Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the Eastern Washington and San Juan Planning Area in the State of Washington and Associated Environmental Impact Statement, 22836-22837 [2010-9991]
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wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1
22836
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices
(1,942 sq ft) of habitat for the Mount
Hermon June beetle. Impacts would
result in the permanent loss of 0.02 acre
(639 sq ft), and the temporary loss of
0.03 acre (1,303 sq ft) of habitat for the
species. The applicant proposes to
implement the following measures to
minimize and mitigate for the loss of
Mount Hermon June beetle habitat
within the permit area: (1) Applicant
will purchase 0.05 acre (1,942 sq ft) of
conservation credits at the Ben Lomond
Sandhills Preserve of the Zayante
Sandhills Conservation Bank, operated
by PCO, LLC; (2) a qualified biologist
will oversee construction and provide
worker training on the Mount Hermon
June beetle and requirements of the
HCP; (3) any life stages of the Mount
Hermon June beetle will be captured
and relocated if one is observed in an
area that would be impacted; (4) the use
of outdoor night lighting will be
minimized to avoid disrupting the
species’ breeding activity; (5) no
landscaping will be used in order to
avoid adverse effects to the species; and
(6) all exposed soil will be covered with
impermeable material if construction
occurs during the species’ flight season.
˜
In the Manana Woods HCP, three
alternatives to the taking of listed
species are considered. The No Action
alternative would maintain current
conditions, the project would not be
implemented, and an incidental take
permit application would not be
submitted to the Service. The second
alternative would involve a project
redesign that would relocate
construction to the mixed evergreen
forest habitat on site. This option was
rejected because the location was
deemed suboptimal, potentially
resulting in substandard performance,
and the pipeline installation would be
significantly greater, resulting in undue
financial burden on the applicant. The
third alternative is the proposed action,
which includes issuing an incidental
take permit to the applicant, who would
then implement the HCP.
We are requesting comments on our
preliminary determination that both
applicants’ proposals will have a minor
or negligible effect on the Mount
Hermon June beetle, and that the HCPs
both qualify as ‘‘low-effect’’ HCPs as
defined by our Habitat Conservation
Planning Handbook (November 1996).
We base our determination that the
plans qualify as low-effect HCPs on the
following three criteria: (1)
Implementation of the HCPs would
result in minor or negligible effects on
Federally listed, proposed, and
candidate species and their habitats; (2)
implementation of the HCPs would
result in minor or negligible effects on
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13:41 Apr 29, 2010
Jkt 220001
other environmental values or
resources; and (3) impacts of the HCPs,
considered together with the impacts of
other past, present, and reasonably
foreseeable similarly situated projects,
would not result, over time, in
cumulative effects to the environmental
values or resources that would be
considered significant. As more fully
explained in our Environmental Action
Statements and associated Low-Effect
Screening Forms, both applicants’
proposed HCPs qualify as ‘‘low-effect’’
HCPs for the following reasons:
(1) Approval of the HCPs would result
in minor or negligible effects on the
Mount Hermon June beetle and its
habitat. We do not anticipate significant
direct or cumulative effects to the
Mount Hermon June beetle resulting
from the proposed projects;
(2) Approval of the HCPs would not
have adverse effects on unique
geographic, historic, or cultural sites, or
involve unique or unknown
environmental risks;
(3) Approval of the HCPs would not
result in any cumulative or growthinducing impacts and would not result
in significant adverse effects on public
health or safety;
(4) The projects do not require
compliance with Executive Order (E.O.)
11988 (Floodplain Management),
Executive Order 11990 (Protection of
Wetlands), or the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act, nor do they threaten
to violate a Federal, State, local, or
Tribal law or requirement imposed for
the protection of the environment; and
(5) Approval of the HCPs would not
establish a precedent for future actions
or represent a decision in principle
about future actions with potentially
significant environmental effects.
We, therefore, have made the
preliminary determination that approval
of the HCPs and incidental take permits
qualify as categorical exclusions under
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as
provided by the Department of the
Interior Manual (516 DM 2 Appendix 1
and 516 DM 8). Based on our review of
public comments that we receive in
response to this notice, we may revise
the preliminary determinations.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the HCPs and
comments we receive to determine
whether the permit applications meet
the requirements of section 10(a) of the
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If we
determine that the applications meet
these requirements, we will issue two
permits for the incidental take of the
Mount Hermon June beetle. We will also
evaluate whether issuance of the section
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
10(a)(1)(B) permits would comply with
section 7 of the Act by conducting intraService section 7 consultations for each
plan. We will use the results of these
consultations, in combination with the
above findings, in our final analysis to
determine whether or not to issue the
permits. If the requirements are met, we
will issue the permits to the applicants.
Public Comments
If you wish to comment on the permit
applications, plans, and associated
documents, you may submit comments
by any one of the methods in
ADDRESSES.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comments, 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.
Authority
We provide this notice under section
10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: April 23, 2010.
Diane K. Noda,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, Ventura, California.
[FR Doc. 2010–10086 Filed 4–29–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORW00000 L16100000.DO0000; HAG10–
0117]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource
Management Plan for the Eastern
Washington and San Juan Planning
Area in the State of Washington and
Associated Environmental Impact
Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
SUMMARY: In compliance 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) Spokane District,
Spokane Valley, Washington, intends to
prepare a Resource Management Plan
(RMP) with an associated
E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM
30APN1
wwoods2 on DSK1DXX6B1PROD with NOTICES_PART 1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 83 / Friday, April 30, 2010 / Notices
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the Eastern Washington and San
Juan Planning Area and by this notice
is announcing the beginning of the
scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues. The RMP
will replace the existing Spokane RMP
and expand the planning area to include
the San Juan Islands, which do not have
an RMP in place.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the RMP with
associated EIS. Comments on issues
may be submitted in writing until June
25, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of
any scoping meetings will be
announced at least 15 days in advance
through local media and the BLM Web
site at: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/
spokane/plans/ewsjrmp. In order to be
included in the Draft RMP/EIS, all
comments must be received prior to the
close of the scoping period or 30 days
after the last public meeting, whichever
is later. We will provide additional
opportunities for public participation
upon publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on issues and planning criteria related
to the Eastern Washington and San Juan
RMP/EIS by any of the following
methods:
• Web site: https://www.blm.gov/or/
districts/spokane/plans/ewsjrmp.
• E-mail:
OR_Spokane_RMP@blm.gov.
• Mail: BLM Spokane District, ATTN:
RMP, 1103 N. Fancher Rd., Spokane
Valley, WA 99212.
Documents pertinent to this proposal
may be examined at the Spokane
District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information and/or to have your
name added to our mailing list, contact
Scott Pavey; Planning and
Environmental Coordinator; telephone
(509) 536–1252; address BLM Spokane
District, ATTN: RMP, 1103 N. Fancher
Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99212; e-mail
OR_Spokane_RMP@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
document provides notice that the BLM
Spokane District Office, Spokane Valley,
Washington, intends to prepare an RMP
with an associated EIS for the Eastern
Washington and San Juan Planning
Area, announces the beginning of the
scoping process, and seeks public input
on issues and planning criteria. The
planning area is located in Adams,
Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia,
Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield,
Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln,
Okanogan, Pend Oreille, San Juan,
Skagit, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla,
Whatcom, Whitman, and Yakima
Counties in Washington and
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13:41 Apr 29, 2010
Jkt 220001
encompasses approximately 445,000
acres of public land. The purpose of the
public scoping process is to determine
relevant issues that will influence the
scope of the environmental analysis,
including alternatives, and guide the
planning process. Preliminary issues for
the planning area have been identified
by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and
local agencies; and other stakeholders.
The issues include:
1. How will the shrub-steppe, and its
associated riparian and wetland
habitats, be managed to maintain,
improve, or restore healthy plant and
wildlife communities?
2. How should the BLM manage
public lands with consideration of uses
of adjacent lands, given the mixed
ownership pattern in the planning area?
3. How should the BLM manage
multiple uses and resources that have
changed or that occur on lands that
were either not administered by the
BLM or were not within the planning
area when the current RMP was
developed? and
4. How should the BLM facilitate
energy development while allowing for
multiple uses and appropriate
protection of public lands and
resources?
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. The BLM will protect resources in
accordance with the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and
other applicable laws and regulations;
2. The BLM will strive to make land
use plan decisions compatible with
existing plans and policies of adjacent
local, State, Federal, and tribal agencies,
and consistent with other applicable
laws and regulations governing the
administration of public land;
3. The plan will recognize valid
existing rights within the Planning Area;
4. Land use plan decisions will apply
to BLM lands and split-estate minerals
administered by the BLM;
5. The BLM will use a collaborative
and multi-jurisdictional approach, when
practical, to jointly determine the
desired future conditions of public
lands;
6. The plan will recognize the state’s
authority to manage wildlife; and
7. The plan will incorporate the BLM
Oregon and Washington Rangeland
Health Standards and Guidelines.
You may submit comments on issues
and planning criteria in writing to the
BLM at any public scoping meeting, or
you may submit them to the BLM using
one of the methods listed in the
ADDRESSES section above. To be most
helpful, you should submit comments
within 30 days after the last public
meeting. Before including your address,
PO 00000
Frm 00102
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
22837
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 the BLM in your
comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. The minutes and
list of attendees for each scoping
meeting will be available to the public
and open for 30 days after the meeting
to any participant who wishes to clarify
the views he or she expressed. The BLM
will evaluate identified issues to be
addressed in the plan and will place
them into one of three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy
or administrative action; or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this
plan.
The BLM will provide an explanation
in the Draft RMP/EIS as to why an issue
was placed in category 2 or 3. The
public is also encouraged to help
identify any management questions and
concerns that should be addressed in
the plan. The BLM will work
collaboratively with interested parties to
identify the management decisions that
are best suited to local, regional, and
national needs and concerns.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
approach to develop the plan in order
to consider the variety of resource issues
and concerns identified. Specialists
with expertise in the following
disciplines will be involved in the
planning process: Wildlife, Threatened
and Endangered Species, Vegetation and
Native Plants, Riparian and Wetlands,
Invasive and Noxious Weeds, Rangeland
Management, Forest Management, Fire
and Fuels Management, Cultural
Resources and Native American
Concerns, Geology and Minerals, Lands
and Realty, Recreation, Visual Resource
Management, Wilderness, Wild and
Scenic Rivers, sociology, and
economics.
Edward W. Shepard,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.
[FR Doc. 2010–9991 Filed 4–29–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–33–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 83 (Friday, April 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22836-22837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-9991]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLORW00000 L16100000.DO0000; HAG10-0117]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Resource Management Plan for the
Eastern Washington and San Juan Planning Area in the State of
Washington and Associated Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance 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) Spokane District,
Spokane Valley, Washington, intends to prepare a Resource Management
Plan (RMP) with an associated
[[Page 22837]]
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Eastern Washington and San
Juan Planning Area and by this notice is announcing the beginning of
the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The
RMP will replace the existing Spokane RMP and expand the planning area
to include the San Juan Islands, which do not have an RMP in place.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the RMP
with associated EIS. Comments on issues may be submitted in writing
until June 25, 2010. The date(s) and location(s) of any scoping
meetings will be announced at least 15 days in advance through local
media and the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/ewsjrmp. In order to be included in the Draft RMP/EIS, all
comments must be received prior to the close of the scoping period or
30 days after the last public meeting, whichever is later. We will
provide additional opportunities for public participation upon
publication of the Draft RMP/EIS.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria
related to the Eastern Washington and San Juan RMP/EIS by any of the
following methods:
Web site: https://www.blm.gov/or/districts/spokane/plans/ewsjrmp.
E-mail: OR_Spokane_RMP@blm.gov.
Mail: BLM Spokane District, ATTN: RMP, 1103 N. Fancher
Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99212.
Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Spokane
District Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to our mailing list, contact Scott Pavey; Planning and
Environmental Coordinator; telephone (509) 536-1252; address BLM
Spokane District, ATTN: RMP, 1103 N. Fancher Rd., Spokane Valley, WA
99212; e-mail OR_Spokane_RMP@blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM
Spokane District Office, Spokane Valley, Washington, intends to prepare
an RMP with an associated EIS for the Eastern Washington and San Juan
Planning Area, announces the beginning of the scoping process, and
seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The planning area
is located in Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry,
Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend
Oreille, San Juan, Skagit, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whatcom,
Whitman, and Yakima Counties in Washington and encompasses
approximately 445,000 acres of public land. The purpose of the public
scoping process is to determine relevant issues that will influence the
scope of the environmental analysis, including alternatives, and guide
the planning process. Preliminary issues for the planning area have
been identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies;
and other stakeholders. The issues include:
1. How will the shrub-steppe, and its associated riparian and
wetland habitats, be managed to maintain, improve, or restore healthy
plant and wildlife communities?
2. How should the BLM manage public lands with consideration of
uses of adjacent lands, given the mixed ownership pattern in the
planning area?
3. How should the BLM manage multiple uses and resources that have
changed or that occur on lands that were either not administered by the
BLM or were not within the planning area when the current RMP was
developed? and
4. How should the BLM facilitate energy development while allowing
for multiple uses and appropriate protection of public lands and
resources?
Preliminary planning criteria include:
1. The BLM will protect resources in accordance with the Federal
Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1701 et
seq.), and other applicable laws and regulations;
2. The BLM will strive to make land use plan decisions compatible
with existing plans and policies of adjacent local, State, Federal, and
tribal agencies, and consistent with other applicable laws and
regulations governing the administration of public land;
3. The plan will recognize valid existing rights within the
Planning Area;
4. Land use plan decisions will apply to BLM lands and split-estate
minerals administered by the BLM;
5. The BLM will use a collaborative and multi-jurisdictional
approach, when practical, to jointly determine the desired future
conditions of public lands;
6. The plan will recognize the state's authority to manage
wildlife; and
7. The plan will incorporate the BLM Oregon and Washington
Rangeland Health Standards and Guidelines.
You may submit comments on issues and planning criteria in writing
to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the
BLM using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To
be most helpful, you should submit comments within 30 days after the
last public meeting. 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 the BLM in your comment to withhold your
personal identifying information from public review, we cannot
guarantee that we will be able to do so. The minutes and list of
attendees for each scoping meeting will be available to the public and
open for 30 days after the meeting to any participant who wishes to
clarify the views he or she expressed. The BLM will evaluate identified
issues to be addressed in the plan and will place them into one of
three categories:
1. Issues to be resolved in the plan;
2. Issues to be resolved through policy or administrative action;
or
3. Issues beyond the scope of this plan.
The BLM will provide an explanation in the Draft RMP/EIS as to why
an issue was placed in category 2 or 3. The public is also encouraged
to help identify any management questions and concerns that should be
addressed in the plan. The BLM will work collaboratively with
interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best
suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the plan
in order to consider the variety of resource issues and concerns
identified. Specialists with expertise in the following disciplines
will be involved in the planning process: Wildlife, Threatened and
Endangered Species, Vegetation and Native Plants, Riparian and
Wetlands, Invasive and Noxious Weeds, Rangeland Management, Forest
Management, Fire and Fuels Management, Cultural Resources and Native
American Concerns, Geology and Minerals, Lands and Realty, Recreation,
Visual Resource Management, Wilderness, Wild and Scenic Rivers,
sociology, and economics.
Edward W. Shepard,
State Director, Oregon/Washington.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7, 43 CFR 1610.2.
[FR Doc. 2010-9991 Filed 4-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-33-P
