[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54106-54107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27628]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5485-4]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared September 15, 1997 through
September 20, 1997 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, 1997 (62
FR 16154).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J65276-CO Rating EC2, Dome Peak Timber Sale, Timber
Harvesting and Road Construction, White River National Forest, Eagle
Ranger District, Glenwood Spring, Eagle and Garfield Counties, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerned about potential
sedimentation and water quality impacts. EPA requested data clarifying
potential for impacts and information related to helicopter yarding and
wildlife impacts.
ERP No. D-AFS-K65272-CA Rating EC2, Chico Genetic Resource Center
for Pest Management Program, Implementation, Mendocino National Forest,
Willow, Butte County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern about data gaps in the
DEIS's analysis of water quality impacts.
ERP No. D-AFS-K65273-AZ Rating LO, Grand Canyon/Tusayan Growth Area
Improvements, General Management Plan (GMP), Special-Use-Permit,
Approvals and Licenses Issuance, Coconino County, AZ.
Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections and commended the
Forest Service for its excellent analysis of issues related to the
expansion of lodging and related services.
ERP No. D-BLM-K67045-NV Rating EC2, Florida Canyon Mine Expansion
Project and Comprehensive Reclamation Plan, Construction and Operation
of New Facilities and Expansion of Existing Gold Mining Operations in
Imlay Mining District, Plan-of-Operation Approval and Right-of-Way
Permit Issuance, Pershing County, NV.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because the Proposed
Alternative would disturb 143
[[Page 54107]]
acres more than another alternative assessed in the DEIS, and the DEIS
did not clearly indicate which action alternative is the least
environmentally damaging to aquatic resources under Clean Water Act
Section 404. EPA also expressed concerns regarding how the site was
geochemically characterized and offered recommendations for facility
design and additional monitoring.
ERP No. D-DOA-G31002-TX Rating LO, Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties
Water Conservation Plan, Renovation and Installation, Funding, Medina
Lake, Bexar, Medina and Atascosa Counties, TX.
Sumary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the lead agency's
preferred alternative as described in the draft EIS.
ERP No. D-DOE-C06013-NY Rating LO, Disposal of the Defueled S3G and
D1G Prototype Reactor Plants, Implementation, Located at the Knolls
Atomic Power Laboratory Kesselring Site near West Milton, Saratoga
County, NY.
Summary: EPA had no objection to the action as proposed.
ERP No. D-IBR-K28018-CA Rating EC2, Central Valley Project,
Municipal and Industrial Water Supply Contracts, Sacramento County
Water Agency and San Juan Water District, City of Folsom, Sacramento
County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the identified
additional adverse cumulative impacts of the proposed new water supply
diversions, and urged selection of diversion points on the Sacramento
River below the confluence with the American River or as far downstream
on the American River as feasible.
EPA expressed support for water conservation, water pricing
strategies, water reclamation, conjunctive use, and other demand
reduction measures as means to achieving additional water supply. EPA
suggested a more aggressive water conservation approach as part of the
proposed action, integration of other demand reduction measures, and
continued pursuit of conservation alternatives (e.g. metering, water
reclamation), whether or not new contract water is provided.
ERP No. D-ICC-G53007-LA Rating EC2, Kansas City Southern Railway
(KCS) Construction and Operation to Connect the Geismar Industrial Area
to KCS' Mainline near Sorrento, Construction Exemption Approval,
Ascension Parish, LA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns for the lead agency's
preferred alternative and requests additional information,
environmental justice alternatives analysis, and cumulative impacts
assessment.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-FHW-E40759-AL Birmingham Northern Beltline Project,
Construction, I-59/20 west to I-59 northeast in the City of Birmingham,
Funding and Possible COE Section 404 Permit, Jefferson County, AL.
Summary: EPA's review revealed that all alternatives will have
major impacts on environmental resources in the highway corridor. EPA
recommends that the shortest alternative, ``D'', be reconsidered with
modification.
ERP No. F-FHW-J40212-CO CO-82 Highway Transportation Project,
Improvements to ``Entrance to Aspen'', Funding and COE Section 404
Permit, City of Aspen, Pitkin County, CO.
Summary: EPA's review has not identified any potential
environmental impacts requiring substantive changes to the Preferred
Alternative.
ERP No. F-FTA-C40137-NY Wassaic Extension Project, Expand Metro-
North, Funding and Right-of-Way, Dutchess and Litchfield Counties, NY.
Summary: EPA believed that the proposed project would not result in
significant adverse environmental impacts, and therefore, has no
objections to its implementation.
Dated: October 14, 1997.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal
Activities.
[FR Doc. 97-27628 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U
