[Federal Register: October 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 195)]
[Notices]               
[Page 54882-54883]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08oc99-89]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6246-9]

 
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared September 20, 1999 Through 
September 24, 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-J65311-MT Rating EC2, Good Creek Resource Management 
Project, Implementation, Vegetation Treatments and Other Activities to 
Restore Watershed, Flathead National Forest, Tally Lake Ranger 
District, Flathead County, MT.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding increased 
water yield, channel erosion, and water quality impacts. EPA 
recommended that the Forest Service pick and chose and combine 
treatment methods and units from among alternatives to create a new 
modified preferred alternative to better optimize and balance resource 
and environmental trade offs. EPA requested additional information to 
help assess and mitigate potential impacts of the management actions.
    ERP No. D-COE-E39050-FL Rating EC2, Herbert Hoover Dike Major 
Rehabilitation Evaluation Study, Improvements to the Breach of Reach 
One, Lake Okeechobee, FL.
    Summary: EPA expressed concern regarding impacts to recreation/
infrastructure features, erosion control and loss of project 
effectiveness during heavy rain/or backpumping. EPA requested that 
these issues be addressed in the final document.
    ERP No. D-FHW-E40779-NC Rating EO2, Fayetteville Outer Loop 
Corridor Study, Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) Cape Fear 
River, Cumberland, Hoke and Robeson Counties, NC.
    Summary: EPA expressed objections due to substantial impacts to 
water/wetland resources and social impacts (relocations, noise and 
community disruption). EPA is requesting further analysis of secondary 
project impacts, reconsideration of each interchange location and is 
requesting additional data on potential impacts to minority and low 
income neighborhood.
    ERP No. DR-BIA-K61146-CA Rating EC2, Programmatic--Cabazon Resource 
Recovery Park Section 6 General Plan, Cabazon Indian Reservation, 
Implementation, Approval of Master Lease and NPDES Permit, the City of 
Mecca, Riverside County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding potential 
cumulative impacts associated with component facilities at the resource 
recovery park that may contaminate groundwater, emit hazardous air 
pollutants and/or generate hazardous waste. EPA requested a clear 
commitment that future site-specific facilities and projects raising 
these concerns are subject to subsequent environmental documentation 
under the National Environmental Policy Act.
    ERP No. DS-IBR-K39045-CA Rating LO, Programmatic EIS--Central 
Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA) of 1992 Implementation, 
Additional Information for the Project Simulation Model (PROSIM) 
Hydrology, Central Valley, Trinity Contra Costa, Alamenda, Santa Clara 
and San Benito Counties, CA.
    Summary: Because of the limited scope of the Supplemental DPEIS and 
the good description of implications of the revised PROSIM analysis, we 
have

[[Page 54883]]

not identified any potential environmental impacts and have no 
objections to the revised PROSIM analysis. This lack of objections does 
not extend to the Environmental Concerns expressed on the broader DPEIS 
CVPIA which evaluated potential effects of various CVPIA Alternatives.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-J65298-CO Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project, To 
Produce Sodium Products, Piceance Basin, Right-of-Way Permit and COE 
Section 404 Permit, Rio Blanch County, CO.
    Summary: EPA continues to express concern regarding the need to 
protect ground water from spills and to ensure adequate reclamation 
bonding coverage.
    ERP No. F-COE-K67041-CA Morrison Creek Mining Reach Downstream 
(South) of Jackson Highway, Mining and Reclamation Project, COE Section 
404 Permit Issuance, Sacramento County, CA.
    Summary: EPA continues to object to the preferred alternative since 
it has not been demonstrated that the preferred alternative is the 
least damaging practicable alternative. EPA believes that other 
alternatives would have fewer impacts on waters of the United States
    ERP No. F-GSA-E11044-TN Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant, Disposal 
and Transfer Ownership of Property to Other Federal Agencies and 
Private Entities, City of Chattanooga's, Hamilton County, TN.
    Summary: EPA continues to be concerned that all environmental 
impacts were not fully addressed. To this end, EPA looks forward to 
working with GSA in the future to help identify project-specific 
impacts and the avoidance, minimization and mitigation during the 
scoping and NEPA review process.
    ERP No. F-NPS-A61319-00 Oregon, California, Mormon Pioneer and Pony 
Express National Historic Trails, Implementation, Comprehensive 
Management and Use Plan, OR, CA, MO, IA, IL, KS, NB, CO, WY, ID, WA, UT 
and NV.
    Summary: EPA supports the preferred alternative.

    Dated: October 5, 1999.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division,
Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 99-26411 Filed 10-7-99; 8:45 am]
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