[Federal Register: April 3, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 63)]
[Notices]
[Page 15263-15264]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03ap09-25]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-8592-1]
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 202-564-7146.
An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 6, 2008 (73 FR
19833).
Draft EISs
EIS No. 20080242, ERP No. D-BLM-D65040-WV, East Lynn Lake Coal Lease
Project, Proposal to Lease Federal Coal that lies Under Nine Tracts of
Land for Mining, Wayne County, WV.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to adverse impacts
to water quality and aquatic life. EPA recommends consideration of an
alternative that includes a more protective buffer between proposed
mining operations and the existing earthen dam including East Lynn
Lake. Additionally, the final EIS should include information on
degradation from past mining activities, clarify the hydrologic
connection between surface and ground water, and geological conditions
in the project area. Rating EO2.
EIS No. 20080279, ERP No. D-FRC-D05125-PA, Holtwood Hydroelectric
Project (Docket No. P-1881-050) Application for an Amendment License to
Increase the Installed Capacity, Susquehanna River, Lancaster and York
Counties, PA.
Summary: Although EPA acknowledged the efforts to address fish
passage, we expressed environmental concerns about potential impacts to
other resources, including wetlands and water quality, and requested
that information, regarding wetland delineation, plans for excavation
of sediment and bedrock, sediment sampling protocols, and a comparison
of impacts of the excavation and blasting plans be included in the
FEIS. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080393, ERP No. D-NRC-D06006-PA, Generic--License Renewal of
Nuclear Plants, Supplement 36 to NUREG-1437, Regarding Beaver Valley
Power Station, Units 1 and 2, Plant Specific, Issuing Nuclear Power
Plant Operating License for an Additional 20-Year Period, PA.
Summary: EPA does not object to proposed project. Rating LO.
EIS No. 20080404, ERP No. D-BLM-J65526-00, Grand Staircase--Escalante
National Monument (GSENM), Draft Monument Management Plan Amendment &
Draft Rangeland Health, Implementation, Portions of Kane and Garfield,
Utah and Coconino County, AZ.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the use of
accurate criteria to measure stream riparian health and trends in the
grazing allotments, and the need to mitigate impacts to the impaired
reaches of the Paria River and the Escalante River. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080484, ERP No. D-NOA-L91033-AK, Bering Sea Chinook Salmon
Bycatch Management, Establish New Measures to Minimize Chinook Salmon
Bycatch, to Amend the Fishery Management Plan, Implementation, Bering
Sea Pollock Fishery, AK.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about monitoring and
enforcement of the Bering Sea Chinook Salmon Bycatch program, and
requested a discussion of how climate change may impact the proposed
action. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080503, ERP No. D-NRC-D06007-PA, Generic--License Renewal of
Nuclear Plants, Supplement 37 to NUREG-1437, Regarding Three Mile
Island Nuclear Station, Unit 1, in Londonterry Township in Dauphin
County, PA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about air quality
impacts associated with the steam generator transport process. Rating
EC2.
EIS No. 20080513, ERP No. D-AFS-L65562-AK, Central Kupreanof Timber
Harvest Project, Proposes to Harvest up to 70.2 Million Board Feet of
Timber, Kupreanof Island, Petersburg Ranger District, Tongass National
Forest, AK.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
adverse impacts to essential fish habitat and water quality from
increased harvest activities. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080521, ERP No. D-NPS-J65528-ND, Theodore Roosevelt National
Park, Elk Management Plan, Implementation, Billing and McKenzie
Counties, ND.
Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed project. Rating LO.
EIS No. 20080535, ERP No. D-BLM-J65529-MT, Indian Creek Mine Expansion,
Proposed Mine Expansion would include Quarry Areas, Mine Facilities,
Ore Storage Sites, Soil Salvage Stockpiles, Haul Roads, and Overburden
Disposal Areas, Issuing Operating Permit 00105 and Plan of
Operation MTM78300, Broadwater County, MT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
impacts to air quality and nitrate contamination of groundwater from
blasting residue. The final EIS should
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include monitoring and mitigation measures to avoid water quality
impacts and an air quality analysis including values for NAAQS and PSD.
Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080543, ERP No. D-NRC-C03017-NY, Generic--License Renewal of
Nuclear Plants, Supplement 38 to NUREG-1437, Regarding Indian Point
Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3, Westchester County, NY.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the proposed
project's impacts to aquatic resources and storage of low level waste.
We recommended that the final SEIS include new geologic and seismic
data concerning recent seismic activity in the area. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20090004, ERP No. D-NPS-H65028-MO, Jefferson National Expansion
Memorial, General Management Plan, Implementation, St. Louis, MO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the competition
for the design of the preferred alternative had not begun, and that the
implemented design could cause ``moderate to major long term to
beneficial impacts on transportation''. EPA recommended working with
metropolitan and State transportation planners to include design
specifications to reduce potential adverse effects. Rating EC2.
Final EISs
EIS No. 20080472, ERP No. F-FRC-D05125-PA, Holtwood Hydroelectric
Project (Docket No. P-1881-050) Application for an Amendment License to
Increase the Installed Capacity, Susquehanna River, Lancaster and York
Counties, PA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because the impacts
associated with sediment and bedrock excavation activities, and
requested additional information, including excavation plans, a
comparison of alternatives, and sediment sampling plans.
EIS No. 20080526, ERP No. F-IBR-J39038-CO, Southern Delivery System
Project, Water Supply Development, Execution of up to 40-year Contracts
for Use of Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Facilities, Special Use Permit,
El Paso County, CO.
Summary: EPA found the Final EIS to be largely responsive to EPA's
comments on the Draft EIS and Supplemental Information Report, and
believes the project is much improved and will result in fewer
environmental impacts than what was originally proposed. EPA does not
object to the proposed project.
EIS No. 20090012, ERP No. F-NOA-L91032-00, Proposed Acceptable
Biological Catch (ABC) and Optimum Yield (OY) Specifications and
Management Measures for the 2009-2010 Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
Management Plan, Implementation, WA, OR and CA.
Summary: While EPA had no objections to the proposed action, EPA
did request clarification on monitoring and catch limits.
EIS No. 20090042, ERP No. FR-AFS-J65446-MT, Beaverhead-Deerlodge
National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Implementation,
Beaverhead, Butte-Silver Bow, Deerlodge, Granite, Jefferson, and
Madison Counties, MT.
Summary: The preferred alternative addresses EPA concerns and we
support the development of a consistent and integrated aquatic strategy
to provide for protection for riparian areas, aquatic species, and good
water quality.
EIS No. 20090037, ERP No. FS-AFS-F65062-MN, Echo Trail Area Forest
Management Project, Updated Information to Amended to Further Address
Water Quality and Watershed Health, Superior National Forest, Lacroix
Ranger District and Kawishiwi Ranger District, St. Louis and Lake
Counties, MN.
Summary: No formal comments were sent to the preparing agency.
Dated: March 31, 2009.
Dawn Roberts,
Management Analyst, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E9-7515 Filed 4-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P