Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5475-6]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared November 11, 1996 Through

November 15, 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 the Federal

Register dated April 5, 1996 (61 FR 15251).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-L65271-AK Rating EO2, South Lindenberg Timber

Sale(s), Timber Harvesting, Tongass National Forest, Stikine Area,

Kupreanof Island, AK.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections due to potential

impacts to water quality and fish habitat. EPA requested that more

information and mitigation be provided in the final EIS.

ERP No. D-BLM-K65188-CA Rating EC2, Eagle Mountain Landfill and

Recycling Center Project, Land Exchange, Right-of-Way Grants and COE

Section 404 Permit Issuance, Riverside County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns based on the need for

more specific protection of resources on the offered lands as well as

avoiding nighttime lighting, and a commitment to compensate for loss of

bat habitat. EPA also requested additional information regarding

management of the offered lands, the visibility analysis, and

alternatives to reduce nighttime lighting impacts to the nearby

Wilderness Area.

ERP No. D-COE-E90015-00 Rating EC2, Pearl River in the Vicinity of

Walkiah Bluff, Wetland Restoration, Implementation, Picayune, Pearl

River County, MS and St. Tammany Parish, LA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about whether closure

of the four distributaries will adversely affect wetlands in their

present drainways and requested additional information regarding future

hydrology.

ERP No. D-COE-K01008-CA Rating EO2, Santa Maria and Sisquoc Rivers

Specific Plan, Mining and Reclamation Plans (MRPs), Coast Rock Site and

S.P.

[[Page 64742]]

Milling Site, Conditional Use Permits, Approval of Reclamation Plans,

and Section 404 Permits, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections due to potential

impacts to wetlands, groundwater supplies, air quality and wildlife

habitat. EPA requested additional information and mitigation of these

issues.

ERP No. D-FEM-E36160-GA Rating LO, Albany Flood Recovery

Activities, Replacement of Damaged Public Schools, Housing and

Businesses, Albany and Dougherty Counties, GA.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the action as proposed.

ERP No. D-FHW-K40220-CA Rating 3, CA-125 South Route Location,

Adoption and Construction, between CA-905 on Otay Mesa to CA-54 in

Spring Valley, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, San Diego County,

CA.

Summary: EPA found the information provided in the DEIS inadequate

to fully evaluate the impacts of the proposal although significant

environmental impacts to air and water resources may be realized should

the proposed project be constructed. A full analysis of alternatives

and an assessment of cumulative impacts was lacking.

ERP No. D-USN-L11030-ID Rating LO, Naval Surface Warfare Center

(NSWC), Acoustic Research Detachment (ARD), Carderock Division (CD),

Capital Improvements Plan, Implementation, in the Town of Bayview,

Kootenai County, ID.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the action as proposed.

ERP No. DS-AFS-L61181-OR Rating EC2, Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area

Additional Development and Expansion to the Skiing and Summer Areas,

Construction to Forest Road 3555, Special Use Permit and NPDES Permit,

Hood River Ranger District, Mount Hood National Forest, Hood River

County, OR.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the

permittee's proposed action due to potential water quality impacts.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-K65177-00 North Shore Ecosystem Management Project,

Implementation, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Washoe and Placer

Counties, CA and NV.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-AFS-L61206-OR Upper Deschutes Wild and Scenic River and

State Scenic Waterway, Management Plan, Implementation, Deschutes

National Forest, Deschutes County, OR.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-FHW-K40182-CA CA-30 Improvements, CA-66/Foothill

Boulevard to I-215, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, Los Angeles and

San Bernardino Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the project as proposed. FHWA

adequately addressed all of EPA's comments in the final EIS.

ERP No. F-USN-E11036-FL Naval Training Center Orlando Disposal and

Reuse, Implementation, Orange County, FL.

Summary: EPA comments made at the Draft EIS stage were adequately

addressed in this final EIS.

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

Facility Expansion, Updated Information, 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.

Dated: December 3, 1996.

B. Katherine Biggs,

Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal

Activities.

[FR Doc. 96-31126 Filed 12-5-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-U