97-11474. Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments  

  • [Federal Register Volume 62, Number 85 (Friday, May 2, 1997)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 24105-24106]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 97-11474]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    [ER-FRL-5479-8]
    
    
    Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
    EPA Comments
    
        Availability of EPA comments prepared April 14, 1997 Through April 
    18, 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 4, 1997 (62 FR 
    16154).
    
    Draft EISs
    
        ERP No. D-AFS-K65195-CA Rating EC2, Desolation Wilderness 
    Management Guidelines Revisions for the Eldorado National Forest and 
    the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU), Limits of Acceptable 
    Change (LAC), Eldorado County, CA.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern with alternatives that 
    do not promote restoring areas currently exceeding standards set for 
    the Desolation Wilderness. EPA recommended including the closure of the 
    Rockbound grazing allotment in its preferred alternative.
        ERP No. D-AFS-L65281-ID Rating EC2, White Pine Creek Salvage Timber 
    Sale, Implementation, Clearwater National Forest, Palouse Ranger 
    District, Benewah and Latah Counties, ID.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that implementation 
    of best management practices and associated mitigation measures may not 
    ensure protection of beneficial uses downstream of the project area.
        ERP No. D-FHW-E40771-NC Rating EO2, Wilmington Bypass 
    Transportation Improvements, US 17 to US 421,
    
    [[Page 24106]]
    
    Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits and US Coast Guard Bridge 
    Permit Issuance, Burnswick and New Hanover Counties, NC.
        Summary: EPA had environmental objections or concerns with all four 
    alternatives evaluated in detail. Alternatives 2 and 3 have greater 
    wetlands impact and occupy Red-cockaded woodpecker forage areas. All 
    alternatives would impact adversely a minority/low-income community at 
    the interchange with US 17. EPA requested additional mitigation for 
    secondary impacts and wetland losses.
        ERP No. D-FHW-E40772-AL Rating EC2, Industrial Parkway Connector 
    Project, Transportation Improvement, from Lott Road (AL-217) to US 45, 
    Funding, COE Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, Mobile County, AL.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that wetlands and 
    forested areas be avoided. Details on wetland mitigation are needed in 
    final EIS.
        ERP No. D-FHW-L40202-WA Rating EO2, I-5 Toutle Park Road to 
    Maytown, Transportation Improvements, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit, 
    US Coast Guard and NPDES Permits, Cowlitz, Lewis and Thurston Counties, 
    WA.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental objection related to the 
    structuring of the draft EIS as a project-specific document. Based on 
    EPA's early participation in the development of the project tiered 
    documents would be used in support of specific projects as they come 
    on-line. EPA does not believe the present document provides sufficient 
    information to adequately disclose the potentially significant impacts 
    from the project and serve as the sole NEPA documentation for the 
    entire 42.5 mile project. EPA believed that additional information and 
    technical analyses related to alternatives, wetlands, avoidance/
    impacts/mitigation, floodplain impacts, surface and groundwater 
    impacts, and indirect/secondary/cumulative effects are needed.
        ERP No. D-NPS-L65277-WA Rating LO, Lake Crescent Management Plan, 
    Implementation, Olympic National Park, WA.
        Summary: Our abbreviated review has revealed no EPA concerns on 
    this project.
        ERP No. DS-FHW-E40758-NC Rating EO2, Wilmington Bypass 
    Transportation Improvement Program, Updated Information, Construction 
    from I-40 to US 421, Funding, NPDES and U.S. Coast Guard, and COE 
    Section 10 and 404 Permits, New Hanover County, NC.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the Southern 
    Alternative because it would impact more wetlands, relocate more than 
    twice as many residents, and has more noise impacts. However, EPA also 
    recognizes the Center Alternative may have greater impact to low income 
    and minority communities. The Document also is deficient in providing 
    wetlands mitigation.
    
    Final EISs
    
        ERP No. F-AFS-E61037-TN Upper Ocoee River Corridor Land and Water-
    Based Recreational Development, Implementation, Cherokee National 
    Forest, Ocoee Ranger District, Polk County, TN.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with increased 
    traffic and its potential impacts.
        ERP No. F-NPS-C61009-NY Manhattan Sites General Management Plans, 
    Implementation, Castle Clinton National Monument, Federal Hall National 
    Memorial, General Grant National Memorial, Saint Paul's Church National 
    Historic Site and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site, 
    New York and Westchester Counties, NY.
        Summary: EPA determinate that it had no objections to the proposed 
    project.
    
        Dated: April 29, 1997.
    William D. Dickerson,
    Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
    [FR Doc. 97-11474 Filed 5-1-97; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
05/02/1997
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
97-11474
Pages:
24105-24106 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
ER-FRL-5479-8
PDF File:
97-11474.pdf