Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4709-7]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared March 7, 1994 Through March

11, 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 the Federal Register April

10, 1993 (58 FR 18392).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-J65213-MT Rating EC2, Helena National Forest and

Elkhorn Mountain portion of the Deerlodge National Forest Land and

Resources Management Plan, Oil and Gas Leasing, Implementation, several

counties, MT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the

adequacy of the data presented in the DEIS to describe the existing

condition and potential environmental effects to the aquatic resources

within the analysis area. EPA also raised concerns regarding the level

of protection given to waters of the United States, including wetlands,

and the lack of a monitoring plan for various stages in the leasing

process.

ERP No. D-AFS-J65214-CO Rating EC2, Sheep Flats, Grove Creek and

Valley View Timber Sales, Harvesting Timber and Road Construction,

Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, Collban

District, Mesa County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding monitoring

and evaluation and biological diversity. EPA requested clarifying

information in the final document.

ERP No. D-COE-L32009-OR Rating EC2, Coos Bay Channel Deepening

Project, Navigation Improvements and Ocean Disposal Sites Designation,

OR.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on the

potential adverse effects to existing beneficial uses of streams. EPA

requested additional information about compliance with water quality

standards, mitigation effectiveness, cumulative effects, site-specific

monitoring, and noise effects.

ERP No. D-TVA-E65041-00 Rating EC2, Land between the Lakes (LBL)

Natural Resource Management Plan, Implementation, KY and TN.

Summary: EPA supported TVA alternative E, which provided multiple

use and uneven-aged silvaculture. EPA expressed environmental concerns

about potential high-grading of timber, nutrient runoff into lakes, and

out-dated aquatic plant/blue-green algae information.

ERP No. D-UAF-J11009-CO Rating EC2, Lowry Air Force Base (AFB)

Disposal and Reuse, Implementation, Denver County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the November

1993 Lowry reuse plan based on residential use near contaminated areas

and recommended further study. Also recommended was conformity

information under the Clean Air Act.

ERP No. DS-AFS-J82005-MT Rating LO, Lewis and Clark National Forest

Noxious Weed Control Program, Updated Information, Implementation,

several countries, MT.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the preferred alternative

involving integrated chemical, biological, and manual control of weeds

on the Forest, but requested that the FEIS include additional maps and

further evaluation of the potential for runoff of herbicides at toxic

concentrations into Frenchies Gulch.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-J65208-MT, Smokey-Corridor Timber Sales, Timber

Management and Road Construction/Reconstruction, Implementation, Lewis

and Clark National Forest, White Sulphur Springs, Meagher County, MT.

Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-COE-G39027-LA, Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Comprehensive

Restoration Plan, Implementation and Funding, several parishes, LA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the Corps of

Engineers had not demonstrated compliance with all state and federal

laws for each of the individual projects included in the Implementation

phase. EPA also recommended against relying on the section 404

permitting process to accomplish required NEPA compliance.

ERP No. F-FAA-G51026-TX, New Austin Airport at Bergstrom Air Force

Base (AFB) 1993 Master Plan, Approval, Funding, Property Acquisition

and Construction, City of Austin, Travis County, TX.

Summary: EPA's environmental concerns on the draft EIS about the

alternatives, wetlands impact, air quality and pollution prevention

were answered in the Final EIS. EPA asked that additional, clarifying

information supporting Alternative F-North be provided in the Record of

Decision.

ERP No. F-NPS-J61089-UT, Timpanogos Cave National Monument General

Management and Development Concept Plans, Implementation, American Fork

Canyon, Utah County, UT.

Summary: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. FS-AFS-J65193-MT, 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: Review of the Final EIS was not deemed necessary. No

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: March 22, 1994.

Marshall Cain,

Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 94-7116 Filed 3-24-94; 8:45 am]

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