NEPA Blog

MSNBC has an AP report:

"Environmental groups sued the U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday, claiming a 6-year-old federal law aimed at preventing wildfires has degenerated into a backdoor effort to eventually increase logging across 340,000 acres of national forests in the Sierra Nevada.
The federal lawsuit challenges the Forest Service’s effort to log 6,400 acres over five years in the Plumas National Forest west of Quincy, where a coalition of loggers and local conservationists once met to propose what eventually became national fire-prevention policy.
The Forest Service says the clearing project will reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire near the small Sierra mountain town of Meadow Valley, while providing local logging jobs.
The logging in the Plumas forest is the first to be approved under the federal law, but the government has proposed logging a total of 340,000 acres in nearby parts of other national forests."

The News-Review has a report:

"Logging on three of the five salvage sales from the 2002 Apple Fire will not begin until a lawsuit filed by a Eugene-based environmental group is decided.

Cascadia Wildlands Project filed the lawsuit Sept. 8 requesting a temporary restraining order, after two sales had already been sold and contracts signed.

Although U.S. District Judge Ann Aiken did not grant the restraining order, the Forest Service will not yet award the remaining three sales, which were purchased in the last few weeks.


Settlement talks on the sales are under way between the Forest Service and the environmental group.

Aside from detailing the sales, the Forest Service cannot comment on pending litigation.

The agency's plans call for logging a total of 23.8 million board feet within the 18,000 acres that burned in 2002 on the North Umpqua Ranger District about 20 miles east of Glide.

James Johnston of the Cascadia Wildlands Project said the Forest Service plans are illegal because they don't consider the cumulative effects of salvage logging and in many areas don't leave enough sticks, debris and other material to prevent erosion."

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Air Force) published Notice of Record of Decision for Proposed Aircraft Conversion of the 167th Airlift Wing (AW) of West Virginia Air National Guard (ANG), Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport (EWVRA), Martinsburg, WV.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - Wildlife Services) published Notice of Availability of a Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Decision/Finding of No Significant Impact for Oral Rabies Vaccination Program.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the East Locust Creek Watershed, Putnam and Sullivan Counties, MO.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Aviation Administration) published Public Notice of Availability of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/Record of Decision (ROD) on a Final Environmental Assessment (FEA) for the Proposed Federal Action at Toledo Express Airport, Swanton, OH.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Surmodics, Inc., Eden Prairie, MN.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for Duke Power’s application for non-project use of project lands and waters at the Keowee-Jocassee Hydroelectric in Oconee County, South Carolina.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for the Pinery West Subdivision, City of Parker, Douglas County, CO.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement; Fernow Experimental Forest, Tucker County, WV.
SUMMARY: The USDA Forest Service will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to document the analysis and disclose environmental impacts of proposed actions to continue long-term research on the Fernow Experimental Forest, to initiate new research, and to manage the Fernow Experimental Forest for long-term research. The purpose of the proposed research is to evaluate the effectiveness of silvicultural tools that include harvesting, herbicide control of vegetation, and prescribed burning on central Appalachian forest, to better understand ecological dynamics within these forest ecosystems, and to develop management tools, practices and guidelines for central Appalachian hardwood forests.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the South Powder River Basin Coal Final Environmental Impact Statement, West Roundup Lease by Application Tract, Wyoming.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Office of the Secretary) published Notice of Availability of the Ballistic Missile Defense System Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.
SUMMARY: In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is initiating a public review and comment period for a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). This notice announces the availability of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Draft PEIS, which analyzes the potential impacts to the environment as MDA proposes to develop, test, deploy, and plan for decommissioning activities to implement an integrated MDBS. This Draft PEIS addresses the integrated BMDS and the development and application of new technologies; evaluates the range of complex programs, architecture, and assets that comprise the BMDS; and provides the framework for future environmental analyses as activities evolve and mature. The Draft PEIS has been prepared in accordance with NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), and the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). The electronic version of the Draft PEIS is available on the MDA public access Internet Web site, here.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Availability of EPA Comments on the following Draft and Final EISs:

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-COE-G39041-LA Rating LO, Programmatic EIS--Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration Study, Implementation, Tentatively Selected Plan, Mississippi River, LA.
ERP No. D-COE-K39086-CA Rating EC2, Matilija Dam Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study, Restoring Anadromous Fish Populations, Matilija Creek, Ventura River, Ventura County Watershed Protection District, Ventura County, CA.
ERP No. D-FHW-E40801-00 Rating EC2, Interstate 69 Section of Independent Utility 9, Construction from the Interstate 55/MS State Route 304 Interchange in Hernando, MS to the Intersection of U.S. 51 and State Route 385 in Millington, TN, Desoto and Marshall Counties, MS, Shelby and Fayette Counties, MS.
ERP No. D-FHW-J40164-MT Rating EC2, U.S.-2 Highway Corridor Improvement Project, Reconstruction between Havre to Fort Belknap to Replace the Aging U.S.-2 Facility, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Hill and Blaine Counties, MT.
ERP No. D-FHW-K40223-CA Rating EC2, South Orange County Transportation Infrastructure Improvement Project, To Locate, Construct and Operate Transportation Improvements, Orange and San Diego Counties, CA.
ERP No. DA-FTA-C40046-NY Rating LO, Erie Canal Harbor Project (formerly known as the Buffalo Inner Harbor Development Project) Updated Information on the Original Project, City of Buffalo, Erie County, NY.
ERP No. DS-COE-D36042-PA Rating LO, Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project, Design Modification and Recreational Enhancements, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania River Commons, Susquehanna River, Luzerne County, PA.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-COE-C39016-PR, Port of The Americas Project, Development of a Deep-Draft Terminal at the Port of Ponce to Receive Post-Panamax Ships, COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Municipalities of Guayanilla-Penuelas and Ponce, Puerto Rico.
ERP No. F-FHW-D40313-MD, MD-210 (Indian Head Highway) Multi-Modal Study, MD-210 Improvements between I-95/I-495 (Capitol Beltway) and MD-228 Funding and U.S. COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Prince George's County, MD.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed September 6, 2004 Through September 10, 2004.

EIS No. 040431, DRAFT EIS, AFS, MT, Fishtrap Project, Proposed Timber Harvest, Prescribed Burning, Road Construction and Other Restoration Activities, Lolo National Forest, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District, Sanders County, MT, Comment Period Ends: November 1, 2004, Contact: Pat Partyka (406) 826-4314.
EIS No. 040432, DRAFT EIS, AFS, NM, Ojo Caliente Proposed Transmission Line, Propose to Authorize, Construct, Operate and Maintain a New 115kV Transmission Line and Substation, Carson National Forest and BLM Taos Field Office, Taos and Rio Arriba Counties, NM, Comment Period Ends: November 1, 2004, Contact: Ben Kuykendall (505) 758-6311.
EIS No. 040433, DRAFT EIS, NRC, NM, National Enrichment Facility (NEF), To Construct, Operate, and Decommission a Gas Centrifuge Uranium Enrichment Facility, License Application, NUREG-1790, near Eunice, Lea County, NM, Comment Period Ends: November 6, 2004, Contact: Melanie Wong (301) 415-6262.
EIS No. 040434, DRAFT EIS, IBR, UT, WY, Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Colorado River Storage Project, To Protect and Assist in Recovery of Populations and Designated Critical Habitat of Four Endangered Fishes: Bonytail, Colorado Pikeminnow, Humpback Chub and Razorback Sucker, Green River, UT and WY, Comment Period Ends: November 15, 2004, Contact: Peter Crookston (801) 379-1152.
EIS No. 040435, DRAFT EIS, BLM, CA, NM, OR, California Coastal National Monument Resource Management Plan, To Protect Important Biological and Geological Values: Islands, Rocks, Exposed Reefs, and Pinnacles above Mean High Tide, CA, OR and Mexico, Comment Period Ends: December 16, 2004, Contact: Rick Hanks (831) 372-6115.
EIS No. 040436, DRAFT EIS, AFS, SD, WY, Black Hills National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan Phase II Amendment, Proposal to Amend the 1997 Land and Resource Management Plan, Custer, Fall River, Lawrence, Meade, and Pennington Counties, SD and Crook and Weston Counties, WY, Comment Period Ends: December 15, 2004, Contact: Jeff Ulrich (605) 673-9200. This document is available on the Internet here.
EIS No. 040437, DRAFT EIS, AFS, NH, ME, White Mountain National Forest, Propose Land and Resource Management Plan, Forest Plan Revision Implementation, Carroll, Coos and Grafton Counties, NH and Oxford County, ME, Comment Period Ends: December 15, 2004, Contact: Barbara Levesque (603) 528-8743.
EIS No. 040438, DRAFT EIS, DOD, Programmatic--Missile Defense Agency, To Incrementally Develop, Test, Deploy and Planning for Decommissioning of the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS), Comment Period Ends: November 1, 2004, Contact: Martin Duke (703) 697-4248.
EIS No. 040439, DRAFT EIS, DHS, MD, National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) Facility at Fort Detrick, Construction and Operation, Fort Detrick, Frederick County, MD, Comment Period Ends: November 1, 2004, Contact: Kevin Anderson (301) 846-2156.
EIS No. 040440, DRAFT EIS, FHW, OH, US-24, Transportation Project, Improvements between Napoleon to Toledo, Funding, Lucas and Henry Counties, OH, Comment Period Ends: November 10, 2004, Contact: Mark Vonderembse (614) 280-6854.
EIS No. 040441, DRAFT EIS, FRC, CA, Upper North Fork Feather River Project (FERC-No. 2105), Issuing a New License for Existing 3517.3 megawatt (MW) Hydroelectric Facility, North Fork Feather River, Chester, Plumas County, CA, Comment Period Ends: November 1, 2004, Contact: John Mudre (202) 502-8902.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for an Incidental Take Permit (Purcell).
SUMMARY: Purcell Investments, L.P., (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit pursuant to Section 10(a) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). The Applicant has been assigned permit number TE-838761-0. The requested permit, which is for a period of 30 years, would authorize incidental take of the endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia). The proposed take would occur as a result of the construction and operation of a commercial development on 19.3-acres (7.8-hectares) of the Horizon Center Development, Travis County, Texas.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Science and Technology Directorate) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center Facility at Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of the California Coastal National Monument Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed National Enrichment Facility in Lea County, and Notice of Public Meeting.

The Salt Lake Tribune has a report:

“The Salt Lake City Police officers who slogged up Kings Peak on Saturday to place a 14-pound plaque honoring a fallen comrade may soon have to venture there again - this time, to lug it down.
U.S. Forest Service officials say the police failed to get proper permission and, in effect, broke the law.
Leaving human-made objects on Kings Peak, which is inside the High Uintas Wilderness Area, violates the 1964 Wilderness Act and Forest Service wilderness regulations, said Clark Tucker, district ranger for the Ashley National Forest.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Bureau of Customs and Border Protection) published Notice of Availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact Relative to Customs and Border Protection's Gamma Imaging Inspection System for Use at Various Sea and Land Ports of Entry.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment for Alcoa Power Generating, Inc.’s application for a new major license for the Tapoco Project, located on the Little Tennessee and Cheoah Rivers in Graham and Swain Counties, North Carolina and Blount and Monroe Counties, Tennessee. The project affects federal lands of the U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Approval of Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Fire Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, Mariposa, Madera and Tuolumne Counties, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Rural Utilities Service) published Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to a request from Seminole Electric Cooperative for financing assistance from RUS to construct a 310 megawatt, simple-cycle combustion turbine electric generating facility at its Payne Creek Generation Station located in Hardee and Polk Counties, Florida.

The El Paso Times has a report:

"Fort Bliss has posted a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the El Paso desalination plant project on the Army post's Web site. Click on the desalination plant link."

KRQE (Albuquerque) has an AP report:
“The Carson National Forest has issued a draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed electric transmission line project in northern New Mexico.
Forest officials said the new draft identifies a preferred path -- which is different from the original proposed action.
Although the route is slightly longer -- the Forest Service says it would be the least visually intrusive on the landscape.
The alternative plan would tap into an existing electric transmission line. It would follow the Canada Embudo north across US 285 for about half a mile and then parallel the highway to a proposed substation on Bureau of Land Management land north of Ojo Caliente.
The Carson National Forest is now accepting public comment on the draft.”

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact for the George Washington Memorial Parkway, Arlington, VA and District of Columbia.SUMMARY: The FHWA, in cooperation with the National Park Service, is issuing a Finding of No Significant Impact for the replacement of an existing bridge and related vehicular and pedestrian/bicycle safety improvements on the George Washington Memorial Parkway located in Arlington County, VA and the District of Columbia. The FONSI can be viewed here and here.

The Salem Statesman-Journal has an AP report:

“The U.S. Forest Service has approved an expansion plan for the Mount Ashland ski area that allows development of novice and intermediate runs the resort has sought for 20 years to attract a broader range of customers.Environmentalists who have battled expansion since it was first proposed in 1985 said that they were disappointed to see the Forest Service approve development in the headwaters of a watershed that offers undisturbed habitat for the threatened northern spotted owl and the Pacific fisher.Joseph Vaile of the Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center said that no decision has been made on whether to appeal the decision or go to court in an effort to stop it.Plans call for expanding the area by 57 percent to 196 acres. It still would be among Oregon’s smallest ski areas.However, it would provide a greater variety of terrain for beginners and intermediate skiers who make up the bulk of the skiing public, which is growing in Oregon, said Jeff Hanson, general manager of the nonprofit organization that operates the area for the city of Ashland.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Cancellation of Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
SUMMARY: An NOI was signed on January 5, 2001 by Jim Golden, Forest Supervisor, Coconino National Forest, regarding a proposed EIS for improving grassland and woodland vegetation conditions for wildlife, and manage livestock grazing use on the Pickett and Padre Canyon Grazing Allotments. The NOI for the EIS was published in the Federal Register January 18, 2001, page 4795. After receiving comments and further analysis, the proposed action was adjusted to consider livestock grazing only and a new proposed action was signed August 10, 2001 indicating the environmental analysis was changing from an EIS to an EA and the Forest Service would pursue pinyon, juniper, and ponderosa pine treatments in separate NEPA analyses and decisions. Domestic livestock grazing and pinyon, juniper, and ponderosa pine treatments are dissimilar actions. Separating the two activities into different environmental analyses is more efficient, and focuses the environmental effects more clearly. The deciding official was also changed from the Forest Supervisor to the Mormon Lake District Ranger.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of Decision Notice and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Proposal To Rehabilitate the Yellow Barn and Chautauqua Tower at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD. The FONSI can be viewed on the GWMP Web site, here.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare and Environmental Impact Statement for the consolidated proposed Winston-Salem Northern Beltway projects in Forsyth County, North Carolina.SUMMARY: The FHWA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a supplemental final environmental impact statement on the Western Section of the Northern Beltway and a supplemental draft environmental impact statement on the Eastern Section and Eastern Section Extension of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway will be prepared as one document to address the impacts of the consolidated proposed Winston-Salem Northern Beltway projects in Forsyth County, North Carolina.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed highway project in Jefferson County, New York.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army) published Notice of Availability for the Record of Decision for the Transformation of the 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Light) to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) in Hawaii. The Record of Decision may be reviewed at the SBCT Web site, here.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Availability of EPA Comments on the following Draft and Final EISs:

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-G65092-NM Rating LO, Invasive Plant Control Project, To Protect the Abundance and Biological Diversity of Desired Native Plant, Carson National Forest and Santa Fe National Forest, Rio Arriba, Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora and San Miguel Counties, NM.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65021-MT Rating EC2, Gallatin National Forest Noxious and Invasive Weed Control Project, To Prevent and Reduce Loss of Native Plant, Bozeman, Carbon, Madison, Gallatin, Meagher, Park, and Sweet Grass Counties, MT.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65417-MT Rating EC2, Frenchtown Face Ecosystem Restoration Project, Maintain or Improve Forest Health and Reduce the Risk of Damage Insects and Disease, Lolo National Forest, Ninemile Ranger District, Missoula County, MT.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65420-SD Rating EC2, Southeast Geographic Area Rangeland Management on National Forest System Lands of the Buffalo Gap National Grassland, To Implement Best Management Grazing Practices, Buffalo Gap National Grassland, Falls River Ranger District, Falls River Ranger District, Fall River County, SD.
ERP No. D-AFS-K65269-CA Rating EC2, Southern California National Forests Land Management Plans, Revision of the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres and San Bernardino National Forests Land Management Plans, San Bernadino, Riverside and San Diego Counties, CA.
ERP No. D-DOI-K99033-00 Rating EC2, Programmatic EIS--Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, Issuing an Incidental Take Permit based on the Plan, Extending from Lake Mead to the Southerly International Boundary with Mexico, AZ, NV and CA.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-F65041-MN, Chippewa and Superior National Forests Land and Resource Management Plans Revision, Implementation, Beltrami, Cass, Itasca, Cook, Lake and St. Louis Counties, MN.
ERP No. F-AFS-K65261-CA, Larson Reforestation and Fuel Reduction Project, Implementation, Stanislaus National Forest, Groveland Ranger District, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, CA.
ERP No. F-BLM-J65325-WY, Jack Morrow Hills Coordinated Activity Plan, Implementation, Rock Springs, Portion of Sweetwater, Fremont and Subelette Counties, WY.
ERP No. F-COE-K39078-CA, Napa River Salt Marsh Restoration Project, Salinity Reduction and Habitat Restoration in the Napa River Unit, Implementation, San Pablo Bay, Napa and Solano Counties, CA.
ERP No. F-DOD-A10075-00, Programmatic EIS--Chemical and Biological Defense Program, Protection of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen on the Battlefield, United States and other Countries.
ERP No. F-NPS-C65004-NY, Saratoga National Historical Park General Management Plan, Implementation, Hudson River Valley, Towns of Stillwater and Saratoga, Saratoga County, NY.
ERP No. F-UAF-D52001-WV, Aircraft Conversion for the 167th Air Wing (167 AW) of the West Virginia Air National Guard, Converting C-13OH Transport Aircraft to the Larger C-5 Transport Aircraft, Acquisition of Land via Lease, and Construction of Facilities on existing and acquired Parcel, Berkely County, WV.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements filed August 30, 2004 through September 3, 2004.

EIS No. 040415, FINAL EIS, COE, AK, Akutan Harbor Navigation Improvements Project, Construction and Implementation, Bering Sea, City of City of Akutan, AK. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Wayne M. Crayton (907) 753-2672.
EIS No. 040416, FINAL EIS, NPS, CA, Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) and the North District of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) Fire Management Plan, Implementation, Marin County, CA. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Roger Wong (415) 464-5100.
EIS No. 040417, FINAL EIS, FHW, MO, U.S. 40/61 Bridge Location Study Over the Missouri River, Improvement of the Transportation System, Section 9 of the Rivers and Harbor Act Permit, and U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Missouri River, St. Charles and St. Louis Counties, MO. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Donald Neumann (573) 636-7104.
EIS No. 040418, FINAL EIS, COE, FL, Programmatic EIS--Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements Program, To Implement Wastewater and Stormwater Improvements, South Florida Water Management District, Monroe County, FL. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Dennis Barnett (404) 562-5225.
EIS No. 040419, DRAFT SUPPLEMENT, GSA, TX, Del Rio Port of Entry (POE), Increased Security Measures Associated with Phase II Expansion, Supplement to the 1992 Del Rio Border Patrol Station, Del Rio, Val Verde County, TX. Comment Period Ends: October 25, 2004. Contact: Rae Lynn Schneider (972) 423-5480.
EIS No. 040420, FINAL EIS, COE, FL, Miami Harbor Navigation Improvements Project to Study the Feasibility of Widening and Deepening Portions of the Port, Miami-Dade County, FL. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Ms. Term Jordan (904) 232-2117.
EIS No. 040421, FINAL EIS, NPS, MD, VA, PA, DC, Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study (NRS), To Conserve and Restore Chesapeake Bay, New Unit of the National Park System, MD, VA, PA and DC. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Jonathan Diehard (410) 267-5725. This document is available on the Internet here.
EIS No. 040422, DRAFT EIS, AFS, NM, San Diego Range Allotment Project, Proposes to Revise Grazing Program, Santa Fe National Forest, Jerez Ranger District, Township 17-19 North, Range 1-3 East, Sandoval County, NM. Comment Period Ends: October 25, 2004. Contact: Rita Skinner (505) 829-3535.
EIS No. 040423, FINAL EIS, AFS, CA, Meteor Project, Proposal for Harvesting Timber and Conducting Associated Activities on 744 Acres, Implementation, Klamath National Forest, Salmon River Ranger District, Siskiyou County, CA. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Margaret J. Boland (530) 841-4501.
EIS No. 040424, DRAFT EIS, FRA, CA, Los Angeles Union Station Run-Through Tracks Project, To Improve Pedestrain Access, Connectivity and Increase the Capacity, City Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA. Comment Period Ends: October 25, 2004. Contact: David Valenstein (202) 493-6368.
EIS No. 040425, DRAFT EIS, FHW, UT, U.S. 6 Highway Project, Improvements from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Spanish Fork to Instate 70 (I-70) near Green River, Funding, Right-of-Way Permit and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Utah, Wasatch, Carbon and Emery Counties, UT. Comment Period Ends: October 29, 2004. Contact: Jeff Berna (801) 963-0182.
EIS No. 040426, DRAFT EIS, NRC, AR, Generic--License Renewal of Nuclear Plants, Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 (Tac. Nos. MB 8405) Supplement 19 to NUREG-1437, Operating License Renewal, Pope County, AR. Comment Period Ends: November 24, 2004. Contact: Thomas Kenyon (301) 415-1120.
EIS No. 040427, DRAFT EIS, BLM, NV, Las Vegas Valley Disposal Boundary Project, Disposal and Use of Public Land under the Management of (BLM), Implementation, Clark County, NV. Comment Period Ends: November 9, 2004. Contact: Jeff Steinmetz (702) 515-5097.
EIS No. 040428, DRAFT EIS, BLM, Programmatic--Wind Energy Development Program, To Address Stewardship, Conservation and Resource Use on BLM-Administered Lands, Right-of-Way Grants, Western United States. Comment Period Ends: December 9, 2004. Contact: Lee Otteni (505) 599-8911.
EIS No. 040429, FINAL EIS, NOA, FL, Programmatic EIS--Seagrass Restoration in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Implementation, U.S. Army COE Section 404 and CZMA Permits, Monroe County, FL. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Harriet Sopher (301) 713-3125.
EIS No. 040430, FINAL EIS, AFS, WY, Wyoming Range Allotment Complex, To Determine Whether or not to Allow Domestic Sheep Grazing, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Big Piney, Greys River and Jackson Ranger Districts, Sublette, Lincoln and Teton Counties, WY. Wait Period Ends: October 12, 2004. Contact: Greg Clark (307) 276-3375.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed project in Kane, Kendall, and Grundy Counties, Illinois.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Withdrawal of Decision for the Missionary Ridge Burned Area Timber Salvage Project, San Juan National Forest, Colorado.
SUMMARY: Forest Supervisor, Mark Stiles has withdrawn the decision (dated July 9, 2003) to implement the Missionary Ridge Burned Area Timber Salvage project, based on recent court actions regarding analysis of wildlife management indicator species (MIS).

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Wind Energy Development on BLM-Administered Lands in the Western United States, Announcement of Public Review Period. The DPEIS will be available on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Reclamation) published Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Hearings for the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Draft Environmental Impact Statement. The draft EIS is Available on Reclamation's Web site, here. (click on Environmental Programs and then click on the Flaming Gorge Dam Environmental Impact Statement).

EIS FOR C-5 CONVERSION FOR WV ANG FINALIZED
The Journal-News has a report:
“Local Air National Guard leaders received final approval Friday to convert operations from their current C-130 Hercules planes to the much larger C-5 aircraft, a move that has been planned for nearly two years.
The conversion will require major improvements to the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, where the 167th Airlift Wing operates.
Lt. Col. Bill Burkhart, base engineer, talked about the C-5 conversion Wednesday morning at a regular airport authority meeting, telling members he was very pleased that the Guard received final approval from the Air Force when the Environmental Impact Statement was signed.
Burkhart said the Guard is already in negotiations with contractors for three projects, though he did not specifically identify those projects. Some of the major improvements at the airport will include an improved runway, new lighting, new instruments and a new air traffic control tower.
U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D.-W.Va., said Wednesday he was pleased with the C-5 expansion.
* * *
Airport Manager Bill Walkup said airport leaders have been talking about the possibility of a C-5 conversion for almost two years, so Friday's final approval came as no surprise, but it is good news.”

DEIS FOR NM ENRICHMENT PLANT RELEASED
PR Newswire has a report:
“The Louisiana Energy Services today announced that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed National Enrichment Facility outside Eunice, New Mexico. They found that the NEF will have a ‘SMALL’ to ‘MODERATE’ impact on the environment and a ‘POSITIVE’ socioeconomic impact for the community, particularly with respect to jobs and revenue added to the local economy.”

NEVADA SUES DOE OVER NUKE WASTE TRAIN
The Reno Gazette-Journal has an AP report:
“State officials filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Energy Department over it’s plan to ship radioactive waste across the state to a planned nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain.
The case, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, claims the government did not complete required environmental studies before picking a 319-mile rail route dubbed the ‘Caliente Corridor.’
‘The whole point of environmental review is to study the impacts before you make the decision, not after,’ Nevada Attorney General Brian Sandoval said.
An Energy Department spokesman did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.
The same appeals court in Washington, D.C., threw out a 10,000-year Environmental Protection Agency radiation standard for the repository in a ruling last month.
In the new lawsuit, the state claims the Energy Department violated the National Environmental Policy Act, a federal law that requires environmental studies before federal projects are finalized.”

A three-judge panel of the Court issued its opinion in Friends of Marolt Park v. USDOT. The district court concluded that NEPA and § 4(f) of the Transportation Act had not been violated and denied Plaintiffs’ request for relief. The 10th Circuit concluded that the § 4(f) issue was not ripe for review and remanded to the district court with instructions to vacate the relevant portion of its judgment. The Court affirmed the district court’s judgment regarding the NEPA claim.

A three-judge panel of the Court issued its opinion in Headwaters, Inc. v. USFS. The Court affirmed the decision of the district court, which dismissed Plaintiffs’ complaint as barred by res judicata.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Centennial Salvage Timber Sale, in Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Fremont and Clark Counties, ID. The project area is located in the Centennial Mountains twenty-eight miles north of Ashton, Idaho.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Drew Creek, Diamond Rock and Divide Cattle Allotments, Tiller Ranger District, Umpqua National Forest, Douglas County, OR.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of a Draft Schoodic General Management Plan Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement, Acadia National Park, Maine. The Draft is available on the Internet, here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of a Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study, Final Environmental Impact Statement. The document is available online here.

ASHLAND SKI AREA FEIS NEAR COMPLETION
The Ashland Daily Tidings has a report:
“The much anticipated Final Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Mount Ashland Ski Area expansion could be ready any time now, according to Ashland District Ranger Linda Duffy.
The FEIS contains five expansion alternatives, and one no-action alternative. The Forest Service is leaning toward recommendation of Alternative 6, said Duffy, which would include expansion on both sides of the disputed Middle Branch of Ashland Creek's East Fork.”

ENVIROS SUE TO STOP CHEROKEE NF TIMBER SALE
The Tennessean has a report:
“Environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit yesterday challenging two timber sales planned in the Cherokee National Forest.
The Southern Environmental Law Center filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on behalf of Cherokee Forest Voices, claiming the timber sales in Tennessee do not meet the guidelines of the forest's new land-use management plan.
The U.S. Forest Service has already sold the timber to groups that will cut down the trees and remove the timber, but work has not yet begun, agency spokesman Terry McDonald said. He said forest officials had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.”

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed realignment of State Route 79, from Domenigoni Parkway to Gilman Springs Road, in the cities of Hemet and San Jacinto, the community of Winchester and unincorporated Riverside, County, California.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Porcupine Pass East, Nine Allotment Grazing Analysis Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Clark County, ID.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement 19 to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement and Public Meeting for Entergy Operations, Inc.’s License Renewal of Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2, located in Pope County, Arkansas, approximately 6 miles west-northwest of Russellville, Arkansas.

The Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror has a report:

“A confidential memo accidentally sent to the media yesterday from a prominent environmental group may provide possible clues into what the long-awaited draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Nantucket Sound wind farm will contain.
The document touches on issues ranging from the visual aesthetics of the turbines to how the project might affect birds and sea life.
According to the memo, it appears the federal government’s overall perception of the project could be favorable, although there were still problems in the areas of ocean views – especially with the turbines lit at night – birds and navigation.
The one-page memo was e-mailed by the Conservation Law Foundation, and was titled ‘Confidential: This is an internal report for CLF staff only.’
A copy was e-mailed to the Cape Cod Times and other regional media.”

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of the Alpine Satellite Development Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement for National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska, and Colville River Delta. The document can be reviewed at the project Web site here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area (NCA) and Associated Wilderness and Other Contiguous Lands in Nevada, Resource Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Nevada.The ROD is on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice announcing the preparation of an environmental assessment for Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 24), Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Wilderness Study, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Wisconsin. The ROD may be viewed online here.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Availability of EPA Comments on the following Draft and Final EISs:

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-FTA-J54001-UT Rating EC2, Weber County to Salt Lake City Commuter Rail Project, Proposes a Commuter Rail Transit Service with Nine Stations between Salt Lake City and Peasant View, Funding, Weber, Davis and Salt Lake Counties, UT.
ERP No. D-NOA-E91015-00 Rating LO, Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment 23, To Set Vermilion Snapper Sustainable Fisheries Act Targets and Thresholds and to Establish a Plan to End Overfishing and Rebuild the Stock, Implementation, Gulf of Mexico.
ERP No. DS-BLM-K60105-CA Rating EC2, U.S. Army National Training Center, Proposed Addition of Maneuver Training Land at Fort Irwin, Implementation, San Bernardino County, CA.
ERP No. DS-NOA-A91063-00 Rating LO, Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment 2, Implementation, Updated and Additional Information, New England and Mid-Atlantic Coast.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-J65414-UT, State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) Access Route on East Mountain, National Forest System Lands Administered by Mantila Sal National Forest, Ferron/Price Ranger District, Emery Counties, UT.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65443-OR, Biscuit Fire Recovery Project, Various Management Activities Alternatives, Implementation, The Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forests, Josephine and Curry Counties, OR.
ERP No. F-BIA-J60021-UT, Tekoi Balefill Project on the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indians Reservation, Approval of Long-Term Lease of Indian Land for a Commercial Solid Waste Disposal Facility, Salt Lake City, Tooele County, UT.
ERP No. F-DOE-L91018-OR, Northeast Oregon Hatchery Program, Grande Ronde--Imnaha Spring Chinook Hatchery Modification and Modernization of Two Existing Hatchery Facilities and Construction of Three New Auxiliary Hatchery Facilities, Wallowa County, OR.
ERP No. F-NOA-E91014-00, Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the Fishery Management Plans of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) for Shrimp, Red Drum, Reef Fish, Stone Crab, Coral and Coral Reef and Spiny Lobster Fisheries, Implementation, GOM and South Atlantic Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic.
ERP No. F-NOA-L91017-00, Programmatic EIS--Pacific Salmon Fisheries Management Plan, Off the Coasts of Southeast Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California, and the Columbia River Basin, Implementation, Magnuson-Stevens Act, AK, WA, OR and CA.
ERP No. F-NOA-L91023-00, Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, Amendment 16-3 Adopts Rebuild Plans for Bocaccio, Cowcod, Widow Rockfish and Yelloweye Rockfish, Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY), Implementation, WA, OR, ID and CA.
ERP No. FB-NOA-A91065-00, Final Rule to Implement Management Measures for the Reduction of Sea Turtle Bycatch and Bycatch Mortality in the Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishery.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published here.
EIS No. 040407, Final EIS, NPS, AZ, Petrified Forest National Park General Management Plan Revision, Implementation, Navajo and Apache Counties, AZ, Wait Period Ends: October 4, 2004, Contact: Suzy Stutzman (303) 987-6671.
EIS No. 040408, Final EIS, SFW, WA, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Habitat Restoration, Refuge Boundary Expansion and Related Environmental and Recreational Opportunities, Approval and Implementation, Puget Sound, Nisqually River Delta, Thornton and Pierce Counties, WA, Wait Period Ends: October 4, 2004, Contact: Jean Takekawa (360) 753-9467.
EIS No. 040409, Draft EIS, AFS, UT, Reissuance of 10-Year Term Grazing Permits to Continue Authorize Grazing on Eight Cattle Allotments, Permit Reissuance, Fishlake National Forest, Beaver Mountain Tushar Range, Millard, Piute, Garfield, Beaver and Iron Counties, UT, Comment Period Ends: October 18, 2004, Contact: Dave Grider (435) 865-3731.
EIS No. 040410, Final EIS, NOA, AK, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands King and Tanner Crab Fisheries and Fishery Management Plan, Implementation, United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska, Wait Period Ends: October 4, 2004, Contact: Gretchen Harrington (907) 586-7228.
EIS No. 040411, Final EIS, BLM, AK, Alpine Satellite Development Plan, Construction and Operation of Five Oil Production Pads, Associated Well, Roads, Airstrips, Pipelines and Powerlines, Authorization and Permits Issuance, Northeast corner of the National Petroleum Reserve--Alaska, Colville River Delta, North Slope Borough, AK, Wait Period Ends: October 4, 2004, Contact: Jim Ducker (907) 271-3130. This document is available on the Internet here.
EIS No. 040412, Draft EIS, AFS, FL, Ocala National Forest Access Designation Process, Roads and Trails Systems Development, Implementation, Lake, Marion, and Putnam Counties, FL, Comment Period Ends: November 1, 2004, Contact: Will Ebaugh (850) 523-8557. This document is available on the Internet here.
EIS No. 040413, Draft EIS, AFS, OR, West Maurys Fuels and Vegetation Management Project, Prescribed Fire, Commercial and Noncommercial Thinning, Grapple Piling and Hand Piling, Implementation, Lookout Mountain Range District, Ochoco National Forest, Crook County, OR, Comment Period Ends: October 19, 2004, Contact: Arthur J. Currier (541) 416-6500.
EIS No. 040414, Draft EIS, BPA, WA, Salmon Creek Project, Water Flow Restoration and Streambed Rehabilitation, Providing Passage for Summer Steelhead and Spring Chinook, Funding, Okanogan County, WA, Comment Period Ends: October 19, 2004, Contact: Donald Rose (503) 230-3796.

CRMP DEIS NEAR COMPLETION
The Grand Canyon News has a report: “Utah Department of Transportation officials will be looking for public involvement as it begins work on an environmental impact statement for the I-15 corridor from downtown Salt Lake City to Santaquin, a distance of 65 miles.” More detail about the project is here.

NPR-A NEWS ROUNDUP
MSNBC has a Reuters report on BLM’s FEIS on a plan by ConocoPhillips and partner Anadarko Petroleum Corp to develop five satellite oil pools around the oil-rich Alpine field on Alaska’s North Slope.

The Anchorage Daily News has a report on the State of Alaska’s efforts to build a road to NPR-A.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed transportation improvement project in the I-15 Corridor, Utah and Salt Lake Counties, UT.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (National Marine Fisheries Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Generic Amendment to Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Plans for Offshore Aquaculture for Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; and request for comments.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service, Northeast Region) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Hold Public Meetings for the special resource study of the Coltsville historic industrial district in Hartford, CT.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Reclamation) published Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for Banks Lake Drawdown, Douglas and Grant Counties, WA. The ROD is also available on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Dominion Transmission, Inc.’s Proposed Northeast Storage Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Dominion Transmission, Inc. (Dominion), in Cattaraugus County, New York, Clinton, McKean, and Potter Counties, Pennsylvania, and Lewis County, West Virginia, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues.