Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6244-4]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared June 14, 1999 through June

18, 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 09, 1999 (64

FR 17362).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-E65051-AL Rating LO, Longleaf Restoration Project,

Implement a Systematic Five-Year Program for Restoration of the Native

Longleaf Pine, Conecuh National Forest, Conecuh Ranger District,

Covington and Escambia Counties, AL.

Summary: EPA expressed lack of environmental objections. ERP No. D-

AFS-J65299-MT Rating EC2, Pinkham Timber Sales and Associated

Activities, Implementation, Kootenai National Forest, Rexford Ranger

District, Lincoln County, MT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding some high

projected peak flow increases in area streams and adverse wildlife

impacts from exceedances of forest standards for open road density and

from regeneration timber harvests that would leave many large forest

openings. The EPA believed additional information is needed to fully

assess and mitigate all potential impacts of management actions.

ERP No. D-BLM-G65051-NM Rating LO, New Mexico Standards for Public

Land Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management,

Implementation, NM.

Summary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the RAC or County

alternative described in the DEIS. ERP No. DS-BLM-K67040-CA Rating EO2,

Imperial Project, Open-Pit Precious Metal Mining Operation Utilizing

Heap Leach Processes, Updated Information concerning ``Endangered, Rare

or Threatened'' Biological Resources, Plan of Operations and

Reclamation Plan Approvals, R-O-W Grants, Conditional Use/US COE

Permits, EL Centro Resource Area, CA Desert Dist., Imperial Co., CA.

Summary: EPA expressed continuing environmental objections with the

proposed project and its potential impacts, particularly regarding

aquatic resources protected under Section 404 of the Federal Clean

Water Act. EPA asked that BLM's Final EIS clarify the relationship

between the endangered species issues addressed in the Supplemental

DEIS and EPA's 1998 comments on the DEIS concerning Clean Water Act

Section 404 issues.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-B65005-NH, Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) Huts and

Pinkham Notch Visitor Center (PNVC) Continued Operations, Special Use

Permit and Possible COE Permit Issuance, White Mountain National

Forest, Grafton and Coos Counties, NH.

Summary: Final EIS was responsive to EPA's comments and plan

described avoids impacts to the water supply, ground water minimizes

impacts to wetlands.

ERP No. F-AFS-E65049-FL, Florida National Forests, Revised Land and

Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Apalachicola, Choctowhatchee,

Ocala and Osceola National Forests, Several Counties, FL.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and supported an

alternative which involves less harvested acreage and road construction

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and more emphasis on wilderness and recreation values.

ERP No. F-AFS-J65287-UT, South Spruce Ecosystem Rehabilitation

Project, Implementation, Dixie National Forest, Cedar City Ranger

District, Iron and Kane Counties, UT.

Summary: EPA believed the preferred alternative, modified

Alternative A, can be implemented with the proposed project specific

mitigation measures without significant impact to the environment.

Dated: July 6, 1999.

Joseph Montgomery,

Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-17501 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]

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