Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6246-5]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared August 16, 1999 Through

August 20, 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-BLM-L67037-ID Rating EO2, Dry Valley Mine--South

Extension Project, Construction of two New Open Pit Mine, Special-Use-

Permit, COE Section 404 Permit, Public and Private Land Used, Caribou

County, ID.

Summary: EPA expressed the following objections: an inadequate

discussion of the fate, transport, and speciation of selenium; an

abridged

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range of alternatives; a monitoring plan that lacks sufficient detail;

concerns about selenium contamination of ground and surface waters; and

proposed wetland mitigation at a site that is currently contaminated

and one that could attract and subsequently harm wildlife.

ERP No. D-FHW-B40089-CT Rating EO2, CT-2/2A/32 Transportation

Improvement Study, Construction, Funding, Coast Guard Bridge Permit,

NPDES Permit, COE Section 10 and 404 Permit, New London County, CT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections regarding impacts

to the wetlands, air quality, and ground/surface waters and the level

of information provided in the DEIS. EPA also requested additional

analysis of community sensitive alternatives that may resolve the

identified transportation problem.

ERP No. D-USN-B11024-ME Rating EO2, South Weymouth Naval Air

Station, Disposal and Reuse, Norfolk and Plymouth Counties, ME.

Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding potential direct and

indirect impacts of the project related to traffic/air quality, water

supply, wastewater treatment, and the potential for other growth

related secondary and cumulative impacts. EPA requested that the Navy

provide information to fully characterize the impacts of the project

and to demonstrate that significant adverse impacts can be effectively

mitigated.

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

Updated Information on Additional Analysis for the Forbes Gulch Portion

within the Beaver Park Roadless Area, Implementation, Black Hills

National Forest, Spearfish and Nemo Ranger District, Lawrence and Meade

Counties, SD.

Summary: EPA suggested that the analysis be expanded to include

disclosure of future steps that would be required should the proposed

treatments fail to control the pine beetle outbreak in the Beaver Park

Roadless Area or should the outbreak spread to the Spearfish source-

water watershed.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-FHW-B40071-CT I-95 at New Haven Harbor Crossing

(Quinnipiac River Bridge) Improvement, from Interchange 43 southwest to

Interchange 53 northeast, Funding, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, U.S.

Coast Guard Bridge Permit, New Haven, East and West Haven, CT.

Summary: EPA expressed concerns that the rationale for selecting a

preferred alternative was not clear. EPA requested the FHWA/CTDOT to

provide supplemental information which would further explain the basis

for selection of one action over another and why certain transit

measure were eliminated.

ERP No. F-FRC-B05192-MA Holyoke Hydroelectric Relicensing Project,

(FERC Nos. 2004-073 and 11607-000), Construction, Operation and

Maintenance, Located on the Connecticut River, Hampshire, Hampden and

Franklin Counties, MA.

Summary: EPA remains concerned about fish passage, bypass flow, and

alternative issues which remain largely unaddressed in the FEIS. EPA

encouraged FERC to provide additional information concerning these

issues prior to the conclusion of the NEPA process.

ERP No. F-USA-B11023-CT Stratford Army Engine Plant (SAEP)

Disposal and Reuse, Implementation, City of Stratford, Fairfield and

New Haven Counties, CT.

Summary: EPA had no outstanding objections to the proposal and

continues to support the transfer of intertidal land to the USFWS.

Dated: September 21, 1999.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-24967 Filed 9-23-99; 8:45 am]

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