[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 107 (Friday, June 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35336-35337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13887]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6607-8]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared May 15, 2000 Through May 19, 
2000 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 14, 2000 (65 
FR 20157).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-L65344-AK Rating EC2, Emerald Bay Timber Sale, 
Implementation, Ketchikan-Misty Fiords Ranger District, Tongass 
National Forest, U.S. Cost Guard Bridge Permit, NPDES Permit, and COE 
Section 10 and 404 Permits, Cleveland Peninsula, AK.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about the lack of detailed 
information in the Environment and Effects chapter, the limited range 
of options covered in alternatives and that the alternatives were not 
completely developed and analyzed in the EIS. EPA recommends these 
issues be addressed in the final EIS.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65346-ID Rating EC2, Middle Fork Weiser River 
Watershed Project, Implementation of Vegetation Restoration, Landscape 
Fire Pattern and Watershed Restoration Objectives, Payette National 
Forest, Council Ranger District, Adams County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with potential 
impacts to water quality as well as the need for additional information 
on sediment delivery and other water quality related data.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K39055-CA Rating, Salton Sea Restoration Project, 
Implementation, COE Section 404 Permit, Riverside and Imperial 
Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA concluded that the DEIS is inadequate and should be 
formally revised and reissued for public comment as a Supplemental 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS). On the basis of the 
potential significant impacts involved, this proposal could be a 
candidate for referral to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). 
The basis for EPA's

[[Page 35337]]

position is: (1) There are significant deficiencies in the 
environmental analysis, (2) the DEIS does not demonstrate that the 
project alternatives are feasible or sustainable or that they will 
achieve project objectives, (3) Salton Sea restoration should be 
evaluated within the context of the Lower Colorado River watershed, and 
(4) the project scope is too narrow.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-J02037-WY South Baggs Natural Gas Development Area, 
Proposal to Drill and Develop 50 Natural Gas Wells, Application for 
Permit to Drill and COE Section 404 Permit, Carbon County, WY.
    Summary: No formal comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.
    ERP No. F-DOE-E06018-SC, Savannah River Site Spent Nuclear Fuel 
Management Plan, Implementation, Aiken County, SC.
    Summary: EPA noted that the EIS provided a good explanation of the 
complex issues associated with this project, but the Agency has 
concerns about the project's cumulative environmental impacts.

    Dated: May 30, 2000.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-13887 Filed 6-1-00; 8:45 am]
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