Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6242-4]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared April 12, 1999 Through April

16, 1999 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 9, 1999 (64 FR

17362).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-DOA-F36162-MN, Rating EC2, Snake River Watershed Plan,

Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention, NPDES Permit and COE section

404 Permit, Marshall Pennington and Polk Counties, MN.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding

alternatives, characterization of the affected environment, impacts to

wetlands and waters of the United States, and mitigation. EPA requested

that those issues be addressed in the final document.

ERP No. D-USA-G11036-AR, Rating EC2, Fort Chaffee Disposal and

Reuse, Implementation, Ozark Mountains, Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin,

Smith, Barling and Greenwood Counties, AR.

Summary: EPA had environmental concerns regarding potential

wetland, and landfill expansion impact. EPA requested that the final

document provide additional information on these issues.

ERP No. DA-NOA-K91007-00, Rating EC2, Pacific Coast Salmon Plan

(1997) for Amendment 14, Fishery Management Plan, Comprehensive

Updating, Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Off the Coasts of WA, OR and

CA.

Summary: EPA requested addition information on hook-and release

mortality assumptions, misidentification of harvestable fish and

modelling limits.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-COE-K01008-CA, Santa Maria and Sisquoc Rivers Specific

Plan, Mining and Reclamantion Plans, (MRPs), Coast Rock Site and S.P.

Milling Site, Conditional Use Permits, Approval of Reclamantion Plans,

and Section 404 Permits, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County, CA.

Summary: The FEIS satisfactorily addressed EPA's previous

objections. EPA requested that the mitigation measures described in the

FEIS be included in the Corps' Record of Decision and as permit

conditions in the Clean Water Act Section 404 permits for the proposed

mining activities.

ERP No. F-SFW-K65115-CA, Headwaters Forest Acquisition and the

Palco Sustained Yield Plan and Habitat Conservation Plan,

Implementation, Humboldt, Del Norte and Mendocino Counties, CA.

Summary: EPA supports the proposed HCP, EPA remains concerned with

the ability of the lead agencies to fully implement all commitments and

with the precedent of permitting timber harvest at a level that exceeds

growth for the first two decades. Since these watersheds are already

over the cumulative effects threshold, EPA recommended reduced harvest

levels or limitations on clearcutting.

ERP No. FC-NOA-L64015-AK, Groundfish Fishery of the Bering Sea and

Aleutian Islands Area and Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska,

Implementation of Groundfish Total Allowable Catch Specifications and

Prohibited Species Catch Limits Under the Authority of the Fishery

Management Plans, AK.

Summary: EPA believes that NMFS was generally responsive to EPA's

concerns at the DEIS stage. However, EPA continue to be concerned with

the range of alternatives related to the ``Total Allowable Catch'' and

the depth of discussion on impacts to Sensitive Species and Native

Subsistence need.

[[Page 24649]]

ERP No. FS-NOA-A91054-00, Atlantic, Gulf and Caribean Exclusive

Economic Zones (EEZ) Billfish Fishery Management Plan, White and Blue

Marlin, Sailfish, and the Longbill Spearfish, Implemetation.

Summary: EPA had not objections to the proposed regulations.

Dated: May 4, 1999.

William A. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-11558 Filed 05-06-99; 8:45 am]

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