73 FR 221 pgs. 67509-67510 - Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments
Type: NOTICEVolume: 73Number: 221Pages: 67509 - 67510
Docket number: [ER-FRL-8587-6]
FR document: [FR Doc. E8-27108 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[ER-FRL-8587-6]
Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of EPA Comments
Availability of EPA comments prepared Pursuant to the Environmental ReviewProcess (ERP), under section 309 of the Clean Air Act and section 102(2)(c) ofthe National Environmental Policy Act as amended. Requests for copies of EPAcomments can be directed to the Office of Federal Activities at 202-564-7146. An explanation of the ratings assigned todraft environmental impact statements (EISs) was published in FR datedApril 6, 2008 (73 FR 19833).
Draft EISs
EIS No. 20080336, ERP No. D-AFS-L65557-OR , Farley Vegetation Management Project, To Conduct Timber Harvest Commercial and Non-Commercial Thinning, Fuels Treatment Prescribed Burning andReforestation, Desolation Creek, North Fork John Day Ranger District, Umatilla National Forest, Grant County, OR.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns aboutwildfire analysis, potential unauthorized public vehicle use, and water quality impacts from grazing. EPA recommends that the final EIS include assurances that appropriate subsequent treatments will be conducted to maintain the decreases in fire risk. Also, the final EIS should consider increasing riparian plantings and enclosures and modifying project design elements for road closure/decommissioning enforcement and monitoring. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080344, ERP No. D-COE-F39042-MN, Mississippi River Headwaters Reservoir Operating Plan Evaluation (ROPE), Proposed Revision to the Operating Plan for the Reservoirs, Upper Mississippi River Headwaters, Bemidji to St. Paul, MN.
Summary: EPA expressed concerns about impacts to water quality, migratory bird populations and tribal harvests of wild rice. EPA also recommended that the Final EIS include additional detailed and quantitative information and analyses regarding the potential environmental impacts, as well as more information regarding the project purpose and need. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080345, ERP No. D-USN-E11067-NC, NavyCherry Point Range Complex, Proposed Action is to Support and Conduct Current and Emerging Training and Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation (RDTE) Activities, South Atlantic Bight, Cape Hatteras, NC.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the deposition of expended training materials and their potential impacts over time to reef complexes and hard bottom habitat. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080348, ERP No. D-USN-E11068-00, Undersea Warfare Training Range Project, Installation and Operation, Preferred Site Jacksonville Operating Area, FL and Alternative Sites (within the Charleston, SC; Cherry Point, NC; and VACAPES Operating Areas, VA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns aboutthe deposition of expended training materials and their potential impacts over time to reef complexes and hard bottom habitat. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080395, ERP No. D-AFS-J65523-00, Sioux Ranger District Travel Management Project, To Designate the Road and Trail and Areas Suitable for Public Motorized Travel, Sioux RangerDistrict, Custer National Forest, Carter County of MT and Harding County of South Dakota.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential effects to water quality, aquatic habitat, wildlife and other resources from roads and motorized uses. EPA supports the preferred alternative (B) and recommends further reductions in motorized routes in areas with high hazard(erosive) soils and in high risk watersheds. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080396, ERP No. D-AFS-J65524-MT , Ashland Ranger District Travel Management Project, Proposing to Designate Routes for Public Motorized Use, Ashland Ranger District, Custer National Forest, Rosebud and Power River Counties, MT.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential adverse impacts to water quality, aquatic habitat, wildlife and other resources from roads and motorized uses. EPA supports the preferred alternative (B), but recommends further reductions in motorized routes in areas with high hazard (erosive) soils and in high risk watersheds. Rating EC2.
EIS No. 20080356, ERP No. DS-AFS-K65298-CA, Kings River Project, New Information regarding Pacific Fisher (Martes pennanti), Proposal to Restore Historical Pre-1850 Forest Conditions, Implementation, High Sierra Ranger District, Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, CA.
Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about theProposed Action that would result in a more intensive level of logging than is currently allowed. As a result, the project increases the risk of short-term and cumulative impacts to aquatic and late successional forest species. Rating EC2.
Final EISs
EIS No. 20080337, ERP No. F-BLM-J65502-00 , PROGRAMMATIC EIS-Oil Shale and Tar SandsResource Management (RMP) Amendments to AddressLand Use Allocations in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.
Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concernsabout impacts to surface water and groundwater;air quality; and the adequacy of the cumulativeimpacts analysis.
EIS No. 20080379, ERP No. F-AFS-G65100-NM , SantaFe National Forest Plan Amendment for Oil GasLeasing and Roads Management, Implementation, San Juan Basin, Cuba Ranger District, NM.
Summary: No formal comments were sent to the preparingagency.
EIS No. 20080382, ERP No. F-AFS-G65104-NM , Surface Management of Gas Leasing andDevelopment, Proposes to Amend the Forest Planinclude Standard and Guidelines Related to GasLeasing and Development in the Jicarilla RangerDistrict, Carson National Forest, Rio ArribaCounty, NM.
Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to thepreparing agency.
EIS No. 20080390, ERP No. F-BLM-J67034-MT, Montana Tunnels Mine Project, Proposed M-Pit MineExpansion to Existing Mine Pit to Access and MineAdditional Ore Resources, Jefferson County, MT.
Summary: EPA continues to have environmental concernsabout potential geochemical, hydrological andlong-term water quality uncertainties andadequacy of financial assurances to addresspotential closure/post-closure environmentalcontamination.
EIS No. 20080402, ERP No. F-AFS-J65459-MT, Whitetail-Pipestone Travel Management, Develop Site-Specific Travel Management Plan, Jefferson and Butte Ranger Districts, Beaverhead-DeerlodgeNational Forest, Jefferson and Silver BowCounties, MT.
Summary: EPA continues to express environmental concernsabout potential effects to water quality, aquatichabitat, and other resources from roads andmotorized uses.
Dated: November 10, 2008.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. E8-27108 Filed 11-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P