Proposed 
Action that would result in a more intensive level of logging than is 
currently allowed. As a result, the project increases the risk of 
short-term and cumulative impacts to aquatic and late successional 
forest species. Rating EC2.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20080337, ERP No. F-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 continues to have environmental concerns about impacts 
to surface water and groundwater; air quality; and the adequacy of the 
cumulative impacts analysis.

EIS No. 20080379, ERP No. F-AFS-G65100-NM, Santa Fe National Forest 
Plan Amendment for Oil & Gas Leasing and Roads Management, 
Implementation, San Juan Basin, Cuba Ranger District, NM.
    Summary: No formal comments were sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20080382, ERP No. F-AFS-G65104-NM, Surface Management of Gas 
Leasing and Development, Proposes to Amend the Forest Plan include 
Standard and Guidelines Related to Gas Leasing and Development in the 
Jicarilla Ranger District, Carson National Forest, Rio Arriba County, 
NM.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20080390, ERP No. F-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 continues to have environmental concerns about 
potential geochemical, hydrological and long-term water quality 
uncertainties and adequacy of financial assurances to address potential 
closure/post-closure environmental contamination.

EIS No. 20080402, ERP No. F-AFS-J65459-MT, Whitetail-Pipestone Travel 
Management, Develop Site-Specific Travel Management Plan, Jefferson and 
Butte Ranger Districts, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Jefferson 
and Silver Bow Counties, MT.

    Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concerns about 
potential effects to water quality, aquatic habitat, and other 
resources from roads and motorized uses.

    Dated: November 10, 2008.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
 [FR Doc. E8-27108 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
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