Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6244-9]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared July 06, 1999 Through July

09, 1999 pursuant to the Environmental Review Process (ERP), under

Section 309 of the Clean Air Act and Section 102(2)(c) of that National

Environmental Policy Act as amended. Requests for

[[Page 41421]]

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) published in FR dated April 09, 1999 (64 FR

17362).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-J65300-MT Rating EC2, Tobacco Root Vegetation

Management Plan, Restore and Maintain a Mix Vegetation, Beaverhead-Deer

Lodge National Forest, Madison Ranger District, Madison County, MT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential

adverse impacts to wetlands and requests disclosure of management

practices in the final EIS.

ERP No. D-AFS-J65305-UT Rating EC2, Pretty Tree Bench Vegetation

Project, Implementation, Dixie National Forest, Escalante Ranger

District, Garfield County, UT

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding wetlands,

sediment impacts and trends in visibility improvement impairment in

potentially impacted National Parks. EPA requested additional

information on these issues.

ERP No. D-FHW-B40086-CT Rating EO2, CT 82/85/11 Corridor

Transportation Improvements, Funding and COE Section 404 Permit, in the

Towns of Salem, Montville, East Lyme and Waterford, CT.

Summary: EPA has objection to the proposed action since it is

likely that any of the expressway alternatives described in the EIS

would cause or contribute to significant degradation of the aquatic

ecosystem. EPA supports further consideration of a community sensitive

upgrade and further exploration of a parkway concept.

ERP No. DS-FAA-F51040-IN Rating EC2, Indianapolis International

Airport Master Plan Development, Updated/New Information, Establishing

New Air Traffic Procedures to Restore, Construct and Operate, Runway

5L/23R Parallel to existing Runway 14/32 and connecting to Runways 5R/

23L and 5L/23R, Airport Layout Plan Approval, Funding and US COE

Section 404 Permit, Marion County, IN.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns related to the

potential adverse impacts on wetlands and bat habitat.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-J65256-CO, Lakewood Raw Water Pipeline for Continued

Operation, Maintenance, Reconstruction and/or Replacement, Application

for Easement, Roosevelt National Forest, Boulder Ranger District, in

the City of Boulder, CO.

Summary: Review of the Final Supplemental EIS was not deemed

necessary. No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-AFS-K65184-CA, Rock Creek Recreational Trails Management

Plan, Implementation, Eldorado National Forest, Georgetown Ranger

District, Eldorado County, CA.

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

found to be satisfactory. No formal comment letter was sent to the

preparing agency.

ERP No. F-DOE-K08021-CA, Sutter Power Plant Project, Operation and

Maintenance of a High-Voltage Electric Transmission, 500 megawatt (MW)

Gas Fueled, Sutter County, CA.

Summary: EPA continues to express concerns about the adverse impact

to wetlands.

ERP No. F-FHW-F40369-WI, US 141 Highway Transportation Project,

Improvement between WI-22 and WI-64 (LeMere Road-6th Road), Funding and

COE Section 4 Permit, Marinette and Oconto Counties, WI.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections on the basis of the

projected secondary impacts to the Baraboo Range National Natural

Landmark (BRNNL) area. The secondary impacts (due to the increased

potential for development) to the BRNNL from a bridge build alternative

or a Year-Round ferry alternative are significant, therefore EPA

recommends selection of the NO Build alternative (FI) or Seasonal 24-

Vehicle ferry alternative (F2).

ERP No. F-NAS-K59011-CA, Programmatic EIS--NASA Ames Aerodynamic

Testing Program, Implementation, Analyzation of the Noise Envelope of

Future Wind Tunnel Testing at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic

Complex (NFAC), NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, Santa Clara

County, CA.

ERP No. F-NAS-K59011-CA, Programmatic EIS--NASA Ames Aerodynamic

Testing Program, Implementation, Analyzation of the Noise Envelope of

Future Wind Tunnel Testing at the National Full-Scale Aerodynamic

Complex (NFAC), NASA Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, Santa Clara

County, CA.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

Dated: July 27, 1999.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-19626 Filed 7-29-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M