[Federal Register: November 28, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 229)]
[Notices]               
[Page 66824]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28no03-55]                         


[[Page 66824]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6645-9]

 
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 04, 2003 (68 
FR 16511).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L65436-OR Rating LO, Juncrock Timber Sale Project, 
Treat Forest Vegetation, MT. Hood National Forest, Barlow Ranger 
District, Wasco County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections. However, EPA recommend 
the final EIS include water quality analysis information on temperature 
and sediment, and address project goals for Northern Spotted Owl 
habitat.
    ERP No. D-DOE-K08025-00 Rating EC2, Sahuartia-Nogales Transmission 
Line, Construction and Operation of a 345,00-volt (345 kV) Electric 
Transmission Line across the United States Border with Mexico, 
Application for Presidential Permit, Tucson Electric Power (TEP), 
Nogales, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about potential water and air 
quality impacts of the project. EPA requested the final EIS contain 
information on DOE's public involvement methods in support of their 
environmental justice findings and on how identified conflicts with 
affected Tribes will be resolved. EPA also sought clarification on 
potential transboundary effects, cumulative effects, and the underlying 
basis for selecting the Western Corridor as the Preferred Alternative.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K39082-AZ Rating EC2, Wellton-Mohawk Title Transfer 
Project, Transfer of the Facilities, Works, and Lands, Wellton-Mohawk 
Division of the Gila Project, Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage 
District, Yuma County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential 
hazardous waste associated with underground and above ground storage 
tanks, environmental justice, and indirect air quality impacts due to 
anticipated changes in existing land use. EPA also urged a 
comprehensive evaluation of connected actions in future NEPA documents 
related to proposed power plant development and construction of a new 
transmission pipeline.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-F65039-WI, McCaslin Project, Vegetation Management 
Activities Consistent with Direction in the Nicolet Forest Plan, 
Lakewood/Laona District, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Oconto 
and Forest Counties, WI.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections for this project.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L67042-OR, Steamboat Mountain Mining Operations, 
Surface Quarry or ``Open Pit'' Mineral Extraction, Plan-of-Operation 
Approval, Applegate Adaptive Management Area, Rogue River National 
Forest, Applegate Ranger District, Jackson County, OR.
    Summary: EPA has expressed concerns with environmental impacts from 
changes made from the draft EIS to the final EIS regarding the 
transportation route and additional storage. EPA also continues to have 
concerns regarding potential adverse impacts to water quality from 
chemical processing, lack of reclamation and contingency planning, 
financial assurance and adequate monitoring from agency's preferred 
alternative.
    ERP No. F-FRC-C05148-NY, St. Lawrence--FDR Hydroelectric Project, 
Application for New License (Relicense), (FERC No. 200-036), Located on 
the St. Lawrence River, Messina, NY.
    Summary: EPA had no objections to the relicensing of the St. 
Lawrence--FDR Hydroelectric Project.

    Dated: November 24, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-29689 Filed 11-26-03; 8:45 am]

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