Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4721-5]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared February 20, 1995 Through

February 24, 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 Activities at

(202) 260-5076.

An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental

impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 10, 1995 (59

FR 16807).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-FHW-E40757-AL Rating EC2, Eastern Pleasure Island

Hurricane Evacuation Route Construction, AL-182 in Orange Beach to CR-

95 near CR-20 (on the mainland) and CR-95 near CR-20 to I-10, Funding

and US Coast Guard Bridge and COE Section 404 Permits Issuance, Baldwin

County, AL.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the projects

will impact between 66.7 and 75 acres of wetlands and that the

documents do not evaluate impacts to terrestrial resources.

ERP No. D-FHW-G40140-TX Rating EC2, Grand Parkway Segment (TX-99)

Improvements Project, from TX-225 to I-10, Funding, COE Section 404

Permit and Right-of-Way Grant, Harris and Chambers Counties, TX.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the proposal

and requested that the additional information needed in the final EIS

primarily focus on project alternatives, cumulative impacts, a current

air quality analysis, and environmental justice.

ERP No. D-FHW-K53007-CA Rating EC2, Alameda Railroad Corridor

Consolidated Project, Construction from Downtown Los Angeles to the

Badger Avenue Bridge/CA-91, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit and ICC

Approval, Los Angeles County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns primarily with the

draft EIS's assessment of the project's potential air quality impacts

and the mitigation measures described in the project documentation. EPA

commended the inclusion of a worst-case emergency response plan for

hazardous material incidents, and pollution prevention features to

reuse/recycle waste material from existing rail lines.

ERP No. DS-FTA-K51035-CA Rating EC2, Bay Area Rapid Transit

District (BART) Transportation Improvements, San Francisco to San

Francisco International Airport Extension, Updated and Additional

Information, Approval, Funding, COE Section 404 and Possible FHWA

Encroachment Permits Issuance, San Mateo County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to potential

impacts to wetlands, endangered species, and groundwater that is a

drinking water source for area residents. EPA asked that the final EIS

provide more information on issues associated with the Clean Water Act

Section 404 permit, including the least environmentally damaging

practicable alternative; and potential groundwater impacts from project

construction and operation including mitigation and monitoring for

adverse impacts.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L65173-OR Buzzard Project Area Timber Sale and Road

Construction, Implementation, Umatilla National Forest, Walla Walla

Ranger District, Union and Wallowa Counties, OR.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on

[[Page 15565]] uncertain sediment output from the proposed timber

harvest and potential effects on water quality and the lack of a

monitoring feedback loop.

ERP No. F-FHW-D40261-WV US 19/Corridor L Improvements from Nicholas

County High School to I-79, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit,

Nicholas and Braxton Counties, WV.

Summary: EPA believed that the mitigative measures to offset

unavoidable impacts to aquatic and terrestrial resources are

insufficient and that noise and visual impact mitigation are not

sufficiently described.

ERP No. F-USA-A11072-00 Theater Missile Defense (TMD) Extended Test

Range, Demonstration and Operation, Missile Flight Test,

Implementation, United States, Republic of the Marshall Islands and

Wake Island, Pacific.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the final EIS

did not properly address alternatives analysis, noise issues, hazardous

waste issues, and response to federal and state comments.

Regulations

ERP No. R-DOA-A99201-00 7 CFR Part 335, Plant Pests: Introduction

of Non-Indigenous Organisms--Proposed Rule.

Summary: The proposed regulation on the importation of non-

indigenous species does not indicate how the Animal and Plant Health

Inspection Service (APHIS) intends to deal with the issue of the

importation of genetically altered species or with the issue of

overlapping authority between APHIS and the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) with regard to the importation of species used in

pesticidal activities. The proposed regulation also does not clearly

define the standards which APHIS will apply when making permitting

decisions and does not clearly define the information which will be

required in a permit application.

Dated: March 21, 1995.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 95-7359 Filed 3-23-95; 8:45 am]

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