Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5475-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared October 28, 1996 Through

November 1, 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-G65065-AR Rating LO, Renewal of the Shortleaf Pine/

Bluestem Grass Ecosystem and Recovery of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker,

Amendment No. 22 to the Ouachita National Forest Land and Resource

Management Plan, Scott and Polk Counties, AR.

Summary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the preferred

alternative described in the draft EIS.

ERP No. D-COE-E30038-FL Rating EC2, Coast of Florida Erosion and

Storm Effects Study Region III, Construction, Operation and

Maintenance, Shore Protection Project, Palm Beach, Broward and Dade

Counties, FL.

Summary: EPA expressed some environmental concerns regarding the

long-term consequences of how these actions will affect the ecology of

the Florida shoreline.

ERP No. D-COE-K36117-CA Rating EC2, Kaweah River Basin

Investigation Feasibility Study, Flood Protection of Terminus Dam,

Increase Storage Space in Lake Kaweah for Irrigation of Water Supply,

Construction, Modification and Operation, San Joaquin Valley, Tulare

and King Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern with proposed

mitigation and recommended selection of the Locally Preferred Plan

(LPP) alternative which would address these adverse impacts while

meeting project purposes. EPA also expressed concern with the potential

adverse impact to riparian and oak woodland/savannah habitat.

ERP No. D-COE-K39044-CA Rating EC2, Norco Bluffs Bank Stabilization

Measures, Implementation, Riverside County Flood Control and Water

Conservation District, National Economic Development, Santa Ana River,

City of Norco, Riverside County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential

impacts associated with herbicides, consistency with applicable water

quality protection requirements.

ERP No. D-DOE-C06012-NY Rating EO2, West Valley Demonstration

Project for Completion and Western New York Nuclear Service Center

Closure or Long-Term Management, Appalachian Plateau, City of Buffalo,

NY.

Summary: EPA had environmental objections to this project because

of the limited information concerning site contamination, clean-up

levels, waste disposal, ground and surface water radiation risk

assessment, and institutional controls. Additional information is

requested in the final EIS to address these items. A follow up meeting

has also been requested.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-BLM-J65198-WY, Green River Resource Area Land and

Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Rock Springs District,

Sweetwater, Fremont, Uinta, Sublette and Lincoln Counties, WY.

Summary: EPA expressed no comments or concerns.

ERP No. F-COE-E01002-NC, Texasgulf Open Pit Mine Continuation,

Construction and Operation, Permit Approval, Pamlico River, Aurora,

Beaufort County, NC.

Summary: EPA supported mining configuration Alternatives D, E-1,

and E-2 because these minimize impacts on wetlands of special concern.

The up-front mitigation being provided is satisfactory pending

resolution of some technical wetland issues. EPA would object to

Alternatives a, B {the applicant's choice}, and C, as these would

destroy most of the wetlands of special concern.

ERP No. F-COE-E32193-00, Savannah Harbor Navigation Project,

Operation and Maintenance, Long Term Management Strategy Study, Chatham

County, GA and Jasper County, SC.

Summary: Because operational changes to the Savannah Harbor are so

comprehensive. EPA continued to have some concerns regarding the long-

term consequences of how all of the proposed elements of the management

plan will be coordinated and subsequently function.

ERP No. F-COE-G36146-LA, Amite River and Tributaries Flood Control

Project, Implementation, East Baton Rouge Parish Watershed, Florida

Parishes, LA.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the selection of the preferred

alternative.

ERP No. F-FRC-L05213-WA, Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project (FERC

No. 2145) Operating License Amendment Issuance to Increase Lake Entiat

Reservoir, Chelan and Douglas Counties, WA.

Summary: EPA concurs with the Final EIS's conclusion that amending

the license for the Rocky Reach project under the applicant's proposal

and the FERC staff's two alternatives would not adequately protect Mid-

Columbia River salmon stocks. EPA supports FERC's selection of the no-

action alternative as the preferred alternative.

ERP No. FB-COE-E36013-MS, Mississippi River and Tributaries Flood

Control Plan, Big Sunflower River Maintenance Project, Yazoo Basin,

Sunflower, Washington, Humphreys, Sharkey and Yazoo Counties, MS.

Summary: EPA expressed concern over the environmental consequences

associated with channelizing over one hundred miles of streams in the

Big Sunflower watershed. EPA also suggested that a non-structural

approach may provide needed flood protection with minimal environmental

impacts.

[[Page 59437]]

Dated: November 19, 1996.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 96-29918 Filed 11-21-96; 8:45 am]

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