[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4636-4637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1706]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Sharon Steel Damage 
Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept Document, and Public 
Informational Meeting for its Review

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior Department.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public informational meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces release 
of the draft Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept 
Document (Concept Plan) for public review. The Concept Plan covers the 
Service proposal to fund cooperative projects to restore natural 
resources injured as a result of hazardous materials released from the 
Sharon Steel Superfund Site, Midvale, Utah. The Concept Plan details 
the primary steps toward achievement of restoration as--(1) definition 
of restoration targets in terms of species and habitats, (2) 
development of criteria for identifying and ranking projects, (3) 
identification of restoration tools and solicitation of cooperative 
project proposals, (4) identification and ranking of restoration 
project proposals, (5) implementation of selected project(s), and (6) 
long-term monitoring.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Concept Plan may be made to U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Salt Lake City Field Office, Lincoln Plaza, 
145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115.
    Written comments or materials regarding the Concept Plan should be 
sent to the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field Supervisor, or Brandt Gutermuth, 
Environmental Contaminants Program, at the above Salt Lake City Field 
Office address (telephone 801/524-5001).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    A $2.3 million damage settlement was awarded to the U.S. Department 
of the Interior (DOI) in compensation for injuries to federal protected 
trust resources along the Jordan River, Utah, caused by Sharon Steel 
and Midvale Slag Superfund sites. Under Federal law, these trust 
resources are specifically protected on behalf of the public and 
include migratory birds, as well as threatened and endangered species 
and their habitats. Consequently, Sharon Steel damage settlement money 
must be used to restore, replace or acquire the equivalent of the trust 
resources injured on site and by contaminants from the site.
    The DOI and the State of Utah signed a Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) July 11, 1991, to cooperate as trustees in planning and 
implementing resource restoration with Sharon Steel settlement money. 
The MOU establishes a Trustee Committee consisting of representatives 
from DOI and the State of Utah to plan and direct restoration 
activities.
    The Trustee Committee outlined the following project goals: (1) To 
restore, replace, enhance, or acquire appropriate natural, functioning 
habitats along the Jordan River corridor for the benefit of identified 
trust resources; (2) to ensure that funds are utilized to provide 
maximum benefits for trust resources; and (3) to ensure the provision 
of benefits to trust resources in perpetuity. Restoration alternatives 
to meet these goals are identified. These alternatives included (a) no-
action or natural recovery, (b) restoration on the Sharon Steel/Midvale 
Slag sites, and (c) Jordan River corridor replacement/enhancement of 
habitat for trust resources. Because of its protective and relatively 
cost effective nature, replacement/enhancement of resources in the 
Jordan River corridor was chosen as the preferred alternative for 
enhancement of wetland and riparian migratory bird habitats.
    The primary steps toward achievement of project restoration goals 
were subsequently identified as (1) definition of restoration targets 
in terms of species and habitats, (2) development of criteria for 
ranking and selecting projects, (3) identification of restoration tools 
or activities and solicitation of cooperative project proposals, (4) 
ranking and selection of specific restoration projects (cooperative 
proposals) and/or sites, (5) implementation of selected project(s), and 
(6) monitoring of the project(s) to ensure long-term viability.
    The Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept 
Document (Concept Plan) was subsequently drafted to lend guidance in 
the process and to establish sideboards to guide Jordan River 
restoration. The Concept Plan proposes to accomplish trust resources 
restoration by selecting and funding cooperative projects that will be 
implemented in partnership with State or Federal agencies, county or 
local governments, or nonprofit organizations. Close cooperation among 
all programs in the Jordan River corridor [[Page 4637]] (e.g., Central 
Utah Project, Jordan River Parkway plans, Jordan River Subbasin 
Watershed Management Council, etc.) will ensure cost-effective 
expenditure of public funds, increase success of all programs, and 
provide maximum benefits to the Jordan River ecosystem.
    Specific restoration project proposals will be identified, 
reviewed, and ranked according to the following 13 defined ranking 
criteria:

1. Restoration of Trust Resources
2. Location of Restoration Project(s)
3. Ownership/Management
4. Surrounding Land Use
5. Size of Individual Projects
6. Restoration Longevity
7. Project Cost/Benefits
8. Project Hazards--Attractive Nuisance Issues
9. Cooperative Projects
10. Natural Recovery Potential
11. Annual Maintenance Requirements
12. Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations
13. Other associated ranking factors:
    Threat of additional trust resource loss
    Public Health and Safety
    Community Acceptance

    The highest-ranked projects will be referred to the trustee 
committee for final review and selection for implementation. 
Ultimately, a restoration plan, which includes selected cooperative 
projects for implementation, will be developed. A National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessment (EA) will be 
prepared which addresses the cumulative potential environmental impact 
of all funded Sharon Steel restoration projects. Public review of the 
concept and restoration plans and input on NEPA issues will be 
solicited through the Federal Register and scoping meetings. Public 
review of the Final Concept Plan and accompanying request for project 
proposals will be solicited through local notices. Cooperators will 
work together with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the 
State of Utah to implement projects.
    Management in perpetuity for wildlife will be ensured by Concept 
Plan stipulations which require land/wildlife management plans for each 
project proposal and deed restrictions, which stipulate future land 
uses and return of lands to DOI if cooperative agreements and 
management plan objectives are not upheld. Monitoring of sites will be 
performed by the Service to document project progress, to ensure 
compliance with management objectives and deed restrictions, and to 
measure timely success in the restoration of trust resources.
    Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment 
on the Concept Plan. In Utah, copies are available for review at the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Services Office in Salt 
Lake City (see ADDRESSES section), the Utah Department of Environmental 
Quality, Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (168 North 
1950 West, Salt Lake City), and the Salt Lake City Library. The Service 
also is soliciting input regarding the timeframe for preparing and 
submitting project proposals once the Concept Plan is finalized and a 
request for proposals has been advertised.
    A public informational meeting will be held to explain the Concept 
Plan and to answer questions. The meeting will be held in the 
Commission Chambers, at the Salt Lake County Government Center--South 
Building, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday, 
March 8, 1995, at 7:30 p.m. All written and public meeting comments 
will be considered and addressed in the final Concept Plan.

    Dated: January 18, 1995.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-1706 Filed 1-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M