[Federal Register: November 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 220)]
[Notices]               
[Page 64621-64622]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14no03-71]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6645-5]

 
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 4, 2003 (68 FR 16511).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-G65090-NM Rating LO, Magdelena Ridge Observatory 
Project, Construct and Operate an Observatory in the Magdelena 
Mountains, Cibola National Forest, Magdelena Ranger District, Socorro 
County, NM.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the preferred alternative.
    ERP No. D-DOE-L09817-WA Rating EC2, BP Cherry Point Cogeneration 
Project, To Build a 720-megawatt Gas-Fired Combined Cycle Cogeneration 
Facility, Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), Whatcom 
County, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that proposed mitigation would not 
adequately offset project-related impacts to wetlands. EPA recommended 
that the additional wetland mitigation be developed along with a 
demonstration that the applicant-proposed project represents the least 
environmentally damaging practicable alternative. EPA also recommended 
that the Bonneville Power Administration and the Corps of Engineers 
consult with the governments of affected tribes, pursuant to Executive 
Order 13175.
    ERP No. D-NOA-L91019-00 Rating EC2, Pacific Coast Groundfish 
Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment 16-2, Rebuilding Plans for: 
Darkblotched Rockfish, Pacific Ocean Perch, Canary Rockfish, and 
Lingcod, Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 
Conservation and Management Act, WA, OR, CA and Boundary of U.S. EEZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns on bycatch information, impacts on 
habitat, and enforcement of depth-based management restrictions.
    ERP No. D-USA-G11042-LA Rating EC2, 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment 
Transformation and Installation Mission Support, Joint Readiness 
Training Center (JRTC) Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Long-Term Military 
Training Use of Kisatchie National Forest Lands, Fort Polk, LA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested 
additional information on mitigation measure to reduce sediment 
loadings, mapping wetlands, and forest restoration.
    ERP No. D-USA-L10005-AK Rating EC2, Programmatic EIS--Army 
Transformation of the 172nd Infantry Brigade (Separate) to a Stryker 
Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), Propose Location Forts Wainwright and 
Richardson, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding impacts on natural 
resources from increased in live-fire training and maneuver training. 
EPA requested that the FEIS clarify impacts and include compensation 
information for natural resources.

[[Page 64622]]

    ERP No. DS-FAA-K51039-CA Rating EC2, Los Angeles International 
Airport Proposed Master Plan Improvements, New Alternative, Enhanced 
Safety and Security Plan, Los Angeles County, CA.
    Summary: EPA raised environmental concerns regarding emissions of 
criteria and hazardous air pollutants, especially emissions from 
auxiliary power units; the adequacy of measures to reduce air pollutant 
loading for this project, especially operational emissions; whether the 
project causes disproportionately high adverse effects on low-income or 
minority populations due to air pollution and mitigation for noise 
impacts by jet aircrafts.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-G65088-NM
    Bluewater Ecosystem Management Project, Proposal to Initiate 
Vegetation Treatments to Restore Ponderosa Pine and Pinon-Juniper 
Stands to a Desired Condition, Cibola National Forest, Mt. Taylor 
Ranger District, McKinley and Cibola Counties, NM.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the preferred 
alternative.
    ERP No. F-BIA-K60034-CA
    Jamul Indian Village (Tribe) 101 Acre Fee-to-Trust Transfer and 
Casino Project, Implementation, San Diego County, CA.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-BLM-K65251-CA
    Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Management 
Plan, Implementation, Public Lands Management, Riverside County, CA.
    Summary: EPA indicated that the FEIS satisfactorily responded to 
our DEIS comments. Therefore, EPA has no objections to the proposed 
action.
    ERP No. F-NOA-E91012-00
    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 has no objections to the implementation of Amendment 
13 but recommends using appropriate harvesting controls, and monitoring 
for gear effects on EFH.

    Dated: November 10, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-28571 Filed 11-13-03; 8:45 am]

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