Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6240-5]

Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of

EPA Comments

Availability of EPA comments prepared February 8, 1999 through

February 12, 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, 1998 (63

FR 17856).

Draft EISs

ERP No. D-COE-B32011-RI Rating EO2, Providence River and Harbor

Maintenance Dredging Project, To Restore the Navigation Efficiency,

Providence River Shipping Channel, Narragansett Bay, R.I.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections with the Corps'

preferred Narragansett Bay disposal alternatives (Site 3 and the

Watchemoket Cove CAD Disposal Site) and suggested that the Corps give

further consideration to disposal at other alternate sites including

those in Rhode Island Sound. EPA requested additional information

concerning fisheries impacts, current characteristics at the disposal

sites, sediment erosion modeling, water quality, compliance with Clean

Water Action Section 404 (b)(1) Guidelines, and time of year

restrictions (dredge windows).

ERP No. D-FAA-B51016-CT Rating EC2, Sikorsky Memorial Airport,

Proposed Runway 6-24 Improvements, Construction, Stratford, CT.

SUMMARY: EPA requested additional information about the runway

improvements concerning wetlands, endangered species, water quality and

mitigation in order to fully evaluate the environmental acceptability

of the project.

ERP No. D-NOA-A91065-00 Rating LO, Atlantic Tunas, Swordfish and

Sharks, Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan.

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

formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

ERP No. D-USA-E11043-GA Rating EC2, U.S. Army/Fort Benning and The

Consolidated Government of Columbus Proposed Land Exchange, Muscogee

and Chattahoochee Counties, GA.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the long-term

ramifications of this deed transfer on biologically important species.

Additional information will be necessary to determine the actual

significance of this property exchange.

Final EISs

ERP No. F-COE-J36049-00, East Grand Forks, Minnesota and Grand

Forks, North Dakota Flood Control and Flood Protection, Red River

Basin, MN and ND.

Summary: EPA continues to have concerns that this EIS does not take

into account the potential reasonably foreseeable development of Devil

Lake outlet, which could significantly affect the flow in the Red

River. EPA believes the Corps should take a basin wide approach to its

analysis including a discussion of the drainage of upper basin wetlands

and how it could relate to the shift in flood peaks.

ERP No. F-FHW-B40081-NH

Summary: The Final EIS contains a substantial amount of new

information responsive to previously stated concerns about wetlands,

water supply, water quality and air quality impacts associated with the

project.

ERP No. F-FRC-B03009-ME, Maritimes Phase II Project, Construct and

Operate an Interstate Natural Gas Pipeline, COE Section 10 and 404

Permits, Endangered Species Act (ESA) and NPDE's permits, US Canada

border at Woodland (Burleyville) Maine and Westbrook Maine.

Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the incomplete

analysis of direct and secondary impacts and tie-ins to the pipeline,

impacts to vernal pools, and elements of contingency plans developed

for directional drilling applications.

ERP No. F-FTA-E40774-FL, Central Florida Light Rail Transit System

Transportation Improvement to the

[[Page 10662]]

North/South Corridor Project, Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) and

Minimum Operable Segment (MOS), Orange and Seminole Counties, FL.

Summary: EPA's review found that concerns raised on the Draft EIS

were adequately addressed in the Final EIS document.

ERP No. F-USN-K11064-CA, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Disposal and

Reuse, Implementation, City of Valley, Solano County, CA.

Summary: EPA had a lack of objections to this project.

ERP No. F-USN-K11087-CA, Long Beach Complex Disposal and Reuse,

Implementation, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, NPDES Permit, in the

City of Long Beach and Los Angeles County, CA.

Summary: EPA had no objection to this project.

Dated: March 2, 1999.

B. Katherine Biggs,

Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal

Activities.

[FR Doc. 99-5503 Filed 3-4-99; 8:45 am]

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