Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4709-1]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared February 14, 1994 Through

February 18, 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-L65218-ID

Rating EC2, Jenkins Timber Sale, Harvesting Timber and Road

Construction, Payette National Forest, New Meadows Ranger District,

Idaho and Adams Counties, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns on the Best

Management Practices effectiveness and potential wetlands and air

quality impacts. Additional information is requested to: clarify

monitoring commitments, document wetland impacts and discuss air

quality impacts to sensitive areas.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65219-ID

Rating EC2, Hazard Helicopter Timber Sale, Harvesting Timber and

Road Construction, Payette National Forest, New Meadows Ranger

District, Idaho County, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns on potential effects

on water quality and air quality. Additional information was requested

on proposed monitoring and prescribed burning.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65221-ID

Rating EC2, Hungry-Mill Timber Sales, Harvesting Timber and Road

Construction, Nez Perce National Forest, Clearwater Ranger District,

Idaho County, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding water

quality impacts. EPA requested additional information concerning water

quality, wetlands and riparian areas, and monitoring.

ERP No. D-BLM-K65158-CA

Rating EO2, Clear Creek Management Area, Land and Resource

Management Plan Amendment, Implementation, San Benito and Fresno

Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the preferred

alternative based on the potential human health risks posed by exposure

to asbestos, a known human carcinogen. In addition, water quality,

soils and unique biological resources in the area are degraded as a

result of past and current human activities including mining and

recreation. EPA urged BLM to minimize asbestos emissions by

implementing aggressive management actions. EPA also recommended that

measures be implemented by BLM to improve water quality, soil

stability, and riparian and upland vegetation.

ERP No. D-DOE-C22002-NY

Rating EC2, Tonawanda Site, (Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial

Action Program) Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study for

Residual Radioactive Contamination, Funding, City of Tonawanda, NY.

Summary: EPA had environmental concerns about insufficient analysis

of the possible locations for the on-site encapsulation cell, potential

aquifer contamination, long-term institutional controls and site

monitoring arrangements, and the need for appropriate wetlands

mitigation measures.

ERP No. DS-BLM-K60023-CA

Rating EO2, Rail-Cycle-Bolo Station Class III Nonhazardous Waste

Landfill Project, Construction and Operation, Updated Information,

Federal Land Exchange and Right-of-Way Grants, San Bernardino County,

CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections based on potential

impacts to air quality. Additional information is needed in the FEIS on

air quality impacts, air quality mitigation, groundwater monitoring,

waters of the US, hazardous waste, biological resources and wilderness

areas.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L60096-ID

Moyer Salt Timber Sale, Timber Harvest and Road Construction/

Reconstruction, Implementation, Salmon National Forest, Cobalt Ranger

District, Lemhi County, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the lack of

BMP effectiveness monitoring. EPA recommended that the Forest Service

consider including a commitment to BMP effectiveness monitoring for

water quality in the Record of Decision.

ERP No. F-BLM-L65127-AK

Fort Wainwright Maneuver Area, Resource Management Plan for

Nonmilitary Uses, AK.

Summary: The final EIS did not resolve EPA's concerns regarding

cumulative impacts analysis, monitoring or the relationship of this

Resource Management Plan to other plans yet to be developed.

ERP No. F-BLM-L65128-AK

Fort Greely Maneuver Area and Air Drop Zone, Resource Management

Plan for Nonmilitary Uses, AK.

Summary: The final EIS did not resolve EPA's concerns regarding

cumulative impacts analysis, monitoring or the relationship of this

Resource Management Plan to other plans yet to be developed.

ERP No. F-FHW-F40321-MI

US 23 Improvements, MI-13 to MI-65 and segments of Standish and

Omer Cities, Funding, Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, Arenac

County, MI.

Summary: EPA agreed with the recommended alternative for the

project: Improvements on existing alignment; and was appreciative that

this alternative will have the least impact, other than the No Action,

on area of wetlands. Accordingly, concerns raised in our June 5, 1992

letter have been adequately mitigated.

Dated: February 28, 1994.

Marshall Cain,

Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-5028 Filed 3-3-94; 8:45 am]

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