[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 224 (Friday, November 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64472-64473]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31094]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5497-2]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared November 2, 1998 through
November 6, 1998 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
10, 1998 (62 FR 17856).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J61100-CO: Rating EO2, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Master
Development Plan, Construction and Operation, COE Section 404 Permit,
White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger District, Summit County, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections based on the
projects potential adverse impacts to wetlands, water quality and
quantity, as well as aquatic resources.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65287-SD: Rating EC2, Veteran/Boulder Area Project,
Enhancement of Vegetative Diversity, Improve Forest Health and to
Improve Wildlife Habitats, Implementation, Black Hills National Forest,
Spearfish and Nemo Ranger District, Lawrence and Meade Counties, SD.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns of the project on
existing 303(d) listed waters.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65308-ID: Rating EC2, Eagle Bird Project Area,
Timber Harvesting and Road Construction, Idaho Panhandle National
Forests, St. Joe Ranger District, Shoshone County, ID.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about lack of
cumulative impacts analysis and adverse impacts to vegetation.
ERP No. D-BLM-K65206-NV: Rating EC2, Caliente Management Framework
Plan Amendment, Implementation, Management of Desert Tortoise Habitat
(Gopherus agassizii), Northeastern Mojave Recovery Unit, Lincoln
County, NV.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the range
of alternatives selected for analysis in the DEIS, and recommended that
BLM consider an alternative which would place 100% of critical habitat
designated by the Fish and Wildlife Service into protected status. EPA
also expressed concerns that two of the action alternatives do not
appear to meet project purpose and need.
ERP No. D-COE-G11035-00: Rating LO, Programmatic--Fort Bliss
Mission and Real Property Master Plan, Revised Land Use and Enhance
Management of the Land, Airspace and Infrastructure, El Pasco County,
TX and Dona Ana and Otero Counties, NM.
Summary: EPA had no environmental objections, and recommended
selection of Alternative 3.2.
ERP No. D-NPS-K65208-CA: Rating LO, Redwood National and State
Parks General Management Plan, Implementation, Humboldt and Del Norte
Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections to the project plan,
but recommended that the Final EIS/EIR include specific information on
the Parks' role in the total maximum daily load (TMDL) development,
timber harvest plan review, and Clean Water Action Plan implementation.
ERP No. DS-BLM-J65106-CO: Rating EC2, Glenwood Springs Resource
Area, Updated Information, Oil & Gas Leasing and Development, Leasing
Lands in the Naval Oil Shale Reserves, Resource Management Plan
Amendment, Garfield County, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about adverse impact
to air quality in the Flat Tops Wilderness Class 1 area. EPA recommends
that a cumulative air quality impact analysis be prepared and made
available to the public prior to publishing the FEIS.
[[Page 64473]]
ERP No. DS-BLM-J70017-MT: Rating EC2, Judith-Valley-Phillips
Comprehensive Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Lewistown
District, Judith Basin, Fergus, Petroleum, Phillips and Valley
Counties, MT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential
adverse impact to Fisheries, Wildlife, and air and water quality, and
that more data and analyses of cumulative impacts is needed.
ERP No. RD-NOA-A64058-00: Rating EC2, Calico Scallop Fishery and
Sargassum Habitat Fishery, Fishery Management Plans Establishment and
Implementation, South Atlantic Region.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the Calico
Scallop Fishery Management Plan contained data that was too old to
fully assess impact of the fishery and collateral impacts threatened
and endangered species. EPA requested that these issues be fully
discussed in the next environmental document.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-BLM-L08054-AK: Northern Intertie Project, Construction of
230 kV Transmission Line from Healy to Fairbanks, AK, Application for
Right-of-Way Grant, Gold Valley Electric Association, AK.
Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No
formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. FS-COE-E36013-MS: Mississippi River and Tributaries Flood
Control Plan, Construction of the remaining portion of the Mississippi
River Mainline Levees Enlargement and Seepage Control Project, Flood
Protection and Damage Reduction, Lower Mississippi River Valley, Cape
Girardeau, MO to Head of Passes, LA; MO, IL, KY, TN, AR, MS and LA.
Summary: EPA continued to have environmental concerns based on the
scope/duration of these projects. On-going coordination will be
necessary to resolve EPA's outstanding concerns.
Dated: November 17, 1998.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-31094 Filed 11-19-98; 8:45 am]
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