Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6249-6]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared December 13, 1999 through

December 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 09, 1999 (63

FR 17856).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-AFS-J65315-UT Rating EC2, Monroe Mountain Ecosystem

Restoration Project, Implementation, Fishlake National Forest,

Richfield Ranger District, Sevier and Piute Counties, UT.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the proposed

action due to potential significant impacts to water quality. sensitive

fish habitat (Utah Bonneville cutthroat trout) and two regionally

sensitive bird species. Also, we expressed concerns with the scope of

alternatives lack of a detailed monitoring plan to determine if

ecosystem restoration will actually be achieved, the analysis of

cumulative impacts, and the limited approach to managing livestock and

elk grazing on the area where aspen will be harvested.

ERP No. D-BIA-L65330-WA Rating EC2, White River Amphitheater

Project, Construction and Operation of a 20,000 Seat Open-Air

Amphitheater on the Muckleshoot Indian Reservation, COE Section 404

Permit and NPDES Permit, Seattle-Tacoma, WA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns due to air quality,

water quality and noise impacts. EPA recommended that the

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final EIS provide an expanded evaluation of environmental effects,

clearly identify mitigation measures (including monitoring efforts),

and commit to implement appropriate mitigation measures.

ERP No. D-COE-C32035-00 Rating EO2, New York and New Jersey Harbor

Navigation Study, Identify, Screen and Select Navigation Channel

Improvements, NY and NJ.

Summary: EPA raised objections based on the significant adverse

impacts that could result from the expansion of port facilities and

related infrastructure, that would be associated with increasing cargo

movement in the Port. EPA also requested additional information,

including information on cumulative impacts, the no action alternative,

and air quality impact analyses. EPA also requested a formal commitment

by the involved agencies to move forward with a comprehensive port

improvement plan EIS.

ERP No. D-FHW-C40151-NY Rating EC2, County Road (Mill Hill Road and

Glen Road) Improvements, From Howard Drive to State Route 9N including

a New Bridge over the East Branch of the Ausable River, Funding and COE

Section 404 Permit, Essex County, NY.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about wetlands, water

quality, and cumulative impacts associated with the project. EPA

requested that these issues and other issues be addressed in the final

EIS.

ERP No. D-FHW-G40153-NM Rating LO, New Mexico Forest Highway 45

(Forest Road 537) known locally as the Sacramento River Road,

Improvements from Sunspot to Timberon, Otero County, NM.

Summary: EPA has no objections to the preferred alternative as

proposed in the DEIS.

ERP No. D-FHW-K40239-CA Rating EC2, Interstate 215 (I-215)

Transportation Improvements, From the short segments of CA-60 and CA-91

in the Cities of Riverside and Moreno Valley, Funding, Riverside

County, CA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns that, both in the

short-term and over the long-term, air quality could be impacted by

implementing either of the build alternatives. In addition, in the

long-term, the project's stated purpose of congestion relief may not be

realized.

ERP No. D-NPS-L65331-WA Rating LO, Whitman National Historic Site,

General Management Plan, Development Concept Plan, Implementation,

Walla Walla County, WA.

Summary: EPA expressed lack of objections and suspects the proposed

action will improve existing conditions.

ERP No. DS-UAF-A11074-00 Rating LO, Evolved Expendable Launch

Vehicle Program, Updated Information, To Allow the Addition of up to

Five Strap-on Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) to the Atlas V and Delta IV

Lift Vehicle, Launch Locations are Cape Canaveral Air Station, Brevard

County, FL and Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), Santa Barbara County,

CA.

Summary: EPA has no objection to the proposed action, some

technical/clarification items were provided.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-DOE-A09828-00 Surplus Plutonium Disposition (DOE/EIS-

0283) for Siting, Construction and Operation of three facilities for

Plutonium Disposition, Possible Sites Hanford, Idaho National

Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, Pantex Plant and Savannah

River, CA, ID, NM, SC, TX and WA.

Summary: EPA has no objection to the action as proposed.

ERP No. FR-BOP-E81033-MS Yazoo City, Mississippi Federal

Correctional Complex, Construction and Operation, Possibly Consisting

of a High Security U. S. Penitentiary, Medium Security Federal

Correctional Institution and Minimum Security Federal Prison, Site

Selection and Possible COE Section 404 Permit, Yazoo City, Yazoo

County, MS.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential

wetland impacts and requested additional clarification and mitigation

information.

Dated: December 27, 1999.

William D. Dickerson,

Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-33997 Filed 12-29-99; 8:45 am]

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