[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 150 (Friday, August 4, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39964-39965]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19115]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of a Draft Joint Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Regarding the Application 
for Incidental Take and Implementation of a Long-Term Habitat 
Conservation Plan for the Stephens' Kangaroo Rat, an Endangered 
Species, in Western Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the draft Joint 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report on the 
application to Incidentally Take Stephens' Kangaroo Rat (SKR) in 
Riverside County, California, is available for public review. The 
Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency (RCHCA) has applied to the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for a 30-year Incidental Take 
Permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act). The Service also advises the public that the 
application package prepared by the RCHCA, which includes the SKR Long-
term Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), Implementing Agreement (IA), and 
Incidental Take Permit Application, is available for public review. 
Comments are requested and a public hearing will be held. All comments 
received, including names and addresses, will become part of the 
administrative record and may be made available to the public.

DATES: Written comments are requested by September 18, 1995. A public 
meeting will be conducted on September 6, 1995, in Riverside, 
California, beginning at 1:00 pm. Agency representatives will be 
available to answer questions and receive either written or oral 
comments concerning the draft Joint EIS/EIR.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to: Gail C. Kobetich, 
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field 
Office, 2730 Loker Ave. West, Carlsbad, California 92008. Written 
comments may also be sent by facsimile to (619) 431-9618. The public 
meeting will be held at the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room, County 
Administrative Center, 14th Floor, 4080 Lemon Street, Riverside, CA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pete Sorensen, Endangered Species 
Division Chief, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

[[Page 39965]]
Carlsbad Field Office, 2730 Loker Ave. West, Carlsbad, California 
92008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability of Documents

    Individuals wishing copies of this draft Joint EIS/EIR for review 
should immediately contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Carlsbad 
Field Office at the above referenced address, or by telephone at (619) 
431-9440. Individuals wishing to review the SKR Long-term HCP and IA 
should immediately contact the RCHCA at (909) 275-1100. Documents will 
be available for public inspection by appointment during normal 
business hours (8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday) at the RCHCA, 
4080 Lemon Street, 12th Floor, Riverside, California 92501. Documents 
will also be available for public inspection by appointment during 
normal business hours (8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday) at the 
Service's Office at the above referenced address and telephone. 
Documents will also be available for public inspection at numerous 
libraries throughout the planning area. The location of specific 
libraries having copies can be obtained by contacting the Service at 
the above number. Copies of the draft EIS have been sent to all 
agencies and individuals who participated in the scoping process and to 
all others who have already requested copies.

Background

    The Service listed the SKR as an endangered species, effective 
October 31, 1988 (53 FR 38485). Because of its listing as an endangered 
species, the SKR 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 U.S.C. 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)(1)(B) permit (PRT-
739678) from the Service to incidentally take SKRs in connection with 
various proposed public and private projects in the western portion of 
Riverside County. Under the program established through this interim 
permit, SKR 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 granted 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 SKR in Riverside 
County. The procedures for the RCHCA to incidentally take SKRs under 
the proposed 30-year permit are evaluated in the EIS/EIR.
    This draft Joint EIS/EIR has been developed cooperatively by the 
Service's Carlsbad Field Office (lead agency for the draft EIS), the 
RCHCA, and California Department of Fish and Game.
    In the development of this draft Joint EIS/EIR, the Service has 
initiated action to assure compliance with the purpose and intent of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended. 
Scoping activities were undertaken preparatory to developing the draft 
EIS with a variety of Federal, State, and local entities. A Notice of 
Intent to prepare the EIS was published in the Federal Register on 
March 2, 1993.
    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 joint EIS/EIR in anticipation of the Service receiving a permit 
application for a 30-year Section 10(a) permit for incidental take of 
SKR. 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 2-year scoping process, a draft Scoping 
Report was prepared to update public knowledge of the scoping process. 
That report summarizes the 2-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 draft EIS/EIR. The availability of the draft 
Scoping Report was published in the Federal Register on March 24, 1995.
    Key issues addressed in this draft EIS/EIR are identified as the 
effects that implementation of various alternatives would have upon: 
(1) The endangered SKR; (2) other wildlife and their habitats; (3) land 
uses and general plans; (4) provision of public facilities, services 
and utilities; and (5) social and economic conditions.
    More than 10 alternatives were considered before limiting the 
alternatives to be advanced for further study. Ultimately, 4 
alternatives were selected for detailed analysis: (1) Proposed Action/
Project (approve and implement the Long-term SKR HCP); (2) Expanded 
Conservation/Protection (conserve more SKR habitat); (3) Existing 
Reserves/Public Lands (focus on SKR habitat already protected); and (4) 
a No Project/No Action Alternative (assume no regional program). The 
Service will identify its preferred alternative and environmentally 
preferable alternative as defined in the NEPA in the final EIS/EIR.
    Each alternative was evaluated in terms of its potential to result 
in significant adverse impacts, and the adequacy or inadequacy of the 
proposed measures to avoid, minimize, and substantially lessen the 
effects.

    Dated: July 27, 1995.
David L. McMullen,
Acting Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 95-19115 Filed 8-3-95; 8:45 am]
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