Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

[[Page 34245]]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4724-5]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared May 22, 1995 Through May 26,

1995 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 Aactivities AT (202)

260-5076.

An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental

impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 14, 1995 (60

FR 19047).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-K61136-00 Rating EO2, Heavenly Ski Resort Master

Plan, Improvement, Expansion and Management, Lake Tahoe Basin

Management Unit, Special-Use-Permit, Douglas County, NV and El Dorado

and Alpine Counties, CA.

SUMMARY: EPA expressed environmental objections to the proposed

action due to potential adverse impacts to air and water quality. EPA

urged consideration of a reduced development alternative that would

have fewer impacts. EPA requested that the proposed project impacts be

mitigated.

ERP No. D-BIA-J65231-MT Rating EC2, Yellowstone Pipe Line Easement,

Construction and Operation, Renewal of Right-of-Way (ROW) Grant for

Easement, Across the Flathead Indian Reservation, Approval of Trust and

Allotted Lands and COE Section 404 Permit, Missoula, Lake and Sanders

Counties, MT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the

proposed action route, and the No Action Alternative. EPA indicated

that the Modified Existing Route Alternative (MERA) is environmentally

preferable and that industry state-of-the art leak detection equipment

and valves be incorporated into the pipeline. In addition, a Product

Spill Responsible Plan should be prepared and available for review with

the final EIS.

ERP No. D-BLM-J02031-WY Rating EC2, Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill

Drilling Projects, Implementation, Right-of-Way Grants and Permit

Issuance, Sweetwater and Lincoln Counties, WY.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns, especially

cumulative impacts on air and water quality from the proposed action

and numerous other proposed and current oil and gas actions in SW

Wyoming. EPA has requested that the final EIS address this and supply

additional information on monitoring and mitigation.

ERP No. D-DOE-A00168-00 Rating LO, Nuclear Weapons Nonproliferation

Policy Concerning Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel,

Implementation, United States and Abroad.

SUMMARY: EPA reviewed the proposed action and the alternatives and

had no comments.

ERP No. D-DOE-D05123-PA Rating EC2, York County Energy Partners

Cogeneration Facility, Funding, Construction and Operation, 250

Megawatt Coal-Fired Cogeneration Facility, Clean Coal Technology

Program (CCTP), North Codorus Township, York County, PA.

SUMMARY: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on deficiencies

in the health assessment and concern that the air and solid waste

emissions could be further reduced. EPA proposed a stakeholders meeting

to discuss new technologies to further reduce project emissions.

ERP No. DS-FHW-D40141-00 Rating EC1, Appalachian Corridor D

Construction, Ohio River to I-77, Updated Information concerning the

completion of Corridor D ``Missing Link'', from US 50 in Belpre, OH to

the Interchange east of Parkersburg, WV, US Coast Guard Bridge, COE

Section 404 and NPDES Permits, WV and OH.

SUMMARY: While this document adequately addressed most of our

previous concerns, EPA continues to have environmental concerns

regarding potential stream/water quality impacts. EPA believes that the

alternatives which avoid Blennerhassett Island a preferable.

FINAL EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L61199-ID, Salmon Wild and Scenic River Corridor

Project, Issuance of Special-Use-Permits for three Private Camps,

Salmon National Forest, Salmon County, ID.

SUMMARY: Review of the final EIS has been completed and the project

found to be environmentally satisfactory. No formal comment letter was

sent to the preparing Agency.

ERP No. F-AFS-L65239-OR, East Fork Deer Creek Long-Term Ecosystem

Productivity Research Study, Implementation, Willamette National

Forest, Blue River Ranger District, Lane County, OR.

SUMMARY: EPA provided no formal written comments. EPA has no

objection to the preferred alternative as described in the EIS.

ERP No. F-FHW-D40266-MD, Canal Parkway Development Study,

Improvement from MD-51 to the Wiley Ford Bridge in Cumberland, Funding,

Right-of-Way Grant and COE Section 404 Permit, Allegany County, MD.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-FHW-G40138-TX, US 82 Highway (East-West Freeway in the

City of Lubbock) Transportation Improvements from South of Loop 289 to

East of I-27 and Relocation of the Seagraves, Whiteface and Lubbock

Railroad, Funding and Right-of-Way Grant, Lubbock County, TX.

Summary: EPA believes the final EIS has reasonably responded to

comments. No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-UAF-D11021-PA, Institute for Advanced Science and

Technology (IAST) Site Selection and Construction, Funding, University

of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Summary: EPA does not have any comments regarding the project. The

final EIS adequately addresses our concerns on this project. No formal

comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. FS-NRC-E06008-TN, Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2,

Updated Information Related to the Operations, Facility Operating

License and NPDES Permit Issuance, Rhea County, TN.

Summary: EPA had environmental concerns that this document did not

adequately address two issues raised at the draft EIS stage: need for

power; and pollution prevention and recommended that future NEPA

documents be more inclusive of these issues.

Regulations

ERP No. R-NRC-A09823-00, 10 CFR Part 60 Disposal of High-Level

Radioactive Wastes in Geologic Repositories; Proposed Rules FR

59.15180.

Summary: EPA reviewed the proposed rule and had no comments. No

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: June 27, 1995.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 95-16176 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]

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