Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4712-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared May 23, 1994 through May 27,

1994 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)

260-5076.

An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental

impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 8, 1994 (59 FR

16807).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-BLM-E65044-FL Rating EC2, Florida Land and Resource

Management Plan, Implementation, Split-Estate Federal Mineral Ownership

(FMO), several counties, FL.

Summary: EPA supported alternative 2, but expressed environmental

concerns regarding the potential wetland and wading bird impacts.

ERP No. D-FHW-K40202-CA Rating EO2, CA-58--Mojave Freeway Project,

Construction from 0.1 mile east of the Cache Creek Bridge to 5.0 miles

east of the town of Mojave, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit and Right-

of-Way Acquisition, Kern County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections due to the loss and

fragmentation of habitat for the desert tortoise, a species listed as

threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The preferred alternative

affects the most desert tortoise habitat despite the US Fish & Wildlife

Service's strong recommendation to avoid habitat loss and

fragmentation. EPA's second objection was the failure of the draft EIS

to address the requirements of the Clean Water Act Section 404 or its

regulations. The preferred alternative had the most impact to waters of

the United States, according to the draft EIS. The final EIS needs to

address the project's consistency with Section 404 requirements,

including impact mitigation.

ERP No. D-FHW-L40189-WA Rating EC2, WA-525/Paine Field Boulevard

Project, Improvements, between WA-99 to WA-526, Funding and COE Section

404 Permit, City of Mukitteo, Snohomish County, WA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the potential

for adverse impacts on water quality, wetlands and fisheries resources.

EPA had requested additional information on effects of the estimated

annual pollutant load on water quality, effectiveness of mitigation,

and potential impacts on natural resources from indirect effects,

secondary and cumulative impacts.

ERP No. D-NPS-K61128-CA Rating EC2, Santa Rosa Island Development

Concept Plan, Implementation and Funding, Channel Islands National

Park, Santa Barbara County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential

adverse impacts to water quality from the project, particularly

construction-related impacts. The final EIS should closely examine

potential project impacts to water quality and water quality mitigation

measures which may prove necessary under the Clean Water Act

(stormwater permitting from construction actions, consistency with

California's nonpoint source management program). The final EIS should

provide details on hazardous substances which could have emanated from

a defunct air force base on the Island.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-K67021-NV, Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine Expansion

Project, Implementation, Plan of Operation and COE Section 404 Permit,

Humboldt National Forest, Mountain City Ranger District, Elko County,

NV.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the new

information in the final EIS on the acid potential of waste rock at the

project site, EPA had serious concerns regarding waste rock

characterization, handling and disposal.

ERP No. F-DOE-L05204-WA, Tenaska--Washington II Generation Electric

Power Plant Construction, Operation and NPDES Permit, Pierce County,

WA.

Summary: EPA had a lack of objection to the proposed project.

ERP No. F-FAA-L51014-WA, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

Improvement, South Aviation Support Area, Airport Layout Plan, Airport

Master Plan, Funding, Section 10 and 404 Permits and NPDES Permit, Port

of Seattle, King County, WA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential

effects to wetland and aquatic resources. EPA recommended the

development of a wetland plan that is an enforceable condition of a 404

permit. Mitigation measures to deal with flow attenuation in Des Moines

Creek remain inadequate. EPA recommended that the types and amounts of

pollutants that will enter Puget Sound be documented in the Record of

Decision.

ERP No. F-IBR-K39032-CA, All-American Canal (AAC) Lining Project,

Construction and Operation, Lining a 23-mile Canal from Pilot Knob to

Drop 4, Controlling Water Seepage, Imperial Irrigation District,

Imperial County, CA.

Summary: EPA had no objection to the proposed action.

Dated: June 7, 1994.

Marshall Cain,

Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-14186 Filed 6-9-94; 8:45 am]

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