Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5484-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared August 4, 1997 through August

8, 1997 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 04, 1997 (62

FR 16154).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-FHW-G40145-00 Rating LO, US 71 Highway Improvement

Project, between Texarkana, (US71) Arkansas and DeQueen, Funding,

Right-of-Way Approval and COE Section 404 Permit, Little River, Miller

and Sevier Counties, AR and Bowie County, TX.

Summary: EPA had no objections to the conceptual relocation

project. For the most part, EPA finds the DEIS to be comprehensive,

thorough, and to adequately address the impacts associated with the

alternative considered. The preferred action must be identified with

appropriate mitigation in the Final Statement.

ERP No. D-FTA-K40223-CA Rating LO, Mission Valley East Corridor

Transit Improvement Project, between I-15 in Mission Valley and the

East County community of La Mesa, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit,

Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB) and Light Rail Transit

(LRT), San Diego County, CA.

Summary: EPA lacked objections to the FTA's proposed Mission Valley

East Transit Improvement project.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-FHW-E40345-NC, NC-16, Upgrading and Relocating Project,

Construction, Lucia to North of NC-150, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit

and NPDES Permit, Gaston, Lincoln and Catawba Counties, NC.

Summary: EPA generally concurred with the corridor selected, but

continues to question providing greater highway capacity in a water

supply watershed.

ERP No. F-FHW-G40140-TX, Grand Parkway Segment (TX-99) Improvements

Project, from TX-225 to I-10, Funding, COE Section 404 Permit and

Right-of-Way Grant, Harris and Chambers Counties, TX.

Summary: the Final EIS has adequately responded to EPA's comments

offered on the DEIS and therefore EPA has no objection to the selection

of the preferred alternative as now described in the Final EIS.

Dated: September 2, 1997.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 97-23626 Filed 9-4-97; 8:45 am]

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