UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20460 OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER U.S. POSTAGE AND FEES PAID ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY EPA-335 A Environmental News Barr (202) 755-0344 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1974 NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS EPA PUBLISHES COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR DECEMBER 1-31 Attached is a list of environmental impact statements which the Environmental Protection Agency commented upon in writing during the period December 1-31. The codes used on the attached list mean the following: the letters LO, ER, EU under "general nature of comments" refer to the project in question. Briefly they mean: LO - lack of objection, ER - environmental reservations, EU - en- vironmentally unsatisfactory. The numbers 1, 2, 3 describe the adequacy of the impact statement on the project. They mean: 1 - adequate, 2 - insufficient information, 3 - inadequate. EPA's comments on environmental impact statements or other environmentally significant Federal actions are avail- able for public inspection at the Agency's public documents office, Room 232, Waterside Mall, 4th & M Streets, SW., Washington, D.C. (more) Return this sheet if you do NOT wish to receive this material ~, or if change of address is needed ~ (indicate change, including zip code). EPA FORM 1510-1 (REV. ^72) R-34 9 ------- -2- The comments the Agency makes on environmental impact statements or other Federal actions impacting the environment are of an advisory nature. EPA has no authority to stop a project sponsored by another Federal organization. However, where EPA finds a final environmental impact statement "en- vironmentally unsatisfactory," it will refer the project to the President's Council on Environmental Quality for its consideration. The impact statements on the attached list are available from the Federal departments which originated them. They are also available from the National Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce, Springfield, Virginia 22151. The listed environmental impact statements commented on by EPA during this period December 1-31 appeared in the Federal Register January 25, 1974. # # # ------- APPENDIX I DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR WHICH COMMENTS WERE ISSUED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1, 197 3 AND DECEMBER 31, 1973 IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE D-AFS-61166-CO: D-REA-08011-CO: D-AFS-82071-OR: D-SCS-36317-TX: PROPOSED MANAGEMENT OF PORTIONS OF DAVIS PEAK AND ELKHORN MOUNTAIN ROADLESS AREAS, ROUTT NATIONAL FOREST, COLORADO TRANSMISSION LINE FROM LONGMOUNT SUBSTATION TO DELCAMINO, COLORADO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WITH HERBICIDES, SISKIYOU, SUISLAW, UMPQUA NATIONAL FORESTS, CALENDAR YEARS 1974-197 5, OREGON LEONA RIVER WATERSHED, TEXAS ER-2 ER-2 LO-1 LO-2 CORPS OF ENGINEERS D-COE-39062-MO: D-COE-36330-MO: D-COE-35100-VA: D-COE-34091-FL: D-COE-35097-OH: OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF CLEAR WATER LAKE, MISSOURI LO-2 LOST AND LITTLE LOST CREEK, LOCAL PROTECTION PROJECT, MISSOURI ER-2 ABERDEEN CREEK, MAINTENANCE AND DREDGING, GLOUCESTER COUNTY, ER-2 VIRGINIA UPPER ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN PROJECT, MULTI-PURPOSE IMPOUNDMENTS, 3 CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA SMALL BOAT HARBOR AND REFUGE, FAIRPORT HARBOR, OHIO LO-1 ------- dentifying NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS fc-COE-32469-WI: b-COE-39067-WY; b-COE-35098-WA: D-COE-351CT -OR: b-COE-36324-CA: D-COE-35096-TX: b-COE-30070-TX: 0-COE-34095-TX: D-COE-32461-NY: D-COE-32457-00: D-COE-34089-GA: NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS, MILWAUKEE HARBOR, WISCONSIN 3 YELLOWSTONE RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES, STAGE 3, GOOSE CREEK, LO-1 SHERIDAN, WYOMING SEATTLE HARBOR MAINTENANCE AND DREDGING PROJECT, WASHINGTON LO-1 COMMERCIAL DREDGING AT ROSS ISLAND, WILLAMETTE RIVER, PERMIT LO-1 APPLICATION, PORTLAND, OREGON BEAR RIVER FLOOD PROTECTION, NEAR MARYSVILLE, CALIFORNIA ER-2 SHELL DREDGING IN SAN ANTONIgt BAY, TEXAS ER-1 PORT ARTHUR AND VICINITY HURRICANE PROTECTION, TEXAS 3 LAKE TEXARKANA, TEXAS LO-2 MAINTENANCE OF JONES INLET, NASSAU COUNTY, NAVIGATION PROJECT, LO-2 NEW YORK ALABAMA-COOSA RIVERS, ALABAMA AND GEORGIA ER-2 SPEWRELL BLUFF DAM (MULTI-PURPOSE RESERVOIR), GEORGIA ER-2 Delaware river basin commission D-DRB-05436-PA: MARTIN'S CREEK STREAM ELECTRIC STATION UNITS #3 AND 4, NORTH HAMPTON COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ER-2 PSDERAL POWER COMMISSION t>-FPC-36327-WA: ROSS DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECT #553, SKAGIT RIVER, WASHINGTON -D-FPC-05435-WA: ROCK ISLAND PROJECT #943, APPLICATION FOR LICENSE AMENDMENT, WASHINGTON ER-2 LO-1 ------- IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OJF COMMENTS DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 2-IGS-67003-MT: PROPOSED PLAN OF MINING AND RECLAMATION, BIG SKY MINE, PEABODY ER-2 COAL COMPANY, COLSTRIP, MONTANA D-NPS-61168-UT: ZION WILDERNESS, ZION NATIONAL PARK, UTAH LO-2 D-BOR-99060-CO: ROXBOROUGH LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND PROJECT, DOUGLAS LO-1 COUNTY, COLORADO D-BLM-02049-00: 1974 OCS OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE, OFFSHORE LOUISANA ER-2 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION D*FAA-51333-MS: NEW ALBANY-UNION COUNTY AIRPORT, NEW ALBANY, MISSISSIPPI LO-2 D-FHW-42025-KS: K-96, SEDGWICK COUNTY, KANSAS LO-2 D-FHW-42026-NB: OMAHA-NEBRASKA CITY EXPRESSWAY, NEBRASKA LO-2 D-FHW-42042-KS: INTERSECTION OF 71ST AND METCALF AVENUE, OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS LO-2 D-FAA-51319-IA: CRESTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, IOWA LO-2 O-FHW-42076-PA: L.R. 1131, SECTION A-10, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ER-2 D-FHW-42077-VA: 1-66, FAIRFAX AND ARLINGTON COUNTIES, VIRGINIA EU-1 D-UMT-53030-PA: CENTER CITY COMMUTER RAIL CONNECTION, PHILADELPHIA, ER-2 PENNSYLVANIA FAA-51326-WV: MINERAL COUNTY AIRPORT, KEYSER, WEST VIRGINIA LO-2 D-FHW-42064-NH: U.S. ROUTES 4, 202 AND ROUTE 9, CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE ER-2 3-F' ^-42000-WI: MILWAUKEE Tg^^Egg B$?sJ8$§f§TATE 1-57' BR0WN' SHEBOYGAN, AND LO-1 ------- IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS 4A P-FHW-42037-WI: 0-FIIW-42038-WI: D-FHW-42034-WI: D-FAA-51316-IN: D-FHW-42043-IL: D-FAA-51320-MN: 0-FHW-42044-MN: D-FHW-42045-WI: D-CGD-39061-MI: D-FHW-42 058-MI JD-FAA-513 30-MN D-FHW-42014-ND &-FHW-42085-ND D-FHW-41987-UT: D-FHW-42027-ND: D-FHW-09014-OH: PORTAGE STH 54 AND U.S. 51, MARQUETTE, WAUSHARA, AND LO-2 PORTAGE COUNTIES, WISCONSIN MERRILL C.T.H.K. U.S. 51, LINCOLN AND ONEIDA COUNTIES, ER-2 WISCONSIN MADDISON BEAVER DAM RD. U.S. HWY. 151, DANE, COLUMBIA, ER-2 AND DODGE COUNTIES, WISCONSIN MOUNT COMFORT AIRPORT, MOUNT COMFORT, INDIANA ER-2 U.S. 460, ILLINOIS ROUTE 15, JEFFERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS ER-1 FILMORE COUNTY AIRPORT, PRESTON, MINNESOTA LO-1 U.S. 10, OTTERTAIL COUNTY, MINNESOTA LO-2 S.T.H. 33, WASHINGTON AND DODGE COUNTIES, WISCONSIN LO-2 COAST GUARD ICEBREAKING ACTIVITIES ON THE GREAT LAKES, LO-2 MICHIGAN M 99, LOGAN STREET CORRIDOR AND ALIGNMENT, MICHIGAN ER-2 TWO HARBORS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, TWO HARBORS, MINNESOTA LO-2 12TH AVENUE NORTH, FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA LO-1 WHITE EARTH SOUTH TO U.S. HIGHWAY 2, MONTRAIL COUNTY, NORTH LO-1 DAKOTA REDWOOD ROAD, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH ER-2 MINOT BYPASS, NORTH DAKOTA ER-2 138 KV UTILITY LINE, LINEWORTH TO HUNTLEY, OHIO LO-1 ------- IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS D-FHW-42052-WA: S.R. 16, NARROWS BRIDGE TO SINCLAIR INLET, WASHINGTON LO-2 D-FHW-41989-CA: ROUTE 61, ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA LO-1 D-FHW-42003-CA: ROUTE 99, FROM ROUTE 132 TO PELANDALE, STANISLAUS COUNTY, 3 CALIFORNIA D-FHW-42Ck5-CA: ROUTE 87, QUADALUPE FREEWAY, SAN JOSE, SANTA CLARA COUNTY, ER-2 CALIFORNIA D-FHW-4204 6-TX: STATE HIGHWAY 34 IN TERRELL, TEXAS ER-2 D-FAA-51322-TX: GRAHAM MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, TEXAS LO-2 D-FHW-42062-TX: U.S. 59 AND 96 FROM SHELBY TO PONALA COUNTY LINE TO 4.8 MILES LO-1 SOUTH OF TENAHA, TEXAS D-FHW-42036-KY: LETCHER COUNTY, APPALACHIAN CORRIDOR, KENTUCKY LO-1 D-FAA-51318-GA: CAIRO-GRADY COUNTY AIRPORT, IMPROVEMENT OF RUNWAY, GEORGIA LO-2 D-FHW-42057-NC: MECKLENBURG COUNTY (EASTWAY DRIVE TO HICKORY), NORTH CAROLINA LO-2 D-FHW-42051-KY: GRAVES AND MCCRAKEN COUNTIES, MAYFIELD-PADUCAH ROAD, U.S. 45, LO-2 KENTUCKY P-FHW-42060-NJ: ROUTE 78 IN SPRINGFIELD, MOUNTAINSIDE, SUMMIT, BERKELEY EU-2 HEIGHTS ,}:NEW JERSEY JNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE O-USP-81150-DE: U.S. POST OFFICE BUILDING, NEWARK, DELAWARE ER-2 ------- 6A APPENDIX III FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS FOR WHICH COMMENTS WERE ISSUED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1, 1973 AND DECEMBER 31, 1973 IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION F-FHW-42055-AZ: 1-19, NOGALES, TUCSON, ARIZONA EPA AGREED WITH THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED. THE FINAL EIS ADEQUATELY ACCOMMODATED OUR COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT. F-FHW-41375-FL: 1-75, STATE ROAD 93, ANDYTOWN TO PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY, BROWARD & DADE COUNTIES, FLA. CORPS OF ENGINEERS EPA GENERALLY AGREED WITH PROJECT AS PROPOSED. HOWEVER, EPA QUESTIONED HIGHWAY MODEL RELATIVE TO CARBON MONOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS. F-COE-80264-MS: SOWASKEE CRE1SK EPA GENERALLY AGREED WITH THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED. WATERSHED, LAUDERDALE, HOWEVER, EPA REQUESTED SEVERAL CLARIFICATIONS MISSISSIPPI RELATIVE TO OUR DRAFT COMMENTS. F-COE-34029-TN: CORDELL HULL DAM & RESERVOIR, CUMBER- LAND RIVER, TENNESSEE EPA GENERALLY AGREED WITH THE PROJECT AS PROPOSED. HOWEVER, EPA REQUESTED MORE INFORMATION ON SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SITES, AND EXPECTED VOLUME OF WATER- BORNE TRANSPORTATION. F-COE-30233-MS: TOMBIGBEE RIVER FINAL STATEMENT WAS DEEMED TO ADEQUATELY COVER (EAST FORK), ITAWAMBA# EPA'S COMMENT ON DRAFT. EPA AGREES WITH PROJECT COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI AS PROPOSED. ------- DENTIFXING NUMBER TITLE P-COE-32071-FL: JACKSONVILLE HARBOR, JACKSONVILLE,FLORIDA (SUPPLEMENT TO PREVIOUS FINAL STATEMENT) P-CCE-39070-VA: WATER INTAKE AND PUMP STATION, NORTH- WEST RIVER, CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA P-COE-82052-FL: F-COE-60080-LA: AQUATIC PLANT CONTROL PROGRAM, FLORIDA BUSHLEY BAYOU, LOUISIANA GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS EPA GENERALLY AGREED WITH PROJECT AS PROPOSED. HOWEVER, EPA TOOK EXCEPTION TO THE CONTINUED ENCROACHMENT ON THE MARSHES OF THE ST. JOHN'S ESTUARY & EVENTUAL DEGRADATION OF FISH & WILD- LIFE AREAS. EPA WAS GENERALLY SATISFIED WITH THE PROPOSED PROJECT AS REFLECTED IN THE FINAL STATEMENT. HOWEVER, EPA CRITICIZED THE LACK OF COMMITMENT TO A PHYSICAL OR ANALYTICAL MODEL, THE ABSENCE OF RAW WATER QUALITY DATA AND INDICATIONS ON THE EXPECTED POTABLE WATER BASED ON THE TREATMENT TO BE PROVIDED, & THE ABSENCE OF CONTINGENCY PLANS FOR CONTINUED SUPPLY OF WATER TO THOSE CUSTOMERS TO BE SERVED BY THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. EPA GENERALLY AGREED WITH PROJECT AS PROPOSED. HOWEVER, EPA ASKED FOR ASSURANCES THAT 2-4 DMA WOULD BE USED IN COMPLIANCE WITH FIFRA. EPA FOUND THAT OUR COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT STATEMENT WERE NOT ADEQUATELY RESOLVED IN THE FINAL EIS, AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL RESERVATIONS CONCERNING ACCELERATED CLEARING OF LARGE AREAS OF WETLANDS MADE POSSIBLE BY THIS PROJECT, MORE INTENSIVE CULTIVATION OF PRESENTLY CLEARED LANDS, AND WITH THE RESULTANT WATER QUALITY DETERIORATION. ------- IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE-r. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION if-GSA-81132-WV: FEDERAL BUILDING, POST OFFICE & COURT HOUSE, ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE F-AFS-82072-00: USE OF HERBICIDES IN VEGETATION MANAGEMENT GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS EPA GENERALLY AGREED WITH PROPOSED PROJECT. HOWEVER, EPA QUESTIONED WHETHER GSA HAD REACHED ANY CONCLUSIONS ON THE NOISE EFFECTS OF PROPOSED PROJECT ON A NEARBY SCHOOL. EPA'S COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT EIS WERE LATE IN BEING FORWARDED TO THE FOREST SERVICE AND WERE NOT INCORPORATED INTO THE FINAL ElS. HOWEVER, EPA* S COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE PROPOSED USES OF HERBICIDES WERE NOT IN ACCORD WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND THAT CHANGES IN PROCEDURE WERE NEEDED. OUR COMMENTS ON THE FINAL REQUESTED THAT THESE COMMENTS BE CONSIDERED IN THE DECISION- MAKING PROCESS. ------- APPENDIX IV REGULATIONS, LEGISLATION AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY ACTIONS FOR WHICH COMMENTS WERE ISSUED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1, 1973 AND DECEMBER 31, 1973 IDENTIFYING NUMBER TITLE GENERAL NATURE OF COMMENTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE R-AFS-64023-00: USE OF OFF-ROAD VEHICLES — OPERATING CONDITIONS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION R-FAA-52057-00: PROPELLER DRIVEN SMALL AIRPLANES- NOISE STANDARDS EPA EXPRESSED GENERAL CONCURRENCE WITH THE PROPOSED RULE. IN ORDER TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE NOISE CONTROL ACT OF 1972, CERTAIN REVISIONS TO THE 36 CFR PART 295 NOISE LEVELS WERE SUGGESTED. EPA BELIEVES THAT THE PROPOSED RULE REQUIRES MODIFICATION. SPECIFICALLY, EPA POINTED OUT THAT THE NOISE EVALUATION PROCEDURES, FLIGHT PROCEDURES, PERFORMANCE CORRECTION PROCEDURE AND NOISE COMPLIANCE LEVELS REQUIRE STRENGTHENING, ------- |