[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 204 (Friday, October 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63075-63076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-27063]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6611-9]


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) 260-5076.
    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-F65027-MN Rating LO, Little East Creek Fuel Reduction 
Project, Plan to Grant Access Across Federal Land to Non-Federal 
Landowners, Implementation, LaCroix Ranger District, Superior National 
Forest, Saint Louis County, MN.
    Summary: EPA has no objections to the project.
    ERP No. D-AFS-K65228-CA Rating EC2, Airport Forest Health Project, 
Forest Health Improvements through Reduction of Fuel Loads and Fire 
Hazards and Wildlife Habitat Improvements Implementation, Pacific 
Ranger District, El Dorado National Forest, El Dorado and Placer 
Counties, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding purpose and need, the 
range of alternatives analyzed, and lack of appropriate mitigation for 
2.2 miles of new road construction. EPA also recommended consideration 
of land tenure adjustments to block ownership, and disclosure of 
potential conflicts with standards and guidelines being developed as 
part of the Sierra Nevada Forest Plan Amendment process.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65363-OR Rating EC2, Anthony Lakes Mountain Resort 
Master Development Plan, Upgrading and Additional Development, 
Approval, Baker Ranger District, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, 
Grant, Union and Baker Counties, OR.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns with the potential impacts 
associated from the addition of snowmobile rentals to the Master 
Development Plan (MDP). The final EIS should disclose additional 
information regarding how the number of allowable rentals will be 
defined in both the MDP and the Special Use Permit.
    ERP No. D-AFS-L65364-ID Rating EC2, South Fourth of July Ecosystem 
Restoration Project, Implementation, Salmon-Cobalt Ranger District, 
Salmon-Challis National Forest, Lemhi County, ID.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns about water quality, air quality 
and cumulative effects and requested additional information that would 
address our concerns.
    ERP No. D-BOP-K80042-CA Rating EC2, Lompoc United States 
Penitentiary (UPS) Construction and Operation of a New High-Security 
Facility and Ancillary Structures on One of Three Sites located in the 
City of Lopmoc, Funding, Santa Barbara County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns regarding lack of information 
specific to the facility location and the prison industry component of 
the proposed project. EPA also recommended that all wetlands be avoided 
on the preferred project site.
    ERP No. D-IBR-K39062-00 Rating EC2, Colorado River Interim Surplus 
Criteria, To Determine Water Surplus for use within the States of 
Arizona, California and Nevada (from 2001 through 2015), Colorado River 
Basin, AZ, CA and NV.
    Summary: EPA expressed concerns with the minimal evaluation of 
indirect impacts from use and storage of surplus water and of 
mitigation measures for direct, indirect, and cumulative effects. The 
surplus determination should also include more specific requirements 
for efficient and beneficial use of the declared surplus.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-AFS-J65309-UT Trout Slope East Timber Project, Timber 
Harvest and Associated Activities, Implementation, Vernal Ranger 
District, Ashley National Forest, Uintah County, UT.
    Summary: EPA's comments and concerns with the draft EIS were 
adequately addressed, therefore, EPA has no objections with the 
proposed action.
    ERP No. F-AFS-L65348-ID Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Small 
Sales, Harvesting Dead and Damaged Timber, Coeur d'Alene River Range 
District, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, ID.
    Summary: EPA's previous concerns were addressed, therefore, EPA has 
no objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. F-COE-E39049-FL Improving the Regulatory Process in 
Southwest Florida for the Review of Applications for the Fill of 
Wetlands (US Army COE Section 404 Permit), Lee and Collier Counties, 
FL.
    Summary: EPA stated with some substantive changes, the proposed 
permit review process (assessing the direct, indirect/induced, and 
cumulative impact(s) on wetland and related systems) can provide 
effective wetland regulation in southwest Florida.
    ERP No. F-FTA-C53004-NY Mid-Harlem Line Third Track Project, 
Construct a New 2.5 mile Third Track between Fleetwood and Crestwood 
Stations, Funding, Westchester County, NY.
    Summary: EPA continues to lack objections to the proposed action 
since no significant new issues were raised since the draft EIS.
    ERP No. F-USN-C11016-NY Brooklyn Naval Station Disposal and

[[Page 63076]]

Reuse, Implementation, King County, NY.
    Summary: Previous concerns identified at the draft EIS were 
satisfactorily addressed in the final EIS, therefore EPA has no 
objection to the action as proposed.
    ERP No. FS-NPS-E61066-FL Big Cypress National Preserve, General 
Management Plan, Implementation, New Information on the Special 
Alternative for the Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan, Collier, Dade and 
Monroe Counties, FL.
    Summary: EPA expressed continuing concerns regarding surface water 
quality.

    Dated: October 17, 2000.
Joseph C. Montgomery,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 00-27063 Filed 10-19-00; 8:45 am]
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