Environmental Protection Agency August 5, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA has environmental concerns about the proposed project is air quality impacts. EPA is also concerned about the potential for similar transportation projects in the project vicinity, and requests a broader environmental justice analysis. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20050126, ERP No. D-COE-K36142-CA, ProgrammaticSan Luis Obispo Creek Watershed, Waterway Management Plan, Stream Maintenance and Management Plan, City of San Luis Obispo and County of San Luis Obispo, Community of Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo County, CA. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about the project's potential impacts to water quality, endangered species and habitat, and possible presence of asbestos. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20050173, ERP No. D-NRC-E06024-MS, Grand Gulf Early Site Permit (ESP) Site, Construction and Operation, Issuance of an Early Site Permit (ESP), NUREG-1817, Claiborne County, MS. Summary: EPA expressed concerns about wetlands and aquifer impacts, environmental justice, and public health and requested clarification of the regulatory limits for offsite releases of radio nuclides for the current candidate repository site. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20050195, ERP No. D-BLM-K39093-NV, North Valleys Right-of- Way Projects, Proposed Construction and Operation of Water Transmission Pipelines, Washoe County, NV. Summary: EPA expressed concerns about cumulative and indirect impacts of the project on water, air, and biological resources. EPA recommended the FEIS address the potential impacts of exporting as much as 13,000 acre-feet/year from Fish Springs Ranch, the indirect impacts of growth in the water service area, and mitigation measures to minimize impacts. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20050200, ERP No. D-AFS-K65284-CA, Creeks Forest Health Recovery Project, To Develop a Network of Defensible Fuel Profile Zones (DFPZs), Group-Selection Timber Harvest, Individual Tree Selection, Lassen National Forest, Almanor Ranger District, Plumas County, CA. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about water and air quality impacts, environmental justice impacts, and consultation with tribal governments. Rating EC2. EIS No. 20050231, ERP No. D-AFS-J65444-MT, Gallatin National Forest, Proposed Travel Management Plan, Implementation, Forest Land and Resource Management, Madison, Gallatin, Park, Meagher, Sweetgrass and Carbon Counties, MT. Summary: EPA expressed environmental concerns about potential impacts to water quality, aquatic habitat and fisheries, and wildlife from road erosion and motorized use, and suggested that the preferred alternative consider further reducing sedimentation from roads, close or restore poorly maintained roads and restrict new road construction. Rating EC2.

Today's final rule adds mercury-containing equipment to the federal list of universal wastes regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) hazardous waste regulations. Handlers of universal wastes are subject to less stringent standards for storing, transporting, and collecting these wastes. EPA has concluded that regulating spent mercury-containing equipment as a universal waste will lead to better management of this equipment and will facilitate compliance with hazardous waste requirements.