[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15576-15578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7513]



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[[Page 15577]]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Application; Preparation 
of an Environmental Impact Statement on a Permit Application to 
Incidentally Take Stephens' Kangaroo Rats, an Endangered Species, in 
Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has under 
consideration a proposal to issue a 30-year permit under Section 10(a) 
of the Endangered Species Act that would authorize incidental taking of 
the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi). The 
applicant for this incidental take permit is the Riverside County 
Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA). The application was accompanied by 
a proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Stephens' kangaroo 
rat. In response to the permit application and the accompanying 
proposal, the Service intends to proceed with the process of preparing 
a joint Federal Environmental Impact Statement/State Environmental 
Impact Report (EIS/EIR) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) and California Environmental Quality Act. The public scoping 
process for the EIS/EIR was formally initiated with the publication by 
the Service of a Notice of Intent on March 2, 1993 (58 FR 12049). To 
update public knowledge related to the 2-year time extension to the 
scoping period, the Service has prepared a Draft Scoping Report, 
currently available for review, summarizing the issues identified to 
date, and alternatives that will be addressed in the EIS/EIR. This 
notice describes the currently proposed action and alternatives, and 
solicits comments on the issues and alternatives raised in the Draft 
Scoping Report.

DATES: Written comments related to the Draft Scoping Report, scope and 
content of the EIS/EIR will be accepted by the Service at the address 
below until April 24, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Information, comments, or questions related to preparation 
of the joint EIS/EIR and the NEPA process should be submitted to Mr. 
Gail Kobetich, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 
Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Written comments also 
may be sent by facsimile to (619) 431-9618.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Pete Sorensen, Assistant Field 
Supervisor, Endangered Species, at the above Carlsbad address, 
telephone (619) 431-9440. Persons wishing to review background material 
may obtain it by contacting the RCHCA. Documents also will be available 
for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours (8 am 
to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday) at the Riverside County Habitat 
Conservation Agency, 4080 Lemon Street, 12th. Floor, Riverside, 
California 92501. The RCHCA may be contacted by telephone at (909) 275-
1100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Stephens' kangaroo rat was listed under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended, as an endangered species, effective October 
31, 1988 (53 FR 38485). Because of its listing as an endangered 
species, the Stephens' kangaroo rat is protected by the Act's 
prohibition against ``take'', that is, no one may harass, harm, pursue, 
hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect the species, or 
attempt to engage in such conduct (16 USC 1538). The Service, however, 
may issue permits to conduct activities involving endangered species 
under certain circumstances, including carrying out scientific 
purposes, enhancing the propagation or survival of the species, or 
incidentally taking the species in connection with otherwise lawful 
activities.
    The RCHCA presently has a short-term 10(a) permit from the Service 
to incidentally take Stephens' kangaroo rats in connection with various 
proposed public and private projects in the western portion of 
Riverside County. Under the program established through this interim 
permit, Stephens' kangaroo rat habitat in public and private ownership 
is being acquired and managed for the long-term benefit of the species. 
Acquisition of private lands is funded in part from mitigation fees 
collected by the RCHCA as developments proceed.
    As intended when the interim permit was issued in August 1990, the 
RCHCA is applying to the Service for a 30-year incidental take permit 
for the same purposes. The area covered by the proposed 30-year permit 
will include much of the historical range of the Stephens' kangaroo rat 
in Riverside County. The procedures for the RCHCA to incidentally take 
Stephens' kangaroo rats under the proposed 30-year permit will be 
evaluated in the EIS/EIR.
    The RCHCA's preparation of the long-term HCP has been on-going 
since the short-term permit was authorized. In March 1993 the Service 
and the RCHCA initiated a joint scoping process for the preparation of 
a combined EIS/EIR in anticipation of the Service receiving a permit 
application for a 30-year section 10(a) permit for incidental take of 
Stephens' kangaroo rats. The scoping process was initiated in 
accordance with NEPA to solicit comments on issues and alternatives to 
be addressed in the EIS/EIR. Because of the extended two-year scoping 
process, the Draft Scoping Report was prepared to update public 
knowledge of the scoping process. This report summarizes the two-year 
scoping process, identifies the scoping issues raised by interested 
parties at public meetings and in written statements, and outlines the 
issues and alternatives that will be addressed in the EIS/EIR.
    The draft scoping report identifies the following list of 10 
alternatives to address the Service's underlying purpose in evaluating 
this permit application, including: (1) no action; (2) proposed 
project/action, as defined by the revised Draft HCP completed by the 
RCHCA in February 1995; (3) expanded protection and conservation of 
Stephens' kangaroo rat habitat; (4) a reserve system based upon 
existing public lands only; (5) an alternative defined by the July 1994 
Draft HCP; (6) an alternative defined by a modified version of the July 
1994 Draft HCP with an expanded plan area; (7) an alternative defined 
by the November 1993 Draft HCP; (8) continuation of the Short-term HCP; 
(9) a multiple species alternative; and (10) a ``Habitat Transaction 
Method'' alternative, establishing a market-based conservation 
strategy. In addition, conceptual alternatives discussed in the first 
phase of scoping in 1993 will be summarized.
    Although the RCHCA will prepare the draft EIS, the Service will be 
responsible for its content and scope. In addition, the RCHCA will act 
as the lead agency for the preparation of the EIR.
    The comment period will provide an opportunity to address the 
potential effects of these alternatives and to propose others. The 
Draft Scoping Report is available on request (See ADDRESSES above). 
Interested persons are encouraged to comment on the issues and 
alternatives that should be addressed in the joint EIS/EIR.

[Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on a Permit 
Application to Incidentally Take Stephens' Kangaroo Rats, an 
Endangered Species, in Riverside County, California.]

    [[Page 15578]] Dated: March 20, 1995.
H. Dale Hall,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 95-7513 Filed 3-23-95; 8:45 am]
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