Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6246-7]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared August 23, 1999 Through

September 17, 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

10, 1999 (63 FR 17856).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-L65302-AK Rating EC2, Kuakan Timber Sale, Timber

Harvesting in the Kuakan Project Area, Implementation, Deer Island

within the Wrangell Ranger District, Stikine Area of the Tongass

National Forest, AK.

Summary

EPA expressed environmental concerns related to potential impacts

to fish habitat, water quality, wildlife security, and visual quality

for four of the alternatives under consideration. EPA recommended that

additional information be included in the EIS regarding the methods to

be used and the goals to be achieved with the use of a proposed

``overstory removal'' management prescription.

ERP No. D-USN-K11104-CA Rating EC2, Marine Corp Air Station (MCAS)

Tustin Disposal and Reuse Plan, Cities of Tustin and Irvine, Orange

County, CA.

Summary

EPA expressed concern regarding the mitigation of impacts to waters

of the United States, including approximately 3.6 acres of wetlands,

and on mitigating potential impacts from fertilizer and pesticide use

associated with future golf course operations.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-AFS-K65273-AZ--Grand Canyon/Tusayan Growth Area

Improvements, General Management Plan (GMP), Special-Use-Permit,

Approvals and Licenses Issuance, Coconino County, AZ.

Summary

No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-AFS-L65321-00--Douglas-fir Beetle Project, Harvest Tree,

Regenerated Forest, Aquatic Restoration and Fuels Reduction, Idaho

Panhandle National Forest, Coeur d'Alene River and Priest Lake Ranger

District and Colville National Forest, Newport Ranger District,

Kootenai, Shoshone and Bonner Counties, ID and Pend Orielle County, WA.

Summary

No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. F-FAA-B51016-CT--Sikorsky Memorial Airport, Proposed Runway

6-24 Improvements, Construction, Stratford, CT.

Summary

EPA expressed concerns that the EIS continues to lack a clear

discussion of the safety benefits associated with each alternative and

how environmental losses of each alternative are justified. EPA

requested that additional information be presented in the Record of

Decision pertaining to the above and stormwater management.

ERP No. F-FAA-J11016-00--Adoption--Colorado Airspace Initiative,

Modifications to the National Airspace System, such as the F-16

Aircraft and Aircrews of the 140th Wing of the Colorado Air National

Guard, also existing Military Operations Area (MOAs) and Military

Training Routes (MTRs), CO, NM, KS, NB and WY.

Summary

No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

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 reiterated concurrence with the preferred alternative while

retaining the concern expressed in a April 9, 1997 letter regarding the

large amount of wetland impacts associated with the preferred

alternative. Additional mitigation methods such as reduced median

widths and the steepening of slopes should be considered during the

design.

ERP No. F-NRS-F36162-MN--Snake River Watershed Plan, Watershed

Protection and Flood Prevention, NPDES Permit and COE Section 404

Permit, Marshall Pennington and Polk Counties, MN.

Summary

The FEIS provides adequate information and analysis to address the

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environmental concerns we expressed in our DEIS comment letter in the

following areas: (1) Alternatives, (2) Characterization of the affected

environment, (3) Impacts to wetlands and waters of the United States,

and (4) Mitigation.

ERP No. FR-AFS-J65287-UT--South Spruce Ecosystem Rehabilitation

Project, Implementation, Dixie National Forest, Cedar City Ranger

District, Iron and Kane Counties, UT.

Summary

No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. FS-FAA-F51040-IN--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

Based on EPA's review, the environmental concerns previously

expressed in the review of the Draft Supplemental EIS have been

resolved.

Dated: September 28, 1999.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-25632 Filed 9-30-99 8:45 am]

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