Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4718-4]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared November 28, 1994 through

December 2, 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-BLM-K67027-AZ Rating EO2, Cypus Tohono Open Pit Mine

Expansion Project, Plan of Operation Approval and Drilling Permit,

Implementation, Tohono O'odham Nation, Papago Indian Reservation, Pinal

County, AZ.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with the potential

discharges from ponds and the open pit into groundwater. EPA

recommended the final EIS provide more information on potential acid

drainage formation, metals present in areas where there is potential

for mobilization, and permeability of materials used to line pads and

ponds. The final EIS should evaluate an alternative which includes

increasing the stormwater containment capacity of the pregnant leach

solution ponds to handle a 100-year, 24-hour storm. The final EIS also

needs to provide analysis of the Clean Water Act Section 404

compliance.

ERP No. D-FHW-E40755-NC Rating EC2, US 70 Improvements Project, I-

40 to the Intersection of US 70 and US 70 Business, Funding and COE

Section 404 Permit, Wake and Johnston Counties, NC.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding wetlands

and air quality and requested additional information on wetlands

mitigation and socio-economic impacts.

ERP No. D-UAF-L11025-AK Rating EO2, Alaska Military Operations

Areas (MOAs) Temporary MOAs Conversion to Permanent MOAs; New MOAs

Creation; MOAs Modification; Supersonic Aircraft Operations and Routine

Flying Training, Joint/Combined Flying Training and Major Flying

Exercises Activities, Elmendorf Air Force Base, AK.

Summary: EPA had environmental objections based on impacts to

biological and recreation resources, potential adverse effects on

subsistence activities and potential noise impacts on off-base

residents. Additional information and clarification is needed to

describe cumulative adverse impacts and mitigation effectiveness

monitoring, develop more specific noise thresholds for impacted species

and describe the conformity of the proposed action with requirements of

Executive Order 12898.

ERP No. D-USN-D11023-MD Rating EC2, Naval Air Warfare Center

Aircraft Division, Base Realignment and Construction, Patuxent River,

St. Mary's, Calvert and Charles Counties, MD.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding water

conservation and requested that wetlands and forest habitat be more

clearly defined in the final EIS.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-BLM-E65044-FL Florida Land and Resource Management Plan,

Implementation, Split-Estate Federal Mineral Ownership (FMO), several

counties, FL.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over habitat loss

from the proposed alternative and suggests the Withlacoochee State

Forest prohibit future limestone sales. The final EIS was responsive to

other concerns EPA expressed in the draft EIS.

ERP No. F-CGD-D50005-VA Parallel Crossing of the Chesapeake Bay,

Construction and Operation, US 13 between the Delmarva Peninsula and

southeastern Virginia, Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits and CGD

Bridge Permit, Virginia Beach, Northampton County, VA.

Summary: EPA continued to express environmental objection to the

preferred alternative and felt the Coast Guard did not adequately

consider the 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement with respect to induced

growth.

ERP No. F-FHW-J40129-WY US 14/16/20 Highway Improvements, Cody to

Yellowstone National Park Highway, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit,

Shoshone National Forest, Park County, WY.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the project as proposed. Earlier

concerns regarding water quality were addressed in the Final EIS.

ERP No. F-TVA-E65041-00 Land Between The Lakes (LBL) Natural

Resource Management Plan, Implementation, KY and TN.

Summary: EPA had environmental concerns regarding timbering and

encouraged reductions in these impacts. EPA felt that the preferred

alternative increased resource preservation.

ERP No. F-UMT-J40119-UT I-15/State Street Corridor Highway and

Transit Improvements, Funding, Salt Lake County, UT.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the project as proposed. Earlier

environmental concerns regarding wetlands and air quality standards

were adequately addressed in the Final EIS.

Dated: December 13, 1994.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, Federal Agency Liaison Division, Office of Federal

Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-30993 Filed 12-15-94; 8:45 am]

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