[Federal Register: January 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 21)]
[Notices]
[Page 5019-5020]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja03-78]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6637-3]
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 12, 2002 (67
FR 17992).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-COE-K32012-CA Rating EC2, San Diego Harbor Deepening
(Central Navigation Channel) involving Three Components: Deepening
Federal Central Navigation Channel, Disposal of the Dredged Material at
the LA-5 Ocean Disposal Site and Relocation and Disposal and
Abandonment of a 69 kV Electrical Site, San Diego County.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns and requested
additional information regarding potential connected actions, water
quality, air quality, endangered species and environmental justice.
ERP No. D-COE-L32011-AK Rating EO2, Akutan Harbor Navigation
Improvements Project, Construction and Implementation, Bering Sea, City
of Akutan, AK.
Summary: EPA raised environmental objections to the recommended
project alternative due to direct and indirect impacts to wetlands and
the likely exceedances of fully allocated TMDLs for dissolved oxygen
and settleable solid residues. EPA also determined that there was
insufficient information regarding the full range of reasonable
alternatives and potential mitigation measures. EPA recommended that
the final EIS demonstrates that alternatives analysis and mitigation
measures are consistent with the Clean Water Act Section 404(b)(1)
guidelines and that the proposed alternative will not exceed
established TMDLs.
ERP No. D-FHW-F40410-IL Rating LO, Milan Beltway Extension (FAU
5822), Airport Road to Blackhawk Road/John Deere Expressway, Funding
and Permits Issuance, Rock River, Rock Island County, IL.
Summary: EPA believes that the proposed project will result in
minimum adverse impacts to the environment with appropriate mitigation
and that we did not identify any outstanding environmental issues that
need additional analysis.
ERP No. D-FHW-L40216-OR Rating EC2, Newberg-Dundee Transportation
Improvement Project (TEA 21 Prog. 37), Proposal to Relieve
Congestion on OR-9W through the Cities of Newberg and Dundee, Bypass
Element Location (Tier 1), Yamhill County, OR.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern regarding air quality
and air toxics, environmental justice issues, alternatives, habitat
connectivity effectiveness and wetland impacts. EPA requested
additional information, analysis, mitigation and outreach regarding
these issues.
ERP No. D-NRC-E05099-FL Rating EC1, Generic EIS--License Renewal of
Nuclear Plants for the St. Lucie Units 1 and 2, Supplement 11, NUREG-
1437, Implementation, Hutchinson Island, St. Lucie County, FL.
Summary: EPA has environmental concerns with certain aspects of
this license renewal and requests clarification of measures to avoid
and mitigate for impacts to the Big Mud Creek ecosystem and to
herbicide use in the transmission right-of-way. EPA also notes the
ongoing need to consult during the facility's operating life with the
appropriate agencies regarding threatened and endangered species.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-K65220-NV Cave Rock Management Direction,
Implementation, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Douglas County, NV.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-AFS-K65364-CA Red Star Restoration Project, Fire-Killed
Trees Removal, Fuel Reduction, Road Reconstruction and Decommissioning
and Associated Restoration, Tahoe Tahoe National Forest, Foresthill
Ranger District, Placer County, CA.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. F-DOE-E09808-KY Kentucky Pioneer Integrated Gasification
Combined Cycle Demonstration Project, Construction and Operation of a
540 Megawatt-Electric Power Plant, Clean Coal Technology Program, Clark
County, KY.
Summary: EPA still has environmental concerns with certain impacts,
but the Final EIS adequately addresses mitigation of potential impacts
associated with Cultural Resources, Aesthetic and Scenic Resources,
Geology, Air, Traffic and Transportation. EPA requested that the
[[Page 5020]]
Record of Decision address our remaining concerns.
ERP No. F-DOE-L08062-WA Grand Coulee-Bell 500-kV Transmission Line
Project, Construction and Operation, U.S. Army COE Section 10 Permit
Issuance, Douglas, Lincoln, Spokane and Grant Counties, WA.
Summary: EPA still has environmental concerns with BPA's rationale
for not more fully considering the alternative action, which appears to
have advantages for future transmission needs as well as for
environmental protection. EPA requested that BPA provide an explanation
for this decision in the Record of Decision.
ERP No. F-FHW-H40403-KS US 59 Highway Construction Improvements,
Lawrence to Ottawa, Funding, NPDES Permit Issuance and Possible U.S.
Army COE Permit Issuance, Douglas and Franklin Counties, KS.
Summary: EPA had no environmental concerns with the preferred
alternative. EPA recommended that the Record of Decision provide more
information regarding necessary mitigation.
ERP No. FS-AFS-J65312-WY Squirrel Meadows Grand Targhee Land
Exchange Proposal, New Information and Current Environmental and
Socioeconomic Conditions, Implementation, Targhee National Forest,
Teton County, WY.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. FS-NRC-A00150-00 Generic EIS--Decommissioning of Nuclear
Facilities, Updated Information on Dealing With Decommissioning of
Nuclear Power Reactors (NUREG-0586).
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concern with NRC's
not requiring consideration of environmental changes to the facility
site during plant operation in the environmental assessment of the
decommissioning process.
Dated: January 28, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-2346 Filed 1-30-03; 8:45 am]
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