[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67165-67166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-22041]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6669-1]


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 202-564-7167.
    An explanation of the ratings assigned to draft environmental 
impact statements (EISs) was published in FR dated April 1, 2005 (70 FR 
16815).

Draft EISs

EIS No. 20050220, ERP No. D-FHW-L40227-WA, Interstate 90 Snoqualmie 
Pass East Project, Proposes to Improve a 15-mile Portion of I-90 from 
Milepost 55.10 in Hyak to Milepost 70.3 New Easton, Funding, U.S. Army 
COE Section 404 Permit and NPDES Permit, Kittitas County, WA.

    Summary: EPA has environmental objections about the proposed 
project primarily related to the adequacy of the ecological 
connectivity options presented. EPA notes that no preferred alternative 
was selected and the most substantial environmental issues relate to 
the No Action Alternative and Ecological Connectivity Improvement 
Package C.
    Rating EO2.

EIS No. 20050354, ERP No. D-UAF-E11057-00, Shaw Air Base Airspace 
Training Initiative (ATI), 20th Fighter Wing Proposal to Modify the 
Training Airspace Overlying Parts, South Carolina and Georgia

    Summary: EPA expressed concern about airspace management/
configuration/access around existing civilian airports in Georgia and 
ongoing coordination with the public regarding noise issues. Mitigation 
of some of the specific impacts can be accomplished via structuring the 
various training scenarios and modifying the proposed airspace to 
further avoid/minimize impacts around civilian airports.
    Rating EC1.

EIS No. 20050368, ERP No. D-IBR-G28013-NM, Carlsbad Project Water 
Operations and Water Supply Conservation, Changes in Carlsbad Project 
Operations and Implementation of Water Acquisition Program, U.S. COE 
Section 404 Permit, NPDES, Eddy, De Baca, Chaves, and Guadelupe 
Counties, NM.
    Summary: EPA had no objection to the selection of the preferred 
action.
    Rating LO.

Final EISs

EIS No. 20050344, ERP No. F-NRC-F06025-WI, Generic--License Renewal for 
Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, Supplement 23 to NUREG-1437 
(TAC Nos. MC2049 and MC2050), Lake Michigan, Manitowoc County, WI.
    Summary: EPA continues to express concerns about the adequacy and 
clarity of the radiological impact assessments and risk estimates.

EIS No. 20050373, ERP No. F-COE-H39012-MO, Howard Bend Floodplain Area 
Study, Improvements for Future Land, Future Road, and Stormwater 
Management, Missouri River Flood Developments, U.S. Army COE Section 10 
and 404 Permits, St. Louis County, MO.
    Summary: EPA continued to express concerns about the cumulative 
effects analysis, including uncertainty over the potential for 
development within the levee-protected area and the reliance on 
potentially outdated FEMA profiles that may underestimate impacts.

EIS No. 20050376, ERP No. F-COE-G32057-TX, CedarBayou Navigation Chanel 
(CBNC) Improvement Project, Implementation, Near Baytown in Harris and 
Chambers Counties, TX.
    Summary: No comment letter was sent to the preparing agency.

EIS No. 20050419, ERP No. F-AFS-J65441-MT, Middle East Fork Hazardous 
Fuel Reduction Project, Implementation of Three Alternatives, 
Bitterroot National Forest, Sula Ranger District, Ravalli County, MT.

[[Page 67166]]

    Summary: EPA continues to express concerns about potential impacts 
to water quality. EPA stressed the importance of designing and 
implementing fuels reduction treatments and road access in a manner 
that minimizes impacts. EPA also recommended modification of mitigation 
measures to further assure protection for large old growth Ponderosa 
pine trees.

    Dated: November 1, 2005.
Ken Mittelholtz,
Environmental Protection Specialist, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 05-22041 Filed 11-3-05; 8:45 am]
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