Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5469-4]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared April 22, 1996 Through April

26, 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 5, 1996 (61 FR

15251).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-L65255-AK Rating EC2, Control Lake Timber Sale,

Implementation, Prince of Wales Island, Tongass National Forest, AK.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns related to potential

impacts of the project on water quality and the marine environment.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65259-OR Rating EC2, Foss Perkins Analysis Area,

Vegetation Management and Timber Sale, Ochoco National Forest, Snow

Mountain Ranger District, Harney County, OR.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on potential

water quality impacts to Silver Creek, a 303(d) listed, impaired water

body according to the Oregon State Department of Environmental Quality.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65260-WA Rating EC2, Taneum/Peaches Road Access

Project, Issuance of Two Temporary Permits to Plum Creek for Road

Construction, Wenatchee National Forest, Cle Elum Ranger District,

Kittitas County, WA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns related to

alternative selection prior to the Plum Creek Habitat Conservation Plan

and the Snoqualmie Pass Adaptive Management Area plans and insufficient

information to evaluate potential impacts to a 303(d) listed waterbody,

Lookout Creek.

ERP No. D-BLM-J65247-UT Rating EC2, Dixie Land and Resource

Management Plan, Implementation, Cedar City Ranger District, Washington

County, UT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to potential

impacts to water quality, air quality and wildlife habitat. EPA

requested that the discussion of these issues be expanded in the final

document.

ERP No. D-NPS-K65180-CA Rating LO, Lava Beds National Monument,

General Management Plan, Implementation, Siskiyou and Modoc Counties,

CA.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the proposed action.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L02021-00 Umatilla and Malheur National Forests Oil

and Gas Exploration and Development, Lease Offerings, several counties,

WA and OR.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the EIS lacks

the criteria for subsequent NEPA documentation which would be tiered

from this EIS.

ERP No. F-AFS-L65228-ID Tailholt Administrative Research Study,

Timber Harvesting and Road Construction, Payette National Forest,

Krassel Ranger District, Valley County, ID.

SUMMARY: EPA had no objections to the preferred alternative as

described in the EIS.

ERP No. F-AFS-L65244-ID Fall Creek Post-Fire Project, Harvesting

Fire-Killed and Damage Trees, Implementation, McCall Ranger District,

Payette National Forest, Valley County, ID.

SUMMARY: EPA had no objections to the preferred alternative as

described in the EIS.

ERP No. F-COE-J35010-UT Kennecott Tailings Modernization Project,

Tailings Impoundment Expansion, COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Salt

Lake County, UT.

SUMMARY: The FEIS substantively addresses most of EPA's concerns;

although the potential for bioaccumulation of selenium is a continuing

concern. The CERCLA process and the proposed mitigation and monitoring

plans should adequately address issues identified during the ongoing

ecological risk assessments.

ERP No. F-SCS-J36046-UT Muddy Creek--Orderville Watershed Plan,

Offsite Salt and Sediment Damage to Water Quality in the Virgin River

and the Colorado River, Wildlife Habitat and Rangeland Productivity

Enhancements, Approvals and Funding, Kane County, UT.

SUMMARY: EPA had no objections to the project as proposed.

ERP No. FS-AFS-L65183-AK Central Prince of Wales Ketchikan Pulp

Long-Term Timber Sale, Additional Information, Implementation, Tongass

National Forest, Prince of Wales Island, AK.

SUMMARY: EPA had no objections to the preferred alternative as

described in the EIS.

Dated: May 8, 1996.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 96-11891 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]

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