Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-4722-4]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared March 20, 1995 Through March

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 14, 1995 (72

FR 19047).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-J65227-MT Rating EC2, Wagner-Atlanta Vegetation

Treatment Project, Implementation, Helena National Forest, Townsend

Ranger District, Meagher County, MT.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns with the treatment methods/

units, existing degraded water quality/fisheries in the project area,

and an inadequate plan for a water quality monitoring program. EPA

recommended additional information be collected to fully assess and

mitigate impacts of the proposed action. EPA supported a combination of

grass burns (Alternative C) and harvest methods from the other

alternatives which protect big game, minimize new road construction,

protect water quality, in stream uses and the aquatic ecosystem.

ERP No. D-AFS-J65228-UT Rating EC1, Jacob/Swale Vegetation

Management Project, Implementation, Dixie National Forest, Escalante

Ranger District, Garfield County, UT.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns and recommended that a

preferred alternative be selected that minimizes the impacts to road

management, roadless areas and wildlife habitat concerns.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65233-OR Rating EC2, Sandy River Delta Plan,

Implementation, Special Management Area (SMA), Columbia River Gorge

National Scenic Area (NSA), Several Permits for Approval, US Coast

Guard Bridge Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Multnomah County, OR.

Summary

EPA supported the wetland vegetation restoration objectives of the

draft EIS, but expressed environmental concerns regarding the repeated

use of herbicides to meet vegetative objectives. EPA preferred the re-

establishment of the original native species mix to the extent

possible, to create a self-sustaining wetland system without using

herbicides.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65234-ID Rating EC2, Hobo Cornwall Project Area

Timber Sale and Ecosystem Management Plan, Implementation, Idaho

Panhandle National Forests, St. Joe Ranger District, Shoshone County,

ID.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential water

quality standards violations and the lack of an air quality impacts

analysis. Additional information is requested to clarify compliance

with state water quality standards and to disclose air quality impacts

related to prescribed burning.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65236-OR Rating LO, Santiam Pass Forest Health

Project, Implementation, Willamette National Forest, McKenzie Ranger

District, Linn County, OR.

Summary

EPA expressed lack of objections to the proposed project.

ERP No. D-BLM-G65061-NM Rating LO, Rosewell Resource Area

Management Plan and Carlsbad Resource Area Management Plan Amendment,

Implementation, Quay, Curry, DeBaca, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Guadalupe,

Chaves, Eddy, and Lea Counties, NM.

Summary

EPA expressed lack of objections and supported the preferred

alternative. For clarification EPA requested that the air impact

analysis be expanded to include definitive effects of oil and gas

operations on air quality and consider the cumulative impacts of 23,000

wells on the 2 resource areas.

ERP No. D-BLM-J60016-WY Rating EC2, Kenetech/PacifiCorp Windpower

Development Project, Construction of a 500-MW Windplant and 230-kV

Transmission Line between Arlington and Hanna, Right-of-Way Grant, COE

Section 404 Permit and Special-Use-Permit, Carbon County, WY.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential adverse

[[Page 19916]] impacts of the proposed project on raptors.

ERP No. D-NPS-D61039-PA Rating LO, White-Tailed Deer Management

Plan, Implementation, Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower

Historic Site, Adams County, PA.

Summary

EPA expressed lack of objections to the proposed action, but

suggested the Final EIS include reproduction intervention methods which

are currently Food and Drug Administration approved (Alternative 2B and

4).

ERP No. D-NPS-E61071-FL Rating EC1, Timucuan Ecological and

Historic Preserve, General Management Plan and Development Concept

Plans, Implementation, Fort Caroline National Memorial Area, Duval

County, FL.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential project

impacts. EPA recommended that the FEIS address guidelines regarding ORV

use on the natural resource portions of the Preserve.

ERP No. D-USN-K11028-CA Rating EO2/EC2, Long Beach Naval Hospital

Base Disposal and Reuse, Implementation, City of Long Beach, CA.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental objections to the ``Retail

Alternative'' due to air quality impacts. EPA had environmental

concerns with the remaining alternatives. The DEIS is lacking a

comprehensive air quality analysis, although it is exempt from a

conformity determination.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-J67014-UT, Gardner Canyon Gypsum Open Pit Mine,

Development and Operation, Special Use Permit and Possible COE Section

404 Permit, Mount Nebo Wilderness Area, Unita National Forest, Jaub

County, UT.

Summary

EPA expressed lack of objections to the proposed project.

ERP No. F-AFS-L61198-OR, Washington Analysis Area/Baker City

Municipal Watershed Project, Implementation, Wallowa-Whitman National

Forest, Baker Ranger District, Baker County, OR.

Summary

EPA expressed no objection to the preferred alternative as

described in the FEIS. No formal written comment letter was sent to the

preparing agency.

ERP No. F-DOA-D81024-MD, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center,

Construction of an Office Complex and Site Selection, Prince Georges

County, MD.

Summary

EPA expressed lack of objections to the proposed project.

ERP No. F-NPS-K61131-00, Lake Mead National Recreation Area,

Management of Burros, Implementation, Clark Co., NV and Mohave Co., AZ.

Summary

EPA expressed lack of objections to the proposed action.

Dated: April 18, 1995.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 95-9929 Filed 4-20-95; 8:45 am]

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