NEPA Blog

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for the application for a new license for Midwest Hydro Inc.’s Dayton Hydroelectric Project, located on the Fox River, in La Salle County, Illinois.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for USGen New England, Inc.’s application for a non-capacity related amendment of the Bellows Falls Project, located on the Connecticut River in Chesire and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire, and Windham and Windsor Counties, Vermont.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Midwestern Gas Transmission Company’s Proposed MGT Eastern Extension Project in Sumner and Trousdale Counties, Tennessee, Request for Comments on Environmental Issues, and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Limited Additional Period for Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the Draft General Conformity Determination for Weaver's Cove Energy, L.L.C. and Mill River Pipeline, L.L.C.’s Proposed Weaver's Cove LNG Project.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the McGregor Range Resource Management Plan Amendment and Notice of Opening of Public Comment Period With Public Meetings. The document will be available electronically here.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for the Department of Health and Human Services' Facility in Kensington, MD.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for SWATCH Group(U.S.), Inc.'s Facility in Lancaster, PA.

Yahoo!News has an AP report:

"Environmentalists sued the federal government Thursday over plans to log in central California's Giant Sequoia National Monument, home to two-thirds of the world's largest trees.

The Sierra Club and four other environmental groups called the U.S. Forest Service's decision to include widespread logging in its plan for managing the 327,769-acre monument a scientifically suspect strategy meant to satisfy timber interests under the guise of wildfire prevention."

TimesCommunity.com has a report:

"Dulles International Airport, the fastest growing airport in the world, moved one step closer to adding two new runways last week with the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

According to the document produced by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), constructing new runways at Dulles will mean loss of wetlands and floodplains, the destruction of certain wildlife habitats and increased noise levels for a time."

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) published Notice of Availability of Petition and Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Syngenta Seeds, Inc.’s Cotton Genetically Engineered for Insect Resistance.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army) published Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Leasing of Lands at Fort Bliss, TX for the Proposed Siting, Construction, and Operation by the City of El Paso of a Brackish Water Desalination Plant and Support Facilities.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed January 17, 2005 through January 21, 2005.

EIS No. 050017, Final EIS, NOA, ME, MA, RI, NH, CT, Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, Minimizing Impacts on Essential Fish Habitat of Any Species, Gulf of Maine--Georges Bank, ME, NH, MA, CT and RI, Wait Period Ends: February 22, 2005, Contact: Peter D. Colosi (978) 281-3332. The above NOA EIS should have appeared in the 01/21/2005 Federal Register. The 30 day Wait Period is Calculated from 01/21/2005.
EIS No. 050018, Draft EIS, FAA, IL, O'Hare Modernization Program, Proposes Major Development, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Airport Layout Plan (ALP), Federal Funding, US Army COE Section 404 Permit, City of Chicago, IL, Comment Period Ends: March 23, 2005, Contact: Michael W. MacMullen (847) 294-8339. The above FAA EIS should have appeared in the 01-21-2005 Federal Register.
EIS No. 050019, Final EIS, AFS, AK, Shoreline Outfitter/Guide Plan, Commercial Permits Issuance for Shoreline-Based Activities on National Forest System Lands, Admiralty Island National Monument, Hoonah, Sitka and Juneau Ranger Districts, Tongass National Forest, AK, Wait Period Ends: February 28, 2005, Contact: Bill Tremblay (907) 772-5877.
EIS No. 050020, Draft EIS, USN, FL, Navy Air-To-Ground Training at Avon Park Air Force Range, To Conduct Air-to-Ground Ordnance Delivery and Training, Fleet Forces Command's Fleet Readiness Training Program (FRTP), Polk and Highlands Counties, FL, Comments Period Ends: March 14, 2005, Contact: Will Sloger (843) 820-5797.
EIS No. 050021, Draft EIS, NRC, 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, Comment Period Ends: April 13, 2005, Contact: Stacey Imboden (301) 415-2462.
EIS No. 050022, Draft EIS, AFS, WA, Methow Transmission Project, Construction of New Transmission Line or Reconstruction an Existing Line, Okanogan and Wenatchee National Forests, Methow Valley Ranger District, Okanogan County, WA, Comment Period Ends: March 15, 2005, Contact: Jan Flatten (509) 826-3277.
EIS No. 050023, Final EIS, DOE, SC, Savannah River Site Construction and Operation of a Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility, NUREG-1767, Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale Counties, SC, Wait Period Ends: February 28, 2005, Contact: Matthew Blevins (301) 415-7684.
EIS No. 050024, Draft EIS, AFS, CO, Gold Camp Road Plan, Develop a Feasible Plan to Manage the Operation of Tunnel 3 and the 8.5 mile Road Segment, Pike National Forest, Pikes Peak Ranger District, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, CO, Comment Period Ends: March 29, 2005, Contact: Frank Landis (719) 477-4203.
EIS No. 050025, Final EIS, UAF, TX, Relocation of the C-5 Formal Training Unit from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma to Lackland Air Force Base, Bexar County, TX, Wait Period Ends: February 28, 2005, Contact: Lt.Col. Dee Anderson (210) 671-2907.
EIS No. 050026, Draft EIS, BIA, WI, Beloit Casino Project, To Expand to Tribal Governmental Revenue Base, St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Rock County, WI, Comment Period Ends: March 14, 2005, Contact: Herb Nelson (612) 713-4400.
EIS No. 050027, Final EIS, BLM, AK, Northeast National Petroleum Reserve Alaska Amended Integrated Activity Plan, To Amend 1998 Northeast Petroleum Reserve, To Consider Opening Portions of the BLM-Administrated Lands, North Slope Borough, AK, Wait Period Ends: February 28, 2005, Contact: Susan Childs (907) 271-1985.
EIS No. 050028, Draft Supplement EIS, FHW, AK, Juneau Access Transportation Project, Improvements in the Lynn Canal/Taiya InletCorridor between Juneau and Haines/Skagway, Updated Information, Special-Use-Permit and COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Tongass National Forest, Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park, Haines States Forest, City and Borough of Juneau, Haines Borough, Cities Haines and Skagway, AK, Comment Period Ends: 03/21/2005, Contact: Tim Haugh (907) 586-7430.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of the Amendment to the Northeast National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska Final Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. The final IAP/EIS will be available on the project Web site, here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Extension of the Public Review Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Oil and Gas Management Plan, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement concerning disposition of the former Bureau of Mines, Twin Cities Research Center Main Campus, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Reclamation) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Humboldt Project Conveyance, Pershing, Churchill and Lander Counties, Nevada, and notice of public hearing. The DEIS is online here.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for proposed improvements to the United States Port of Entry plaza for the Blue Water Bridge in St. Clair County, Michigan.

A three-judge panel of the Court issued an Order and Amended Opinion in Lands Council v. Powell. The original opinion was filed August 13, 2004.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Bonneville Power Administration) published Notice of Availability of Record of Decision for the Arlington Wind Interconnection Project. The RODs and EIS are also available here.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of the Draft Supplement 23 to the Generic Environmental Impact Statement and Public Meeting for the License Renewal of Nuclear Management Company, LLC’s Point Beach Nuclear Plant, Units 1 and 2, located on the western shore of Lake Michigan in Two Rivers, Wisconsin, approximately 30 miles southeast of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

KVIA (Albuquerque) has a report:

"The Bureau of Land Management has issued its final decision on oil and gas development on Otero Mesa.

The decision came today.

Otero Mesa is one of the nation's largest remaining pieces of Chihuahuan desert grassland and opponents have promised a court battle to protect it.

The B-L-M plan would permanently protect more than 88-thousand acres of critical environmental concern and another 36-thousand acres considered prime habitat for an endangered falcon.

But the rest of the two (m) million acres in Otero and Sierra counties would be open to potential regulated drilling activity.

Governor Richardson and environmentalists argue the plan fails to consider the impacts on groundwater and grasslands."

The El Paso Times also has a report:

"Seven years after a natural gas discovery was made on the Otero Mesa, a grasslands area northeast of El Paso, the Bureau of Land Management in New Mexico has decided how much oil and gas leasing will be allowed on the land in Otero and Sierra counties.

The bureau Monday issued its decision on the plan, which was released last year and will allow for limited drilling and a surface disturbance of about 1,589 acres of the nearly 2 million acres in the area.

The decision was met with mixed emotions."

The AP report is here (via Yahoo!News).

BLM's RMPA and ROD are here.

The Jacksonville (NC) Daily News has a report:

"A new report on personal watercraft use at Cape Lookout National Seashore recommends that Jet Skis, Wave Runners and similar vessels be allowed to return to the park within certain areas as a means of transportation.

The National Park Service has completed an environmental assessment that evaluates three possible alternatives for handling personal watercraft use within the park. The preferred alternative would reinstate PWC in certain areas to accommodate visitors who use PWCs to get to and from the park.

Specifically, the preferred alternative calls for opening 10 designated areas to visitors launching and landing PWCs. Recreational use parallel to shore would still be prohibited.

Superintendent Bob Vogel calls the recommendation a balance between preserving the habitat and natural resources of the park and protecting visitor access to the barrier islands of Shackleford Banks and North and South Core Banks.


Personal watercraft use is currently banned at Cape Lookout National Seashore as a result of a court settlement between the National Park Service and the Bluewater Network regarding PWC use in national parks across the country. Bluewater, an environmental group, claimed PWCs cause noise and air pollution and pose environmental and safety hazards."

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Commercial Pack Stock Use Authorizations for the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wildernesses; Inyo and Sierra National Forests; Inyo, Fresno, Madera, and Mono Counties, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of Record of Decision and Resource Management Plan Amendment for Federal Fluid Minerals Leasing and Development in Sierra and Otero Counties, New Mexico.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Pharmacopeia, Incorporated's Facility in Monmouth Junction, NJ.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Sequoyah Fuels Corporation, Gore, OK.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Reclamation) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Scoping Meetings for Contra Costa Water District Alternative Intake Project, Contra Costa and San Joaquin Counties, CA.

The Billings Gazette has a report:

"A conservation group argued before a federal judge Thursday that the Bureau of Land Management erred by not giving the public a chance to comment on the expansion of a coalbed methane project in southeast Montana.

The Northern Plains Resource Council also said BLM should have done a more comprehensive environmental review of the project by Fidelity Exploration & Production Co. and that Fidelity's reclamation bond was inadequate.

Attorneys representing the BLM and Fidelity, which joined in the suit, maintained that the public had chances to comment and that the environmental analysis was adequate."

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) published Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment With Corrections and Extension of Comment Period for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal Risk Regions and Importation of Commodities.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed January 10, 2005 through January 14, 2005.

EIS No. 050011, DRAFT EIS, FAA, VA, Washington Dulles International Airport Project, Acquisition of Land, Construction and Operation, IAD 2004. Airport Layout Plan (ALP), Dulles, VA. Comment Period Ends: March 7, 2005. Contact: Brad Mehaffy (703) 661-1364.
EIS No. 050012, DRAFT EIS, IBR, CA, Central Valley Project Long-Term Water Service Contract. Renewals--American River Division, Proposes to Renew Long-Term Water Service Contracts, Sacramento,Placer and El Dorado Counties, CA, Comment Period Ends: March 7, 2005. Contact: David Robinson (916) 989-7179.
EIS No. 050013, FINAL EIS, FHW, MN, MN-371 North Improvement Project, Reconstruction from the intersection of Crow Wing County Road 18 in Nisswa to the Intersection of Cass County Road 42 in Pine River, Funding, NPDES Permit ,and U.S. Army, COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Crow Wing and Cass Counties, MN, Wait Period Ends: February 22, 2005. Contact: Cheryl Martin (651) 291-6120.
EIS No. 050014, DRAFT EIS, FAA, CA, Los Angeles International Airport Proposed Master Plan Improvements, Alternative D Selected, Enhanced Safety and Security Plan, Los Angeles County, CA, Wait Period Ends: February 22, 2005. Contact: David B. Kessler (310) 725-3615.
EIS No. 050015, DRAFT EIS, EPA, CA, LA-3 Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site off Newport Bay, Proposed Site Designation, Orange County, CA, Comment Period Ends: March 7, 2005. Contact: Lawrence J. Smith (213) 452-3846.
EIS No. 050016, DRAFT EIS, FHW, OH, OH-823, Portsmouth Bypass Project, Transportation Improvements, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Appalachian Development Highway, Scioto County, OH,Due: March 07, 2005. Contact: Dennis A. Decker (614) 280-6896.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY and DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) published Notice of Availability and Request for Public Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Site Designation of the ``LA-3'' Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site off Newport Bay, Orange County, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Aviation Administration) published Notice of Availability for the O'Hare Modernization Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, IL; Notice of Availability; and Notice of Public Hearing Dates, Times, and Locations.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Aviation Administration) published Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Final Air Quality Conformity Determination for Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed highway project in Shelby County, Tennessee.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Transit Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the E Street Transit Corridor in San Bernardino, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Cancellation of Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Garnet Stars & Sands Project, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Benewah and Latah Counties, ID.

WAVY-10 has a report:

"The senior senator from North Carolina has asked the Navy to stop condemning land for a jet landing field in eastern North Carolina.

A spokeswoman says Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole wants the Navy to hold off until a federal judge decides on a lawsuit filed against the project."

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Aviation Administration) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environment Impact Statement; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Aviation Administration) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and To Hold Environmental Scoping Meetings for Extension of Runway 5-23 and Other Airport Improvement Projects at Providence-T.F. Green Airport, Warwick, RI.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Transit Administration) published Notice of Cancellation of an Environmental Statement for Proposed Grouse Creek Road Relocation, Payette National Forest, ID.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION published Notice of Record of Decision for the Del Rio Border Station Expansion, Del Rio, Texas.
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) has published a Final Supplement to the 1992 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Del Rio Border Station Expansion, Del Rio, Texas.The Supplement to the 1992 Final EIS is entitled: Supplement to the 1992 Del Rio Border Station Expansion Environmental Impact Statement--Increased Security Measures Associated With Phase III Expansion at the Del Rio Port of Entry; Del Rio, Val Verde County, TX.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Minerals Management Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 196 in the Western Gulf of Mexico (2005).

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service, Pacific West Region) published Notice of Scoping for San Gabriel River Watershed Special Resource Study, Los Angeles and Orange Counties, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision on the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Final Commercial Services Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, Glacier National Park, Montana.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Consumers Energy's Request To Modify Existing Sec. 20.2002 Authorization, for Big Rock Point, License DPR-006, Charlevoix County, MI.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Reclamation) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Central Valley Project Long-Term Water Service Contract Renewals--American River Division.

Tetra Tech Guy advises:

This spring, Tetra Tech is offering its popular NEPA compliance workshop and two follow on workshops on Natural Resources Regulation (full day) and Cumulative Impacts Analysis (half day). The NEPA Compliance and Natural Resources Regulation classes are designed for all skill levels while the Cumulative Impacts Analysis class is aimed at individuals with intermediate or advanced levels of NEPA experience.

The course dates are: NEPA Compliance - April 12-14, 2005; Natural Resources Regulation and Cumulative Impacts - April 15, 2005.

Also, Tetra Tech and UC Santa Cruz are offering a one day Recent Developments in NEPA class at the UCSC Cupertino, CA campus on March 14th. This workshop covers new developments in NEPA amendments, guidelines and case law and is designed for individuals with intermediate or advanced levels of NEPA experience.

For enrollment or more information, visit Tetra Tech’s website here.

Or call 415-974-1221, or email spring2005@ttsfo.com for Hawaii classes or nepaclass@ttsfo.com for March class.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers) published Notice of Intent To Prepare a Joint Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Hamilton Wetland Restoration Project Dredged Material Transfer Facility, Marin County, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for proposed improvements to freight transportation to and from Middlebury, Vermont, in Addison and Rutland Counties, VT.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed extension of Independence Boulevard in New Hanover County, North Carolina.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION published Notice of the Availability of a Record of Decision Following a Final Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation for Antarctic Activities.

The Alaska DOT has a press release here.

UPDATE: The Fairbanks News-Miner has a report.

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

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-BLM-J02046-UT Rating EC2, Castle Peak and Eightmile Flat Oil and Gas Expansion Project, Proposal to Expand Crude Oil and Natural Gas Development and Production Program, Right-of-Way Grant, Duchesne and Uintah Counties, UT.
ERP No. D-FRC-K05059-CA Rating EC2, 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.
ERP No. D-FRC-K05060-CA Rating EC2, Stanislaus Rivers Projects, Relicensing of Hydroelectric Projects: Spring Gap-Stanislaus FERC No. 2130; Beardsley/Donnells FERC No. 2005; Tulloch FERC No. 2067; and Donnells-Curtis Transmission Line FERC No. 2118, Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, CA.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-BLM-L65445-CA King Range National Conservation Area (KRNCA) Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, CA.
ERP No. F-COE-E39065-FL Central and Southern Florida Project, Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Pilot Operation, Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Project, To Test the Feasibility for Utilizing ASR Technology for Water Storage at Seven Well Sites, Right-of-Way and NPDES Permits, Several Counties, FL.
ERP No. F-COE-F32197-MS PROGRAMMATIC EIS--Upper Mississippi River and Illinois Waterway System Navigation Feasibility Study (UMR-IWW), Addressing Navigation Improvement Planning and Ecological Restoration Needs, MS, IL, IA, MN, MO, WI.


ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed January 3, 2005, through January 7, 2005.

EIS No. 050000, DRAFT EIS, AFS, UT, Ogden Ranger District Travel Plan, To Update the Travel Management Plan, Wasatch-Cache National Plan, Ogden Ranger District, Box Elder, Cache, Morgan, Weber and Rich Counties, UT, Comment Period Ends: February 28, 2005, Contact: Rick Vallejos (801) 625-5112.
EIS No. 050001, FINAL EIS, FHW, NJ, Penns Neck Area Transportation Service Improvements, Phase I Archeological Survey, U.S. 1, Sections 2S and 3J, Funding, West Windsor and Princeton Townships, Mercer County, and Plainsboro Township, Middlesex County, NJ, Wait Period Ends: February 14, 2005, Contact: Young Kim (609) 637-4233.
EIS No. 050002, DRAFT SUPPLEMENT, NPS, WA, Elwha River Ecosystem Restoration Implementation Project, Updated Information, Olympic Peninsula, Challam County, WA, Comment Period Ends: March 15, 2005, Contact: Brian Winter (360) 565-1320.
EIS No. 050003, FINAL EIS, AFS, MT, Gallatin National Forest, Main Boulder Fuels Reduction Project, Implementation, Gallatin National Forest, Big Timber Ranger District, Big Timber, Sweetgrass and Park Counties, MT, Wait Period Ends: February 14, 2005, Contact: Barbara Ping (406) 522-2570.
EIS No. 050004, FINAL EIS, SFW, WA, ID, OR, CA, Caspian Tern (sterna caspia) Management to Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Esturary, To Comply with the 2002 Settlement Agreement, Endangered Species Act (ESA), Columbia River, WA, OR, ID and CA, Wait Period Ends: February 14, 2005, Contact: Nanette Seto (503) 231-6164.
EIS No. 050005, DRAFT EIS, BLM, UT, Vernal Field Office Resource Management Plan, To Revise and Integrate the Book Cliff and Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan, Daggett, Duchesne, Uintah and Grand Counties, UT, Comment Period Ends: April 14, 2005, Contact: Jerry Kenczka (435) 781-4440.
EIS No. 050006, DRAFT EIS, FHW, MO, Interstate 70 Corridor Improvements, Section of Independent Utility 4, from Missouri Route BB Interchange to Eastern Columbia, Funding, Boone County, MO, Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005, Contact: Don Neumann (573) 636-7104.
EIS No. 050007, DRAFT EIS, FHW, MO, Interstate 70 Corridor Improvements, Section of Independent Utility 7, a 40-Mile Portion of the I-70 Corridor from just West of Route 19 (milepost 174) to Lake St. Louis Boulevard (milepost 214), Montgomery, Warren, St. Charles Counties, MO, Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005, Contact: Don Neumann (573) 636-7104.
EIS No. 050008, DRAFT SUPPLEMENT, NPS, CA, Merced Wild and Scenic River Revised Comprehensive Management Plan, Amend and Supplement Information, Yosemite National Park, El Portal Administrative Site, Tuolume, Merced, Mono, Mariposa and Madera Counties, CA, Comment Period Ends: March 22, 2005, Contact: Amy Schneckenberner (209) 379-1026.
EIS No. 050009, FINAL SUPPLEMENT, NOA, Monkfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) Amendment 2, Implementation, Proposes Measures to Address a Wide Range of Management Issues, New England and Mid-Atlantic, Wait Period Ends: February 14, 2005, Contact: Paul Howard (978) 465-0492.
EIS No. 050010, FINAL EIS, BLM, OR, Upper Deschutes Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Deschutes, Klamath, Jefferson and Cook Counties, OR, Wait Period Ends: February 14, 2005, Contact: Mollie Chaudet (541) 416-6700.


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Aviation Administration) published Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement Containing a Draft Air Quality General Conformity Determination and Draft Section 106 Historic Resources Report; Notice of Public Comment Period and Schedule of Public Information Meetings and Public Hearings for Proposed New Runways and Associated Development at Washington Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, VA.

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed highway project in Transylvania County, North Carolina.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for Caspian Tern Management To Reduce Predation of Juvenile Salmonids in the Columbia River Estuary. The FEIS will be available online here, here, and here.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Availability of Draft Gold Camp Road Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (Rocky Mountain Region; Pikes Peak Ranger District, Pike National Forest, El Paso County, CO). The Draft Plan/EIS is available on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Office of the Assistant Secretary--Water and Science; Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission; and Central Utah Water Conservancy District) published Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Utah Lake Drainage Basin Water Delivery System Final Environmental Impact Statement documenting the Department of the Interior's approval to proceed with the construction of the Proposed Action Alternative.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of the Proposed Upper Deschutes Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. The PRMP/FEIS is on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of a Draft Resource Management Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement for the Vernal Field Office Planning Area, in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties, Utah. The Draft RMP Revision/EIS is on the Internet here.

The Anchorage Daily News has a report:

"A federal judge has ruled against a coalition of environmental groups that sued the government seeking to increase wildlife protections in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

In a ruling issued Monday, Judge James K. Singleton Jr. of Anchorage said the plaintiffs failed to make their case that the government, which is leasing land for oil and gas drilling in the reserve, violated environmental and other laws.

Groups including the Audubon Society, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League and the Center for Biological Diversity sued U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton early last year. They later asked Singleton to block a planned lease sale in the northwest NPR-A, one of three sections in the Indiana-sized reserve. The 8.8-million-acre northwest section is a remote, roadless expanse of tundra south of Barrow.

The judge denied the injunction request, and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, an Interior Department agency that acts as landlord for the reserve, went ahead with the June 2 lease sale, which drew nearly $54 million in winning bids from oil companies. Singleton, however, forbade the companies to proceed with any exploratory drilling or other disruptive activity until the lawsuit had been resolved.

That happened Monday, with the judge ruling that the BLM had fulfilled the law in developing its leasing plan.

Stan Senner, executive director of Audubon's Alaska chapter, said the environmental groups might appeal.


The groups, in their lawsuit, argued that the BLM had taken an all-or-nothing approach to the question of how much land to lease and hadn't adequately considered more balanced options.

Audubon had pushed for an alternative excluding 'habitat hot spots' from industry activity. For example, Audubon suggested permanent protection for 266,575 acres at Kasegaluk Lagoon, which the organization said is important for bears, beluga whales and molting Pacific black brant, a migratory goose.

But Singleton ruled that the BLM correctly followed laws including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act in making its leasing decision."

The Clovis News Journal has a report:

"An environmental report on the effects of a proposed military airspace expansion estimates increased noise that could be intrusive but would cause no damage to animals or humans.

The 421-page environmental impact statement said the expansion would mean 'some airspace and noise consequences' but would have no other noticeable effect.

The proposal, the New Mexico Training Range Initiative, would expand military airspace from the current 2,600 square miles to 3,300 square miles, moving west into Lincoln County, east toward Portales, north into Fort Sumner and south into Chaves County."

KVOA (Tucson) has a report:

"A southern Arizona rancher is suing the Center for Biological Diversity, claiming the Tucson-based environmental group defamed him.

Jim Chilton's libel suit seeks unspecified monetary damages."

The Chicago Sun-Times has a report:

"Mayor Daley on Wednesday predicted an O'Hare Airport makeover could start sooner than planned, touting the early completion of a federal environmental study as a strong indicator the project is on the fast track toward approval.


The Federal Aviation Administration administrator, Marian Blakey, told Daley the agency's environmental impact statement was done a month early, speeding the schedule for public hearings on the expansion plan.

But FAA spokesman Tony Molinaro said the statement neither indicates the project will be approved nor that a final decision process will come earlier than expected."

WTNH has a report:

"A Southold, Long Island official is threatening to sue to force the closure of the Millstone Power Station, unless his town is included in emergency evacuation plans.

Town manager Joshua Horton confronted Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials yesterday at meeting on the re-licensing application for the nuclear plant. He called the plants environmental impact statement 'gravely flawed,' because is does not include his town, which is across Long Island Sound from the two active nuclear reactors."

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Air Force) published Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplement to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Realistic Bomber Training Initiative.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment for PPL Holtwood, application for a new license for the Lake Wallenpaupack Hydroelectric Project, located on the Wallenpaupack Creek and Lackawaxen River, in Pike and Wayne Counties, Pennsylvania.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Conduct Scoping Process for Carolina Power & Light Company’s Brunswick Steam Electric Plant, Units 1 and 2, located in Brunswick County in southeastern North Carolina, near the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

The Caspar Tribune has a report:

"Wyoming officials are stepping up enforcement efforts in light of rampant environmental violations in the coal-bed methane industry."

KATU 2 (Portland) has a report:

"Environmental groups filed a lawsuit Monday to block expansion of the Mount Ashland ski area, claiming that building new lifts, runs, a lodge and a bigger parking lot in sensitive watersheds will harm wildlife and the city of Ashland's water supply.

The lawsuit was filed by the Rogue Group Sierra Club, Oregon Natural Resources Council and Headwaters in U.S. District Court in Medford against the U.S. Forest Service, which manages the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest property where the ski area is located and approved an environmental impact statement for the expansion."

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment that analyzes the environmental impacts of allowing Duke Power Company, licensee for the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project, to grant a lease of two parcels of land, totaling 1.918 acres, to Lake James Properties, LLC, for the purpose of constructing a residential/commercial marina. The marina will be located on Lake James, one of the project's 11 reservoirs, in McDowell County, North Carolina. The facility will accommodate a total of 110 boat slips, and will provide access to the reservoir for the residents of The Arbor on Lake James subdivision.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for the Boulder Project, Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Oconto and Langlade Counties, Wisconsin.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (National Marine Fisheries Service & National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Endangered Fish and Wildlife.
SUMMARY: NMFS will be preparing an EIS to analyze the potential impacts of applying new criteria in guidelines to determine what constitutes a “take” of a marine mammal under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act as a result of exposure to anthropogenic noise in the marine environment. This notice describes the proposed action and possible alternatives and also describes the proposed scoping process.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Extension of the Public Comment Period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Colorado River Management Plan of Grand Canyon National Park.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Natural Resources Conservation Service) published Notice of Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact for the Conservation Security Program. The documents are on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Natural Resources Conservation Service) published Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment for the Lower Payette River Ditch Diversion, Replacement Payette County, ID.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact Regarding a Proposed Exemption and Conforming Amendment for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Rancho Seco Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Intent to Scope for the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit Associated With the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Habitat Conservation Plan, Riverside County, CA.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for South Carolina Electric & Gas Company’s operation of the Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Station, located in Fairfield County, South Carolina.

The Denver Post has a report:

The Rocky Mountain news has a report on proposed legislation, and another on opposition to the legislation. Also, a report on scientific concerns.

The AP report on the USF&WS plan is here.

The plan is here.

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

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J65421-00 Rating EC1, Grizzly Bear Conservation for the Greater Yellowstone Area National Forests, Implementation, Amend Six Forest Plans: Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, Custer National Forest, Gallatin National Forest and Shoshone National Forest, MT, WY and ID.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65423-UT Rating EC2, 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.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65427-WY Rating EC2, Cottonwood II Vegetation Management Project, Proposal to Implement Vegetation Management in the North and South Cottonwood Creek Drainages, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Big Piney Ranger District, Sublette County, WY.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65429-CO Rating EC2, Village at Wolf Creek Project, Application for Transportation and Utility Systems and Facilities, Proposed Development and Use of Roads and Utility Corridors Crossing, National Forest System Lands to Access 287.5 Acres of Private Property Land, Mineral County, CO.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65430-MT Rating EC2, McSutten Decision Area, Implementation of Harvest and Associated Activities, Prescribed Burning, and Road Management, Kootenai National Forest, Rexford Ranger District, Lincoln County, MT.
ERP No. DS-AFS-J02027-UT Rating EC2, Table Top Exploratory Oil and Gas Wells, New Information from the Approval 1994 Final EIS, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Evanston Ranger District, Summit County, UT.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-H65021-MO East Fredericktown Project, To Restore Shortleaf Pine, Improve Forest Health, Treat Affected Stands and Recover Valuable Timber Products, Mark Twain National Forest, Potosi/Fredericktown Ranger District, Bollinger, Madison, St. Francois and Ste. Genevieve Counties, MO.
ERP No. F-AFS-J65415-MT Robert-Wedge Post-Fire Project, Salvage Trees and Rehabilitate Lands, Flathead National Forest, Glacier View Ranger District, Flathead County, MT.
ERP No. F-AFS-J65420-SD 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, Fall River County, SD.
ERP No. F-AFS-J65422-MT West Side Reservoir Post-Fire Project, Proposed Implementation of Timber Salvage and Access Management Treatments, Flathead National Forest, Hungry Horse and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts, Flathead County, MT.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65456-AK Resurrection Creek Stream and Riparian Restoration Project, Proposes to Accelerate the Recovery of Riparian Areas, Fish and Wildlife Habitat, Chugach National Forest, Seward Ranger District, Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65457-OR Crooked River National Grassland Vegetation Management/Grazing, Vegetation Treatments and Grazing Disposition, Ochoco National Forest, Jefferson County, OR.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements filed December 27, 2004 through December 30.

EIS No. 040603, Final EIS, NPS, TX, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River General Management Plan, Implementation, Big Bend National Park, Brewster and Terrell Counties, TX, Wait Period Ends: February 7, 2005, Contact: Mathew Safford (303) 969-2898.
EIS No. 040604, Draft EIS, UAF, NM, New Mexico Training Initiative, Proposal to Modify the Training Airspace New Cannon Air Force Base (AFB), NM, Comment Period Ends: February 22, 2005, Contact: Brenda Cook (505) 784-4131.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, Pit 14 Lease by Application, Sweetwater County, WY.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), to initiate scoping for a coal lease application received from Black Butte Coal Company for Federal coal in the decertified Green River/Hamms Fork Coal Production Region, Wyoming.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Intent to Perform Environmental Analysis and Notice of Public Scoping Meeting Related to the San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) advises the public that we intend to gather information necessary to prepare a NEPA document and determine whether to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) that is being prepared by the Rio Grande Water Conservation District (District) on behalf of Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, and Saguache Counties (five counties). The proposed HCP is being prepared in support of an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The District intends to apply for an ITP, through development and implementation of the San Luis Valley Regional Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), as required by the ESA. The HCP will provide measures to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the proposed actions, which might result in take of federally listed species.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Plan of Operations for natural gas wells at Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico.

The Great Falls Tribune has a report.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the North Bridgers Grazing Allotment Management Plan Update; Bozeman Ranger District; Gallatin National Forest; Gallatin County, MT.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Lower Granite Area Mining Projects; Umatilla National Forest, Grant County, OR.

Cumulative Impacts has the latest on the 4th Circuit's stay of a preliminary injunction barring the Navy from pursuing acquisition of property for the OLF.

Wasilla's Frontiersman has a report on the Knik Arm bridge project EIS.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has a report on the EIS for the Metrorail line to Dulles.

WJLA-TV (DC) has a report on the EIS for the proposed Intercounty Connector linking PG and Montgomery Counties.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Proposed National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures and Request for Comment on Guidelines for National Environmental Policy Act Documentation Needed for Developing, Revising, or Amending Land Management Plans, and Categorical Exclusion.
SUMMARY: The Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, is requesting comment on a proposed revision to its procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations. This proposed revision is being made to Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Chapter 30, which describes categorical exclusions, that is, categories of actions that will not result in significant impacts on the human environment and which are therefore exempt from requirements to prepare further NEPA documentation absent extraordinary circumstances. The proposal would add one such category of actions to the agency's NEPA procedures for final decisions on proposals to develop, amend, or revise land management plans that are comprised of five components which are desired conditions, objectives, guidelines, suitability of areas, and special areas for a forest.
This proposal is being published in conjunction with the final Forest Service planning regulations published elsewhere in this part of today's Federal Register. Public comment is invited and will be considered in development of the final procedure.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (National Nuclear Security Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to the Final Site-Wide Environmental Impact Statement for Continued Operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Washington Coastal Zone Management Program, and Notice of public scoping meetings in Olympia, Seattle and Mount Vernon, WA on the proposed incorporation of the revised Shoreline Master Program Guidelines Rule as an amendment to the federally approved Washington Coastal Zone Management Program.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Kiski Valley Water Pollution Control Authority (KVWPCA) Site in Leechburg, PA.

DOE put out the new Green Book on December 30.

Thanks to the tip from another NEPA Guy.

The Chicago Sun-Times has a report:

At issue is a five-mile stretch of U.S. 95 that would be widened from six to 10 lanes between the Las Vegas Strip and the well-to-do bedroom communities of Summerlin and Centennial Hills to the northwest.

The environmental group wants the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to order the Federal Highway Administration to rethink the project. The court will hear the case Monday in San Francisco."

NBC4.TV has a report:

"The city of El Segundo filed a lawsuit Monday in a bid to stop the city of Los Angeles from moving forward on Mayor Jim Hahn's $11 billion renovation project for Los Angeles International Airport.

El Segundo officials want to stall the revamp on grounds that it will 'aggravate LAX's adverse impacts on the surrounding communities by increasing the airport's capacity and by causing significant environmental impacts without adequate mitigation,' according to the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Katie Buckland of the City Attorney's Office declined to comment on the lawsuit, saying her office had not seen the court papers.

The suit states that the environmental impact report, which the City Council approved on Dec. 7, 'fails to adequately analyze or mitigate (the project's) numerous environmental impacts, including noise impacts, traffic impacts, public health impacts and effects on safety and security.'

El Segundo and Los Angeles city officials have been meeting for months to work out a legally binding deal resolving, among other things, the airport capacity issue.
Elizabeth Kaltman, a Hahn aide, said the lawsuit was 'not unexpected.'

'The city of L.A. remains in negotiations with El Segundo, and the mayor is confident and optimistic that we'll be able to negotiate an agreement that everybody is satisfied with,' Kaltman said.

The council gave final approval to the modernization project on Dec. 14, despite opposition from a variety of fronts, including the county, which is expected to file a lawsuit by Friday."

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) published Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy; Minimal Risk Regions and Importation of Commodities.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation’s Proposed Station 170 Clean Air Modifications Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues. The EA will discuss the environmental impacts of the Station 170 Clean Air Modifications Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation in Appomattox County, Virginia.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Non-Native Deer Management Plan, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County, CA. The document will be posted on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (National Park Service) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Merced Wild and Scenic River Revised Comprehensive Management Plan and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne, Mariposa, and Madera Counties, CA. The public is encouraged to view the document here.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Issuance of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company’s Maine Yankee Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, located at the Maine Yankee Atomic Power Station in Wiscasset, Maine.

The Corvallis Gazette-Times has a report:

"An Ashland environmental activist has filed a lawsuit that seeks to halt a planned expansion at the Mount Ashland ski area.

The complaint, filed by Eric Navickas, alleges that the U.S. Forest Service failed to adequately disclose and analyze the environmental impacts of building new ski trails on 71 acres of forest next to the existing ski area.

Cutting 2 million board feet of timber to build the new ski runs will have 'serious impact to (Ashland's) drinking water supply,' Navickas said.

His lawsuit came as no surprise to ski area managers. Navickas had declared his intent to sue at several public meetings, said Rick Saul, the ski area's marketing director.

Navickas also charges that the Forest Service skewed its environmental analysis of the project to justify a decision that had already been made to expand the ski area.

The suit asks the court to prevent the Mount Ashland ski area from expanding until the Forest Service complies with the National Environmental Policy Act."

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) published Notice of Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact and Determination of Nonregulated Status for Monsanto Co.’s Cotton Genetically Engineered for Tolerance to the Herbicide Glyphosate.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed bridge across Knik Arm between the Municipality of Anchorage and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in Alaska.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for County Line Vegetation Management Project, Rio Grande National Forest, CO. The Draft EIS will be available on the Internet here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Amend the St. George Field Office Resource Management Plan. The planning area for the amendment includes all public lands within the St. George Field Office, which includes approximately 630,000 acres in Washington County, Utah.