[Federal Register: December 6, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 235)]
[Notices]
[Page 72670-72671]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06de02-69]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6635-6]
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 FR dated April 12, 2002 (67 FR 17992).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-FHW-J40157-MT Rating EC2, US 89 from Fairfield to Dupuyer
Corridors Study, Reconstruction, Widening, Realignment and Route
Connection between Yellowstone National Park to the South with Glacier
National Park to the North, Teton and Pondera Counties, MT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding impacts to
wetlands and other aquatic resources. EPA recommended further analysis,
disclosure and mitigation of these impacts. In addition, EPA
recommended consultation with the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) to assure concurrence on proposed highway construction
activities and compatibility with TMDL development.
ERP No. D-FRC-L05227-00 Rating EO2, Box Canyon Hydroelectric
Project, (FERC Project No. 2042-013), New License Application for an
existing 72-Megawatt (Mw) Hydroelectric Project, Public Utility
District (PUD) No. 1, Pend Oreille River, Pend Oreille County, WA and
Bonner County, ID.
Summary: EPA identified environmental objections with the preferred
alternative because: (1) A comprehensive strategy for reducing elevated
total dissolved gas concentrations has not been developed, (2) analyses
needed to resolve questions related to fish passage at the project have
not been completed and (3) studies needed to define project effects and
mitigation have not been conducted nor completed.
ERP No. D-IBR-K39075-CA Rating EC2, Red Bluff Diversion Dam (RBDD)
Fish Passage Improvement Project, Anadromous Fish Passage Improvements
both Upstream and Downstream, Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority (TCCA),
Tehama, Glenn, Colusa and Yolo Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA agreed with the project sponsors that the ``Gates-
Out'' or ``2-Month Gates-In'' alternatives best meet the purpose and
need of improving fish passage, while improving the reliability of
agricultural water supply in the Tehama-Colusa and Corning Canal
Systems. EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding hazardous
materials, air quality and water quality impacts and requested
additional information regarding these issues.
ERP No. DA-FHW-J40030-UT Rating EC2, US 189, Utah Valley to Heber
Valley Widening and Realignment between the Junctions with UT-52 and US
40, Funding, Provo Canyon, Utah and Wasatch Counties, UT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential
direct, indirect and cumulative impacts to aquatic resources. EPA
requested that future documentation disclose impacts to aquatic
resources and develop new alternatives that are responsive to the
social and natural changes in the environment.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-J65013-MT Moose Post-Fire Project, Decrease in
Potential Mortality from Bark Beetles to the remaining Live Douglas-fir
and Spruce Trees, Merchantable Wood Fiber Recovery, Future Fire Risk
Reduction and existing Road Access Modifications, Glacier View Ranger
District, Flathead National Forest, Flathead County, MT.
Summary: EPA supports the selection of Alternative 3 although EPA
continues to express environmental concerns regarding potential water
quality impacts associated with logging in the watershed of Big Creek,
a 303(d) listed stream.
ERP No. F-BLM-K65242-CA Coachella Valley California Desert
Conservation Area Plan Amendment, Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains
Trails Management Plan, Implementation, Riverside and San Bernardino
Counties, CA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-COE-H39010-KS Tuttle Creek Dam Safety Assurance Program,
Flood Control, Water Supply, Water Quality, Fish and Wildlife,
Recreation and Navigation Support Enhancements, Big Blue River, Riley
and Potawatomie Counties, KS.
Summary: EPA has no objections to the preferred alternative of
stabilizing the dam's foundation without drawdown.
[[Page 72671]]
ERP No. F-FHW-G40167-LA LA-1 Improvements Project, Golden Meadow to
Port Fourchon Highway Construction, Funding, U.S. Army COE Section 10
and 404, NPDES and U.S. Coast Guard Bridge Permits Issuance, Lafoufche
Parish, LA.
Summary: EPA has no objection to the selection and implementation
of the preferred alternative.
ERP No. F-IBR-K61154-AZ Reach 11 Recreation Master Plan, Central
Arizona Project (CAP) Canal, Between Cave Creek and Scottsdale Roads
for Recreational Purposes and a Flood Detention Basin, City of Phoenix,
Maricopa County, AZ.
Summary: EPA found that the Final EIS adequately addresses the
issues raised in our comment letter on the Draft EIS.
ERP No. FA-FRC-L05208-WA Rocky Creek Hydroelectric Project, (FERC
No. 10311-002) Construction and Operation of a 8.3 Megawatt (Mw)
Project, License Application, Rocky Creek, Skagit County, WA.
Summary: EPA continues to have environmental objections to the
proposed project because it would: (1) Pose a high risk of landslides
that could significantly impact aquatic and terrestrial habitat and
water quality, (2) degrade water quality in Martin Creek, designated an
``extraordinary'' water body by the State of Washington and (3)
undermine the environmental and biological protection provisions of the
State of Washington Habitat Conservation Plan.
Dated: December 3, 2002.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal
Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-30949 Filed 12-5-02; 8:45 am]
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