[Federal Register: September 15, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 179)]
[Notices]
[Page 54478-54479]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15se06-40]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6679-3]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of
EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared 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 7, 2006 (71 FR 17845).
Draft EISs
EIS No. 20050459, ERP No. D-BLM-A82127-00, Programmatic--Vegetation
Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Public Lands
in 17 Westerns, including Alaska
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about surface and
ground water impacts, protected beneficial uses and non-targeted flora
and fauna. Additionally, EPA recommended that the final EIS address how
meeting goals and endpoints will be evaluated and how monitoring will
be conducted. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20060164, ERP No. D-AFS-J65462-00, Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Noxious Weed Management Project, Implementation, Billings, Slope,
Golden Valley, Sioux, Grant, McHenry, Ransom and Richard Counties, ND
and Carson, Perkins, and Zwieback Counties, SD.
Summary: EPA supports the proposed integrated weed management
project. Rating LO.
EIS No. 20060178, ERP No. D-WPA-J08026-00, Big Stone II Power Plant and
Transmission Project, Propose Power Plant, Transmission Alternatives,
and Substation Modification, (DOE/EIS-0377), US Army COE Section 10 and
404 Permits, Big Stone City, Grant County, SD and Big Stone County, MN.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections because of the
project's anticipated wetland impacts, and asked for additional
information to determine the least environmentally damaging practicable
alternative. Rating EO2.
EIS No. 20060184, ERP No. D-COE-D35062-MD, Masonville Dredge Material
Containment Facility (DMCF), Construction from Baltimore Harbor Channel
north of Point-Rock Point Line, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404
Permits, Baltimore, MD.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
impacts associated with the placement of fill into a large area of
Patapsco River, and requested that a mitigation plan be developed and
be approved by the resource agencies prior to the Final EIS and before
the issuance of the Section 404 permit for the project. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20060220, ERP No. D-BLM-L65513-ID, Snake River Birds of Prey
National Conservation Area, Resource Management Plan, Implementation,
Ada, Canyon, Elmore, Owyhee Counties, ID.
Summary: EPA supports proposed conservation efforts to protect and
enhance raptor and raptor prey habitats, but suggests incorporating
elements from Alternative C which reduce land disturbances and mitigate
for impacts such as erosion, sedimentation, reduced streambank
stability, reduce opportunities for spreading noxious plants. Rating
EC1.
EIS No. 20060242, ERP No. D-FHW-F40436-WI, TIER 1-DEIS--US 8 Project,
Construction from Wisconsin 35 (N) to U.S. 53, Funding and Right-of-Way
Permit, Polk and Barron Counties, WI.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to
wetlands, sensitive watersheds and streams, impaired waters and upland
forest. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20060268, ERP No. D-FHW-C40337-DC, 11th Street Bridges Project,
Anacostia Freeway I-295/DC 295, to the Southeast/Southwest Freeway (I-
695) Improvements, Funding, NPDES Permit , U.S. Army COE Section 10 and
404 Permits, Washington, DC.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about wetland, water
quality, aquatic habitat and noise impacts. EPA requested additional
information and mitigation. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20060271, ERP No. D-CGD-A11078-00, Programmatic--Implementation
of the U.S. Coast Guard Nationwide Automatic Identification System
Project, Providing Vessel Identification, Tracking and Information
Exchange Capabilities to Support National Maritime Interests.
Summary: EPA does not object to the proposed action. Rating LO.
EIS No. 20060280, ERP No. D-AFS-J65466-00, North Zone Range 05 Project,
Reauthorizing Livestock Grazing on Eight Existing Allotments, Black
Hill National Forest, Bearlodge and Northern Hills Ranger Districts,
Crook County, WY and Lawrence County, SD.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because range
condition assessments appear to be used as a replacement for inventory
and monitoring protocols providing biological information on riparian
areas. The Final EIS should address inconsistencies between the
information presented and stated conclusions regarding current
conditions of allotments, and impacts of grazing on soil and water
quality. In addition, the Final EIS should include water quality data,
site-specific monitoring and/or mitigation plan with identified trigger
points, and any other supplemental information used to support range
management decisions. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20060299, ERP No. D-FRC-C05149-NY, Niagara Project,
Hydroelectric Relicensing Application FERC No. 2216, Niagara River,
Niagara County, NY.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
cumulative impacts to water levels, and requested that this issue be
fully discussed in the final IS. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20060269, ERP No. DS-COE-D35062-MD, Masonville Dredged Material
Containment Facility, New Information, New Source of Dike Building
Material from the Seagirt Dredging Project within the Patapsco River,
Funding, Baltimore, MD.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential
impacts associated with the placement of fill into a large area of
Patapsco River, and requested that a mitigation plan be
[[Page 54479]]
developed and be approved by the resource agencies prior to the Final
EIS and before the issuance of the Section 404 permit for the project.
Rating EC2.
Final EISs
EIS No. 20060197, ERP No. F-FHW-J40171-CO, US Highway 160,
Transportation Improvements from Junction U.S. 160/550 Durango--East to
Bayfield, US Army COE Section 404 Permit, La Plata County, CO.
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concerns about
wetland impacts and the mitigation of those impacts. EPA is also
concerned about construction-related air quality impacts, and requested
mitigation be developed to reduce those impacts.
EIS No. 20060293, ERP No. F-SFW-F64005-00, Upper Mississippi River
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Comprehensive Conservation Plan, A
New Alternative E: Modified Wildlife and Integrated Public Use,
Implementation, MN, WI, Il and IA.
Summary: EPA does not object to the selection of the preferred
alternative.
EIS No. 20060304, ERP No. F-AFS-L65505-ID, Clear Prong Project, Timber
Harvest, Temporary Road Construction, Road Maintenance, Road
Decommissioning, Thinning of Sub-Merchantable Tree, and Prescribed
Fire, Boise National Forest, Cascade Ranger District, Valley County,
ID.
Summary: EPA's previous concerns have been resolved; therefore, EPA
does not object to the proposed action.
EIS No. 20060319, ERP No. F-NPS-G61043-AR, Pea Ridge National Military
Park General Management Plan, Implementation, AR.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
EIS No. 20060174, ERP No. FS-AFS-J65438-WY, Dean Project Area, Proposes
to Implement Multiple Resource Management Actions, New Information to
Disclose Direct, Indirect, and Cumulative Environmental Impacts, Black
Hills National Forest, Bearlodge Ranger District, Sundance, Crook
County, WY.
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concerns about
cumulative impacts to water quality, aquatic life, and terrestrial
wildlife.
Dated: September 12, 2006.
Robert W. Hargrove,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E6-15343 Filed 9-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P