[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59889-59891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30021]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on a Permit 
Application to Incidentally Take Threatened and Endangered Species in 
Association with a Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan for the 
Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway Sites in the City of Beaumont, 
County of Riverside, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has under 
consideration for approval a draft Multiple Species Habitat 
Conservation Plan and an application for incidental take submitted by 
the Lockheed Martin

[[Page 59890]]

Corporation (Lockheed). In response to the plan, the Service intends to 
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act. The Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys 
stephensi) is the only species within the plan area for this Multiple 
Species Habitat Conservation Plan that is currently federally listed as 
threatened or endangered. However, Lockheed is also seeking coverage 
with respect to a number of species of plants and animals of concern 
that may be listed in the future. The Multiple Species Habitat 
Conservation Plan proposes a basis for the issuance of incidental take 
permits and other authorizations under the Federal Endangered Species 
Act and California Endangered Species Act for all the covered species. 
This notice describes the action proposed by Lockheed and possible 
alternatives, identifies mechanisms for the interested public to obtain 
background materials, solicits written comments on the scope and 
preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, and identifies the 
Service official to whom questions and comments concerning the proposed 
action and the Environmental Impact Statement may be directed. The 
Service is requesting comments addressing what issues and alternatives 
should be considered in the development of the Environmental Impact 
Statement.

DATES: Written comments related to the scope and content of the 
Environmental Impact Statement should be received on or before December 
26, 1996 at the address below.

ADDRESSES: Information, comments, or questions related to preparation 
of the Environmental Impact Statement and the National Environmental 
Policy Act 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 telephone (619) 431-9618.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Pete Sorensen, Assistant Field 
Supervisor, at the above Carlsbad address, telephone (619) 431-9440. 
Documents will also be available for public inspection by appointment 
during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) 
at the above Carlsbad address. Individuals interested in background 
materials, including Lockheed's draft Multiple Species Habitat 
Conservation Plan and the Final Environmental Impact Report for the 
Beaumont Gateway Specific Plan and Potrero Creek Specific Plan prepared 
by Lockheed and its consultants for the City of Beaumont, should 
contact Hugh Hewitt, representing Lockheed, at (714) 798-0500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service listed the Stephens' kangaroo 
rat 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 Endangered Species Act's prohibition against 
``take.'' This means 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 (16 
U.S.C. 1539).
    Lockheed is applying to the Service for a 30-year incidental take 
permit to incidentally take the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat on up 
to 2,016 acres of occupied and potential habitat at Potrero Creek, and 
14 acres of occupied and potential habitat at Beaumont Gateway, and 
propose their Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan as the basis 
for the issuance of the requested permit. In addition, Lockheed is 
seeking authorization for the incidental take of seven other currently 
listed species not known to occupy the Potrero Creek and Beaumont 
Gateway sites, and seeks incidental take assurances for 44 other 
species that may be listed in the future.
    The Potrero Creek site supports one of the largest known contiguous 
populations of the Stephens' kangaroo rat, and includes a significant 
portion (2,000 to 2,200 acres of occupied and potential habitat, or 
approximately 7 percent) of the known Stephens' kangaroo rat population 
in Riverside County. The requested permit would allow future 
development of portions of the 9,117 acre Potrero Creek site, including 
up to 2,016 acres of occupied and potential Stephens' kangaroo rat 
habitat, and all of the 160 acre Beaumont Gateway site, which includes 
14 acres of occupied or potential habitat, pursuant to Specific Plans 
approved by the city of Beaumont. The proposed developments would 
proceed without further mitigation for sensitive biological resources 
as long as the conservation program contained within the Multiple 
Species Habitat Conservation Plan is being properly implemented.
    The Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan proposes the 
establishment and management of two open space preserves totaling 9,127 
acres for sustainable multiple species uses, contribution of a $1,950 
per acre fee, for a total of $5,325,450, to the Riverside County 
Habitat Conservation Agency for acquisition, expansion and/or long-term 
management of the Stephens' kangaroo rat Core Reserve System, and 
implementation of measures designed to minimize and/or avoid adverse 
effects of development of the Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway sites. 
The proposed 30-year permit will be evaluated in the Environmental 
Impact Statement.
    The Environmental Impact Statement will consider the proposed 
action and a reasonable range of alternatives. Possible alternatives 
include:
    Alternative 1: Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway Specific Plans 
(proposed project by Lockheed). This alternative involves development 
of the Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway Specific Plans, as currently 
approved by the City of Beaumont, in concert with implementation of the 
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
    Alternative 2: Stephens' Kangaroo Preservation Alternative No. 1. 
This alternative is intended to avoid take of the endangered Stephens' 
kangaroo rat by confining any proposed development on either the 
Potrero Creek or the Beaumont Gateway sites to areas that do not 
adversely affect known Stephens' kangaroo rat occupied habitat.
    Alternative 3: Stephens' Kangaroo Preservation Alternative No. 2. 
This alternative involves a reduction in development areas on the 
Potrero Creek site to retain approximately 70 percent of the existing 
occupied habitat on the Potrero Creek site with no Stephens' kangaroo 
rat habitat preservation on the Beaumont Gateway site.
    Alternative 4: Bureau of Land Management Area of Critical 
Ecological Concern Alternative. This alternative would result in the 
application of the Bureau of Land Management's proposed Area of 
Critical Ecological Concern designation upon the Potrero Creek site as 
described in the South Coast Resource Management Plan prepared by the 
Bureau of Land Management in 1994. Through a land exchange or other 
means acceptable to Lockheed and the Bureau of Land Management, the 
Potrero Creek site would be conserved and managed by the Bureau of Land 
Management while the Beaumont Gateway site would be developed pursuant 
to the approved land uses within the Beaumont Gateway Specific Plan.

[[Page 59891]]

    Alternative 5: Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan Fee 
Area Alternative. This alternative involves development of the Potrero 
Creek and Beaumont Gateway sites according to approved land uses in the 
respective Specific Plans. In contrast to preparing and implementing a 
separate Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan as proposed, the 
Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway projects would use existing 
provisions in the ``Habitat Conservation Plan for the Stephens' 
Kangaroo Rat in Western Riverside County'' for the authorization of 
incidental take. Under this alternative Lockheed would be responsible 
for acquiring a 1:1 ratio of occupied Stephens' kangaroo rat habitat 
within the plan area boundary of the ``Habitat Conservation Plan for 
the Stephens' Kangaroo Rat in Western Riverside County.''
    Alternative 6: Reduced Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Mitigation Fee 
Alternative. This alternative involves development of the Potrero Creek 
and Beaumont Gateway sites according to approved land uses in the 
respective Specific Plans, in concert with implementation of the 
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Under this alternative the 
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan would propose the 
contribution of a $500 per acre fee, for a total of $1,775,150, to the 
Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency instead of the currently 
proposed $1950 per acre contribution.
    Alternative 7: No Project. Under this alternative, no incidental 
take permit would be issued.
    Environmental review of the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation 
Plan will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the 1969 
National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), 
other appropriate regulations, and Service procedures for compliance 
with those regulations. This notice is being furnished in accordance 
with section 1501.7 of the National Environmental Policy Act to obtain 
suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the 
scope of issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.

    Dated: November 15, 1996.
John H. Doebel,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-30021 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P