[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71138-71139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-23272]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6669-7]
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 1, 2005 (70 FR 16815).
Draft EISs
EIS No. 20050360, ERP No. D-AFS-J65454-SD, Bugtown Gulch Mountain Pine
Beetle and Fuels Projects, To Implement Multiple Resource Management
Actions, Black Hills National Forest, Hell Canyon Ranger District,
Custer County, SD.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns about impacts from runoff,
related soil erosion and sediment losses; cumulative impacts from other
large scale timber projects to vegetation and wildlife habitat; and
adverse impacts to water quality.
Rating EC2
EIS No. 20050370, ERP No. D-AFS-L65494-OR, Middle Fork John Day Range
Planning Project, Livestock Grazing Authorization, Implementation, Blue
Mountain Range and Prairie City Ranger Districts, Malheur National
Forest, Grant County, OR.
Summary: EPA has concerns related to impacts to water qualtiy,
aquatic habitiat and ecosystem recovery. EPA requested that ``hybrid''
alternatives be included that provide greater protections from grazing.
Rating EC2
EIS No. 20050383, ERP No. D-AFS-F65059-IL, Shawnee National Forest
Trails Designation Project, Phase 1, Designation, Construction and
Maintenance for Trail System within Four Watershed: Eagle Creek, Big
Grand Pierre Creek, Lusk Creek and Upper Bay Creek, Hidden Springs
Ranger District, Gallatin, Hardin, Johnson, Pope and Saline Counties,
IL.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about reducing trail
density standards, weather-related trail closures, and the potential
for adverse impacts to water quality.
Rating EC2
EIS No. 20050367, ERP No. DS-NOA-B91026-ME, Atlantic Herring
Fishery Management Plan (FWP), Amendment 1, Management Measure
Adjustment, Implementation, Gulf of Maine, George Bank, ME.
Summary: EPA had lack of objections to the proposed project.
Rating LO
Final EISs
EIS No. 20050194, ERP No. F-AFS-D65031-PA, Martin Run Project, To
Implement Management Direction as Outlined in Allegheny National Forest
Plan, Bradford Ranger District, Allegheny National Forest, Warren and
McKean Counties, PA.
Summary: EPA had lack of objections to the proposed action.
EIS No. 20050243, ERP No.F-AFS-L65469-OR, West Maurys Fuels and
Vegetation Management Project, Prescribed Fire, Commercial and
Noncommercial Thinning, Grapple Piling and Hand Piling, Implementation,
Lookout Mountain Range District, Ochoco National Forest, Crook County,
OR.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20050379, ERP No. F-FRA-K53009-CA, California High-Speed Train
System, High-Speed Train (HST) System for Intercity Travel, Extend 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's earlier objections regarding potential impacts to
resources in the Bay Area to Central Valley area have been addressed by
deferring an alignment decision until an additional, more comprehensive
environmental analysis can be completed. However, EPA continues to have
environmental concerns about the cumulative impact analysis.
EIS No. 20050380, ERP No. F-FHW-E40779-NC, Fayetteville Outer Loop
Corridor Study, Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Cape Fear
River, Cumberland, Hoke and Robeson Counties, NC.
Summary: Substantial impact reductions have been accomplished for
wetland and stream impacts. However, EPA continues to have
environmental concerns about the high numbers of sensitive noise
receptors that are impacted, and about the loss of Red-cockaded
woodpecker habitat.
EIS No. 20050403, ERP No. F-AFS-K65286-CA, Watdog Project, Proposes to
Reduce Fire Hazards, Harvest Trees, Using Group Selection Methods,
Feather River Ranger District, Plumas National Forest, Butte and Plumas
Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA continued to express concerns about impacts to
riparian resources, water quality, soils and wildlife habitat.
EIS No. 20050418, ERP No. F-AFS-K65288-CA, Bald Mountain Project,
Proposes to Harvest Trees Using Group and Individual Trees Selection
Methods, Feather River Ranger District, Plumas National Forest, Plumas
and Butte Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA continues to have concerns about harvest in impaired
watersheds with high susceptibility for cumulative watershed effects,
and the lack of a timeline or funding certainty for restoration and
road decommissioning.
EIS No. 20050431, ERP No. F-FHW-H40181-00, South Omaha Veterans
Memorial Bridge Improvements, Across the Missouri River for Highway US-
275 between the Cities of Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa,
NPDES and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, NE and IA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20050434, ERP No. F-FHW-G40169-AR, Springdale Northern Bypass
Project, U.S. Highway 412 Construction, Additional Information,
Designation of a Preferred Alternative,
[[Page 71139]]
Funding and NPDES Permit Issuance, Benton and Washington Counties, AR.
Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.
EIS No. 20050437, ERP No. F-AFS-G65097-NM, Tajique Watershed
Restoration Project, Proposes Fuel Reduction and Restore Forest Health,
Cibola National Forest, Torrance County, NM.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
Dated: November 21, 2005.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 05-23272 Filed 11-23-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P