[Federal Register: December 17, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 242)]
[Notices]               
[Page 75536]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17de04-72]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6658-7]

 
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-FHW-F40425-OH Rating EC1, US-24 Transportation Project, 
Improvements between Napoleon to Toledo, Funding, Lucas and Henry 
Counties, OH.
    Summary: EPA expressed an environmental concern about impacts to 
approximately 7 acres of wetlands and recommends that the secondary 
impacts at planned intersections be addressed.
    ERP No. D-FRA-K59004-CA Rating EC2, Los Angeles-To-San Diego 
(LOSSAN) Rail Corridor, Proposed Rail Corridor Improvement Studies to 
Increase Intercity Travel for Faster, Safer and Reliable Passenger Rail 
System, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns with the analysis of direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts to endangered species, coastal 
resources, water quality and air quality, and the integration of the 
proposed improvements with adjacent land-use and conservation planning 
efforts.
    ERP No. D-IBR-J39032-00 Rating EC2, Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam 
Colorado River Storage Project, To Protect and Assist in Recovery of 
Populations and Designated Critical Habitat of Four Endangered Fishes: 
Bonytail, Colorado Pikeminnow, Humpback Chub and Razorback Sucker, 
Green River, UT and WY.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the Preferred Alternative may 
adversely affect other wildlife and their habitats. EPA also expressed 
concerns over the uncertainties surrounding both the impacts of the 
proposed management actions and the adaptive management changes that 
may be necessitated in the future. In addition, EPA expressed concerns 
that only one alternative was evaluated besides the No Action 
alternative, and suggested that other alternatives be evaluated.
    ERP No. DS-AFS-L65344-AK Rating EC2, Emerald Bay Timber Sale, 
Implementation, Additional Information on the Potential Effects of the 
Project Alternatives, Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District, Tongass 
National Forest, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns related to the range 
of alternatives, as well as a need for information related to 
government-to-government consultation with Alaskan Native Tribal 
Governments.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-L65463-OR, 18 Fire Recovery Project, Salvaging Dead 
Trees, Reforesting 1,936 Acres with Ponderosa Pine Seedling and 
Closing/Decommissioning Roads, Deschutes National Forest, Bend/Fort 
Rock Ranger District, Deschutes County, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections and supports the measures 
to reduce the road density in the project area.
    ERP No. F-COE-E36183-FL, Picayune Strand Restoration (formerly 
Southern Golden Gate Estates Ecosystem Restoration), Comprehensive 
Everglades Restoration Plan, Implementation, Collier County, FL.
    Summary: EPA continues to support the specific objectives of this 
proposal as well as the related environmental goals of the 
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project. EPA noted that long-term 
monitoring will be an on-going responsibility of the Interagency 
Operational Team and EPA will continue to participate actively with its 
state/federal stakeholders.

    Dated: December 14, 2004.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 04-27674 Filed 12-16-04; 8:45 am]

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