Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4718-6]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared December 05, 1994 Through

December 09, 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-K65164-00 Rating LO, Southwestern Region Amendment of

Forest Plans, Implementation, Standard and Guidelines for Northern

Goshawk and Mexican Spotted Owl, AZ and NM.

Summary:

EPA expressed lack of objection to the proposed action. EPA

recommended separate RODs for the Kaibab National Forest LRMP amendment

action and the Southwestern Region LRMP amendments action, reevaluation

of the base-in-exchange land exchange policies on owl/goshawk habitat

lands, and requested a description of the Integrated Resource

Management analysis process.

ERP No. D-FHW-D40271-PA Rating EC2, US 219 Transportation Project,

Improvement from I-68 to Somerset and US 219 to Meyersdale, Funding,

Somerset County, PA.

Summary:

EPA expressed environmental concerns focused on the potential

impacts to streams, floodplains, farmlands, and wetlands. Based on the

analysis provided in the draft EIS, EPA believed that the potential

impacts should be successfully mitigated through the concepts outlined.

EPA concurred with the selection of the Western Alternative.

ERP No. D-FHW-G40754-AR Rating EC2, US 71 Highway Transportation

Project, Construction between Texarkana to Louisiana State Line,

Funding, Right-of-Way and COE Section 404 Permit, Miller County, AR.

Summary:

EPA had environmental concerns and requested that additional

information be provided in the final EIS on the rationale used to

determine project boundaries. Additional discussion on the

applicability of this project to Executive Order 12898 was also

requested.

ERP No. D-FRC-B05183-NH Rating EC2, Ayers Island Hydroelectric

Project, Issuance of New Licenses/Relicensing for 8.4 Megawatt (MW)

Project (FERC NO. 2456-009), Pemigewasset and Merrimack River Basin,

Belknap and Grafton Counties, NH.

Summary:

EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding impacts related to

dissolved oxygen, metal contamination, and flows. EPA recommended

additional analysis of these issues, and the need to quantify the

impact of modified peaking and special boating releases to Atlantic

Salmon fishing populations.

ERP No. D-ICC-B53011-ME Rating EC2, Skinner and Vanceboro Rail Line

(Docket No. AB-213 Sub No. 4) Abandonment or Discontinuation Project,

Implementation, Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Aroostock

and Washington Counties, ME.

Summary:

EPA had environmental concerns and commented on the need to avoid

and minimize project impacts to wetlands and water supply resources.

EPA expressed concerns about the loss of rail capacity and with the

proposal to replace rail transport with truck transport. The project

related shift of air emissions from ozone attainment areas to ozone

non-attainment areas will require the state to implement measures to

offset increased air emissions.

ERP No. D-NPS-L61134-OR Rating LO, Crater Lake National Park

Development Concept Plan/Amendment to the General Management Plan,

Implementation, Klamath County, OR.

Summary:

EPA expressed lack of objection to the proposed project and

supports the plans to accommodate visitor demand and protect natural

resources by providing shuttle bus service to high use, sensitive

areas.

ERP No. DS-FHW-G40127-TX Rating EC2, TX-161 Construction, Updated

Information on I-20 to TX-183, Funding, Coast Guard Section 10 Permit

and Possible COE Section 404 Permit, Dallas County, TX.

Summary:

EPA had environmental concerns and requested the Texas Department

of Transportation through the Federal Highway Administration to update

their planning document so it will meet the requirements of the

transportation conformity rule (40 CFR, Part 51 Subpart T or 40 CFR

Part 93 Subpart A). EPA was also seeking a modification of their

discussion of socio-economic impacts to include Environmental Justice

as a result of Executive Order 12898.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-FHW-G40136-OK Poteau Bypass Corridor Construction, US 59/

US 271 Junction 4.5 Miles to the US 59/OK-112 Junction, Funding and COE

Section 404 Permit, City of Poteau, LeFlore County, OK.

Summary:

EPA expressed environmental concerns that additional noise

mitigation (soundproofing) was not considered for noise receptors where

the proposed action would impose a substantial increase in noise

levels. As a result, EPA requested that the Record of Decision include

a discussion on soundproofing the receptors.

Regulations

ERP No. R-NRC-A06176-00 10 CFR Parts 2, 51 and 54: Nuclear Power

Plant License Renewal; Proposed Revisions.

Summary:

Review of the Regulation was not deemed necessary. No formal

comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: December 20, 1994.

Anne Norton Miller,

Deputy Director, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-31631 Filed 12-22-94; 8:45 am]

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