Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility, Cordova, AL, 76066-76067 [E5-7662]

Download as PDF cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES 76066 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 245 / Thursday, December 22, 2005 / Notices peninsular Florida and is restricted to xeric uplands (well-drained, sandy soil habitats supporting a growth of oakdominated scrub). Increasing urban and agricultural development has resulted in habitat loss and fragmentation which has adversely affected the distribution and numbers of scrub-jays. The total estimated population is between 7,000 and 11,000 individuals. The decline in the number and distribution of scrub-jays in east-central Florida has been exacerbated by agricultural land conversions and urban growth in the past 50 years. Much of the historic commercial and residential development has occurred on the dry soils that previously supported scrubjay habitat. Based on existing soils data, much of the historic and current scrubjay habitat of coastal east-central Florida occurs proximal to the current shoreline and larger river basins. Much of this area of Florida was settled early because few wetlands restricted urban and agricultural development. Due to the effects of urban and agricultural development over the past 100 years, much of the remaining scrub-jay habitat is now relatively small and isolated. What remains is largely degraded, due to interruption of natural fire regime that is needed to maintain xeric uplands in conditions suitable for scrub-jays. From 2000 through 2002, one family of scrub-jays was found using 7.22 acres within the project site. Scrub-jays using the project site are part of a larger complex of scrub-jays located in a matrix of urban and natural settings in areas of central and south Brevard County. Scrub-jays in urban areas are particularly vulnerable and typically do not successfully produce young that survive to adulthood. Persistent urban growth in this area will likely further reduce the amount of suitable habitat for scrub-jays. Increasing urban pressures are also likely to result in the continued degradation of scrub-jay habitat, as the lack of naturally occurring fires slowly results in vegetative overgrowth. Thus, over the long-term, scrub-jays are unlikely to persist in urban settings, and conservation efforts for this species should target acquisition and management of large parcels of land outside the direct influence of urbanization. The retention of small patches of habitat similar to the onsite mitigation proposed by the Applicant, however, could provide benefits to scrub-jays by creating ‘‘stepping stones’’ used by scrub-jays dispersing between larger parcels of conservation lands in Brevard County. Construction of the project’s infrastructure and facilities would result in harm to scrub-jays, incidental to the VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:55 Dec 21, 2005 Jkt 208001 carrying out of these otherwise lawful activities. Specifically, habitat alteration associated with the proposed residential and commercial construction and associated infrastructure would reduce the availability of foraging, sheltering, and possible nesting habitat for one family of scrub-jays. The Applicant proposes to minimize impacts to scrub-jays by reducing the project’s footprint and avoiding active nest sites during the breeding season. The Applicant proposes to mitigate the take of scrub-jays by removing 5.65 acres of occupied scrub-jay habitat from the project’s development footprint. In addition, the Applicant proposes to set aside and manage an additional 0.77 acres of unoccupied, but restorable onsite habitat as a buffer to the adjacent occupied habitat. Fee title to the entire onsite mitigation area would be transferred to Brevard County, and its Environmentally Endangered Lands Program would subsequently assume management responsibilities for the mitigation property. The Applicant proposes to establish an escrow account in the amount of $7,704 to pay for the costs of initial land restoration and management activities that would be undertaken prior to fee title transfer to Brevard County. The Service has made a preliminary determination that the issuance of the ITP is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act. This preliminary information may be revised due to public comment received in response to this notice and is based on information contained in the EA and HCP. The Service will evaluate the HCP and comments submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act. If it is determined that those requirements are met, the ITP would be issued for the incidental take of the Florida scrub-jay. The Service will also evaluate whether issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP complies with section 7 of the Act by conducting an intraService section 7 consultation. The results of this consultation, in combination with the above findings, will be used in the final analysis to determine whether or not to issue the ITP. Dated: December 1, 2005. Cynthia K. Dohner, Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. E5–7664 Filed 12–21–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility, Cordova, AL Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a proposed oil spill response facility at Shepard Point, near Cordova, Alaska, and that the DEIS is now available for public review. The purpose of the proposed project is to provide a deepwater staging facility for the rapid deployment of equipment to the site of an oil spill. This notice also announces a hearing for the public to provide comments on the DEIS. DATES: Written comments on the DEIS must arrive by February 6, 2006. Public hearings will be held on the following dates and times: 1. January 11, 2006, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Anchorage, Alaska. 2. January 12, 2006, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cordova, Alaska. ADDRESSES: You may mail written comments to Kristin K’eit, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Regional Office, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resource Management, P.O. Box 25520, Juneau, Alaska 99802–5520. You may also fax your comments to (907) 586– 7044, or submit them electronically at the project Web site, https:// www.cordovarf@urscorp.com. Note: BIA cannot receive electronic comments directly via e-mail at this time. Please include your name, return address, and the caption, ‘‘DEIS Comments, Proposed Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility, Cordova, Alaska,’’ on the first page of your written comments. To obtain a copy of the DEIS, please contact Kristen K’eit by mail at the above mailing address or by telephone at the number provided below. Copies of the DEIS are available for public review at the above mailing address. Copies of the DEIS have also been sent to agencies and individuals who participated in the scoping process and to all others who have previously requested copies of the document. The locations of the public hearings are as follows: 1. Anchorage—Alaska Pacific University, Carr Gottstein Building, 4101 University Drive, Room 102, Anchorage, Alaska. E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 245 / Thursday, December 22, 2005 / Notices 2. Cordova—Mt. Eccles Elementary School, 201 Adams Street, Cordova, Alaska. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin K’eit, (907) 586–7423. On behalf of the Native Village of Eyak, in accordance with the Agreement and Consent Decree in the Exxon Valdez Case (Case No. A89–095 CI [consolidated] and Case No. A92–175 CI [Ex. A]) and as mandated by the State of Alaska in the 1993, Alyeska settlement (HB 165), the BIA proposes to design and build a deep-water port and oil spill response facility at Shepard Point near Cordova, Alaska. The BIA’s preferred alternative is Alternative 4, a new oil spill response facility at Shepard Point near Cordova, Alaska. The proposed facility would consist of (1) a dedicated deepwater port, (2) additional staging and storage area; and (3) an access road to the Cordova road system. The facility would allow all-tide transfer of out-of-region supplies such as boom, skimmer, sorbents, anchors, tools, and personal protective equipment from the allweather airport at Cordova to a wider variety of response vessels than can currently use Cordova’s port. The NEPA document is required due to the potential effects of the project. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Comment Availability Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the mailing address shown in the ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. cchase on PROD1PC60 with NOTICES Authority This notice is published in accordance with section 1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the National VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:55 Dec 21, 2005 Jkt 208001 Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and the Department of Interior Manual (516 DM 1–6), and is in the exercise of authority delegated to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8. Dated: December 16, 2005. Michael D. Olsen, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. E5–7662 Filed 12–21–05; 8:45 am] 76067 Dated: December 7, 2005. Michael D. Olsen, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary— Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. E5–7698 Filed 12–21–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–02–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [OR–050–1020–MJ; HAG 06–0043] BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P Notice of Public Meetings—John Day/ Snake Resource Advisory Council DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Prineville District. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) John Day Snake Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will meet as indicated below: The John Day/Snake Resource Advisory Council is scheduled to meet on February 7, 2006, at the Oxford Suites, 2400 SW., Court Place in Pendleton, OR 97801. The meeting time will be from approximately 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A public comment will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 1:15 p.m. (Pacific Time). The meeting may include such topics as OHV, Noxious Weeds, Planning, Sage Grouse, and other matters as may reasonably come before the council. Potential updates specific to this scheduled meeting include salmon recovery, BLM Vegetation Management Environmental Impact Statement the John Day Snake Resource Management Plan. Meeting Procedures: The meeting is open to the public. The public may present written comments to the Council. Depending on the number of persons wishing to provide oral comments and agenda topics to be covered, the time to do so may be limited. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance such as sign language interpretation, tour transportation or other reasonable accommodations, should contact the BLM representative indicated below. For a copy of the information to be distributed to the Council members, please submit a written request to the Prineville District Office 10 days prior to the meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Additional information concerning the John Day/Snake Resource Advisory Council may be obtained from Virginia Gibbons, Public Affairs Specialist, Prineville District Office, 3050 NE., Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Gaming Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Class III Gaming Compact taking effect. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Notice is given that the Tribal-State compact between the Wyandotte Nation and the State of Oklahoma is considered to have been approved and is in effect. DATES: Effective Date: December 22, 2005. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George T. Skibine, Director, Office of Indian Gaming Management, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary-Policy and Economic Development, Washington, DC 20240, (202) 219–4066. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Section 11 (d)(7)(D) of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA), Public Law 100–497, 25 U.S.C. 2710, the Secretary of the Interior must publish in the Federal Register notice of any Tribal-State compacts that are approved, or considered to have been approved for the purpose of engaging in class III gaming activities on Indian lands. The Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, through his delegated authority did not approve or disapprove this compact before the date that is 45 days after the date this compact was submitted. This compact authorizes this Indian tribe to engage in certain class III gaming activities, provides for certain geographical exclusivity, limits the number of gaming machines at existing racetracks, and prohibits non-tribal operation of certain machines and covered games. Therefore, pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 2710(d)(7)(C), this compact is considered to have been approved, but only to the extent it is consistent with IGRA. PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\22DEN1.SGM 22DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 245 (Thursday, December 22, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76066-76067]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7662]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs


Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Cordova Oil 
Spill Response Facility, Cordova, AL

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) intends to file a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(DEIS) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a proposed oil 
spill response facility at Shepard Point, near Cordova, Alaska, and 
that the DEIS is now available for public review. The purpose of the 
proposed project is to provide a deepwater staging facility for the 
rapid deployment of equipment to the site of an oil spill. This notice 
also announces a hearing for the public to provide comments on the 
DEIS.

DATES: Written comments on the DEIS must arrive by February 6, 2006.
    Public hearings will be held on the following dates and times:
    1. January 11, 2006, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Anchorage, Alaska.
    2. January 12, 2006, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Cordova, Alaska.

ADDRESSES: You may mail written comments to Kristin K'eit, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Alaska Regional Office, Division of Environmental and 
Cultural Resource Management, P.O. Box 25520, Juneau, Alaska 99802-
5520. You may also fax your comments to (907) 586-7044, or submit them 
electronically at the project Web site, https://
www.cordovarf@urscorp.com">www.cordovarf@urscorp.com.


    Note: BIA cannot receive electronic comments directly via e-mail 
at this time.


Please include your name, return address, and the caption, ``DEIS 
Comments, Proposed Cordova Oil Spill Response Facility, Cordova, 
Alaska,'' on the first page of your written comments. To obtain a copy 
of the DEIS, please contact Kristen K'eit by mail at the above mailing 
address or by telephone at the number provided below. Copies of the 
DEIS are available for public review at the above mailing address. 
Copies of the DEIS have also been sent to agencies and individuals who 
participated in the scoping process and to all others who have 
previously requested copies of the document.
    The locations of the public hearings are as follows:
    1. Anchorage--Alaska Pacific University, Carr Gottstein Building, 
4101 University Drive, Room 102, Anchorage, Alaska.

[[Page 76067]]

    2. Cordova--Mt. Eccles Elementary School, 201 Adams Street, 
Cordova, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin K'eit, (907) 586-7423.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On behalf of the Native Village of Eyak, in 
accordance with the Agreement and Consent Decree in the Exxon Valdez 
Case (Case No. A89-095 CI [consolidated] and Case No. A92-175 CI [Ex. 
A]) and as mandated by the State of Alaska in the 1993, Alyeska 
settlement (HB 165), the BIA proposes to design and build a deep-water 
port and oil spill response facility at Shepard Point near Cordova, 
Alaska.
    The BIA's preferred alternative is Alternative 4, a new oil spill 
response facility at Shepard Point near Cordova, Alaska. The proposed 
facility would consist of (1) a dedicated deepwater port, (2) 
additional staging and storage area; and (3) an access road to the 
Cordova road system. The facility would allow all-tide transfer of out-
of-region supplies such as boom, skimmer, sorbents, anchors, tools, and 
personal protective equipment from the all-weather airport at Cordova 
to a wider variety of response vessels than can currently use Cordova's 
port. The NEPA document is required due to the potential effects of the 
project.

Public Comment Availability

    Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be 
available for public review at the mailing address shown in the 
ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. If you wish us to withhold your name and/or 
address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. We will not, however, consider anonymous comments. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

Authority

    This notice is published in accordance with section 1503.1 of the 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
and the Department of Interior Manual (516 DM 1-6), and is in the 
exercise of authority delegated to the Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary--Indian Affairs by 209 DM 8.

    Dated: December 16, 2005.
Michael D. Olsen,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
 [FR Doc. E5-7662 Filed 12-21-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P

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