Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuges, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, CA, 17430-17431 [2010-7353]
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Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 6, 2010 / Notices
Frequency of Response: Focus groups
will be one-time collections
(2) Annual reporting and
recordkeeping burden:
Estimated Number of Responses
Annually: 141.
Estimated Burden per Response: 47
minutes.
Total Annual Reporting: 110 hours.
(3) Description of the need and use of
the information: DOI will use the results
of these information collection activities
(the focus groups) to optimize the
design of the survey instrument.
As required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), a
Federal Register notice soliciting
comments on the collection of
information was published on June 9,
2009 (74 FR 27340). No comments were
received. This notice provides the
public with an additional 30 days in
which to comment on the proposed
information collection activity.
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
IV. Request for Comments
The Department of the Interior invites
comments on:
(a) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the collection
and the validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(c) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through
the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Burden means the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons
to generate, maintain, retain, disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal
agency.
An agency may not conduct or
sponsor, and a person is not required to
respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid
Office of Management and Budget
control number.
Dated: March 31, 2010.
Benjamin Simon,
Acting Economics Staff Director, Office of
Policy Analysis.
[FR Doc. 2010–7710 Filed 4–5–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–RK–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–R–2010–N026; 80230–1265–0000–
S3]
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and
Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuges,
Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and
Ventura Counties, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a
comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment; request for
comments.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation
plan (CCP) and environmental
assessment (EA) for the Hopper
Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs)
located in Kern, San Luis Obispo,
Tulare, and Ventura counties of
California. We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to
advise other Federal, State, and local
agencies; Tribes; and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues
to consider in the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by May 21,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or
requests for more information by any of
the following methods.
E-mail: fw8plancomments@fws.gov.
Include ‘‘Hopper CCP’’ in the subject
line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Sandy Osborn, (916) 414–
6497.
U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region,
Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W–1832,
Sacramento, CA 95825.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off
comments at the Hopper Mountain
NWR Complex Headquarters in Ventura,
California, during regular business
hours; please call (805) 644–5185 for
directions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader,
at (916) 414–6503 or Marc Weitzel,
Project Leader, at (805) 644–5185 or
fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Further
information may also be found at https://
www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/planning/
ccp.cfm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our
process for developing a CCP for Hopper
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Sfmt 4703
Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
NWRs in Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare,
and Ventura Counties, California. This
notice complies with our CCP policy to
(1) advise other Federal and State
agencies, Tribes, and the public of our
intention to conduct detailed planning
on this refuge and (2) obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues
to consider in the environmental
document and during development of
the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C.
668dd–668ee) (Administration Act), as
amended by the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997, requires us to develop a CCP for
each national wildlife refuge. The
purpose for developing a CCP is to
provide refuge managers with a 15-year
plan for achieving refuge purposes and
contributing toward the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System,
consistent with sound principles of fish
and wildlife management, conservation,
legal mandates, and our policies. In
addition to outlining broad management
direction on conserving wildlife and
their habitats, CCPs identify wildlifedependent recreational opportunities
available to the public, including
opportunities for hunting, fishing,
wildlife observation and photography,
and environmental education and
interpretation where compatible with
refuge purposes. We will review and
update the CCP at least every 15 years
in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife
Refuge System was established for
specific purposes. We use these
purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the
management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife
Refuge System, and to determine how
the public can use each refuge. The
planning process is a way for us and the
public to evaluate management goals,
objectives, and strategies that will
ensure the best possible approach to
wildlife, plant, and habitat
conservation, while providing for
wildlife-dependent recreation
opportunities that are compatible with
each refuge’s establishing purposes and
the mission of the National Wildlife
Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides
opportunities for participation by
Tribal, State, and local governments;
agencies; organizations; and the public.
We will be contacting identified
E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM
06APN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 6, 2010 / Notices
stakeholders and individuals at this
time for initial input. If you would like
to meet with planning staff or would
like to receive periodic updates, please
contact us (see ADDRESSES). We
anticipate holding public meetings for
initial comments and also when we
have identified alternative management
scenarios. At this time we encourage
comments in the form of issues,
concerns, ideas, and suggestions for the
future management of Hopper
Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
NWRs.
We will conduct the environmental
review of this project in accordance
with the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.); NEPA regulations (40 CFR parts
1500–1508); other appropriate Federal
laws and regulations; and our policies
and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife
Refuge
Hopper Mountain NWR is in Ventura
County, approximately 6 miles north of
the community of Fillmore. Hopper
Mountain NWR was established in 1974
to protect the endangered California
condor, its habitat, and other wildlife
resources. The refuge encompasses
2,471 contiguous acres owned in fee
title by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. This refuge is currently closed
to public use.
sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with NOTICES
Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Bitter Creek NWR is located
approximately 80 miles north of Los
Angeles and approximately 10 miles
southwest of the community of
Maricopa in the arid foothills, primarily
in Kern County. The legislatively
approved refuge boundary also falls
within parts of San Luis Obispo and
Ventura Counties. Bitter Creek NWR
was established in 1985 to provide safe
roosting and foraging habitat for
California condors. The refuge
encompasses nearly 14,097 acres owned
in fee title by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The Bitter Creek NWR
Grassland Habitat Management and
Restoration Plan Environmental
Assessment and Compatibility
Determination is ongoing. This refuge is
currently closed to public use.
Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Blue Ridge NWR is located in central
Tulare County in the foothills of the
Sierra Nevada Mountains, 11 miles
north of Springville and 17.5 miles
northeast of Porterville, California. Blue
Ridge NWR was established in 1982 to
protect critical habitat for the California
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condor. Blue Ridge NWR encompasses
897 acres owned in fee title by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge is
currently closed to public use.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns,
and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary
issues, concerns, and opportunities that
we may address in the CCP. These
include: Wildlife management, habitat
management, wildlife-dependent
recreation, environmental education,
and cultural resources. During public
scoping, we may identify additional
issues.
Public Meetings
We will give the public an
opportunity to provide input at public
meetings. You can obtain the schedule
from the planning team leader or project
leader (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT). You may also submit
comments or request a meeting during
the planning process by mail, e-mail, or
fax (see ADDRESSES). There will be
additional opportunities to provide
public input once we have prepared a
draft CCP.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can ask us in your comment
to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Dated: March 26, 2010.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2010–7353 Filed 4–5–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CACA 048811, LLCAD06000,
L51010000.FX0000, LVRWB09B2600]
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement/Staff
Assessment for the Chevron Energy
Solutions/Solar Millennium (CESSM)
Blythe Solar Power Plant (BSPP) and
Possible California Desert
Conservation Area Plan Amendment
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
PO 00000
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ACTION:
17431
Notice of availability.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) and the California
Energy Commission (CEC) have
prepared a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), Draft California Desert
Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan
Amendment, and Staff Assessment (SA)
as a joint environmental analysis
document for the CESSM BSPP Project,
Riverside County, California, and by
this notice are announcing the opening
of the comment period.
DATES: To ensure that comments will be
considered, the BLM must receive
written comments on the Draft EIS/SA
and Plan Amendment within 90 days
following the date the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes its Notice
of Availability in the Federal Register.
The BLM will announce future meetings
or hearings and any other public
involvement activities at least 15 days
in advance through public notices,
media releases, and/or mailings.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
related to the BSPP Project by any of the
following methods:
• E-mail: CAPSSolarBlythe@blm.gov.
• Fax: (760) 833–7199.
• Mail or other delivery service:
Allison Shaffer, Project Manager, Palm
Springs South Coast Field Office,
Bureau of Land Management, 1201 Bird
Center Drive, Palm Springs, California
92262.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Allison Shaffer, BLM Project Manager at
(760) 833–7100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CESSM
has submitted a right-of-way (ROW)
application to the BLM for development
of the proposed BSPP Project, consisting
of four parabolic-trough solar thermal
power plants, each of which has a ‘‘solar
field’’ comprised of rows of parabolic
mirrors focusing solar energy on
collector tubes. The tubes carry heated
oil to a boiler that sends live steam to
a steam turbine. The project would be
built in four phases, which are designed
to generate in total approximately 968
megawatts (MW) of electricity at full
development. The total expected project
footprint aggregates approximately
7,030 acres of BLM-managed lands, with
the total proposed ROW involving about
9,400 acres. The project site is in
Riverside County, California,
approximately eight miles west of
Blythe, California, three miles north of
Highway I–10, and one mile north of the
Blythe Regional Airport.
E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM
06APN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 6, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17430-17431]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7353]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-R-2010-N026; 80230-1265-0000-S3]
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge National Wildlife
Refuges, Kern, San Luis Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, CA
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental
assessment (EA) for the Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) located in Kern, San Luis Obispo,
Tulare, and Ventura counties of California. We provide this notice in
compliance with our CCP policy to advise other Federal, State, and
local agencies; Tribes; and the public of our intentions, and to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to consider in the
planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
May 21, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods.
E-mail: fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Include ``Hopper CCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Sandy Osborn, (916) 414-6497.
U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region, Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, CA 95825.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments at the Hopper
Mountain NWR Complex Headquarters in Ventura, California, during
regular business hours; please call (805) 644-5185 for directions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader, at
(916) 414-6503 or Marc Weitzel, Project Leader, at (805) 644-5185 or
fw8plancomments@fws.gov. Further information may also be found at
https://www.fws.gov/cno/refuges/planning/ccp.cfm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge NWRs in Kern, San Luis
Obispo, Tulare, and Ventura Counties, California. This notice complies
with our CCP policy to (1) advise other Federal and State agencies,
Tribes, and the public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on
this refuge and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of
issues to consider in the environmental document and during development
of the CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving
refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and
wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our policies. In
addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife
and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation where compatible with refuge
purposes. We will review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in
accordance with the Administration Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the management goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals, objectives, and
strategies that will ensure the best possible approach to wildlife,
plant, and habitat conservation, while providing for wildlife-dependent
recreation opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's
establishing purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge
System.
Our CCP process provides opportunities for participation by Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
We will be contacting identified
[[Page 17431]]
stakeholders and individuals at this time for initial input. If you
would like to meet with planning staff or would like to receive
periodic updates, please contact us (see ADDRESSES). We anticipate
holding public meetings for initial comments and also when we have
identified alternative management scenarios. At this time we encourage
comments in the form of issues, concerns, ideas, and suggestions for
the future management of Hopper Mountain, Bitter Creek, and Blue Ridge
NWRs.
We will conduct the environmental review of this project in
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
Hopper Mountain NWR is in Ventura County, approximately 6 miles
north of the community of Fillmore. Hopper Mountain NWR was established
in 1974 to protect the endangered California condor, its habitat, and
other wildlife resources. The refuge encompasses 2,471 contiguous acres
owned in fee title by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge
is currently closed to public use.
Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Bitter Creek NWR is located approximately 80 miles north of Los
Angeles and approximately 10 miles southwest of the community of
Maricopa in the arid foothills, primarily in Kern County. The
legislatively approved refuge boundary also falls within parts of San
Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Bitter Creek NWR was established in
1985 to provide safe roosting and foraging habitat for California
condors. The refuge encompasses nearly 14,097 acres owned in fee title
by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Bitter Creek NWR Grassland
Habitat Management and Restoration Plan Environmental Assessment and
Compatibility Determination is ongoing. This refuge is currently closed
to public use.
Blue Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Blue Ridge NWR is located in central Tulare County in the foothills
of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 11 miles north of Springville and 17.5
miles northeast of Porterville, California. Blue Ridge NWR was
established in 1982 to protect critical habitat for the California
condor. Blue Ridge NWR encompasses 897 acres owned in fee title by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This refuge is currently closed to
public use.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. These include: Wildlife management,
habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation, environmental
education, and cultural resources. During public scoping, we may
identify additional issues.
Public Meetings
We will give the public an opportunity to provide input at public
meetings. You can obtain the schedule from the planning team leader or
project leader (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You may also
submit comments or request a meeting during the planning process by
mail, e-mail, or fax (see ADDRESSES). There will be additional
opportunities to provide public input once we have prepared a draft
CCP.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Dated: March 26, 2010.
Ken McDermond,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 2010-7353 Filed 4-5-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
