Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4718-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared November 21, 1994, through

November 25, 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, 1994 (59

FR 16807).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-J65224-MT Rating EC2

Running Wolf Timber Sales, Implementation, Lewis and Clark National

Forest, Judith Ranger District, Stanford, Judith Basin County, MT.

Summary

EPA expressed concerns regarding the assessment of water quality

impacts, and the adequacy of the water quality monitoring program. The

final EIS needs to fully assess all potential impacts of management

actions.

ERP No. D-AFS-K61132-CA Rating LO1

Eight Eastside Rivers, Wild and Scenic River Study, Suitability or

Nonsuitability, Tahoe National Forest and Lake Tahoe Management Unit,

Land and Resource Management Plans, Alpine, El Dorado El Dorado,

Placer, Nevada and Sierra Counties, CA.

Summary

EPA expressed a lack of objections for the proposed action.

However, EPA suggests that the final EIS address potential water

quality impacts, air pollution sources and visibility.

ERP No. D-BLM-K67026-CA Rating EC2

Briggs Open Pit Heap Leach Gold Mine Project, Construction and

Operation, NPDES Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Inyo County, CA.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential impacts to

water quality, wildlife, air quality, and visual quality. Additional

information was requested for impacts to surface water and wetlands,

facilities designs, closure of the heap leach pad, contingency measure,

and reclamation/ maintenance of the heap leach pad after project

completion and the relationship between the proposed mine and the new

California Desert Protection Act.

ERP No. D-DOE-L39052-OR Rating EC2

Columbia River System Operation Review (SOR), Multiple Use

Management, Long-Term System Planning By Interested Parties Other than

Management Agencies, Canadian Entitlement Allocation Agreement Renewal

or Modification and Pacific NW Coordination Agreement Renewal or

Renegotiation, OR.

Summary

EPA expressed concerns regarding the geographic scope of the draft

EIS; degree of integration with related regional studies addressing

salmon survival; limited baseline data; predictive accuracy of the

salmon passage models; dam operational impacts on anadromous and

resident fish, water quality and wetlands. EPA recommended these issues

be further discussed including mitigation measures monitoring

requirements, and the need to develop a management approach to address

future dam operational changes.

ERP No. D-FHA-D85034-WV Rating EO2

Spring Hills Subdivision Housing Project, Construction, Funding,

Charlestown, WV.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental objections with the preferred

alternative due to potential significant impacts to on-site wetlands

and the adjacent Altona Marsh. EPA also expressed concerns regarding

wetland delineation and stormwater management systems. EPA recommended

that another alternative be selected.

FINAL EISs

ERP No. F-JUS-G11010-00

Joint Task Force (JTF)--Six Support Services Continuation Program,

Implementation, Programmatic EIS, TX, NM, AZ, CA, U.S./Mexico Border

and Texas Gulf Coast.

Summary

EPA had no objections to the proposed action.

ERP No. F-USN-E11033-FL

Pensacola Naval Air Station Realignment, Relocation of Memphis

Naval Air Station and Closure of San Diego Naval Training Center,

Implementation, Pensacola Bay, FL.

Summary

EPA had no objection with the project as proposed.

ERP No. FB-FHW-D40010-MD

Boston Street Corridor (a part of the former I-83 Corridor Project)

Transportation Improvements, Chester Street to Conlking Street,

Additional Information concerning New Alternatives Under Consideration,

Approval and Funding, East Baltimore, Baltimore County, MD.

Summary

The final EIS adequately addresses our concerns on this project.

Dated: December 6, 1994.

Richard E. Sanderson,

Director, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-30376 Filed 12-8-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P