Final Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Strategies To Benefit Native Species by Reducing the Abundance of Lake Trout in Flathead Lake, Montana, 9916 [2014-03722]

Download as PDF 9916 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 35 / Friday, February 21, 2014 / Notices inform the development of the work plan. Dated: February 14, 2014. Kevin K. Washburn, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2014–03720 Filed 2–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–02–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [AAK6006201 134A2100DD A0R3B3030.999900] Final Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Strategies To Benefit Native Species by Reducing the Abundance of Lake Trout in Flathead Lake, Montana Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) as a cooperating agency, intends to file a final environmental impact statement (FEIS) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the CSKT proposed management action on Flathead Lake, Montana to benefit native trout by reducing the abundance of lake trout. The notice also announces that the FEIS is now available for public review. DATES: Any decision on the proposed action will be issued on or after 30 days from the date the EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. Any comments on the FEIS must arrive on or before that date. ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry written comments to Les Evarts, CSKT Fisheries Program Manager, P.O. Box 278, Pablo, MT 59855. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for directions on submitting comments and the public availability of the FEIS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Hansen (406) 883–2888. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIA and CSKT prepared the FEIS to address the potential environmental effects that increasing the harvest of lake trout in Flathead Lake would have on the biology, fishing opportunity and economy of the area. The proposed project aims to increase harvest of lake trout beyond the status quo level by authorizing the use of additional harvest tools, including bounties, trapnetting and gillnetting to achieve the goals of the Flathead Lake rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:09 Feb 20, 2014 Jkt 232001 and River Fisheries Co-Management Plan. Environmental issues addressed in the FEIS include biological resources (lake trout, bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, lake whitefish, yellow perch, Mysis and algae); fishing opportunity; and fishing economy. Alternative A is the No Action alternative or status quo, and includes general harvest and fishing contests to achieve a reduction in lake trout abundance. The action alternatives increase the harvest tools to include bounties, commercial fishing, trapnetting and gillnetting, and set specific harvest targets. Alternative B identifies a 25 percent reduction of Age 8 and greater lake trout with a harvest target of 84,000 fish, Alternative C identifies a 50 percent reduction of Age 8 and greater lake trout with a harvest target of 113,000 fish, and Alternative D identifies a 75 percent reduction of Age 8 and greater lake trout with a harvest target of 143,000 fish, The BIA and CSKT have afforded other government agencies and the public extensive opportunity to participate in the preparation of this EIS. The CSKT held three public scoping meetings in April 2010 in the Polson, Kalispell and Missoula to initiate an Environmental Assessment (EA). During development of the EA, the decision was made to shift to an EIS and a Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the proposed action was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2012 (77 FR 33230). The Notice of Availability for the draft EIS was published in the Federal Register on June 21, 2013 (78 FR 37568). The draft EIS was available for public comment from June 21, 2013 to August 5, 2013. The CSKT held a public hearing on the draft EIS on August 1, 2013, in Pablo, Montana. Locations where the FEIS is Available for Review: The FEIS is available for public review at the Tribal Fisheries Office, 408 6th Ave. East, Polson, Montana, and an electronic version of the FEIS can also be viewed at the following Web sites: https:// www.mackdays.com and at www.flatheadlakeeis.net. Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, return address, and the caption, ‘‘FEIS Comments, Strategies to Benefit native Species by reducing the Abundance of Lake Trout, Flathead Lake, Montana.’’ on the first page of your written comments and submit comments to the CSKT address listed above in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. To obtain a compact disk copy of the FEIS, please provide your name and address in writing or by voicemail to PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Cindy Benson, at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, or at the telephone number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Public Comment Availability: Comments, including the names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the CSKT mailing address shown in the ADDRESSES section, during regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, except holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email 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. Authority: This notice is published in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior regulations (43 CFR part 46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), and is accordance with the exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs by part 209 of the Departmental Manual. Dated: February 4, 2014. Kevin K Washburn, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2014–03722 Filed 2–20–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–W7–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWY920000.51010000.ER0000. LVRWK09K1000; WYW174597; COC72909; UTU87237] Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Land-Use Plan Amendments for the Energy Gateway South Transmission Project in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCIES: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Land-Use Plan Amendments for the Energy Gateway South Transmission Project (Project). SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\21FEN1.SGM 21FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 9916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03722]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

[AAK6006201 134A2100DD A0R3B3030.999900]


Final Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Strategies To 
Benefit Native Species by Reducing the Abundance of Lake Trout in 
Flathead Lake, Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs (BIA) as lead agency, with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai 
Tribes (CSKT) as a cooperating agency, intends to file a final 
environmental impact statement (FEIS) with the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) for the CSKT proposed management action on Flathead Lake, 
Montana to benefit native trout by reducing the abundance of lake 
trout. The notice also announces that the FEIS is now available for 
public review.

DATES: Any decision on the proposed action will be issued on or after 
30 days from the date the EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in 
the Federal Register. Any comments on the FEIS must arrive on or before 
that date.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand carry written comments to Les Evarts, CSKT 
Fisheries Program Manager, P.O. Box 278, Pablo, MT 59855. See 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for directions on submitting comments and the 
public availability of the FEIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barry Hansen (406) 883-2888.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIA and CSKT prepared the FEIS to 
address the potential environmental effects that increasing the harvest 
of lake trout in Flathead Lake would have on the biology, fishing 
opportunity and economy of the area.
    The proposed project aims to increase harvest of lake trout beyond 
the status quo level by authorizing the use of additional harvest 
tools, including bounties, trapnetting and gillnetting to achieve the 
goals of the Flathead Lake and River Fisheries Co-Management Plan.
    Environmental issues addressed in the FEIS include biological 
resources (lake trout, bull trout, westslope cutthroat trout, lake 
whitefish, yellow perch, Mysis and algae); fishing opportunity; and 
fishing economy. Alternative A is the No Action alternative or status 
quo, and includes general harvest and fishing contests to achieve a 
reduction in lake trout abundance. The action alternatives increase the 
harvest tools to include bounties, commercial fishing, trapnetting and 
gillnetting, and set specific harvest targets. Alternative B identifies 
a 25 percent reduction of Age 8 and greater lake trout with a harvest 
target of 84,000 fish, Alternative C identifies a 50 percent reduction 
of Age 8 and greater lake trout with a harvest target of 113,000 fish, 
and Alternative D identifies a 75 percent reduction of Age 8 and 
greater lake trout with a harvest target of 143,000 fish,
    The BIA and CSKT have afforded other government agencies and the 
public extensive opportunity to participate in the preparation of this 
EIS. The CSKT held three public scoping meetings in April 2010 in the 
Polson, Kalispell and Missoula to initiate an Environmental Assessment 
(EA). During development of the EA, the decision was made to shift to 
an EIS and a Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS for the proposed 
action was published in the Federal Register on June 5, 2012 (77 FR 
33230). The Notice of Availability for the draft EIS was published in 
the Federal Register on June 21, 2013 (78 FR 37568). The draft EIS was 
available for public comment from June 21, 2013 to August 5, 2013. The 
CSKT held a public hearing on the draft EIS on August 1, 2013, in 
Pablo, Montana.
    Locations where the FEIS is Available for Review: The FEIS is 
available for public review at the Tribal Fisheries Office, 408 6th 
Ave. East, Polson, Montana, and an electronic version of the FEIS can 
also be viewed at the following Web sites: https://www.mackdays.com and 
at www.flatheadlakeeis.net.
    Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, 
return address, and the caption, ``FEIS Comments, Strategies to Benefit 
native Species by reducing the Abundance of Lake Trout, Flathead Lake, 
Montana.'' on the first page of your written comments and submit 
comments to the CSKT address listed above in the ADDRESSES section of 
this notice.
    To obtain a compact disk copy of the FEIS, please provide your name 
and address in writing or by voicemail to Cindy Benson, at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice, or at the telephone 
number listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.
    Public Comment Availability: Comments, including the names and 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the 
CSKT mailing address shown in the ADDRESSES section, during regular 
business hours, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, except 
holidays. Before including your address, phone number, email 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.

    Authority: This notice is published in accordance with the 
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR 1500 et seq.) 
and the Department of the Interior regulations (43 CFR part 46) 
implementing the procedural requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et 
seq.), and is accordance with the exercise of authority delegated to 
the Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs by part 209 of the 
Departmental Manual.

    Dated: February 4, 2014.
Kevin K Washburn,
Assistant Secretary--Indian Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-03722 Filed 2-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-W7-P
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