[Federal Register: May 21, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 99)]
[Notices]               
[Page 29306]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21my04-85]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6651-7]

 
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared May 3, 2004 Through May 7, 
2004 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 2, 2004 (69 FR 
17403).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-FHW-D40323-PA Rating EC2, U.S. 202, Section ES1 
Improvements Project, To Relieve Traffic Congestion and Improve the 
Corridor, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Delaware and 
Chester Counties, PA.
    Summary: EPA has environmental concerns with the proposed project 
regarding potential impacts to surface water, forested habitat, 
historic structures, and Environmental Justice areas. EPA recommends 
utilizing the existing loop road into the final design to further avoid 
and minimize impacts to aquatic resources.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F40421-IN Rating EO2, US-31 Improvement from Plymouth 
to South Bend, Running from Southern Terminus at US-30 to Northern 
Terminus at US-20, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties, IN.
    Summary: EPA has environmental objections regarding the proposed 
project based on the magnitude of wetland impacts. EPA requested that 
additional alternatives be analyzed.
    ERP No. D-NPS-D65028-PA Rating LO, Lackawanna Heritage Valley a 
State and National Heritage Area, Management Action Plan, 
Implementation, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Susquehanna Counties, 
PA.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the preferred 
alternative.
    ERP No. D-SFW-J64009-CO Rating EC2, Rocky Flats National Wildlife 
Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, 15-Year Guidance for Management 
of Refuge Operations, Habitat Restoration and Visitor Services, 
Implementation, Jefferson and Boulder Counties, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns over potential environmental 
impacts to the Refuge from adjacent land uses. EPA recommended that 
additional information be provided regarding potential indirect impacts 
from the proposed development of the transportation corridor, including 
identification of feasible mitigation measures to offset those impacts. 
EPA also suggested further discussion of the DOE retained area in terms 
of weed dispersal and projected final contamination levels.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-L39057-OR Rating EC2, Rimrock Ecosystem Restoration 
Projects, New Information on the Commercial and Non-commercial Thinning 
Treatments in the C3 Management Area, Umatilla National Forest, Heppner 
Ranger District, Grant, Morrow and Wheeler Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA continued to express concerns with air quality impacts 
from prescribed burning, the funding of restoration projects and 
adverse impacts from roads.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-D40322-PA Sugar Run Project Area (SRPA), To Achieve 
and Maintain the Desired Conditions as stated in Forest Plan, Allegheny 
National Forest, Bradford Ranger District, McKean County, PA.
    Summary: EPA's comments are adequately addressed in the Final EIS. 
Therefore, EPA has no objection to the proposed action.
    ERP No. F-AFS-D65027-00 Jefferson National Forest Revised Land and 
Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Mount Rogers National 
Recreation Area, Clinch, Glenwood, New Castle, and New River Valley 
Rangers Districts, VA, WV, and KY.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to potential 
impacts from erosion/sedimentation, air emissions, and ground water 
contamination. EPA suggested that these issues be addressed as the plan 
is implemented.
    ERP No. F-AFS-J65380-UT Prima East Clear Creek Federal No. 22-42 
Gas Exploration Well, Application for Permit to Drill (APD) including a 
Surface Use Plan of Operations, Approval, Castle Valley Ridge, Ferron/
Price Ranger District, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Carbon and Emery 
Counties, UT.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-COE-L36115-WA Centralia Flood Damage Reduction Project, 
Chehalis River, Lewis and Thurston Counties, WA.
    Summary: EPA expressed continuing concerns that potential impacts 
to the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the upper Chehalis River 
were not analyzed, and continuing concerns that wetland mitigation 
proposed is not sufficient to compensate for impacts to wetland 
functions.
    ERP No. F-IBR-K65259-CA Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency 
(PVWMA) Revised Basin Management Plan Project, Connection of PVWMA 
Pipeline to the Santa Clara Conduit of the Central Valley Project 
(CVP), Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA continues to express concerns regarding cumulative 
impacts to the Pajaro Valley, San Joaquin Valley, and Central Valley 
Project operations from imported water projects.
    ERP No. F-NPS-D65028-PA Lackawanna Heritage Valley--a State and 
National Heritage Area, Management Action Plan, Implementation, 
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne and Susquehanna Counties, PA.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the preferred 
alternative.

    Dated: May 18, 2004.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-11563 Filed 5-20-04; 8:45 am]

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