[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48393-48394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23054]
[[Page 48393]]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6245-8]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared July 23, 1999 through July
30, 1999 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 09, 1999 (64
FR 17362).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J65303-MT Rating EC2, Bridger Bowl Ski Area, Permit
Renewal and Master Development Plan Update, Implementation, Special Use
Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Gallatin National Forest, in the
City of Bozeman, MT.
Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding lack of information to
support expansion of the ski area beyond the existing ski area
boundaries; inadequate analysis and disclosure of indirect effects of
induced development that may be associated with the ski area expansion
and doubling of skier capacity; potential increased wastewater
pollutant loadings to area ground water; and erosion from ski area
vegetation clearing and ski run development. Additional information is
needed to fully assess and mitigate all potential environmental impacts
of the management actions.
ERP No. D-COE-K36127-CA Rating EO2, Arroyo Pasajero Watershed
Feasibility Investigation, Implementation, Flood Damage Reduction Plan,
San Joaquin River Basin, City of Huron, Fresno County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed objections to the Gap Dam alternative due to
significant impacts on biological resources, wetlands and endangered
species. EPA expressed concerns regarding the Westside Detention Basin
alternative. Additional information on nonstructural methods and
mitigation of project impacts is required for EPA to fully assess
whether significant environmental impacts have been avoided to fully
protect the environment.
ERP No. D-COE-K36128-CA Rating EO2, Tule River Basin Investigation
Project, Plan to Increase Flood Protection Downstream of Success Dam
and Increase Storage Space in Lake Success for Irrigation Water, Tule
River, Tulace and King Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed objections regarding the lack of a full
alternative analysis. In addition, habitat protection and mitigation
success associated with the project are uncertain, and the project
lacks planning for long-term sustainability of the water resource and
flood protection goals and could result in cumulative impacts.
ERP No. D-FHW-D40298-MD Rating EC2, MD-32 Planning Study,
Transportation Improvement from MD 108 to Interstate 70, Funding, NPDES
Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Howard County, MD.
Summary: EPA is primarily concerned with secondary impacts
including land use issues and development pressure from the increased
access that this project would induce. An enhancement of the existing
highway may meet the purpose and needs while considerably reducing
wetland impacts.
ERP No. D-FHW-D40300-MD Rating EC1, Middle River Employment Center
Access Study, Transportation Improvements, NPDES and COE Section 404
Permit, Baltimore County, MD.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the direct,
cumulative and secondary impacts that are associated with the
development that will occur as a result of this new highway project.
EPA urged Baltimore County to implement aggressive conservation
practices when reviewing plans and processing permits that will allow
development to occur in Middle River Employment Center.
ERP No. D-FHW-E40088-MS Rating EC2, Airport Parking/Mississippi 25
Connectors, Construction at Intersection of High Street/Interstate 55
(I-55) in the City of Jackson, Hinds and Rankin Counties, MS.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential
long-term wetland impacts associated with building the proposed highway
as described in the preferred alternative. EPA suggested incorporating
sub-alternatives that address the various bridging and interchange
options using the alignments similar to the preferred alternative.
ERP No. D-FHW-K40148-NV Rating EO2, US-95 Improvements, Along
Summerlin Parkway to the Local and Arterial Road Network in the
Northwest Region of Las Vegas, Construction and Operation, Clark
County, NV.
Summary: EPA expressed objections with respect to the project,
given the severe nonattainment for CO and PM10; the lack of significant
permanent reduction of traffic congestion, VMT, v/c ratios and CO
violations; and significant impacts to noises, in established core
neighborhoods, and community and 4(f) facilities. EPA proposed an
alternative phased approach with aggressive implementation of TDM and
mass transit measures.
ERP No. D-FTA-D40289-VA Rating EC2, Norfolk-Virginia Beach Light
Rail Transit System East/West Corridor Project, Transportation
Improvements, Tidewater Transportation District Commission, COE Section
404 Permit, City of Norfolk and City of Virginia Beach, VA.
Summary: EPA is concerned about potential noise vibration and
displacement impacts to existing neighborhood.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-FHW-L40184-WA, WA-167 Corridor Adoption, WA-167 Freeway
Extension from WA-167/Meridian Street North in the City of Puyallup to
the proposed WA-509 Freeway/East-West Alignment in the City of Tacoma,
Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, Pierce County, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed objections to the Tier I process that
eliminated alternatives that should have been fully analyzed and which
may have had potential to avoid social, economic and environmental
impacts. EPA requested that the Tier II process provide a detailed
analyses of environmental, economic and social impact and avoidance and
mitigation for those impacts.
ERP No. F-NCP-D61050-MD, National Harbor Project, Construction and
Operation along the Potomac River on a 534 acre site adjacent to the
Capital Beltway and Oxon Hill Manor, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits,
Prince George's County, MD.
Summary: EPA has concerns regarding impacts to aquatic resources,
air pollution and environmental justice issues. EPA is trying to
resolve some of the outstanding issues with the applicant.
ERP No. FS-AFS-J65283-CO, Upper Elk River Access Analysis,
Implementation, Proposal to Remove and/or Treat Blowdown Trees, Routt
Divide Blowdown, Medicine Bow-Routt-National Forests, Hahn Peak/Bears
Ears Ranger District, Routt County, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed its view that the preferred alternative, as
disclosed in the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
[[Page 48394]]
(FSEIS) and recorded in the Record of Decision (ROD), can be
implemented without significant impact to the environment.
Regulations
ERP No. R-BLM-A02241-00, 43 CFR Part 3100 et al.--Onshore Oil and
Gas Leasing and Operations; Proposed Rule.
Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the proposed action could lead
to or have significant impacts to air and water quality. EPA suggests
that BLM analyze and discuss the cumulative impacts of oil and gas
leasing to air and water quality before issuing the final rule and
include proposed clarifications to the sections on produced water
disposal, underground injection control permits, bonding and plugging
abandonment.
Dated: August 31, 1999.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal
Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-23054 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6550-60-U
