NEPA Blog

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

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-J65428-CO Rating EC2, Vail Valley Forest Health Project, Proposed Landscape-Scale Vegetation Management and Fuels Reduction, White River National Forest, Holy Cross Ranger District, Eagle County, CO.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65431-UT Rating EC2, Duck Creek Fuels Treatment Analysis, To Reduce Fuels, Enhance Fire-Tolerant Vegetation and Provide Fuel Breaks, Dixie National Forest, Cedar City Ranger District, Kane County, UT.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65434-CO Rating EC2, County Line Vegetation Management Project, Salvaging Spruce Beetle Infected Trees and Thinning Spruce-Fir Stand, Rio Grande National Forest, Conejos Peak Ranger District, Conejes County, CO.
ERP No. D-AFS-K65277-CA Rating EC2, Modoc National Forest Noxious Weed Treatment Project, Proposes to Implement a Control and Eradication Project, Lassen, Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, CA.
ERP No. D-USA-L11037-AK Rating EC2, Battle Area Complex (BAX) and a Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF) Construction and Operation, U.S. Army Training Lands in Alaska.
ERP No. DR-IBR-K39048-CA Rating EC2, Truckee River Operating Agreement (TROA) Modify Operations of Five Federal and Two Non-Federal Reservoirs to Facilitate Distribution of Water, Truckee River Basin, EL Dorado, Nevada, Placer and Sierra Counties, CA and Douglas, Lyon, Storey and Washoe Counties, NV.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-J65399-00 High Mountains Heli-Skiing (HMH) Project, Issuance of a New 5-Year Special Use Permit (SUP) to Continue Operating Guided Helicopter Skiing in Portions of the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF), Teton and Lincoln Counties, WY and Teton and Bonneville Counties, ID.
ERP No. F-BIA-C60004-NY St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, Mohawk Mountain Casino and Resort, Proposed Transfer of 66 Acres of Land into Federal Trust Status, Fee-to-Trust Acquisition, Sullivan County, NY.
ERP No. F-FHW-G40174-TX Eastern Extension of the President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) from TX-78 to I-30, New Controlled Access Tollway Construction at a New Location, Cities of Garland, Sachse, Rowlett and Dallas, Dallas County, TX.
ERP No. FA-AFS-L67028-AK Kensington Gold Project, Proposed Modifications of the 1998 Approved Plan Operation, NPDES, ESA and US COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Tongass National Forest, City of Juneau, AK.
ERP No. F1-AFS-J65308-UT Wasatch Powerbird Guides Permit Renewal, Authorization to Continue Providing Guided Helicopter Skiing Activities on National Forest System (NFS) Land on the Wasatch-Cache and Uinta National Forests, Special-Use Permit (SUP), Provo and Salt Lake City, UT.
ERP No. F1-FHW-F40361-MI MI-59 Livingston County Widening Project between I-96 and US 23, Recommended Alternative was Selected, Right-of-Way Preservation Center Corridor, Funding, NPDES and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permits Issuance, Livingston County, MI.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of the following Environmental Impact Statements Filed February 7, 2005 Through February 11, 2005:

EIS No. 050055, Final EIS, AFS, AL, Longleaf Ecosystem Restoration Project, Proposes a Five-Year Project to Begin Restoration of Native Longleaf, Talladega National Forest, Oakmulgee District, Tuscaloosa, Hale, Bibbs and Perry Counties, AL, Wait Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Jim Shores (205) 926-9765.
EIS No. 050056, Draft EIS, FHW, TX, Trinity Parkway Project, Construction of Limited Access Toll Facility from IH-35 E/TX-183 to U.S. -175/TX 310, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Dallas County, TX, Comment Period Ends: April 4, 2005, Contact: Salvador Deocampo (512) 536-5950.
EIS No. 050057, Final EIS, AFS, MT, Bridger Bowl Ski Area, Permit Renewal and Master Development Plan Update, Implementation, Special Use Permit and COE Section 404 Permit, Gallatin National Forest, in the City of Bozeman, MT, Wait Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Nancy Halstrom (406) 522-2520.
EIS No. 050058, Final EIS, NAS, HI, Outrigger Telescopes Project, Proposed for the W.M. Keck Observatory Site within the Mauna Kea Science Reserve, Funding, Construction, Installation and Operation, Island of Hawaii, Wait Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Kenneth M. Kumor (202) 358-1112.
EIS No. 050059, Draft EIS, NPS, VA, Manassas National Battlefield Park Bypass Study, From US-29 East of Park Boundary and VA-234 South of Park Boundary to U.S. 29 West of Park Boundary and VA-234 North of Park Boundary, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Prince William and Fairfax Counties, VA, Comment Period Ends: April 4, 2005, Contact: Jack Van Dop (703) 404-6282. This document is available on the Internet here.
EIS No. 050060, Draft EIS, COE, TX, Cedar Bayou Navigation Channel (CBNC) Improvements Project, Implementation, Near Baytown in Harris and Chambers Counties, TX, Comment Period Ends: April 4, 2005, Contact: Dr. Terry Roberts (409) 766-3035.
EIS No. 050061, Final EIS, FHW, MN, Ayd Mill Road Corridor, Improvements from I-35 E to St. Anthony Avenue (I-94) 2.6 kilometer (1.6 miles), Funding, City of Saint Paul, Ramsey County, MN, Wait Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Cheryl Martin (651) 291-6120.
EIS No. 050062, Draft EIS, COE, NC, Fort Bragg Headquarters for XVIII Airborne Corps and Army Special Operations Command, To Determine the Level of Training on the Overhills Tract Program, Cumberland and Harnett Counties, NC, Comment Period Ends: April 4, 2005, Contact: David A. Heinz (910) 396-8207.
EIS No. 050063, Final EIS, AFS, UT, Monticello and Blanding Municipal Watershed Improvement Projects, Implementation, Manti-La Sal National Forest, Monticello Ranger District, San Juan County, UT, Wait Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Elton Chang (503) 587-4710.
EIS No. 050064, Final EIS, NIH, TX, Galveston National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Facility at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Construction, Partial Funding, Grant, Galveston, TX, Wait Period Ends: March 22, 2005, Contact: Valerie Nottingham (301) 496-7775.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE published Notice of Availability of the Finding of No Significant Impact and the Environmental Assessment for the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services FY 2005 Community Policing Discretionary Grants.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Western Area Power Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operation of Navitas Energy’s Proposed White Wind Farm Project, Brookings County, SD.

A three-judge panel of the Court issued its opinion in Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, Inc. v. USACE, a case dealing with issuance of a Section 10 permit for Cape Wind to construct and operate an offshore data tower at Horseshoe Shoals in Nantucket Sound. The District Court granted summary judgment in favor of the Corps and Cape Wind.

The Court affirmed the summary judgment granted by the DC and specifically found that the Corps fully complied with its obligations under NEPA and CEQ regulations to engage with the public in preparing the EA and FONSI for the data tower permit.

The Billings Gazette continues its coverage with this report on the comment process:

"Gallatin National Forest users have until mid-May to make their voice heard on travel management plans for the places they like to play.

The Gallatin published its Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Monday. The document, when finalized next year, will govern travel across the 1.8 million-acre forest in southcentral and southwestern Montana.

The wording in the forest's preferred alternative - No. 7 out of seven - is not inflexible, said John Allen, the Gallatin's deputy forest supervisor."

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Withdraw a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement in cooperating with the Virginia Department of Transportation for potential transportation improvements in the western portion of Northern Virginia, between Route 7 in Loudoun County and Interstate 95 in Stafford County, to address growing regional transportation needs.

The Billings Gazette has a report:

"There was a slight breeze coming out of the west on Monday, possibly the result of a huge collective sigh of relief by the Gallatin National Forest's travel management team in Bozeman.

After 2-1/2 years of planning, discussions and public comments, the Gallatin had just released its draft environmental impact statement on its proposed travel management plan.

The arduous task is far from over, however. A final decision isn't expected for another year, and the public still has until mid-May to make any final comments.

Because the travel plan is such a huge undertaking, no forest user is likely to be unaffected. But Forest Supervisor Becki Heath said her team tried to strike a balance for a land that's loved for the wide variety of recreation opportunities it provides."

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment for TransColorado Gas Transmission Company’s Proposed North Expansion Project And Request for Comments on Environmental Issues. The North Expansion Project involves construction and operation of facilities by TransColorado Gas Transmission Company in Rio Blanco County and Mesa
County, Colorado.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Issuance of an Incidental Take Permit Associated With a Habitat Conservation Plan for the California Department of Parks and Recreation's Operation of Certain San Luis Obispo Coast District Parks and the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area in San Luis Obispo County, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Minerals Management Service) published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessments and Findings of No Significant Impact for Granting Suspensions of Production or Operations for Nine Units and One Non-Unitized Lease Located on the Federal OCS Offshore California.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Reclamation) published Notice of Reopening of Comment Period for review of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Lake Berryessa Visitor Services Plan, Napa County, CA.

The Caspar Star Tribune has a report:

"People around the Jonah natural gas field will likely notice more haze in the air during certain days, but that lessened visibility should not harm people's health.

So says TRC Environmental Corp. of Laramie, a consulting firm that analyzed air quality issues in the Bureau of Land Management's Jonah Infill Drilling Project Environmental Impact Statement."

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle has a report:

"The Gallatin National Forest on Monday released the details of its proposed new travel management plan, a 1,200-page study that spells out who can travel where.

The environmental impact statement also explains Forest Supervisor Becki Heath's rationale for big cutbacks in motorized travel on the 1.8 million acre forest."

The plan is available on the Gallatin's website here.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of the Environmental Assessment for Caledonia Energy Partners, L.L.C.’s Proposed Caledonia Storage Project. The EA assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the proposed underground natural gas storage facility and related appurtenant facilities in Lowdnes County, Mississippi.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Assessment for the Lower Monroe Hydroelectric Project. The operating project is located on Monroe Creek, 2 miles east of Monroe City, Sevier County, Utah.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Bonneville Power Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Klondike III Wind Project Interconnection, requested by PPM Energy, Inc. to integrate electrical power from their proposed Klondike III Wind Project into the Federal Columbia River Transmission System (FCRTS). The Wind Project is located in Sherman County, Oregon.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Bonneville Power Administration) published Notice of Availability of a National Environmental Policy Act Record of Decision for the Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007-2011 (Regional Dialogue).

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Bonneville Power Administration) published Notice of Final Policy for Bonneville Power Administration's Policy for Power Supply Role for Fiscal Years 2007-2011. The Policy and the Administrator's ROD are available on BPA's Web site here.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed highway project on U.S. 127 N/S.R. 28, in Cumberland and Fentress Counties, TN.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Pilgrim Vegetation Management Project, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION published Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact for NASA Shared Services Center.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Navy) published Notice of Public Hearings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Navy Air-To-Ground Training at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc.’s Millstone Power Station, Unit No. 2, located in New London County, Connecticut.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Conservation Plan for incidental take permits for salmon, steelhead and bull trout.
SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and conservation plan for public review and comment. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), on behalf of the State of Washington, has submitted applications to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) (the Services) for incidental take permits under section 10 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 as amended. The conservation plan also serves as the basis of an application to the Services that they each take steps under section 4(d) of the ESA to limit the application of the prohibition against take of listed salmon, steelhead and bull trout so that it does not apply to forest practices regulated by the State of Washington on non-Federal and non-tribal lands.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare Environmental Impact Statement for the West Bear Vegetation Management Project, Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Summit County, UT.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, WY, and notice of public involvement meeting for the purposes of providing comment on the DEIS.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION published Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Outrigger Telescopes Project.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Natural Resources Conservation Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement to evaluate the impacts of floodplain and stream channel modifications in the Coal Creek Watershed.

A three-judge panel of the Court issued its opinion in City of Riverview v. STB. The Court held that NEPA did not require STB to assess the environmental impact of adding a river barge service at a proposed facility, and that STB took the requisite hard look mandated by NEPA when it considered the effect the proposed intermodal transportation facility would have on local transportation and emergency response providers.

The Barnstable Patriot has a report:

"As far as the Cape Cod Commission’s staff is concerned, the draft environmental impact statement on Cape Wind’s 130-turbine wind farm project leaves something to be desired.

That something is a Supplemental DEIS that will answer the questions the staff outlines in a 32-page critique of the document prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers."

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army) published Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to Fully Integrate the Overhills Property Into the Fort Bragg Training Program, Fort Bragg, NC.

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

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-D65031-PA Rating LO, Martin Run Project, To Implement Management Direction as Outlined in Allegheny National Forest Plan, Bradford Ranger District, Allegheny National Forest, Warren and McKean Counties, PA.
ERP No. D-AFS-J65425-00 Rating EC2, 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.
ERP No. D-AFS-L65473-OR Rating LO, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Special Use Permits for Outfitter and Guide Operations on the Lower Rogue and Lower Illinois Rivers, Gold Beach Ranger District, Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest, Curry County, OR.
ERP No. D-BOP-D80031-WV Rating EC2, Southern West Virginia Proposed Federal Correctional Institution, Four Alternatives Sites in Southern West Virginia: Boone County, Mingo County, Nicholas County, and McDowell County, WV.
ERP No. D-CGD-K03027-CA Rating EC2, Cabrillo Port Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Deepwater Port, Construction and Operation an Offshore Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU), Application for License, Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, CA.
ERP No. DS-GSA-D81027-MD Rating EC1, U.S. Food and Administration (FDA) Consolidation, Updated and New Information, Constructing a New Eastern Access Road and over Paint Branch, Construct Additional Facilities to Support Expanded Program, Relocating The Day Care Center, Federal Research Center at White Oak, Silver Spring, Montgomery, MD.
ERP No. D1-BLM-K65158-CA Rating **3, Clear Creek Resource Management Area Plan Amendment, Hollister Resource Management Plan, Implementing the Decision Made in the 1999 CCMA ROD, San Benito and Fresno Counties, CA.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-J65419-MT Gallatin National Forest, Main Boulder Fuels Reduction Project, Implementation, Gallatin National Forest, Big Timber Ranger District, Big Timber, Sweetgrass and Park Counties, MT.
ERP No. F-AFS-L65454-OR Diamond Lake Restoration Project, Improve Water Quality and the Recreational Fishery, Umpqua National Forest, Diamond Lake Ranger District, Umpqua River Basin, Douglas County, OR.
ERP No. F-BIA-J02044-WY Wind River Natural Gas Field Development Project, Construction, Drilling and Production Operation of Natural Gas Wells, Fremont County, WY.
ERP No. F-CGD-G39040-LA Gulf Landing Deepwater Port License Application for Construct of a Deepwater Port and Associated Anchorages in the Gulf of Mexico, South of Cameron, LA.
ERP No. F-FHW-F40413-IL US Route 20 (FAP 301) Project, Construction from IL Route 84 north of Galena to Bolton Road northwest of Freeport, Funding, NPDES Permit and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Jo Davies and Stephenson Counties, IL.
ERP No. F-NOA-L91024-00 Puget Sound Chinook Harvest Resource Management Plan (RMP) 2004-2009, Implementation, Endangered Species Act, OR and WA.
ERP No. F-NPS-D39027-00 Chesapeake Bay Special Resource Study (SRS), To Conserve and Restore Chesapeake Bay, New Unit of the National Park System, MD, VA, PA and DC.
ERP No. F-NPS-F08011-WI Arrowhead-Weston Transmission Line Right-of-Way Crossing of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Washburn County, WI.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements Filed January 31, 2005 through February 4, 2005.

EIS No. 050044, Draft EIS, BLM, WY, Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Propose to Expand Development of Natural Gas Drilling, Sublette County, WY. Comment Period Ends: April 12, 2005. Contact: Carol Kruse (307) 367-5352.
EIS No. 050045, Final EIS, AFS, AZ, Coconino, Kaibab, and Prescott National Forest, Integrated Treatment of Noxious and Invasive Weeds. Implementation, Coconino, Mojave and Yavapai Counties, AZ. Wait Period Ends: March 14, 2005. Contact: Charles Ernst (928) 635-8317.
EIS No. 050046, Draft Supplement, BLM, MT, Golden Sunlight Mine Pit Reclamation Alternatives. Updated Information, Operating Permit No. 00065 and Plan-of-Operation MTM 82855, Whitehall, Jefferson County, MT. Comment Period Ends: April 12, 2005. Contact: David Williams (406) 533-7655.
EIS No. 050047, Draft EIS, BIA, NY, Stockbridge-Munsee Casino Project, Proposes to Take Land into Trust for Gaming Purposes to Address the Tribe's Economic Development, Bands of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin (the Tribe), NPDES Permit and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Town of Thompson, Sullivan County, NY. Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005. Contact: Kurt Chandler (615) 467-1677.
EIS No. 050048, Final EIS, BLM, OR, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM) Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Klamath and Rouge River Basins, Jackson County, OR. Wait Period Ends: March 14, 2005. Contact: Kathy Minor (541) 618-2245.
EIS No. 050049, Draft EIS, NOA, WA, CA, OR, Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, To Conserve and Enhance Essential Fish Habitat Designation and Minimization of Adverse Impacts, Pacific Coast Exclusive Economic Zone, WA, OR and CA. Comment Period Ends: May 11, 2005. Contact: Maryann Nickerson (206) 526-4490.
EIS No. 050050, Draft EIS, COE, MD, DE, WV, NY, PA, WV, DC, TIER 1--DEIS Baltimore Harbor and Channels Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP), To Analyze Dredged Material Placement, Port of Baltimore, Chesapeake Bay, MD, PA, DE, WV, VA, DC and NY. Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005, Contact: Mark Mendelsohn (410) 962-9499.
EIS No. 050051, Draft Supplement, AFS, IL, Kudzu Eradication, Proposal to Eradicate Known Kudzu Infestations. Updated Information, Shawne National Forest, Application for Herbicide and Mechanical Treatment, Jackson, Alexander and Pope Counties, IL. Comment Period Ends Due: March 28, 2005. Contact: Tom Neal (618) 658-2111.
EIS No. 050052, Draft EIS, FHW, MI, IN, US-131 Improvement Study, from the Indiana Toll Road (1-80/90) to a Point One Mile North of Cowling Road, U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, St. Joseph County, MI and Elkhart County, IN. Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005. Contact: Abdelmoez A. Abdalla (517) 702-1820.
EIS No. 050053, Draft EIS, CGD, AL, TX, Compass Port and Deepwater Port License Application, To Construct a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Receiving, Storage and Regasification Facility. Proposed Offshore Pipeline and Fabrication Site, NPDES Permit, and U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, Mobile County, AL San Patricio and Nueces County, TX. Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005. Contact: Ken Smith (202) 267-0225. The U.S. Coast Guard and The Maritime Administration are Joint Lead Agencies for the above Project.
EIS No. 050054, Draft EIS, NOA, WA, Washington State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan, Proposed Issuance of Multiple Species Incidental Take Permit or (d) Rules, NPDES Permit, U.S. Army COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, WA. Comment Period Ends: May 12, 2005. Contact: Ms. Sally Butts (360) 753-5832.

CapRep has a report:

"The U.S. EPA has released a draft environmental impact statement for public comment that proposes a deep water ocean disposal site located offshore of Newport Beach in Orange County, California. The proposed site would supplement an ocean disposal site offshore of Los Angeles where dredgers have long disposed of dredged material from Southern California port deepening and maintenance projects."

iWon.Money has a Dow Jones report:

"The U.S. Coast Guard and Maritime Administration Wednesday said it is revising an environmental impact statement that lowers estimates for potential impacts to red drum and other marine species from liquefied natural gas deepwater facilities in the Gulf of Mexico.

The release specifically identifies a proposed Shell USA Oil and Gas liquefied natural gas deepwater port facility in the Gulf of Mexico.

Other planned Gulf of Mexico terminals that will be impacted include Freeport McMoran's Main Pass Energy Hub, also off the coast of Louisiana; ConocoPhillips Compass Port, of Dauphin Island, Ala.; and ExxonMobil's Pearl Crossing, off Cameron Parish, La., according to Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Ron Mench in Washington.

All four projects require additional information in licensing proceedings essential to their environmental impact statements, according to the Coast Guard. The agency has one year to process applications."

A three-judge panel of the Court issued its opinion in Carcieri v. Norton. The Court affirmed the district court's grant of summary judgment to Secretary Norton with respect to the trust acquisition of a parcel of land by BIA for the benefit of the Narragansett Indian Tribe.

With respect to the NEPA issues raised by Governor Carcieri and the State of Rhode Island, the Court found that BIA's EA and FONSI had satisfied the agency's responsibilities under NEPA, and that an EIS was not necessary.

The Big Bear Grizzly has a report:

"Lawyers for environmentalist Sandy Steers of Fawnskin filed papers Jan. 31 to dismiss a lawsuit against her by the developer of the Marina Point development. The suit, filed under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations statute also known as RICO, alleged that Steers engaged in a criminal conspiracy with three U.S. Forest Service employees to stop the planned 133-unit condominium project located on the North Shore of Big Bear Lake in Fawnskin.

The motion, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles asserts 'the complaint against Sandy Steers is nothing more than an attempt to harass an effective citizen activist so that she is discouraged from exercising her constitutional right to petition the government.' The petition was filed by Oakland-based First Amendment Project and the Frank G. Wells Environmental Law Clinic at the UCLA School of Law, pro bono representatives for Steers."

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Application and Applicant Prepared Environmental Assessment Tendered for Filing With the Commission, and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Relicensing and Deadline for Submission of Final Amendments. The Application and EA are for California Department of Water Resources’ Oroville Facilities, located on the Feather River in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Butte County, California.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Federal Highway Administration) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed freeway corridor improvement project in the City of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Bald Mountain Project, Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District, California.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Watdog Project, Plumas National Forest, Feather River Ranger District, California.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Browns Project, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, California.

UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact to Construct a Group-Site Campground in Diamond Fork Canyon, UT. Copies of the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact may be viewed on the Internet, here.

UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision on the Utah Lake Drainage Basin Water Delivery System, Central Utah Project. Copies of the ROD and/or FEIS may be viewed on the Internet, here.

The Herald-Sun has an AP report:

"Environmental groups told a federal judge Tuesday that the military should perform a complete environmental study on a plan to expand restricted airspace in eastern North Carolina.

Lawyers for both sides argued before U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle in the lawsuit filed against the Navy by the National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation.

Both environmental groups challenged a plan to add two blocs of airspace totaling 900 square miles to an area restricted for military flights over eastern counties for Navy and Marine pilots. The challenge had been part of a lawsuit filed by the groups and two local governments over the Outlying Landing Field, or OLF, the Navy wants to build in Washington and Beaufort counties, but was separated by the judge.

Government lawyer Stephen Bartell said during the four-hour hearing that the Navy made the correct decision not to conduct a full environmental impact statement. Bartell said the service reviewed relevant studies about effects of airplane on birds."

10 News (Providence) has a report:

"The focus of a meeting Tuesday evening at the Radisson Hotel in Warwick was on expansion plans for T.F. Green Airport.

The first step of this process, an environmental impact study, is the second go-around on a proposed runway expansion.

The first plan was scrapped more than a year ago, but this second one calls for even greater expansion.

'Tonight is not going to be a good beginning for a process that can only adversely affect the people who live in this city,' said Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian.

The Rhode Island Airport Corporation is seeking approval for a number of projects at T.F. Green Airport, including expanding the main runway by 200 feet."

The Warwick Beacon also has a report.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers) published Notice of Availability of Draft Tiered Environmental Impact Statement for the Baltimore Harbor and Channels Dredged Material Plan, MD. The Draft TEIS and related information are online here.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Migratory Bird Permits for Falconry and Raptor Propagation Activities in the United States.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Empire Vegetation Management Project in Plumas National Forest, California.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Rural Utilities Service) published Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact with respect to a request from North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation for financing assistance from RUS to finance the construction of a 336 megawatt (MW), simple-cycle combustion turbine electric generating facility in Anson County North Carolina, and a 280 MW simple-cycle combustion turbine electric generation facility in Richmond County, North Carolina.

The Rutland Herald has a report:

"An environmental group has come out against a $16 million rail spur designed to alleviate Omya's heavy truck traffic along Route 7.

Instead, Vermonters for a Clean Environment is supporting a 'no build' option as the preferred alternative, arguing that a rail spur or a truck-to-rail alternative would primarily benefit Omya Inc., a multinational calcium carbonate company.


An Environmental Impact Statement is under way to determine the best option. Those options include a three-mile rail spur from Omya's Middlebury quarry to the main rail line, truck-to-rail alternatives as well as a 'no build' option.

In her letter to the AOT, Annette Smith, VCE's executive director, said based on public input and concerns that were raised by area residents at a recent meeting in Middlebury, her group supports the 'no build' option."

Smart Growth News has this report on the Legacy Highway:

"Halted by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in November 2001, construction of the 14-mile Legacy Highway from Farmington through Davis County wetlands south to Salt Lake City is again becoming a hot policy issue, with the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) confident of their new environmental impact study, but the Sierra Club and Utahns for Better Transportation about ready to counterpose a 'smart growth alternative.'

The injunction, reports Salt Lake Tribune writer Matt Canham, cost the state $17 million in work delays before UDOT cancelled the $541 million contract and should the court find that the new environmental study warrants the highway, its price would be much higher.

Noting increased steel and concrete costs, and builder's fears of more legal obstacles, UDOT Executive Director John Njord told the state House's transportation appropriations committee he thinks the new construction bids would be around $685 million, with 'a 75 percent chance of us getting sued' again. The Sierra Club, he said, 'has made a statement with this project and I don't think they are going to back away from it.'

Such a second lawsuit would cause a two-year delay and should the state ultimately win, he noted, it would require another $75 million to build the highway. This provoked an outburst from Republican Representative David Cox, who accused the Sierra Club of 'financial terrorism.'"

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Rendezvous Phase V Project involving construction and operation of facilities by Rendezvous Gas Services, L.L.C. (Rendezvous) in Uinta and Lincoln Counties, Wyoming, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers) published Notice of Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for an Environmental Dredging Project on the Mahoning River in Ohio.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Exxonmobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc.'s Facility in Annandale, NJ.

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette has a report:

"The National Institutes of Health plans to issue a revised environmental impact statement on a proposed high-security biosafety research laboratory in Boston after an outpouring of questions from the public, federal officials said.

The Boston University lab, which would conduct research into some of the world's most dangerous germs and viruses, has come under fire from residents and environmentalists.The revision should be completed within a month.

The decision to revise the environmental impact statement was made three or four weeks ago after authorities reviewed letters and questions from the public regarding the lab, scheduled to be built in the city's South End."

The Everglades Echo has a report:

"On Monday, December 20, 2004, Friends of the Everglades joined with the Florida Keys Citizens Coalition and the Sierra Club in filing a Federal lawsuit against the US Corps of Engineers, the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for their failures to adequately evaluate a state project to widen the 18-mile stretch of U.S. 1 linking the Florida Keys to Florida City. The proposed road project, which has been on the state drawing boards for more than a decade, is estimated to cost taxpayers more than $250 million dollars.

Though the proposed state project is officially intended to reduce traffic accidents and aid in hurricane evacuation, the facts are that it will, admittedly, have no beneficial effect on hurricane evacuation and is not even close to the best alternative for strictly improving traffic safety. The proposed project will have a three-foot concrete barrier in the middle and chain-link and barbed wire fencing along most of the length - effectively destroying all scenic value through one of the most environmentally sensitive corridors in South Florida. The proposed project transects Everglades and Biscayne National Parks and terminates in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

It is always difficult to oppose projects, which are advertised to save lives. Friends of the Everglades has decided to file this lawsuit because competent science indicates that the project is likely to be less safe and have significant negative long term impacts on Florida Bay, the Marine Sanctuary, the coral reef system and the quality of life for those living in the Florida Keys. Alternatives costing much less, improving traffic safety and having significantly less environmental impact were not proposed by the state and not required or reviewed by the Federal agencies."

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Jewell Ridge Pipeline Company LLC’s Proposed Jewell Ridge Pipeline Project, involving construction and operation of facilities by the Jewell Ridge Pipeline Company, LLC (JRP) in (Tazwell, Smyth, and Russell counties, VA), and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company’s Proposed Eastern Shore Natural Gas Company's Amended 2003-2005 Expansion Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues. The facilities would consist of four new pipeline segments on ESNG's existing system in Chester County, Pennsylvania and New Castle, Kent, and Sussex Counties, Delaware.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company’s Proposed Compressor Station 325 Horsepower Replacement Project and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues. Tennessee's proposal involves the replacement of the two existing turbines at its Compressor Station 325in Sussex County, New Jersey with two new turbines.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Fish and Wildlife Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Joint Water Agency Natural Communities Conservation Plan (NCCP): Subregional Plan and Subarea Plans, San Diego, CA.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan Revision and Environmental Impact Statement for Eastern Montana, initiate public scoping and request comments on Planning Criteria.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Amendment for Genzyme Biosurgery's Facility in Ridgefield, NJ.

NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION published Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Duke Cogema Stone and Webster's Proposed Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement) published Notice of Extension of the Scoping Comment Period for the environmental impact statement for Black Mesa and Kayenta Mines, Life-of-Mine Plans and Water Supply Project, Coconino, Navajo, and Mohave Counties, AZ, and Clark County, NV.

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

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-AFS-F65047-IN Rating LO, German Ridge Restoration Project, To Restore Native Hardwood Communities, Implementation, Hoosier National Forest, Tell City Ranger District, Perry County, IN.
ERP No. D-BLM-K65274-NV Rating EC2, Las Vegas Valley Disposal Boundary Project, Disposal and Use of Public Land under the Management of (BLM), Implementation, Clark County, NV.
ERP No. D-FHW-C40164-NY Rating EC2, NY Route 17--Elmira to Chemung Project, Proposed Highway Reconstruction, New Highway Construction, Bridge Rehabilitation/Replacement, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Town and City of Elmira, Town of Ashland and Chemung, Chemung County, NY.
ERP No. D-FHW-D40325-PA Rating EC2, U.S. 219 Improvements Project, Meyersdale to Somerset, SR 6219, Section 020, Funding, U.S. COE Section 404 Permits, Somerset County, PA.
ERP No. D-FHW-F40426-OH Rating EC2, Eastern Corridor Multi-Modal (Tier 1) Project, To Implement a Multi-Modal Transportation Program between the City of Cincinnati and Eastern Suburbs in Hamilton and Clermont Counties, OH.
ERP No. D-FHW-J40167-UT Rating EC2, Brown Park Road Project, Reconstruction (Paving) and Partial Re-alignment from Red Creek to Colorado State Line, Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan Amendment (BLM), U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Daggett County, UT.
ERP No. D-NIH-D81035-MD Rating EC2, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Master Plan 2003 Update, National Institutes of Health Main Campus--Bethesda, MD, Montgomery County, MD.
ERP No. DS-BIA-A65165-00 Rating EC2, Programmatic--Navajo Nation 10-Year Forest Management Plan, New and Updated Information on Alternatives, Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau Area, AZ and NM.
ERP No. DS-FHW-E40325-NC Rating EC2, Eastern Section of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway, U.S. 52 south to I-40 Business and I-40 Business south to U.S. 311, Improvements to the Surface Transportation Network, TIP Project Nos. U-2579 and U-2579A, Forsyth County, NC.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-AFS-E65067-00 Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area, Proposes to Revise TVA's 1994 Natural Resources Management Plan, Development of a Land Management Resource Plan or Area Plan, Gold Pond, Trigg and Lyon Counties, KY and Stewart County, TN.
ERP No. F-COE-G39041-LA Programmatic EIS--Louisiana Coastal Area (LCA) Ecosystem Restoration Study, Implementation, Tentatively Selected Plan, Mississippi River, LA.
ERP No. F-DHS-D11036-MD National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) Facility at Fort Detrick, Construction and Operation, Fort Detrick, Frederick County, MD.
ERP No. F-FHW-E40795-NC U.S.-17 Interstate Corridor Improvements, south of NC-1127 (Possum Track Road) to north of NC-1418 (Roberson Road) Funding and Permit Issuance, City of Washington and Town of Chocowinity Vicinity, Beaufort and Pitt Counties, NC.
ERP No. F-FHW-F40368-WI U.S.-12 Highway Corridor Project, Improvement from 1H90/94 at Lake Delton south to Ski Hi Road, Selected Preferred Alternative, Funding and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Sauk County, WI.
ERP No. F-FHW-F40409-IN IN-25 Transportation Corridor Improvements from I-65 Interchange to U.S. 24, Funding, Right-of-Way and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit Issuance, Hoosier Heartland Highway, Tippecanoe, Carroll and Cass Counties, IN.
ERP No. F-FHW-L40206-WA WA-104/Edmonds Crossing Project, Connecting Ferries, Bus and Rail, Funding, NPDES Permit and COE Section 10 and 404 Permits, City of Edmonds, Snohomish County, WA.

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

Draft EISs
ERP No. D-FAA-E51051-FL Rating EC2, Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN), Proposed Relocation to a New Site, NPDES Permit and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Bay County, FL.
ERP No. D-FHW-H40183-00 Rating LO, Council Bluffs Interstate System Improvements Project, Transportation Improve from Missouri River on I-80 to East of the I-480 Interchange, (Tier 1), Pottawattamie County, IA and Douglas County, NB.
ERP No. D-FRC-G03023-TX Rating EC2, Cheniere Corpus Christi Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Project, To Provide Facilities for the Importation, Storage and Vaporization of Liquefied Natural Gas, Nueces and San Patricio Counties, TX.
ERP No. D-NIH-G84000-TX Rating LO, Galveston National Laboratory for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases Research Facility at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Construction, Partial Funding, Grant, Galveston, TX.
ERP No. D-STB-G53010-TX Rating EC2, Southwest Gulf Railroad Project, Construction and Operation Exemption, To Transport Limestone from Vulcan Construction Materials (VCM) Quarry to Del Rio Subdivision, Medina County, TX.

Final EISs
ERP No. F-BIA-L02031-OR Wanapa Energy Center, Construction and Operation a New 1,200 Megawatt (MW) Natural Gas-Fired Electric Power Generating Facility, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR), in the City of Hermiston and the Port of Umatilla, OR.
ERP No. F-FHW-D40093-PA City of Lebanon Bridge Over Norfolk Southern Railroad Tracks Construction Project, 12th Street to Lincoln Avenue, Funding, Lebanon County, PA.
ERP No. F-FHW-F40408-00 Trunk Highway 60 Reconstruction Project, Improvements from 1.8 miles south of the Minnesota-Iowa Border (120th Street) to I-90 north of the City of Worthington, Funding, U.S. Army COE Section 404 and NPDES Permits Issuance, Nobles County, MN and Osceola County, IA.
ERP No. F-FRC-G03022-LA Sabine Pass Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Pipeline Project, Construction and Operation LNG Import Terminal and Natural Gas Pipeline Facilities, Several Permits, Cameron Parish, LA.
ERP No. F-FTA-D54041-VA Dulles Corridor Rapid Transit Project, High-Quality and High-Capacity Transit Service in the Dulles Corridor, West Falls Church Metrorail Station in Fairfax County to the Vicinity of Route 772 in Loudoun County, VA.
ERP No. F-IBR-K39088-CA Sacramento River Settlement Contractors (SRSC), To Renew the Settlement Contractors Long-Term Contract Renewal for 145 Contractors, Central Valley Project (CVP), Sacramento River, Shasta, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, Yolo, Sacramento, Portion of Placer and Solano Counties, CA.
ERP No. F-USA-J11020-UT Activities Associated with Future Programs at U.S. Army Dugway Proving Ground, Implementation, Tooele and Jaub Counties, UT.
ERP No. FB-FTA-L40205-00 South Corridor Project, I-205/Portland Mall Light Rail (Phase I), Selected the Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA), Clackamas and Multnomah Counties, OR.
ERP No. FS-GSA-G80000-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.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY published Notice of Receipt of Environmental Impact Statements filed January 24, 2005 through January 28, 2005.

EIS No. 050029, Final Supplement, FHW, FL, FL-23 Extension (Branan Field-Chaffe Road), Construction from FL-134 (103rd Street) to FL-8 (I-10) and FL-10 (US-90/Beaver Street), NPDES and US Army COE Section 404 Permits Issuance, Clay and Duval Counties, FL, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: Donald E. Davis (404) 562-9521.
EIS No. 050030, Draft EIS, NPS, CA, Non-Native Deer Management Plan of Axis Deer (Axis axis) and Fallow Deer (Dama dama), Implementation, Point Reyes National Seashore (PRNS) and Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Marin County, CA, Comment Period Ends: April 05, 2005, Contact: Natalie Gates (415) 464-5189.
EIS No. 050031, Final EIS, USA, TX, Fort Bliss, Texas Proposed Leasing of Lands, Proposed Siting, Construction and Operation, by the City of El Paso of a Brackish Water Desalination Plant and Support Facilities, El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU), City of El Pasco, TX and New Mexico, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: John Barrera (915) 568-3908.
EIS No. 050032, Draft EIS, AFS, WV, Fernow Experimental Forest, To Continue Long-Term Research and Initiate New Research, Involving Removal of Trees, Prescribed Burning, Stem Injection of Selected of Trees, Control Invasive Plant Species, Northeastern Research Station, Parson, Tucker County, WV, Comment Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Mary Beth Adams (304) 478-2000 Ext 130.
EIS No. 050033, Draft EIS, IBR, NV, Humboldt Project Conveyance, Transferring 83,530 Acres from Federal Ownership to the Pershing County Water Conservation District (PCWCD), Pershing and Lander Counties, NV, Comment Period Ends: April 01, 2005, Contact: Caryn Huntt DeCarlo (775) 884-8352.
EIS No. 050034, Final EIS, NSF, Development and Implementation of Surface Traverse Capabilities in Antarctic Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation, Antarctica, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: Polly A. Pinhole (703) 292-8033.
EIS No. 050035, Final EIS, AFS, WY, Upper Green River Area Rangeland Project, Propose Site Specific Grazing Management Practices, Bridger-Teton Forest, Sublette, Teton and Fremont Counties, WY, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: Craig Trulock (307) 367-4326.
EIS No. 050036, Draft EIS, AFS, CA, Burlington Ridge Trails Project, To Eliminate, Reconstruct/or Reroute Unsound Trail Sections, Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River Ranger District, Camptonville, Nevada County, NV, Comment Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Mary Furney (053) 478-6263.
EIS No. 050037, Draft EIS, AFS, MO, Mark Twain National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, Implementation, Revise to the 1986 Land and Resource Management Plan, several counties, MO, Comment Period Ends: May 5, 2005, Contact: Laura Watts (573) 341-7471.
EIS No. 050038, Draft EIS, BLM, NM, McGregor Range Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA), Implementation, Otero County, NM, Comment Period Ends: May 5, 2005, Contact: Tom Phillips (505) 525-4377.
EIS No. 050039, Draft EIS, AFS, NM, Tajique Watershed Restoration Project, Proposes Fuel Reduction and Restore Forest Health, Cibola National Forest, Torraine County, NM, Comment Period Ends: March 21, 2005, Contact: Vicky Estrada (505) 847-2990.
EIS No. 050040, Final Supplement, AFS, UT, 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, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: Roger Kesterson (307) 782-6555.
EIS No. 050041, Final Supplement, BIA, AZ, NM, Programmatic EIS--Navajo Nation 10-Year Forest Management Plan, Selected Preferred Alternative Four, Chuska Mountain and Defiance Plateau Area, AZ and NM, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: Jonathan Martin (928) 729-7228.
EIS No. 050042, Final EIS, AFS, WY, Tongue Allotment Management Plan, Proposal to Continue Livestock Grazing on All or Portions of the 22 Allotment, Bighorn National Forest, Tongue and Medicine Wheel/Paintrock Ranger Districts, Johnson, Sheridan and Bighorn Counties, WY, Wait Period Ends: March 7, 2005, Contact: Craig L. Yancey (307) 674-2600.
EIS No. 050043, Draft Supplemental EIS, FHW, UT, US 6 Highway Project, Improvements from Interstate 15 (I-15) in Spanish Fork to Interstate (I-70) near Green River, New Information, Funding, Right-of-Way Permit and U.S. Army COE Section 404 Permit, Utah, Wasatch, Carbon, Emery Counties, UT, Comment Period Ends: March 28, 2005, Contact: Jeff Berna (801) 963-0182.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Air Force) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Housing Privatization Phase II at Hickam Air Force Base and Bellows Air Force Station, O'ahu, HI (Including Privatization of Housing in Historic Districts Eligible for Inclusion on the National Historic Register of Historic Places).

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) published Notice of Reopening of Comment Period and Notice of Availability of Petition and Environmental Assessment for Determination of Nonregulated Status for Monsanto Co. and Forage Genetics International’s Alfalfa 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 highway improvement project in southern New Castle County, Delaware.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Emerald Creek Garnet Area, Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Benewah and Latah Counties, ID.
SUMMARY: The St. Joe Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National forests is beginning analysis and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement to address recreational gemstone digging of the garnet resource in the Emerald Creek drainage.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Forest Service) published Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for actions in Warren County, PA.
SUMMARY: The Forest Service, Allegheny National Forest, Bradford Ranger District, will prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement to disclose the environmental consequences of the proposed West Branch of Tionesta Project. The Forest Service is proposing actions that would move the West Branch of Tionesta Project Area from the existing condition towards the Desired Future Condition (DFC) and would maintain the DFC in situations where it has been attained. The DFC is described in the Allegheny National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan).

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Department of the Army; Corps of Engineers) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Wharf Improvements and Fill at Apra Harbor, GU.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment that will discuss the environmental impacts of the Cameron LNG Berthing Amendment involving construction and operation of facilities by Cameron LNG, LLC in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues.

The Clovis News-Journal had a report Friday (1/28), and another on Saturday.

The Roswell Daily Record had a report on Tuesday (1/25).

The Albuquerque Journal had reports on Tuesday and Wednesday (1/26), which do not appear to be available online.

The San Francisco Chronicle has a report on the biographer of Judi Bari, Earth First! eco-terrorist and Darwin Award candidate.

The Daily Herald has an AP report:

"Two Utah environmental groups are suing the Ashley National Forest to stop a massive timber sale that they say will remove valuable old growth forest in the Uinta Mountains.

The Utah Environmental Congress and the High Uintas Preservation Council filed a lawsuit last week in federal court to stop the Trout Slope West timber sale -- a 9. 2-million-board-foot sale big enough to fill about 8,500 log trucks.

The sale is scheduled to take place in August."

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Bureau of Land Management) published Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, To Initiate Scoping, Provide Notice of a Public Meeting, and To Solicit Comments on Fair Market Value and Maximum Economic Recovery for a Federal Coal Lease Application Received From Cordero Mining Company for a Coal Tract in the Decertified Powder River Federal Coal Production Region, WY.