Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

(ER-FRL-5486-3)

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared October 27, 1997 Through

October 31, 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) 564-7176. 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-AFS-K65199-AZ Rating EC2, Windmill Range Allotment

Management Plan, Cattle Grazing Use, Implementation, Coconino National

Forest, Mormon Lake, Peaks and Sedona Ranger Districts, Coconino and

Yavapal County, AZ.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and recommeded that

the FEIS should include specific information on water quality

monitoring, enforcement measures to ensure full compliance with the

proposed allotment management plan, and fall back options in case

adequate funding and resources are not obtained or if monitoring

indicates continuing decline of rangeland conditions. EPA suggested

reconsideration of Alternative G or a modification of preferred

Alternative F to address critical resource needs in the Munds Pocket

and Foxboro herd range. ERP No. D-AFS-K65200-CA Rating EC2, San Juan

Fuels and Wildlife Project, Implementation, Tahoe National Forest,

Nevada City Ranger District, Nevada County, CA.

[[Page 61111]]

SUMMARY: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential

exceedences of the threshold of concern (TOC) in five subwatersheds in

the analysis area, and recommended that additional road obliterations

be added to the project plan.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-BLM-K67044-CA Soledad Mountain Open Pit Leap Leach Gold

Mine Project, Construction and Operation, Plan-of-Operations Approval,

Mojave, Kern County, CA.

SUMMARY: EPA continued to have environmental concerns and

recommended that BLM assure against significant impacts to local air

quaility from possible aggregate loading and hauling operations. EPA

also recommended that the Record of Decision include specific actions

for the Mitigation and Monitoring Program.

Dated: November 10, 1997.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 97-30022 Filed 11-13-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-U