Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5485-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared September 08, 1997 Through

September 12, 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) 564-71653.

An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental

impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 11, 1997 (62

FR 16154).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-BLM-K67044-CA Rating EC2, Soledad Mountain Open Pit Leap

Leach Gold Mine Project, Construction and Operation, Plan-of-Operations

Approval, Mojave, Kern County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the lack of full

disclosure of environmental impacts from proposed or possible future

sale of aggregate, underground mining, and impacts to local water and

air quality from mining and processing operations.

ERP No. D-FAA-G12002-NM Rating EC2, Southwest Regional Spaceport

(SRS) Development and Operation Project, Commercial Space Vehicles

Launching Facility, Licensing, Sierra and Dona Ana Counties, NM.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested

additional information on land use change, policy, and management

conflict.

ERP No. D-NPS-K61144-HI Rating LO, Ala Kahakai ``Trail By the Sea''

National Trail Study, Implementation, Hawaii Island, Hawaii County, HI.

Summary: EPA expressed lack of objection on the proposed project.

ERP No. D-SFW-L64045-00 Rating LO, Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos

horribilus) Recovery Plan in the Bitterroot Ecosystem, Implementation,

Endangered Species Act, Proposed Special Rule 10(j) Establishment of a

Nonessential Experimental Population of Grizzly Bears in the Bitterroot

Area, Rocky Mountain, Blaine, Camas, Boise, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore,

Idaho, Lemhi, Shoshone.

Summary: Based on an abbreviated review EPA does not foresee having

any environmental objections to the proposed project.

ERP No. DA-DOE-K03007-CA Rating EC2, Petroleum Production at

Maximum Efficient Rate, Updated Information for the Sale of Naval

Petroleum Reserve No. 1 (NPR-1 also called ``Elk Hills'') Amendment of

Kern County General Plan, Elk Hills, Kern County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding projected

air quality impacts with the disposition of EPA-regulated

polychlorinated biphenyls in storage or in use at the facility, and

projected impacts to biological resources. EPA asked to be notified of

the final disposition of regulated PCB materials at the facility and

encouraged the Department of Energy to work with the US Fish and

Wildlife Service on mitigation recommendations in the EIS to reduce

projected impacts to biological resources, particularly Federally-

listed species.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L65287-OR, Little River (DEMO) Demonstration of

Ecosystem Management Options Timber Sale, Implementation Umpqua

National Forest, North Umpqua Ranger District, Douglas 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-NAS-E12005-00, Engine Technology Support, Implementation,

With Emphases on Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene, Advanced Space

Transportation Program, Test Sites: Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)

in Huntsville, AL; Stennis Space Center (SSC) near Bay St. Louis, MS

and Phillips Laboratory, Edward Air Force Base, CA.

Summary: EPA continues to prefer the SSC for rocket motor testing

based on the lesser noise impacts affecting private property.

ERP No. FS-AFS-L65202-ID, Katka Peak Timber Sale and Road

Construction, Implementation, New Information from Interior Columbia

Basin Ecosystem Management Project, to implement Ecosystem Restoration

Treatment, Bonners Ferry Ranger District, Idaho Panhandle National

Forests, Boundary County, ID.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: October 7, 1997.

B. Katherine Biggs,

Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal

Activities.

[FR Doc. 97-27024 Filed 10-9-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-U