[Federal Register: March 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 50)]
[Notices]
[Page 12349]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr03-35]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-6638-5]
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) 564-7153.
An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental
impact statements (EISs) was published in the Federal Register dated
April 12, 2003 (67 FR 17992).
Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J65372-CO Rating EC2, Trout-West Hazardous Fuels
Reduction Project, Proposed Action to Reduce Fuels, Pike-San Isabel
National Forest, Trout and West Creek Watersheds, Teller, El Paso and
Douglas Counties, CO.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about impacts to
aquatic resources, including 303(d)-listed streams. EPA recommended
mitigation measures to improve impaired conditions in these streams
with protecting structures and allowing timber harvest and other fuels
treatment in designated high-value management areas.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65410-ID Rating EC2, Gaylord North Timber Sale
Project, Harvesting Timber, Council Ranger District, Payette National
Forest, Adam County, ID.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the lack of
substantive differences between the alternatives and that road closures
and decommissioning should better meet Forest Plan road density
standards for wildlife. EPA requested the FEIS include more detail on
the management of closed roads and present a clearer analysis of
cumulative impacts including comparison of predicted impacts to
established resource threshold.
ERP No. D-NPS-L65413-WA Rating NS, Fort Vancouver National Historic
Site, General Management Plan and Development Concept Plans,
Implementation, Oregon County, WA.
Summary: EPA Region 10 used a screening tool to conduct a limited
review of this action. Based upon the screen, EPA does not foresee
having any environmental objections to the proposed project.
Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-D65014-00, American Electirc Power 765 kV
Transmission Line Construction, Operation and Maintenance, Wyoming
Station to Cloverdale Station, Special Use Permit Issuance and Right-
of-Way Grants Federal and Non-Federal Lands, George Washington and
Jefferson National Forests, several counties, WV and VA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns from impacts to water
quality and natural resources on federal lands from construction and
maintenance of 11 miles of transmission line. Described measures to
avoid and minimize impacts should continue through the final stages of
the project.
ERP No. F-SFW-L02029-AK, Swanson River Satellites Natural Gas
Exploration and Development Project, Evaluation of a Right-of-Way
Permit Application and U.S. Army COE Section 404 and NPDES Permits
Issuance, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Peninsula, AK.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
ERP No. FS-BLM-K67011-NV, Betze-Post Project, Updated Information
concerning Dewatering Operations and Additional Underground Pipeline
Construction, Elko and Eureka Counties, NV.
Summary: EPA expressed continuing environmental concerns regarding
the potential ecological risks to biological resources from the project
and adverse impacts to water quality, including levels of selenium. EPA
recommended additional analysis of cumulative impacts and additional
mitigation measures.
Dated: March 11, 2003.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 03-6196 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P