Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4709-3]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared February 21, 1994 through

February 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 Federal Register dated April

10, 1993 (58 FR 18392).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-CGD-D50005-VA

Rating EO2, 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 expressed environmental objections to the project as

proposed, especially to the stated purpose and need, and the direct and

indirect impacts from such actions. EPA also objected to the impacts to

habitat from the dredging and the noise generated by this project.

ERP No. D-FHW-J40131-ND

Rating EC1, ND-57 Improvements, US 281 to ND-20, Funding, Right-of-

Way, NPDES and COE Section 404 Permits, City of Bismarck, ND.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the lack of

sufficient identification of project area wetland resources, and the

relationship of proposed mitigation activities to the resources being

impacted. EPA requested that these issues be addressed in the final

EIS.

ERP No. DS-AFS-J65193-MT

Rating LO, Beaver-Dry Timber Sales, Timber Harvest and Road

Construction, Updated Information, Implementation, Helena National

Forest, Lincoln Ranger District, Lewis and Clark and Powell Counties,

MT.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the proposed action as all points

of concerns raised in response to the final EIS have been resolved.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-J61091-00

Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Comprehensive Plan,

Designation, Construction and Reconstruction, Implementation, Medicine

Bow National Forest, Hayden Ranger District, WY to Rio Grande National

Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District, CO.

Summary: EPA believed that the Forest Service had adequately

addressed EPA concerns.

ERP No. F-AFS-J65200-MT

Little Snowies Vegetative Management and Public Access, Fire and

Timber Management Practices, Lewis and Clark National Forest,

Musselshell Ranger District, City of Harlowton, Fergus and Golden

Valley Counties, MT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about cumulative

effects to water quality, stream and riparian conditions from the

proposed project and domestic grazing.

ERP No. F-AFS-J65201-CO

Fish Creek Reservoir Enlargement, Special Use Permit, Routt

National Forest, Steamboat Springs, Routt County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the preferred

alternative since the final EIS identified practicable, less damaging

alternatives such as the combined alternatives. EPA wishes to work with

the Forest Service and Streamboat Springs to ensure that a less

damaging alternative is arrived at that will also ensure future water

supply needs.

ERP No. F-AFS-J65204-MT

Tolan Creek Timber Sale, Timber Harvest and Road Construction,

Tolan Creek, Bitterroot National Forest, Sula Ranger District, Ravalli

County, MT.

Summaryu: EPA expressed environmental concerns about air quality

impacts to the anacondapintler wilderness area from precribed burning.

ERP No. F-AFS-L65156-ID

Big Eightmile, North Fork of Timber and Alder Creek Timber Sale,

Reforestation and Road Construction, Implementation, Lemhi Range

Roadless Area, Salmon National Forest, Lemhi County, ID.

Summary: EPA continued to have environmental concerns with the

preferred alternative (Alternative J) since the air quality analysis

did not provide the basis for the no effect conclusion.

ERP No. F-BLM-J65187-UT

Diamond Mountain Resource Area, Resource Management Plan,

Implementation, Daggett, Duchesne and Uintah Counties, UT.

Summary: EPA felt that the Bureau of Land Management had adequately

addressed EPA concerns.

ERP No. F-FHW-J40117-CO

CO-82 Transportation Improvements, East of Basalt to the Buttermilk

Ski Area West of Aspen, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, Pitkin

County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding wetland and

air quality mitigation.

ERP No. F-FHW-J40127-UT

West Valley Highway Transportation Improvement, 9000 South to 12600

South, Funding and Right-of-Way Acquisition, Salt Lake County, UT.

Summary: EPA encouraged the use of less impactive de-icing

alternatives, including a reduction in road salt application.

ERP No. F-NOA-L90023-WA

Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, Management Plan, Site

Designation, NPDES Permit and COE Permit, Olympic Peninsula, WA.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the activities suggested in this

document.

ERP No. F-NRC-J22004-UT

Uranium and Thorium Byproduct Material Disposal Project,

Construction and Operation, Licenses, Salt Lake City, Tooele County,

UT.

Summary: EPA continued to have a lack of objections for the project

as proposed in the final EIS.

Dated: March 7, 1994.

Marshall Cain,

Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-5730 Filed 3-10-94; 8:45 am]

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