[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54106-54107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27628]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5485-4]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared September 15, 1997 through 
September 20, 1997 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 11, 1997 (62 
FR 16154).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-AFS-J65276-CO Rating EC2, Dome Peak Timber Sale, Timber 
Harvesting and Road Construction, White River National Forest, Eagle 
Ranger District, Glenwood Spring, Eagle and Garfield Counties, CO.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerned about potential 
sedimentation and water quality impacts. EPA requested data clarifying 
potential for impacts and information related to helicopter yarding and 
wildlife impacts.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65272-CA Rating EC2, Chico Genetic Resource Center 
for Pest Management Program, Implementation, Mendocino National Forest, 
Willow, Butte County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern about data gaps in the 
DEIS's analysis of water quality impacts.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65273-AZ Rating LO, Grand Canyon/Tusayan Growth Area 
Improvements, General Management Plan (GMP), Special-Use-Permit, 
Approvals and Licenses Issuance, Coconino County, AZ.
    Summary: EPA expressed a lack of objections and commended the 
Forest Service for its excellent analysis of issues related to the 
expansion of lodging and related services.
    ERP No. D-BLM-K67045-NV Rating EC2, Florida Canyon Mine Expansion 
Project and Comprehensive Reclamation Plan, Construction and Operation 
of New Facilities and Expansion of Existing Gold Mining Operations in 
Imlay Mining District, Plan-of-Operation Approval and Right-of-Way 
Permit Issuance, Pershing County, NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns because the Proposed 
Alternative would disturb 143

[[Page 54107]]

acres more than another alternative assessed in the DEIS, and the DEIS 
did not clearly indicate which action alternative is the least 
environmentally damaging to aquatic resources under Clean Water Act 
Section 404. EPA also expressed concerns regarding how the site was 
geochemically characterized and offered recommendations for facility 
design and additional monitoring.
    ERP No. D-DOA-G31002-TX Rating LO, Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties 
Water Conservation Plan, Renovation and Installation, Funding, Medina 
Lake, Bexar, Medina and Atascosa Counties, TX.
    Sumary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the lead agency's 
preferred alternative as described in the draft EIS.
    ERP No. D-DOE-C06013-NY Rating LO, Disposal of the Defueled S3G and 
D1G Prototype Reactor Plants, Implementation, Located at the Knolls 
Atomic Power Laboratory Kesselring Site near West Milton, Saratoga 
County, NY.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K28018-CA Rating EC2, Central Valley Project, 
Municipal and Industrial Water Supply Contracts, Sacramento County 
Water Agency and San Juan Water District, City of Folsom, Sacramento 
County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns with the identified 
additional adverse cumulative impacts of the proposed new water supply 
diversions, and urged selection of diversion points on the Sacramento 
River below the confluence with the American River or as far downstream 
on the American River as feasible.
    EPA expressed support for water conservation, water pricing 
strategies, water reclamation, conjunctive use, and other demand 
reduction measures as means to achieving additional water supply. EPA 
suggested a more aggressive water conservation approach as part of the 
proposed action, integration of other demand reduction measures, and 
continued pursuit of conservation alternatives (e.g. metering, water 
reclamation), whether or not new contract water is provided.
    ERP No. D-ICC-G53007-LA Rating EC2, Kansas City Southern Railway 
(KCS) Construction and Operation to Connect the Geismar Industrial Area 
to KCS' Mainline near Sorrento, Construction Exemption Approval, 
Ascension Parish, LA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns for the lead agency's 
preferred alternative and requests additional information, 
environmental justice alternatives analysis, and cumulative impacts 
assessment.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-FHW-E40759-AL Birmingham Northern Beltline Project, 
Construction, I-59/20 west to I-59 northeast in the City of Birmingham, 
Funding and Possible COE Section 404 Permit, Jefferson County, AL.
    Summary: EPA's review revealed that all alternatives will have 
major impacts on environmental resources in the highway corridor. EPA 
recommends that the shortest alternative, ``D'', be reconsidered with 
modification.
    ERP No. F-FHW-J40212-CO CO-82 Highway Transportation Project, 
Improvements to ``Entrance to Aspen'', Funding and COE Section 404 
Permit, City of Aspen, Pitkin County, CO.
    Summary: EPA's review has not identified any potential 
environmental impacts requiring substantive changes to the Preferred 
Alternative.
    ERP No. F-FTA-C40137-NY Wassaic Extension Project, Expand Metro-
North, Funding and Right-of-Way, Dutchess and Litchfield Counties, NY.
    Summary: EPA believed that the proposed project would not result in 
significant adverse environmental impacts, and therefore, has no 
objections to its implementation.

    Dated: October 14, 1997.
B. Katherine Biggs,
Associate Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
[FR Doc. 97-27628 Filed 10-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U