[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 176 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48726-48727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24493]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-5495-4]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared August 10, 1998 Through
August 14, 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-L65293-00 Rating EC2, Upper Columbia River Basin
Ecosystem Based Lands Management Plan, Implementation, Interior
Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Project, ID, MT, WY, NV and UT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with these issues:
(1) the lack of adequate provisions to identify and protect high
quality waters and aquate habitats, (2) the uncertainty with how
impaired waters will be addressed, (3) the uncertainty with the nature
of restoration and conservation efforts and their associated impacts,
(4) the lack of
[[Page 48727]]
a clear protocol for determining how conflicts between competing
objectives and needs will be resolved, (5) the implications of less
than full budget for implementation. EPA suggests combining some of the
features of Alternatives 7 and 6 with Alternative 4. EPA strongly
supports ecosystem management principles on a broad scale to analyze
resources issues that transcend jurisdictional boundaries.
ERP No. D-COE-E32078-00 Rating EO3, Savannah Harbor Section 203
Expansion Project, Channel Deepening, Harbor Improvements, Georgia
Ports Authority, Federal Navigation Project, Chatham County, Ga and
Jasper County, SC.
Summary: EPA concluded that the document does not contain adequate
modeling and sediment chemistry information necessary to make a
decision as to the biotic and water quality impacts. EPA also had
environmental objections about the extent/duration of adverse impacts
resulting from the magnitude of channel deepening and whether necessary
mitigation for functional losses is practicable.
ERP No. D-FHW-D40143-MD Rating EC2, MD-331--Dover Bridge,
Construction, Right-of-Way Grant, US Coast Guard Bridge Permit and COE
Section 404 Permit, Easton, Talbot and Caroline County, MD.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding impacts to
aquatic resources, including associated tidal marsh wetlands. EPA
requested additional information on storm water run-off, bridge shading
effects and wetland mitigation.
ERP No. D-FHW-L40207-WA Rating EC2, Interstate 90 (I-90) South
Sammamish Plateau Access Road and Sunset Interchange Modifications,
Construction, COE Section 404 Permit, Coastal Zone Management and NPDES
Permits, King County, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential
adverse environmental effects to waters of the United States from the
project and undisclosed potential cumulative affects from planned
activities in lands adjacent to the project site. More information is
needed to clarify design specifications to ensure that proper
stormwater management practices will be implemented to appropriately
protect receiving-water quality.
ERP No. D-NOA-B91026-ME Rating EC1, Atlantic Herring (Clupea
harengus harengus) Fishery Management Plan (FWP), Management Measures,
Exclusive Ecosystem Zone (EEZ), Gulf of Maine, George Bank, ME.
Summary: EPA supports the actions proposed by NMFEs; additional
information was requested for enforcement of fishery management plan,
and adulteration of scallop meat.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-COE-E32077-GA Brunswick Harbor Deepening Federal
Navigation Project, Improvements, Brunswick, Glynn County, GA.
Summary: EPA continues to be concerned about the project's adverse
impacts and mitigations, while a number of modifications/clarifications
were made to the channel upgrade. Future interagency coordination will
be necessary.
Other
ERP No. LD-COE-L36111-WA Rating EC2, Howard A. Hanson Dam (HHD
Additional Water Storage (AWS) Phase I Project, Construction and
Operation, Green River Basin, Pierce and King Counties, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns on potential
cumulative impacts of activities in adjacent lands, potential indirect
effects on fish habitat and water quality, and discussion of a possibly
restricted range of alternatives. EPA also identified the need for a
clear statement of public disclosure of Phase I monitoring results
before initiating Phase II of the project.
Dated: September 8, 1998.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-24493 Filed 9-10-98; 8:45 am]
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