98-31094. Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments  

  • [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]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
11/20/1998
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-31094
Pages:
64472-64473 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
ER-FRL-5497-2
PDF File:
98-31094.pdf