Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5492-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared May 4, 1998 Through May 8,

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 FR dated April 10, 1998 (63

FR 17856).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-B61023-NH

Rating EC2, Waterville Valley Ski Resort Project, Development of

Snowmaking Water Impoundments Project, Special-Use-Permits, Dredge and

Fill Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, White Mountain National Forest,

Pemigewasset Ranger District, Town of Waterville Valley, Grafton

County, NH.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and suggested that

the impact to water quality from alternatives two and four be further

developed in the FEIS. EPA recommended mitigation option two to offset

unavoidable wetland impacts associated with the project.

ERP No. D-COE-K32050-CA

Rating EO2, Oakland Harbor Inner and Outer Deep Navigation (-50

Foot) Improvement Project, Implementation, Feasibility Study, Port of

Oakland, Alameda and San Francisco Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections due to potential

air quality impacts, especially emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx)

associated with dredging, dredged material transport/disposal and

related construction work. Despite these significant NOx emissions,

there is no indication from the DEIS that NOx mitigation measures

proposed by the Corps would suffice for purposes of making a positive

conformity finding. EPA expressed serious concerns that the EIS may

have unnecessarily constrained the range of reasonable action

alternatives by eliminating a detailed analysis of dredge depths less

than -50 feet. EPA asked the Corps to determine

[[Page 28382]]

if other dredging alternatives that provide less depth overall, less

depth over portions of the project and/or phasing in -50 foot depths at

key areas first may constitute reasonable alternatives for purposes of

NEPA analysis.

ERP No. D-COE-K36124-CA

Rating EC2, Yuba River Basin Investigation Study, Flood Protection,

also portions of the Feather River Basin below Oroville Dam, City of

Maryville, Yuba County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns over potential

adverse impacts to water quality due to stormwater runoff during

construction activities. EPA also recommended that the Corps conduct

the necessary hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste site

investigations during the current feasibility phase in order to achieve

full public disclosure. EPA also recommended that the FEIS analyze the

indirect/cumulative effects of induced growth in the floodplain.

ERP No. D-COE-K36125-CA

Rating EC2, Hansen Dam Water Conservation and Supply Study, Flood

Protection, Implementation, Los Angeles County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the DEIS did not

specifically analyze an ``end of pipe'' water conservation alternative

as an alternative to increasing water supply, or as a means of

augmenting water conservation, at Hansen Dam. EPA believed that an

actual ``end of pipe'' water conservation alternative may constitute a

reasonable alternative for purposes of the Corps' NEPA analysis. EPA

noted that the three action alternatives analyzed in detail in the DEIS

are not true ``water conservation'' alternatives but are actually

alternatives to ``increase storage capacity'' at Hansen Dam for release

during peak summer use periods. Implementation and/or expansion of

water conservation programs and efforts in the dam's service area

should be an integral element of the project.

ERP No. D-COE-K39047-CA

Rating EO2, Santa Clara River and Major Tributaries Project,

Approval of 404 Permit and 1603 Streambed Alteration Agreement, In

portions of the City of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objection because of the

project's potential to adversely impact the physical and biological

qualities of the Santa Clara River System and because the measures to

avoid and/or mitigate such impacts were not fully developed and

presented in the DEIS. EPA also expressed concern that the DEIS did not

address the full scope of the anticipated (development-related) actions

and impacts directly and indirectly associated with the proposed

project.

ERP No. D-FAA-E51045-FL

Rating EC2, Miami International Airport Master Plan Update for the

Proposed New Runway, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, Miami-Dade

County, FL.

Summary: EPA continued to have environmental concerns; though noise

impacts will be reduced by the year 2000 and 2005, significant noise-

impacts to the adjacent community remain. The need for additional noise

mitigation was stated.

ERP No. D-FRC-L05219-WA

Rating LO, Sullivan Creek Hydroelectric (FERC No. 2225) Project, An

Application for Amendment of License, Public Utility District No. 1,

Sullivan Creek, Pend Oreille County, WA.

Summary: EPA had no objection to the project as proposed. No formal

comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. DS-COE-C32030-00

Rating LO, Arthur Kill Channel-Howland Hook Marine Terminal,

Deepening and Realignment, Limited Reevaluation Report (LRR) Port of

New York and New Jersey, NY and NJ.

Summary: EPA believed that there has not been a significant change

in the environmental conditions of the project area since the issuance

of the FEIS. EPA does not anticipate that the proposed project would

result in significant adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, EPA has

no objection to the project's implementation.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-L65292-ID

Caribou National Forest, Implementation, Federal Phosphate Leasing

Proposal for the Manning Creek and Dairy Syncline Tracts, Caribou

County, ID.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-USN-C11013-NY

Naval Weapons Industrial Reserve Plant Calverton Disposal and

Reuse, Implementation, Towns of Riverhead and Brookhaven on Long

Island, Suffolk County, NY.

Summary: EPA continued to express environmental concern regarding

wetland avoidance and requested that the Record of Decision include

additional information on contaminant remediation, endangered/

threatened species, historic/cultural resources and environmental

justice.

Dated: May 19, 1998.

Anne Norton Miller,

Deputy Director, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 98-13780 Filed 5-21-98; 8:45 am]

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