[Federal Register: November 15, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 221)]
[Notices]
[Page 69215-69216]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15no02-46]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6635-1]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared 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 the Federal Register dated April 12, 2002 (67 FR 17992).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-COE-E35086-FL Rating EC2, Fort Pierce Shore Protection
Project, Future Dredging of Capron Shoal, Implementation, St. Lucie
County, FL.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns regarding the direct and
indirect consequences of this proposal which will require additional
information to determine if the unavoidable losses will be
appropriately mitigated.
ERP No. D-DOE-L08063-WA Rating EC2, Plymouth Generating Facility,
Construction and Operation of a 307-megawatt (MW) Natural Gas-Fired
Combined Cycle Power Generation Facility on a 44.5 Acre Site,
Conditional Use/Special Use Permit Issuance, Benton County, WA.
Summary: EPA identified environmental concerns with the proposed
project based on its contribution to significant cumulative visibility
degradation in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and at
Mount Hood. EPA recommended that the EIS be revised to include a more
comprehensive air quality analysis.
ERP No. D-NOA-E91011-00 Rating LO, Northeast Skate Complex Fishery
Management Plan, Implementation of Management Measures, Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, New England Fishery
Management Council.
Summary: EPA has no objection to the proposal, but made suggestions
on enhancing the efficacy of the study fleet and on multi-species zone
closures.
ERP No. D-NOA-E91012-00 Rating LO, Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean
Quahog Fishery Management Plan Amendment 13, Implementation, US
Exclusive Economic Zone along the Atlantic Seaboard from Maine through
North Carolina.
Summary: EPA expressed no objection to Amendment 13, but made
suggestions for periodic stock assessment monitoring; for reducing clam
dredge bycatch; and, for determining gear effects on fauna.
ERP No. DS-COE-H32002-00 Rating LO, Missouri River Fish and
Wildlife Mitigation Project to Restore Fish and Wildlife Habitat Losses
Resulting from Construction, Operation and Maintenance of the Missouri
River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP), Missouri River,
Sioux City, Iowa to the Mouth near St. Louis, NB, KS and MO.
Summary The Draft Supplemental EIS for this project was adequate
and considered all appropriate environmental impacts. Comments made on
the DSEIS consisted of suggestions to improve the presentation or
organization of data to ease the reader's understanding.
ERP No. DS-UAF-K11076-00 Rating LO, Airborne Laser (ABL) Program to
Conduct Test Activities at Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) and White
Sands Missile Range/Holloman AFB, New Mexico and Edwards AFB and
Vandenberg AFB CA.
Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objection on the proposed action
but requested clarification on the applicability of this project to the
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the Pollution
Prevention Act and Executive Order 13148 for ammonia, chlorine and
sulfuric acid.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-BIA-K39071-00 Truckee River Water Quality Settlement
Agreement-Federal Water Right Acquisition, Implementation, Truckee
River, Placer County, CA and Washoe, Storey and Lyon Counties, NV.
Summary: EPA commended the Truckee River Water Quality Settlement
Agreement signatories' work to permanently improve Truckee River water
quality and reduce violations of water quality standards. EPA
encouraged them to continue to work with EPA in achieving full
compliance with water quality standards. The FEIS adequately addresses
our concerns.
ERP No. F-DOE-G06012-00, Technical Area 18 (TA-18) Relocation of
Capabilities and Materials at the Los Almos National Laboratory (LANL),
Operational Activities involve Research in and the Design, Development,
Construction, and Application of Experiments on Nuclear Criticality,
NM, NV and ID.
Summary: EPA has no objections to the selection of the preferred
alternative since EPA comments on the draft document have been
adequately responded to.
ERP No. F-FHW-E40786-FL, I-4 Corridor Improvements, Upgrading the
Safety and Mobility of the existing I-4 from west of FL-528 (Bee Line
Expressway) Interchange in Orange County to east of FL-472 Interchange
in Volusia County, Funding, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 and NPDES
Permits Issuance, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia Counties, FL.
Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about the
extent and mitigation of related socio-economic impacts. EPA suggests
that a schedule for construction and operation of all project
components be documented in the Record of Decision to ensure that
alternative project considerations are consistent with comprehensive
review procedures under NEPA.
ERP No. F-FRC-E03009-00, Patriot Project, Construction and
Operation of Mainline Expansion and Patriot Extension in order to
Transport 510.000 dekatherms per day (dth/day) of Natural Gas, TN, VA
and NC.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns regarding the need for
better documentation regarding cumulative and secondary impacts,
environmental justice issues, sampling and analysis of potentially
contaminated sediments at Mud Creek, and pipeline safety.
ERP No. FS-COE-E34030-FL, Central and Southern Florida Project,
Indian River Lagoon-South Feasibility Study, Additional Information
concerning Selection of Plan, Alternative 6, Restoration of the
Southern Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie Estuary Ecosystem,
Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee Counties, FL.
Summary: EPA supports the positive water quality and habitat
benefits which should result from the proposed IRLS plan.
[[Page 69216]]
Dated: November 12, 2002.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-29052 Filed 11-14-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P