Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4708-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared January 17, 1994 through

January 21, 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 10, 1993 (58

FR 18392).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-K67021-NV Rating EC2, 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 regarding the

proposed alternative due to potential impacts to water quality, water

quantity, air quality and vegetation. EPA recommended that the final

EIS provide additional information on these issues as well as

cumulative impacts and wetlands mitigation.

ERP No. D-FRA-B53010-00 Rating LO1, Northeast Corridor Improvement

Project, Implementation, Electrification of the Rail Main Line from New

Haven to Boston, Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, New Haven, CT

and Boston, MA.

Summary: EPA stated that the proposed project had the potential to

improve region air quality and that other environmental resources

within EPA's jurisdiction and expertise would not be significantly

adversely affected by the proposed project.

ERP No. DC-FHW-B40050-MA Rating EC2, Central Artery/I-93 Third

Harbor Tunnel/I-90 Extension, Updated and Additional Information,

Design Alternatives for the Charles River Crossing, Funding, US COE

Section 10 and 404 Permits, US CGD Permits and EPA NPDES Permit,

Suffolk County, MA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns for Clean Air Act

conformity requirements to be addressed, and the analysis of shading

impacts and compensatory mitigation for adverse environmental impacts

to waters of the United States. EPA commented that all three new design

alternatives presented in the draft supplemental EIS would have less

adverse environmental impact, and less adverse impact on parks and open

space, than the alternative (Scheme Z) presented in the 1991 final

supplemental EIS as the proposed action.

ERP No. DS-AFS-K65136-CA Rating LO, Casa-Guard Timber Sale, Timber

Harvesting, Updated Information concerning Impacts on the California

Spotted Owl and Fish Creek Watershed and Reforestation, Sequoia

National Forest, Cannell Meadow Ranger District, Tulare County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the proposed action.

ERP No. DS-AFS-K65137-CA Rating LO, Cottonwood and Gulf Timber

Sales, Timber Harvesting in the Breckenridge Compartment, Updated

Information Concerning Withdrawal of the Golf Timber Sale and Impacts

on the California Spotted Owl and Reforestation for the Cottonwood

Timber Sale, Sequoia National Forest, Greenhorn Ranger District, Kern

County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections with the proposed action.

Final EISs

No. F-COE-B40062-NH, Nashua-Hudson Circumferential Highway

Improvements, Approval and COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Towns of

Hudson, Nashua and Litchfield, Hillsborough County, NH.

Summary: EPA had environmental objections to the proposed action

due to (1) significant degradation of waters of the United States,

including wetlands; (2) potential adverse impacts to water supply

resources; and (3) the lack of specific mitigation to offset the

impacts to waters of the U.S. and drinking water supplies. EPA stated

that the proposed action is a likely candidate for action under EPA's

Section 404 (c) authority and recommended that the Corps of Engineers

deny the Section 404 permit application.

Dated: February 1, 1994.

Richard E. Sanderson,

Director, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-2606 Filed 2-3-94; 8:45 am]

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