Cullinan Ranch Unit Restoration Project, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Solano County, CA, 23741-23742 [E9-11778]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 20, 2009 / Notices V. Definitions (A) Species includes any species or subspecies of fish, wildlife, or plant, and any distinct population segment of any species of vertebrate, which interbreeds when mature; (B) Endangered means any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; and (C) Threatened means any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. VI. Authority We release our final recovery plan under section 4(f) of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1533(f). We publish this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Dated: March 30, 2009. Gary Edwards, Acting Regional Director, Region 7, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. E9–11700 Filed 5–19–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P waterbirds, and fish, as well as public access features to increase accessibility to wildlife resource values in the San Pablo Bay, while minimizing projectinduced flood impacts to Highway 37. ADDRESSES: The abbreviated final EIS/ EIR is available at the following locations: • Refuge Headquarters Office, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 2100 Highway 37, Petaluma, CA 94954; (707) 769–4200 (telephone). • San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 9500 Thornton Avenue, Newark, CA 94560; (510) 792–0222 (telephone). • John F. Kennedy Public Library, 505 Santa Clara, Vallejo, CA 94590. • Internet: https://www.fws.gov/cno/ refuges/cullinan/index.cfm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christy Smith, Refuge Manager, San Pablo Bay NWR, (707) 769–4200 (phone), christy_smith@fws.gov (e-mail); or Louis Terrazas, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, San Pablo Bay NWR, (707) 769–4200 (phone), louis_terrazas@fws.gov (e-mail). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Location DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–R–2009–N0063;1261–0000– 80230–W2] Cullinan Ranch Unit Restoration Project, San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Solano County, CA AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; abbreviated final environmental impact statement and environmental impact report. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) announce that the abbreviated final environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the Cullinan Ranch Restoration Project is now available. The abbreviated final EIS/EIR, which we prepared and now announce in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), describes the restoration plan for 1,500 acres (ac) of former hayfield farmland in the San Pablo Bay. The abbreviated final EIS/EIR responds to all comments we received on the draft document. This restoration project would combine tidal salt marsh habitat for endangered species, waterfowl, VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:27 May 19, 2009 Jkt 217001 Located within the existing Refuge boundary, the Cullinan Ranch Unit is bordered by the South Slough and Dutchman Slough to the north and State Route 37 to the south. California Department of Fish and Game Pond 1 borders Cullinan Ranch to the west. Guadalcanal Village Wetlands (Guadalcanal), which is owned by the State of California and is currently being restored to tidal marsh, borders Cullinan Ranch to the east. Background The Cullinan Ranch restoration project would restore approximately 1,500 acres of diked baylands to historic tidal conditions by reintroducing tidal flow into the project area. This area, Cullinan Ranch, is located in an area of the Napa River Delta that was historically defined by a network of meandering sloughs and extensive estuarine tidal marshes. Reintroduction of tidal flow will restore vital salt marsh habitat for endangered species, including the salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) and the California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus), as well as provide foraging and roosting habitat for fish, migratory waterfowl and waterbirds. The proposed restoration is based on the concept that reintroduction of tidal waters will naturally develop saltwater marsh habitat conditions. The existing PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 23741 perimeter levee currently prevents tidal flows into the area, and, as a result, the land has subsided several feet in elevation and becomes inundated with fresh water during the rainy season. Once restored, twice-daily tidal flows would carry and deposit sediment, eventually establishing marsh plain elevations sufficient to support tidal marsh vegetation. As tidal waters enter and exit the site, tidal channels would develop or re-establish from previous channels. Continued tidal action would maintain an active exchange of water, sediment, and nutrients between the marsh habitat and the bay, further enhancing the value of the habitat for plants and wildlife. In keeping with one of the purposes of the Refuge, ‘‘to conserve fish, wildlife, or plants which are listed as endangered species or threatened species,’’ the Cullinan Ranch restoration project would restore historic salt marsh habitat for the benefit of threatened and endangered species as well as many other estuarine-dependent species. Because some of the proposed project area includes State lands, we prepared the DEIS/EIR to satisfy the requirements of both NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Department of Fish and Game is the CEQA lead agency for this project. Public Review The formal public comment period for the draft EIS/EIR opened on May 2, 2008, and closed on June 17, 2008, although we received several comments during the 2 months following the comment period close. We announced the availability of the draft document by several methods, including press releases and public notice, including a notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 24302, May 2, 2008). The draft EIS/EIR identified and evaluated three alternatives for restoration. We received seven comment letters on the draft EIS/ EIR. No comments received from interested individuals, groups, or agencies required us or CDFG to add new alternatives, significantly alter existing alternatives, or make changes to the impact analysis of the effect of any alternative. Thus, we were able to use an abbreviated format to fully document all our responses to comments in our final EIS/EIR, in compliance with the Council on Environmental Quality implementing regulations (40 CFR 1503.4 [c]) for NEPA. Alternatives We Considered No-Action Alternative Under the No-Action Alternative, the lead agencies would take no action to E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM 20MYN1 23742 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 20, 2009 / Notices restore tidal influence to the site; however, continued maintenance of the Dutchman and South Slough levees would occur. Under this alternative, because the lead agencies would be required to maintain the northern levee along Dutchman Slough in perpetuity, maintenance activities would likely increase as the levees age and as scour increases in response to activities undertaken by the Napa Sonoma Restoration Project. Under the NoAction Alternative, the components of the Proposed Action would not be implemented. Preferred Restoration Alternative The Preferred Restoration Alternative would restore the entire 1,500-ac Cullinan Ranch Site with implementation of the following project components: • Component 1: Construct boardwalk to provide access to existing electrical towers. • Component 2: If needed, drainage ditches would be blocked to promote redevelopment of natural sloughs. • Component 3: Improve the DFG Pond 1 levee and install water control structures. • Component 4: Protect Highway 37 from project-induced flooding and erosion, through levee construction. • Component 5: Construct public access areas. • Component 6: Breach the levees along Dutchman and South Sloughs and Guadalcanal Village. • Component 7: Implement long-term monitoring. Partial Restoration Alternative The Partial Restoration Alternative would restore 300 ac of the Cullinan Ranch Site. The Partial Restoration Alternative was developed in order to limit potential impacts to the hydrology of Dutchman Slough. While it would meet the purpose and need of the project, a smaller overall area within Cullinan Ranch would be restored, and connectivity with other adjacent restoration projects would be limited. The Partial Restoration Alternative would include implementation of the following project components: • Component 1: If needed, drainage ditches would be blocked to promote redevelopment of natural Sloughs. • Component 2: Construct internal levee. • Component 3: Protect Highway 37 from project-induced flooding and erosion, through levee construction. • Component 4: Breach the levee along Dutchman Slough. • Component 5: Long-term monitoring. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:27 May 19, 2009 Jkt 217001 The final EIS/EIR contains our responses to all comments received on the draft document. Following the release of the abbreviated final EIS/EIR, we will prepare a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency has published its notice of filing of the document in the Federal Register. We anticipate that we will issue a Record of Decision in the summer of 2009. We provide this notice under regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: May 13, 2009. Stephen M. Dyer, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. E9–11778 Filed 5–19–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Reclamation, public access issues, travel management implementation, Economic Stimulus Package Project Updates, and a review of Forest Service fee proposals. All meetings are open to the public. The public may present written comments to the Council. Each formal Council meeting will also have time allocated for hearing public comments. Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and time available, the time for individual oral comments may be limited. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation, or other reasonable accommodations, should contact the BLM as provided below. Richard M. Hotaling, Field Manager. [FR Doc. E9–11708 Filed 5–19–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [LLMTB07900 09 L10100000.PH0000 LXAMANMS0000] National Park Service Notice of Public Meeting, Western Montana Resource Advisory Council Meeting National Register of Historic Places; Notification of Pending Nominations and Related Actions AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. Nominations for the following properties being considered for listing or related actions in the National Register were received by the National Park Service before May 2, 2009. Pursuant to § 60.13 of 36 CFR part 60 written comments concerning the significance of these properties under the National Register criteria for evaluation may be forwarded by United States Postal Service, to the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1849 C St., NW., 2280, Washington, DC 20240; by all other carriers, National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service, 1201 Eye St., NW., 8th floor, Washington, DC 20005; or by fax, 202–371–6447. Written or faxed comments should be submitted by June 4, 2009. 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), the Western Montana Resource Advisory Council will meet as indicated below. DATES: The Western Montana RAC will meet June 18, 2009 at 9 a.m. The public comment period for the meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the meeting is expected to adjourn at approximately 3 p.m. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Butte Field Office, 106 N. Parkmont, Butte, Montana. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Abrams, Western Montana Resource Advisory Council Coordinator, Butte Field Office, 106 North Parkmont, Butte, Montana 59701, telephone 406– 533–7617. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in western Montana. At the June 18 meeting, topics we plan to discuss include: Abandoned Mines PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 J. Paul Loether, Chief, National Register of Historic Places/ National Historic Landmarks Program. CALIFORNIA El Dorado County Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Colony Farm, 941 Cold Springs Rd., Gold Hill, 09000397 Los Angeles County 27th Street Historic District, (African Americans in Los Angeles) Along 27th St., Los Angeles, 09000399 52nd Place Historic District, (African Americans in Los Angeles) Along E. 52nd Pl., Los Angeles, 09000398 E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM 20MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 20, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23741-23742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11778]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2009-N0063;1261-0000-80230-W2]


Cullinan Ranch Unit Restoration Project, San Pablo Bay National 
Wildlife Refuge, Solano County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; abbreviated final environmental impact 
statement and environmental impact report.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the 
California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) announce that the 
abbreviated final environmental impact statement/environmental impact 
report (EIS/EIR) for the Cullinan Ranch Restoration Project is now 
available. The abbreviated final EIS/EIR, which we prepared and now 
announce in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), describes the restoration plan for 1,500 acres (ac) of 
former hayfield farmland in the San Pablo Bay. The abbreviated final 
EIS/EIR responds to all comments we received on the draft document. 
This restoration project would combine tidal salt marsh habitat for 
endangered species, waterfowl, waterbirds, and fish, as well as public 
access features to increase accessibility to wildlife resource values 
in the San Pablo Bay, while minimizing project-induced flood impacts to 
Highway 37.

ADDRESSES: The abbreviated final EIS/EIR is available at the following 
locations:
     Refuge Headquarters Office, San Pablo Bay National 
Wildlife Refuge, 2100 Highway 37, Petaluma, CA 94954; (707) 769-4200 
(telephone).
     San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 9500 
Thornton Avenue, Newark, CA 94560; (510) 792-0222 (telephone).
     John F. Kennedy Public Library, 505 Santa Clara, Vallejo, 
CA 94590.
     Internet: https://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/cullinan/index.cfm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christy Smith, Refuge Manager, San 
Pablo Bay NWR, (707) 769-4200 (phone), christy_smith@fws.gov (e-mail); 
or Louis Terrazas, Wildlife Refuge Specialist, San Pablo Bay NWR, (707) 
769-4200 (phone), louis_terrazas@fws.gov (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Location

    Located within the existing Refuge boundary, the Cullinan Ranch 
Unit is bordered by the South Slough and Dutchman Slough to the north 
and State Route 37 to the south. California Department of Fish and Game 
Pond 1 borders Cullinan Ranch to the west. Guadalcanal Village Wetlands 
(Guadalcanal), which is owned by the State of California and is 
currently being restored to tidal marsh, borders Cullinan Ranch to the 
east.

Background

    The Cullinan Ranch restoration project would restore approximately 
1,500 acres of diked baylands to historic tidal conditions by 
reintroducing tidal flow into the project area. This area, Cullinan 
Ranch, is located in an area of the Napa River Delta that was 
historically defined by a network of meandering sloughs and extensive 
estuarine tidal marshes. Reintroduction of tidal flow will restore 
vital salt marsh habitat for endangered species, including the salt 
marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) and the California 
clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus), as well as provide 
foraging and roosting habitat for fish, migratory waterfowl and 
waterbirds.
    The proposed restoration is based on the concept that 
reintroduction of tidal waters will naturally develop saltwater marsh 
habitat conditions. The existing perimeter levee currently prevents 
tidal flows into the area, and, as a result, the land has subsided 
several feet in elevation and becomes inundated with fresh water during 
the rainy season. Once restored, twice-daily tidal flows would carry 
and deposit sediment, eventually establishing marsh plain elevations 
sufficient to support tidal marsh vegetation. As tidal waters enter and 
exit the site, tidal channels would develop or re-establish from 
previous channels. Continued tidal action would maintain an active 
exchange of water, sediment, and nutrients between the marsh habitat 
and the bay, further enhancing the value of the habitat for plants and 
wildlife.
    In keeping with one of the purposes of the Refuge, ``to conserve 
fish, wildlife, or plants which are listed as endangered species or 
threatened species,'' the Cullinan Ranch restoration project would 
restore historic salt marsh habitat for the benefit of threatened and 
endangered species as well as many other estuarine-dependent species.
    Because some of the proposed project area includes State lands, we 
prepared the DEIS/EIR to satisfy the requirements of both NEPA and the 
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Department 
of Fish and Game is the CEQA lead agency for this project.

Public Review

    The formal public comment period for the draft EIS/EIR opened on 
May 2, 2008, and closed on June 17, 2008, although we received several 
comments during the 2 months following the comment period close. We 
announced the availability of the draft document by several methods, 
including press releases and public notice, including a notice in the 
Federal Register (73 FR 24302, May 2, 2008). The draft EIS/EIR 
identified and evaluated three alternatives for restoration. We 
received seven comment letters on the draft EIS/EIR. No comments 
received from interested individuals, groups, or agencies required us 
or CDFG to add new alternatives, significantly alter existing 
alternatives, or make changes to the impact analysis of the effect of 
any alternative. Thus, we were able to use an abbreviated format to 
fully document all our responses to comments in our final EIS/EIR, in 
compliance with the Council on Environmental Quality implementing 
regulations (40 CFR 1503.4 [c]) for NEPA.

Alternatives We Considered

No-Action Alternative

    Under the No-Action Alternative, the lead agencies would take no 
action to

[[Page 23742]]

restore tidal influence to the site; however, continued maintenance of 
the Dutchman and South Slough levees would occur. Under this 
alternative, because the lead agencies would be required to maintain 
the northern levee along Dutchman Slough in perpetuity, maintenance 
activities would likely increase as the levees age and as scour 
increases in response to activities undertaken by the Napa Sonoma 
Restoration Project. Under the No-Action Alternative, the components of 
the Proposed Action would not be implemented.

Preferred Restoration Alternative

    The Preferred Restoration Alternative would restore the entire 
1,500-ac Cullinan Ranch Site with implementation of the following 
project components:
     Component 1: Construct boardwalk to provide access to 
existing electrical towers.
     Component 2: If needed, drainage ditches would be blocked 
to promote redevelopment of natural sloughs.
     Component 3: Improve the DFG Pond 1 levee and install 
water control structures.
     Component 4: Protect Highway 37 from project-induced 
flooding and erosion, through levee construction.
     Component 5: Construct public access areas.
     Component 6: Breach the levees along Dutchman and South 
Sloughs and Guadalcanal Village.
     Component 7: Implement long-term monitoring.

Partial Restoration Alternative

    The Partial Restoration Alternative would restore 300 ac of the 
Cullinan Ranch Site. The Partial Restoration Alternative was developed 
in order to limit potential impacts to the hydrology of Dutchman 
Slough. While it would meet the purpose and need of the project, a 
smaller overall area within Cullinan Ranch would be restored, and 
connectivity with other adjacent restoration projects would be limited.
    The Partial Restoration Alternative would include implementation of 
the following project components:
     Component 1: If needed, drainage ditches would be blocked 
to promote redevelopment of natural Sloughs.
     Component 2: Construct internal levee.
     Component 3: Protect Highway 37 from project-induced 
flooding and erosion, through levee construction.
     Component 4: Breach the levee along Dutchman Slough.
     Component 5: Long-term monitoring.
    The final EIS/EIR contains our responses to all comments received 
on the draft document. Following the release of the abbreviated final 
EIS/EIR, we will prepare a Record of Decision not sooner than 30 days 
after the Environmental Protection Agency has published its notice of 
filing of the document in the Federal Register. We anticipate that we 
will issue a Record of Decision in the summer of 2009.
    We provide this notice under regulations implementing NEPA (40 CFR 
1506.6).

    Dated: May 13, 2009.
Stephen M. Dyer,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region.
[FR Doc. E9-11778 Filed 5-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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