[Federal Register: January 25, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 17)]
[
Notices]
[Page 4559-4561]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ja08-57]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER--FRL-6695-4]
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
[[Page 4560]]
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 6, 2007 (72 FR
17156).
Draft EISs
EIS No. 20070332, ERP NO. D-BLM-L65541-OR, Western Oregon Bureau of
Land Management Districts of Salem, Eugene, Roseburg, Coos Bay, and
Medford Districts, and the Klamath Falls Resource Area of the Lakeview
District, Revision of the Resource Management Plans, Implementation,
OR.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because of
potential long-term impacts to water quality and further exceedances of
water quality standards in impaired water bodies under Alternatives 2
or 3. In addition, EPA suggests modifications to reduce significant
impacts to drinking water and aquatic species, and believes that
direct, indirect and cumulative impacts would affect waters on both BLM
and non-BLM lands. Rating EO2.
EIS No. 20070362, ERP No. D-FRC-L03013-00, Bradwood Landing Project,
Liquified Natural Gas Import Terminal and Natural Gas Pipeline
Facilities, Construction and Operation, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and
404 Permits, Clatsop County, OR and Cowlitz County, WA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
environmental impacts, including impacts to wetlands and air quality.
EPA also commented on the alternatives analysis and recommended that
additional information about interrelated projects be provided. Rating
EC2.
EIS No. 20070420, ERP No. D-SFW-K99038-CA, Agua Caliente Tribal Habitat
Conservation Plan (THCP), Application for an Incidental Take Permit for
24 Covered Species, Coachella Valley, Riverside County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because the most
environmentally protective alternative was formulated with
unmitigatable impacts to Tribal sovereignty and was therefore rejected.
EPA recommends that the Service and the Tribe create an alternative
that promotes a greater conservation goal while honoring Tribal
sovereignty. EPA also recommends smart growth conservation measures be
included for areas to be developed. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20070447, ERP No. D-FHW-K40266-CA, Marin-Sonoma Narrows (MSN)
HOV Widening Project, Propose to Relieve Recurrent Congestion along
U.S. 101 south of the Route 37 Interchange in the City of Novato (Marin
County) and ends north of the Corona Road Overcrossing in the City of
Petaluma (Sonoma County), Marin and Sonoma Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed concern about wetland impacts, and requested
that CalTrans choose an option that will minimize wetland impacts.
Rating EC1.
EIS No. 20070455, ERP No. D-SFW-K99039-CA, Coyote Spring Investment
Multispecies Conservation Plan, Issuing a 40-year Incidental Take
Permit for Five Species, Clark and Lincoln Counties, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because of
potentially significant impacts to waters of the U.S. and insufficient
alternatives analysis. EPA also expressed concerns about insufficient
analysis for groundwater cumulative impacts, traffic-related air
quality impacts, biological resources, and population growth. Rating
EO2.
EIS No. 20070480, ERP No. D-AFS-J65499-UT, Pockets Resource Management
Project, Proposes to Salvage Dead and Dying Spruce/Fir, Regenerate
Aspen, and Manage Travel, Escalate Ranger District, Dixie National
Forest, Garfield County, UT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to
water quality from activities associated with roads and water crossings
for vegetation treatments, and requested the final EIS further discuss
road management decisions, and road inspection, evaluation and
enforcement activities. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20070496, ERP No. D-FRC-G03036-00, Fayetteville/Greenville
Expansion Project, Construction and Operation of the Natural Gas
Pipeline Facilities in Arkansas and Mississippi.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested that
the Final EIS provide additional information concerning environmental
justice, wetland impacts and mitigation, and air quality impacts.
Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20070503, ERP No. D-AFS-L65544-AK, Navy Timber Sale Project, To
Address the Potential Effects of Timber Harvesting on Etolin Island,
Wrangell Ranger District, Tongass National Forest, AK.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential
for water quality impacts, particularly in the Anita Creek, Quiet
Creek, and Kindergarten Lake watersheds, as well as destruction of
relatively high amounts of Productive Old Growth (POG) habitat. Rating
EC2.
EIS No. 20070481, ERP No. DS-COE-E67005-NC, PCS Phosphate Mine
Continuation, New Information on Additional Alternative ``L'' and
``M'', Proposes to Expand its Existing Open Pit Phosphate Mining
Operation into a 3,412 Acre Tract, Pamlico River and South Creek, near
Aurora, Beaufort County, NC.
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental objections to the
applicant's preferred alternative due to the significant wetland
resource impacts. Rating EO2.
Final EISs
EIS No. 20070449, ERP No. F-BLM-L67046-ID, Smoky Canyon Mine Panels F &
G, Proposed Mine Expansion, Caribou County, ID.
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental objections because
of the potential for adverse effects to groundwater and surface water
in the project area from release of Se from the proposed expansion.
EIS No. 20070456, ERP No. F-DOE-D09800-PA, Gilberton Coal-to-Clean
Fuels and Power Project, Construction and Operation a New Demonstration
Plant, Preferred Alternative Selected, Schuylkill County, PA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because the proposed
project would cause an increase in CO2 emissions over
conventional coal-fired power plants.
EIS No. 20070472, ERP No. F-DOE-D09801-WV, Western Greenbrier Co-
Production Demonstration Project, Construction and Demonstration of a
98 megawatt (MWe) Net Power Plant and Ash Byproduct Manufacturing
Facility, Rainelle, WV.
Summary: EPA's previous issues have been resolved; therefore, EPA
does not object to the proposed action.
EIS No. 20070499, ERP No. F-FRC-L05238-00, Klamath Hydroelectric
Project, Continued Operations for Hydropower License FERC No. 2082-27,
Klamath River, Klamath County, OR and Siskiyou County, CA.
Summary: EPA recommended that additional monitoring and adaptive
management measures be incorporated into the Record of Decision. EPA
also recommended that additional analyses be performed prior to
initiation of Clean Water Act Section 401 certification process.
EIS No. 20070500, ERP No. F-COE-K35044-CA, Berth 136-147 [TraPac]
Container Terminal Project, Upgrade Existing Wharf Facilities, Install
a Buffer Area between the Terminal and Community, U.S. Army COE Section
[[Page 4561]]
10 and 404 Permit, West Basin Portion of the Port of Los Angeles, CA.
Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about air
quality and wetland impacts, and recommended air quality mitigation
measures and the selection of the no-fill alternative.
EIS No. 20070511, ERP No. F-BLM-L65524-AK, Bay Resource Management
Plan, Implementation, Located within the Bristol Bay and Goodnews Bay
Areas, AK.
Summary: The final EIS addressed EPA's concerns about cumulative
impacts and developing a monitoring plan. However, EPA continues to
have concerns about impacts to resources after lease expiration, and
lack of information specific to tribal consultation in the planning
area, in accordance with Executive Order 13075.
EIS No. 20070513, ERP No. F-FHW-G40173-TX, Grand Parkway/TX-99 Segment
E Improvement Project, IH-10 to U.S. 290, Funding, Right-of-Way Grant
and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Harris County, TX.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20070535, ERP No. F-AFS-K65295-CA, Horse Heli Project, Harvest
Merchantable Timber, Thin Stands, Treat Fuels, and Conduct Associated
Activities, Klamath National Forest, Oak Knoll Ranger District,
Siskiyou County, CA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20070548, ERP No. F-NPS-J65463-CO, Rocky Mountain National
Park, Elk and Vegetation Management Plan, Implementation, Grand and
Larimer Counties, CO.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20070554, ERP No. F-FRC-J03019-CO, High Plains Expansion
Project, (Docket No. CP07-207-000) Natural Gas Pipeline Facility,
Construction and Operation, U.S. Army COE 404, Weld, Adams, and Morgan
Counties, CO.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20080003, ERP No. F-AFS-L65540-WA, Old Curlew Ranger Station
Facilities Disposal Project, Proposal to Sell 3-Acre Parcel Including
Buildings, Republic Ranger District, Colville National Forest, South
Side of Curlew, Ferry County, WA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20070487, ERP No. FA-COE-E39051-FL, Lake Okeechobee Regulation
Schedule Study, New Updated Information, Evaluation of Three New
Alternatives on Operational Changes to the Current Water Control Plan,
Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades Agricultural Area, Lake Okeechobee,
Glades, Okeechobee Hendry, Palm Beach and Martin Counties, FL.
Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concerns about impacts
on the lower river and estuaries from Lake Okeechobee flow releases.
Dated: January 22, 2008.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA, Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E8-1310 Filed 1-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P