Department of the Interior October 1, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the public that Benton County, Oregon, has submitted an application to the Service for an incidental take permit (permit) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). Included with the application is a habitat conservation plan (HCP) and a proposed implementing agreement (IA). We also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), collectively the Services, advise interested parties of our intent to conduct public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to gather information to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) related to incidental take permit (ITP) applications from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) for incidental take of species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as unlisted species should they become listed during the term of the proposed permit. The WDFW has identified specific land management and recreation activities that currently occur on state Wildlife Areas that may cause incidental take. In support of the ITP applications, the WDFW is proposing to implement a habitat conservation plan (HCP) on approximately 900,000 acres of their state Wildlife Areas. The term of the proposed HCP and ITP's will occur after the public scoping process.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) for Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in Oregon and by this notice is announcing its availability. The ROD selects a slightly modified version of Alternative 4 as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau of Land Management Lands in Oregon, notice of which was published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2010 (75 FR 44981). The selected alternative increases the number of herbicides available for use on BLM-managed lands in Oregon and increases the number of objectives for which they can be used. The herbicides and uses permitted by the selected alternative fall entirely within those approved for use in 17 western states by the BLM in its September 2007 ROD for the Final Programmatic EIS for Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on BLM lands in 17 Western States. The Oregon decision incorporates the standard operating procedures and mitigation measures adopted by the BLM's 2007 17 western states decision and adds additional mitigation and monitoring requirements specific to Oregon.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Bureau of Reclamation, the lead Federal agency, and the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), acting as the lead State agency, have made available for public review and comment a Draft EIS/EIR for the Nimbus Hatchery Fish Passage Project (Project). The purpose of the Project is to create and maintain a reliable system for collecting adult fish at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery (Hatchery). Reclamation maintains the Hatchery to meet mitigation obligations for spawning areas blocked by construction of Nimbus Dam. CDFG operates the Hatchery under a contract with Reclamation and is responsible for the management of the fishery resources within the adjacent lower American River. The Hatchery was constructed in 1955 under the American River Basin Development Act (October 14, 1949, 63 Stat. 852) along with Nimbus and Folsom Dams. The Draft EIS/EIR describes and presents the environmental effects of three action alternatives and the No-Action Alternative. Written comments will be accepted from agencies, organizations and individuals on the Draft EIS/EIR.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Deschutes Resource Area, Prineville, Oregon, has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the West Butte Wind Power Right-of-Way and by this Notice is announcing its availability.