[Federal Register: January 13, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 9)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2227-2228]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13ja06-85]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6671-3]

 
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 the Federal Register dated April 1, 2005 (70 FR 16815).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20050298, ERP No. D-AFS-J65448-UT, West Bear Vegetation 
Management Project, Timber Harvesting, Prescribed Burning, Roads 
Construction, Township 1 North, Range 9 East, Salt Lake Principle 
Meridian, Evanston Ranger District, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, 
Summit County, UT.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential 
for impacts to aquatic and terrestrial resources, and identified the 
need for additional information on monitoring and mitigation. Rating 
EC2.

EIS No. 20050351, ERP No. D-SFW-K65493-CA, East Contra Costa County 
Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan, 
Implementation, Incidental Take Permit, Cities of Brentwood, Clayton, 
Oakley and Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, CA.

    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about the uncertainties of preserve 
land acquisition in areas with conflicting General Plan zoning or in 
nonparticipating jurisdictions, and requested additional information 
regarding alternatives to these acquisition areas to protect covered 
species. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050399, ERP No. D-BLM-L65496-AK, Ring of Fire Resource 
Management Plan, Implementation, Alaska Peninsula , Kodiak Island and 
Aleutain Islands, AK.

    Summary: EPA generally supports the proposal to designate the 
Neacola Mountains Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC), Knik 
River and Haines Block Special Recreation Management Areas. However, 
EPA has concerns about the adequacy of some required operating 
procedures and lease stipulations and recommended improvements for 
consideration in the Final EIS. Rating EC2.

EIS No. 20050452, ERP No. D-BLM-G65099-NM, Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks 
National Monument Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Rio Puerco 
Field Office, Sandoval County, NM.

    Summary: EPA does not object to the selection of the preferred 
alternative. Rating LO.

EIS No. 20050454, ERP No. D-FRC-D03005-00, Cove Point Expansion 
Project, Construction and Operation of a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
Import Terminal Expansion and Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities, U.S. 
Army COE Section 404 Permit, Docket Nos. CPO5-130-000, CP05-131-000 and 
CP05-132-00, PA, VA, WV, NY and MD.

    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested that 
the Final EIS include mitigation plans for both air quality and wetland 
impacts, as well as address environmental justice issues related to the 
project. Rating EC2.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20050426, ERP No. F-FTA-K40243-CA, Mid-City/Westside Transit 
Corridor Improvements, Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit and Exposition 
Transitway, Construction and Operation, Funding, Section 404 Permit, 
Los Angeles County, CA.
    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed project.
EIS No. 20050457, ERP No. F-IBR-K65252-CA, Lake Berryessa Visitor 
Services Plans, Future Use and Operation, Solano Project Lake 
Berryessa, Napa County, CA.

    Summary: EPA's earlier concerns were addressed in the Final EIS; 
therefore, EPA does not object to the proposed action.


EIS No. 20050480, ERP No. F-NOA-K39092-CA, Programmatic--Montrose 
Settlements Restoration Plan, Restoration of Inquired Natural 
Resources, Channel Islands, Southern California Bight, Baja California 
Pacific Islands, Orange County, CA.

    Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20050485, ERP No. F-FRC-K05059-CA, Upper North Fork Feather 
River Project (FERC No. 2105), Issuance of a New License for existing 
3517.3 megawatt (MW) Hydroelectric Facility located in North Fork 
Feather River and Butt Creek, Plumas County, CA.

    Summary: EPA's previous issues have been resolved; therefore, EPA 
does not object to the proposed action.

EIS No. 20050489, ERP No. F-IBR-J39032-00, Operation of Flaming Gorge 
Dam Colorado River Storage Project, Protection and Assistance in the 
Recovery of Populations and Designated Critical Habitat of Four 
Endangered Fishes: Bony Tail, Colorado Pikeminnow, Humpback Chub, and 
Razorback Sucker, Green River, UT and WY.

    Summary: EPA supports the proposed operation and other management 
activities in the FEIS that are recommended to conserve, protect, and 
promote the recovery of the populations and designated critical habitat 
for endangered fish species.

EIS No. 20050492, ERP No. F-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 continues to have environmental concerns about impacts 
to water quality from roads construction, run-off and soil erosion, and 
cumulative impacts from other, large timber projects to vegetation and 
habitat.

EIS No. 20050494, ERP No. F-NOA-L39063-AK, Amendments to the Alaska 
Coastal Management Program, Approval, Implementation and Funding, US 
Army COE 404 Permit, AK.

    Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about the

[[Page 2228]]

potential adverse impacts to biological, cultural and subsistence 
resources and subsistence users in coastal communities as a result of 
the proposed action.

EIS No. 20050513, ERP No. F-AFS-G65098-AR, Ozark-St. Francis National 
Forests Proposed Revised Land and Resource Management Plan, 
Implementation, Several Counties, AR.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20050497, ERP No. F2-FHW-H40397-MO, Interstate 70 Corridor 
Improvements, Section of Independent Utility 7, a 40-Mile 
Portion of the I-70 Corridor from just West of Route 19 (milepost 174) 
to Lake St. Louis Boulevard (milepost 214) Montgomery, Warren, St. 
Charles Counties, MO.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20050542, ERP No. FS-AFS-L36113-WA, Upper Charley Subwatershed 
Ecosystem Restoration Projects, Proposing to Amend the Umatilla 
National Forests Land and Resource Management Plan to Incorporate 
Management for Canada Lynx, Pomeroy Ranger District, Umatilla National 
Forest, Garfield County, WA.

    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

    Dated: January 10, 2006.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E6-358 Filed 1-12-06; 8:45 am]

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