[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 94 (Friday, May 15, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27082-27083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13024]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-5491-9]


Environmental Impact Statements and Regulations; Availability of 
EPA Comments

    Availability of EPA comments prepared April 27, 1998 Through May 
01, 1998 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 10, 1998 (63 
FR 17856).

Draft EISs

    ERP No. D-COE-E35084-NC Rating EO2, Randleman Lake and Dam Project, 
Construction, Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority (PTRWA), Deep 
River, Guilford and Randolph Counties, NC.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objection to the proposed 
water supply reservoir, because hazardous materials present in the 
groundwater would potentially contaminate this water with chlorinated 
solvents and the abandoned Seaboard Chemical Plant would be situated in 
the reservoir pool and buffer zone. These sites are undergoing 
remediation studies by the North Carolina DEHNR. EPA requested that the 
COE grant its Section 404 permit only on condition that DEHNR guarantee 
that the Lake would be suitable for its intended purpose, ie., water 
supply; and that any on-going remediation studies be completed prior to 
construction.
    ERP No. D-COE-E36176-FL Rating EC2, C-51 West End Flood Control 
Project, Implementation To Improve the Level of Flood Control, Central 
and Southern Florida Project, Palm Beach County, FL.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concern about the efficacy of 
the proposed stormwater treatment area, as well as the potential long-
term environmental consequences of this proposal. EPA suggested that 
additional data needs to be collected/evaluated to determine the 
significance of these issues.
    ERP No. D-COE-K36123-CA Rating EC2, South Sacramento County Streams 
Investigation, Proposed to Increase Flood Protection, Non-Federal 
Sponsor, Sacramento Waste Water Treatment Plant and along portions of 
Morrison, Elder, Unionhouse and Florin Creeks, Sacramento County, CA.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns regarding air quality 
mitigation, which may be required by the Corps' upcoming conformity 
determination, reflected in the draft EIS. EPA urged the Corps to 
finalize the project's conformity review prior to completion of the 
final EIS. EPA also expressed concern that the draft EIS did not 
discuss potential cumulative impacts to the Morrison Creek watershed, 
particularly impacts associated with sand and gravel mining that is 
subject to Corps regulatory jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act 
Section 404. EPA is concerned that the draft EIS did not address 
pollution prevention mechanisms to the extent recommended in guidance 
to Federal agencies by the Council on Environmental Quality.
    ERP No. D-FRC-B03006-00 Rating EO2, Portland Natural Gas 
Transmission System (PNCTS)/Maritimes Phase I Joint Facilities Project, 
NPDES Permit, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Dracut, MA; Wells, ME and 
NH.
    Summary: EPA expressed environmental objections to the pipeline 
proposal from the standpoint of growth inducing impacts and the absence 
of a planning policy and decision-making process (or guidance) for the 
evaluation of proposed tie-ins to the pipeline. EPA requested 
additional information concerning impacts to wetlands containing 
significant amphibian breeding habitat and impacts of the pipeline to 
existing and potential wellhead protection areas. EPA also questioned 
FERC's rationale for analyzing the Phase I Joint Facilities project 
independent of the other portions of a larger pipeline facility 
throughout New England.

Final EISs

    ERP No. F-BLM-G67003-NM, Little Rock Open-Pit Mine Project, 
Construction and Operation, Plan of Operations Approval, and several 
Permits Issuance, Grant County, NM.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS has been completed and the project 
found to be satisfactory.
    ERP No. F-DOA-G31002-TX, Bexar-Medina-Atascosa Counties Water 
Conservation Plan, Renovation and Installation, Funding, Medina Lake, 
Bexar, Medina and Atascosa Counties, TX.
    Summary: Review of the Final EIS has been completed and the project 
found to be satisfactory.
    ERP No. F-FHW-B59000-RI, Newport Marine Facilities Project, To 
Develop the Marine Mode of the Intermodal Gateway Transportation 
Center, Selected siting in various locations within the City of 
Newport, Towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, Funding, COE Section 404 
Permit and US Coast Guard Permit, Aquidreck Island, RI.
    Summary: EPA had no additional comments regarding the proposed 
action.
    ERP No. F-FRC-B05184-ME, Lower Penobscot River Basin Hydroelectric 
Project, Application for Licensing for three hydroelectric project: 
Basin Mills (FERC. NO. 10981), Stillwater (FERC. No. 2712) and Milford 
(FERC. No. 2534), Penobscot County, ME.
    Summary: EPA supported the FERC staff's recommendation not to 
construct the Basin Mills dam and believes that the staff 
recommendation is an appropriate outcome to the NEPA process given the 
serious direct, indirect and commutative environmental impacts 
associated with dam construction and the inconsistency of the proposal 
with the public interest and state and federal regulations. 
Additionally, EPA agreed with FERC staff recommendations to implement 
various mitigation proposals for the Veazie, Orono, Milford and 
Stillwater projects.
    ERP No. F-FRC-B05189-ME, Kennebec River Basin Hydroelectric

[[Page 27083]]

Projects, Changes in Operations and Minor Construction, Licensing of 11 
Hydroelectric Projects, (FERC Project Nos. 2671, 2555, 2613, 2556, 
2329, 2557, 2325, 2559, 11433, 2552 and 2389), Kennebec, Somerset and 
Piscataquis Counties, ME.
    Summary: EPA supported the FERC staff's recommendation to retire 
the Edwards project and remove the dam. EPA continued to disagree, 
however, with FERC's interpretation of the baseline condition, the 
approach to a specific Clean Water Act Section 401 issue, and the scope 
of analysis of the EIS.
    ERP No. F-FRC-B08003-ME, Granite State Gas Transmission, 
Construction and Operation of a Liquefied Natural Gas Facility, Permits 
and Approvals, In the Town of Wells, York County, ME.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the proposed project, EPA did 
raise concerns regarding potential impacts to wildlife habitat, design 
of the groundwater monitoring program, and the range of alternatives 
considered in the FEIS.

    Dated: May 12, 1998.
William D. Dickerson,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 98-13024 Filed 5-14-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U