Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5491-6]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared April 20, 1998 Through April

24, 1998 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 FR dated April 10, 1998

(63 FR 17856).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-K65203-CA Rating EC2, Sirretta Peak Motorcycle Trail

Construction, Approval and Implementation, Sirretta Peak/Machine Creek

Area, Kern Plateau, Sequoia National Forest, Cannell Meadow Ranger

District, Tulare County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential

adverse impacts to the watershed and wildlife habitat from the

construction and use of a motorized trail in a roadless area.

ERP No. D-BLM-K67047-NV Rating EC2, Trenton Canyon Mining Project,

Construction, Operation and Expansion, Plan of Operation, Valma and

North Peak Deposits, Humboldt and Lander Counties, NV.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns to the proposed

project, based on a lack of analysis of a reasonable range to project

alternatives, and potential environmental degradation to waters of the

United States. EPA asked for additional information, including

information on a sequential backfilling alternative, waste rock and pit

wall rock characterization, cumulative impact, project description,

comprehensive mitigation and monitoring plan.

ERP No. D-COE-E39042-GA Rating EC2, Latham River/Jekyll Creek

Environmental Restoration Project (Section 1135), To Establish the

Without Project Condition, Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), Glynn

County, GA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over the long-term

impacts to wetlands resources in the project and the potential for

increased development on Jekyll Island.

ERP No. D-COE-K32049-CA Rating EO2, San Francisco Bay to Stockton

Phase III (John F. Baldwin) Navigation Channel Project, Construction

and Operation, For Deliver of Petroleum to Refineries, Storage

Terminals and Other Facilities, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, US

Coast Guard Permit, Contra Costa County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objectives with two action

alternatives because, according to the DEIS, deepening 16 miles of

navigation channel would result in adverse water quality impacts,

specifically intrusion of salt water into the Sacramento-San Joaquin

Delta that would exceed salinity standards. This increased salinity

intrusion would have adverse effects on municipal drinking water

supplies, fish and wildlife resources. EPA also expressed concerns on

Clean Water Act Section 404 issues associated with a pipeline system

alternative and noted that all three action alternatives may require a

conformity determination for oxides of nitrogen (an ozone precursor)

due to the San Francisco Bay Area's ozone maintenance status.

ERP No. D-FRC-B03009-ME Rating EC2, Maritimes Phase II Project,

Construct and Operate an Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline, COE Section

10 and 404 Permits, Endangered Species Act (ESA) and NPDE's permits, US

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Canada border at Woodland (Burleyville) Maine and Westbrook Maine.

Summary: EPA requested additional information about the impacts of

the proposed pipeline with regard to wetlands, eelgrass, drinking

water, groundwater supply, and secondary impacts in order to fully

evaluate the environmental acceptability of the proposed project.

ERP No. D-FRC-J02035-00 Rating EC2, Alliance Natural Gas Pipeline

Project, Construction and Operation, Funding, NPDES Permit, COE Section

10 and 404 Permit, ND, MN, IA and IL.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested

additional information on the following areas; Purpose and Need,

Alternatives Evaluation, Resource Surveys (Threatened and Endangered

Species, Cultural and Historical), Agricultural Land/Non-Agricultural

Land, Waterbody/Wetland Crossing Procedures, Wetland/Woodland Loss

Compensation and description of Extra Work Areas.

ERP No. DS-COE-L36011-00 Rating EC2, Columbia and Lower Willamette

River Federal Navigation Channel, Integrated Dredge Material Management

Study, OR and WA.

Summary: EPA's expressed environmental concerns that the Corps

should take more effort at advanced identification and management of

in-stream dredged material disposal sites. EPA also requested more

information regarding the environmental impacts of upland disposal of

dredged material.

Dated: May 5, 1998.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 98-12298 Filed 5-7-98; 8:45 am]

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