Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6244-7]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared June 21, 1999 Through July

02, 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)

564-5167.

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-L65319-OR Rating EO2, Pelican Butte Ski Area Master

Development Plan, Implementation, Winema National Forest, Klamath

Ranger District, Klamath County, OR.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections concerning

insufficient information to predict impacts to water quality and air

quality, especially visibility. Reductions in habitat, especially for

the spotted owl, do not comply with the NW Forest Plan.

ERP No. D-BLM-J65298-CO Rating EC2, Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals

Project, To Produce Sodium Products, Piceance Basin, Right-of-Way

Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Rio Blanco County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns for the protection of

soil and ground water, and ensuring that impacts are monitored and

mitigated.

ERP No. D-FHW-E40778-NC Rating EC2, US 74 Shelby Bypass

Transportation Improvements, Construction, Funding and COE Section 404

Permit, Cleveland County, NC.

Summary: EPA is requesting further consideration of a bypass

corridor to the south of the Shelby Central Business District. No

particular bypass alternative to the north of Shelby is preferred by

EPA, and the agency has noted

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substantial impacts to surface streams because they traverse two water

supply watersheds and would require stream locations. Socioeconomic

impacts (i.e., relocations, and noise) also appear to be substantial

for a north bypass alternative.

ERP No. D-FHW-F40381-MN Rating EC2, Phalen Boulevard Project,

Construction of a new 4.3 Kilometer Roadway, from I35E to Johnson

Parkway, Funding, in the City of St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding the

remediation of contaminated sites that would most likely occur if the

proposed project were to be implemented.

ERP No. D-FHW-K40233-CA Rating EC2, US-7 Expressway Project,

Construction between CA-98 to Interstate 8, Improve Access to the new

Calexico East Port of Entry, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit,

Imperial County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential

cumulative and secondary effects, as well as impacts to water quality

and prime farmland.

ERP No. DS-AFS-J65277-CO Rating EC2, Sheep Flats Diversity Unit,

Timber Sales and Related Road Construction, Additional Information on

Soils and Water Quality, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National

Forests, Colibran Ranger District, Mesa County, CO.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested

additional information on the effectiveness of current Best Management

Practices for mitigating sedimentation impacts.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-K65199-AZ, Windmill Range Allotment Management Plan,

Cattle Grazing Use, Implementation, Coconino National Forest, Mormon

Lake, Peaks and Sedona Ranger Districts, Coconino and Yavapal Counties,

AZ.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-FTA-K54022-CA, Third Street Light Rail Project,

Transportation Improvements, Funding, U.S. Coast Guard Permit, and COE

Section 404 Permit, San Francisco Municipal Railway, in the City and

County of San Francisco, CA.

Summary: Review of the Final EIS has been completed and the project

found to be satisfactory.

Dated: July 20, 1999.

Joseph C. Montgomery,

Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-18884 Filed 7-22-99; 8:45 am]

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