[Federal Register: December 30, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 250)]
[Notices]               
[Page 73550-73551]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30de99-96]                         

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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

[[Page 73551]]

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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