Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5415-9]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared April 08, 1996 Through April

12, 1996 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)

564-7167.

An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental

impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 05, 1996 (61

FR 15251).

[[Page 18587]]

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-COE-D35057-MD Rating EC2, Poplar Island Restoration

Project, Dredging, Construction and Placement of Dredged Materials,

Implementation, Chesapeake Bay, Talbot County, MD.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the

monitoring, maintenance, and remedial action components of the project,

as well as the lack of information regarding these issues.

ERP No. D-COE-K01074-CA Rating EO2, Morrison Creek Mining Reach

Upstream North of Jackson Highway, Implementation, Community Plan

Amendment, Rezoning, Use Permit Amendment to Existing Use Permit and

COE Section 404 Permit, Sacramento County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential

impacts to wetlands resources, including vernal pools, as well as

potential adverse impacts to air quality.

ERP No. D-COE-K39040-CA Rating EC2, San Diego County Water

Authority Emergency Water Storage Project, Construction and Operation,

COE Section 404 Permit and Permit Application, San Diego County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential

cumulative impacts to fish and wildlife and riparian corridors due to

construction of new reservoirs proposed under certain alternatives, and

strongly recommended that the Corps not select an alternative that

provides for construction of new dams or reservoirs. EPA also requested

additional information regarding pollution measures and cumulative

impacts.

ERP No. D-COE-K90029-CA Rating EC2, Delta Wetlands Project,

Construction and Operation Water Storage Project on Four Islands in the

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Approval of Permits, San Joaquin and

Contra Costa Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because of the

potential for movement of optimum salinity conditions upstream, which

represents a possible significant adverse impact to key components of

the Bay Delta ecosystem. EPA is also concerned that diversions onto the

islands may significantly attenuate pulse flows associated with spring

storms and that Delta Wetlands operations are not integrated with

operation of the State Water Project and Central Valley Project.

ERP No. D-COE-L23001-WA Rating EO2, Resource Investments Landfill

Facility Construction, COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Pierce County,

WA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential

adverse impacts to surface water, air quality, groundwater and

wetlands. Additional information is needed regarding the definition of

the project's purpose and need, as well as the alternatives analysis.

ERP No. D-FRC-L05214-WA Rating LO, Priest Rapids Project (FERC No.

2114-024), Evaluation of Downstream Fish Passage Facilities, New

License Issuance with Conditions to Protect the Migratory Juvenile

Salmon (Smolts), Columbia River Basin, Grant County, WA.

Summary: EPA had no enviromental concerns regarding the proposed

project.

ERP No. DA-COE-L39045-AK Rating LO, Chignik Small Boat Harbor

Development and Construction, Updated Information concerning

Alternatives, Anchorage Bay, Alaska Peninsula, AK.

Summary: EPA's review has revealed no potential environmental

concerns that would require substantive changes to the proposal.

ERP No. DS-COE-K32028-CA Rating EC2, Richmond Harbor Deep Draft

Navigation Improvements, Updated and Additional Information to Improve

Navigation Efficiency into the Potrero Reach Channel, San Francisco

Bay, Contra Costa County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over: (1) the lack of

an adequate economic analysis on which to evaluate the practicability

of different disposal alternatives presented in the DEIS, and (2) the

need to address potential mitigation for the losses of shallow water

habitat that would be associated with widening of the navigation

channels and creating the new turning circle.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L65246-WA First Creek Basin Restoration Project,

Implementation, Wenatchee National Forest, Chelan Ranger District,

Chelan County, WA.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-DOE-L09807-WA Hanford Site K Basins Management of Spent

Nuclear Fuel, Storage and Disposal, Application for Approval of

Construction and NPDES Permit Issuance, Columbia River, Richland,

Benton County, WA.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-GSA-L40195-WA Pacific Highway Port of Entry (POE)

Facility Expansion, Construction of WA-543 in Blaine, near the United

States/Canada Border in Blaine, Whatcom County, WA.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-IBR-K39037-CA Cachuma Water Supply Project,

Implementation, Long-Term Contract Renewal, Santa Ynez Valley, Bradbury

Dam, Santa Barbara County, CA.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: April 22, 1996.

B. Katherine Biggs,

Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal

Activities.

[FR Doc. 96-10390 Filed 4-25-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P