98-23943. Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 1998)]
    [Notices]
    [Pages 47289-47290]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-23943]
    
    
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    ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
    
    [ER-FRL-5495-2]
    
    
    Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
    EPA Comments
    
        Availability of EPA comments prepared August 3, 1998 Through August 
    7, 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) 
    260-5076. 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-J67027-MT Rating EC2, Stillwater Mine Revised Waste 
    Management Plan and Hertzler Tailings Impoundment, Construction and 
    Operation, Plan-of-Operation, and COE Section 404 Permit, Custer 
    National Forest, Stillwater County, MT.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impact to water 
    quality and suggested linkage between NPDES and groundwater permit, 
    application of non-degradation water quality standard and water 
    balance/pollutant load data.
        ERP No. D-AFS-L65289-00 Rating EC2, Eastside Ecosystem Based Lands 
    Management Plan, Implementation, Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem 
    Management Project, WA, OR, ID and MT.
        Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns. EPA's most 
    significant concerns are: (1) the lack of adequate provisions to 
    identify and protect high quality waters and aquatic 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 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 with Alternative 4. EPA strongly supports ecosystem 
    management principles on a broad scale to analyze resource issues that 
    transcend jurisdictional boundaries.
        ERP No. D-FHW-G40150-NM Rating EC2, I-25/I-40 Interchange and 
    Adjacent Sections of I-25 and I-40, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue 
    to Comache Road and Carlise Boulevard to South Street, Reconstruction, 
    Funding and Right-of-Way Acquisition, Bernalillo County, NM.
        Summary: EPA identified environmental concerns in the area of 
    relocation, economic impacts, noise, and cumulative impact that need to 
    be included in the final EIS. This information will complement the NEPA 
    document and assure full compliance with the CEQ regulations.
        ERP No. D-FHW-L40206-WA Rating EC2, WA-104/Edmonds Crossing 
    Project, Connecting Ferries, Bus and Rail, Funding, NPDESs Permit and 
    COE Section 10 and 404 Permit, City of Edmonds, Snohomish County, WA.
        Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding the traffic analysis and 
    how the alternative would result in decreased single-occupancy vehicle 
    use as it related to air quality impacts. EPA also expressed concern 
    regarding disposition of pier and terminal impact, and hazardous waste 
    issues. EPA requested that there issues be clarified in the final 
    document.
    
    Final EISs
    
        ERP No. F-COE-C39009-NY, Atlantic Coast of Long Island Jones Inlet 
    to East Rockaway Inlet Storm Damage Reduction Project, Construction, 
    Long Beach Island, Nassau County, NY.
        Summary: EPA had no objections to the Corp's proposed storm damage 
    protection project. EPA recommended that fully evaluate cumulative 
    impacts prior to issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD), and commit 
    to a flexible beach nourishment schedule in the ROD.
        ERP No. F-FHW-E40355-FL, Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), 
    Construction, Bounded by FL-112 on the north, FL-836 on the south, 
    Miami International Airport landside terminal NW 27th Avenue on the 
    east, along FL-836 that extends West to NW 57th Avenue, Dade County.
        Summary: EPA review of the document finds that the environmental 
    impacts of concern to EPA agency have been adequately addressed.
        ERP No. FS-COE-E34002-00, Lake Seminole Hydrilla Action Plan 
    Updated Information to the Lake Seminole and Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, 
    Operation and Maintenance Project, Implementation, Gadsden and Jackson 
    Counties, FL; Decatur and Seminole Counties, GA and Houston County, AL.
        Summary: EPA noted that the proposed modified aquatic weed control 
    plan has some adverse environmental consequences, the plan represents a 
    reasonable approach to balancing the many interests involved in this 
    issue.
    
    
    [[Page 47290]]
    
    
        Dated: September 1, 1998.
    Ken Mittelholtz,
    Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
    [FR Doc. 98-23943 Filed 9-3-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6560-50-U
    
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/04/1998
Department:
Environmental Protection Agency
Entry Type:
Notice
Document Number:
98-23943
Pages:
47289-47290 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
ER-FRL-5495-2
PDF File:
98-23943.pdf