Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5497-2]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared November 2, 1998 through

November 6, 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 (62 FR 17856).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-J61100-CO: Rating EO2, Arapahoe Basin Ski Area Master

Development Plan, Construction and Operation, COE Section 404 Permit,

White River National Forest, Dillon Ranger District, Summit County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections based on the

projects potential adverse impacts to wetlands, water quality and

quantity, as well as aquatic resources.

ERP No. D-AFS-J65287-SD: Rating EC2, Veteran/Boulder Area Project,

Enhancement of Vegetative Diversity, Improve Forest Health and to

Improve Wildlife Habitats, Implementation, Black Hills National Forest,

Spearfish and Nemo Ranger District, Lawrence and Meade Counties, SD.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns of the project on

existing 303(d) listed waters.

ERP No. D-AFS-L65308-ID: Rating EC2, Eagle Bird Project Area,

Timber Harvesting and Road Construction, Idaho Panhandle National

Forests, St. Joe Ranger District, Shoshone County, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about lack of

cumulative impacts analysis and adverse impacts to vegetation.

ERP No. D-BLM-K65206-NV: Rating EC2, Caliente Management Framework

Plan Amendment, Implementation, Management of Desert Tortoise Habitat

(Gopherus agassizii), Northeastern Mojave Recovery Unit, Lincoln

County, NV.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the range

of alternatives selected for analysis in the DEIS, and recommended that

BLM consider an alternative which would place 100% of critical habitat

designated by the Fish and Wildlife Service into protected status. EPA

also expressed concerns that two of the action alternatives do not

appear to meet project purpose and need.

ERP No. D-COE-G11035-00: Rating LO, Programmatic--Fort Bliss

Mission and Real Property Master Plan, Revised Land Use and Enhance

Management of the Land, Airspace and Infrastructure, El Pasco County,

TX and Dona Ana and Otero Counties, NM.

Summary: EPA had no environmental objections, and recommended

selection of Alternative 3.2.

ERP No. D-NPS-K65208-CA: Rating LO, Redwood National and State

Parks General Management Plan, Implementation, Humboldt and Del Norte

Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections to the project plan,

but recommended that the Final EIS/EIR include specific information on

the Parks' role in the total maximum daily load (TMDL) development,

timber harvest plan review, and Clean Water Action Plan implementation.

ERP No. DS-BLM-J65106-CO: Rating EC2, Glenwood Springs Resource

Area, Updated Information, Oil & Gas Leasing and Development, Leasing

Lands in the Naval Oil Shale Reserves, Resource Management Plan

Amendment, Garfield County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about adverse impact

to air quality in the Flat Tops Wilderness Class 1 area. EPA recommends

that a cumulative air quality impact analysis be prepared and made

available to the public prior to publishing the FEIS.

[[Page 64473]]

ERP No. DS-BLM-J70017-MT: Rating EC2, Judith-Valley-Phillips

Comprehensive Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Lewistown

District, Judith Basin, Fergus, Petroleum, Phillips and Valley

Counties, MT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential

adverse impact to Fisheries, Wildlife, and air and water quality, and

that more data and analyses of cumulative impacts is needed.

ERP No. RD-NOA-A64058-00: Rating EC2, Calico Scallop Fishery and

Sargassum Habitat Fishery, Fishery Management Plans Establishment and

Implementation, South Atlantic Region.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that the Calico

Scallop Fishery Management Plan contained data that was too old to

fully assess impact of the fishery and collateral impacts threatened

and endangered species. EPA requested that these issues be fully

discussed in the next environmental document.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-BLM-L08054-AK: Northern Intertie Project, Construction of

230 kV Transmission Line from Healy to Fairbanks, AK, Application for

Right-of-Way Grant, Gold Valley Electric Association, AK.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. FS-COE-E36013-MS: Mississippi River and Tributaries Flood

Control Plan, Construction of the remaining portion of the Mississippi

River Mainline Levees Enlargement and Seepage Control Project, Flood

Protection and Damage Reduction, Lower Mississippi River Valley, Cape

Girardeau, MO to Head of Passes, LA; MO, IL, KY, TN, AR, MS and LA.

Summary: EPA continued to have environmental concerns based on the

scope/duration of these projects. On-going coordination will be

necessary to resolve EPA's outstanding concerns.

Dated: November 17, 1998.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 98-31094 Filed 11-19-98; 8:45 am]

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