[Federal Register: September 24, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 185)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57276-57277]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24se04-57]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6656-1]

 
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 FR dated April 02, 2004 (69 FR 17403).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-E65069-AL Rating LO, Longleaf Ecosystem Restoration 
Project, Proposes a Five-Year Project to Begin Restoration of Native 
Longleaf, Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee District, Tuscaloosa, 
Hale, Bibbs, and Perry Counties, AL.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to this project.
    ERP No. D-AFS-J65419-MT Rating EC2, Gallatin National Forest, Main 
Boulder Fuels Reduction Project, Implementation, Gallatin National 
Forest, Big Timber Ranger District, Big Timber, Sweet Grass and Park 
Counties, MT.
    Summary: EPA supports activities to reduce fuels and fire risk and 
increase public and firefighter safety. However, EPA is concerned about 
the potential for timber harvest activities and road construction to 
adversely impact aquatic

[[Page 57277]]

resources, riparian habitat and functions.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65465-OR Rating EC2, Tamarack Quarry Expansion 
Project, Secure a Long-Term, Economical Source of Rock Material to Use 
for Highway and Road Maintenance, Mt. Hood National Forest, Clackamas 
County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
adverse impacts to water quality and hydrology. The Final EIS should 
include proposed excavation, reclamation and spill plans, including 
appropriate mitigation measures.
    ERP No. D-FHW-F40424-OH Rating EC2, US 33 Nelsonville Bypass 
Project, To Upgrade Existing Four-Lane Controlled Access Expressway 
between Haydenville in Hocking County and New Floodwood in Hocking and 
Athens Counties, OH.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns due to forest fragmentation, 
habitat loss, and potential threats to threatened and endangered 
species. In addition, EPA requested information on drinking water 
sources, highway runoff, impacts to groundwater, and cumulative impacts 
associated with habitat fragmentation.
    ERP No. D-FHW-J40163-UT Rating EC2, Iron County Transportation 
Corridors, Construction from Station Road 56 to Exit 51 on Interstate 
15, Funding and Right-of-Way Grant, Southwest of the Cedar City, Iron 
County, UT.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns due to habitat fragmentation 
impacts, additional air emissions, environmental justice, and the 
cultural resources analysis.
    ERP No. D-FRA-K53009-CA Rating EO2, California High-Speed Train 
System, Proposes a High-Speed Train (HST) System for Intercity Travel, 
Extending from Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area in the north, 
through Central Valley, to Los Angeles and San Diego in the south, 
Orange County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed objections due to potential significant 
impacts to aquatic resources of national importance, wetlands, and 
habitat fragmentation in the Bay Area to Merced and the Bakersfield to 
Los Angeles regions, and impacts to farmland and resources from 
proposed bypasses around Central Valley communities. Information is 
requested that fully discloses the estimated direct, indirect, and 
cumulative impacts to aquatic and biological resources.
    ERP No. D-NPS-K65271-CA Rating EC2, Santa Monica Mountains National 
Recreation Area, Fire Management Plan, Implementation, Santa Monica 
Mountains, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the prescribed burn treatments 
in the proposed alternative may result in more adverse air quality 
impacts than using only mechanical treatment to meet the same needs. 
EPA recommend that the FEIS analyze another mechanical treatment 
alternative and assess air quality impacts for criteria pollutants 
other than PM10.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-J65393-CO, Colorado Canyons National Conservation 
Area and Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Resource Management Plan, 
Implementation, Mesa County, CO.
    Summary: No comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-BLM-K08027-NV, Tracy to Silver Lake Transmission Line 
Project, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of a 120kV 
Transmission Line from Tracy Power Plant to New Substations in the 
Spanish Spring Valley and Stead Areas, Right-of-Way Application, Washoe 
County, NV.
    Summary: No comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-COE-K39066-CA, Port J. Long Beach Pier J South Terminal 
Expansion Project, Additional Cargo Requirements Associated with 
Growing Export and Import Volumes, Port Master Plan (PMP) Amendment, 
COE Section 404, 401 and 10 Permits, City of Long Beach, CA.
    Summary: No comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: September 21, 2004.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-21491 Filed 9-23-04; 8:45 am]

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