[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 11690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5824]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of 
Comment Period for Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat 
Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit 
for Ranching and Related Activities on El Coronado Ranch (PRT-837858), 
Cochise County, Arizona

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice: reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice 
that the public comment period is reopened for an application for an 
incidental take permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered 
Species Act. The El Coronado Ranch (Applicant) has also requested 
unlisted-species provisions in an Implementing Agreement to cover a 
species of concern found in the planning area. The Applicant has been 
assigned permit number PRT-837858. The requested permit, which is for a 
period of 25 years, would authorize incidental take of the endangered 
Yaqui chub (Gila purpurea) and the threatened Yaqui catfish (Ictalurus 
pricei). The unlisted species provision covers the issuance of permits 
for the incidental take of the Yaqui form of longfin dace (Agosia 
chrysogaster), a species not presently listed under the Act, but which 
might become listed during the term of the proposed permit. The 
proposed take is on the 1,920 acres of private land and would occur 
from ranching and related activities on the El Coronado Ranch, Cochise 
County, Arizona.
    The Service has prepared the Environmental Assessment/Habitat 
Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the incidental take application. A 
public comment period on the EA/HCP was open from January 5, 1998, 
through February 4, 1998. However, the Service determines that there is 
significant public interest in this proposed action, and finds good 
cause to reopen the comment period for 15 days following the date of 
this publication. Thus, a determination of whether jeopardy to the 
species is likely to occur, or a Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI), will not be made before 15 days from the date of publication 
of this notice. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of 
the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 
1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the application should be received on or 
before March 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy 
by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Persons wishing to review 
the EA/HCP may obtain a copy by contacting Doug Duncan, Tucson 
Suboffice, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 300 West Congress, 
Room 4D, Tucson, Arizona 85701 (520-670-4860), or Angie Brooks, Arizona 
Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, 
Phoenix, Arizona 85021, (602-640-2720; Fax 602-640-2730). Documents 
will be available for public inspection by written request, by 
appointment only, during normal business hours (7:30 to 4:30), at the 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tucson or Phoenix offices listed above. 
Written data or comments concerning the application and EA/HCP should 
be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office, 
Phoenix, Arizona (see address above). Please refer to permit number 
PRT-837858 when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan at the above Tucson 
Suboffice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act prohibits the 
``taking'' of threatened and endangered species such as the Yaqui 
catfish and Yaqui Chub. However, the Service, under limited 
circumstances, may issue permits to take threatened or endangered 
wildlife species when such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose 
of, otherwise lawful activities. Regulations governing permits for 
endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.
    The EA considers the environmental consequences of two 
alternatives, including the proposed action. Three other alternatives 
were explored, but were rejected as unworkable. The proposed action 
alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit and 
implementation of the HCP as submitted by the Applicant. The other 
alternative is to take no action. The HCP provides for a strategy to 
conserve the listed and unlisted species and to restore watershed 
health in the West Turkey Creek drainage. The HCP is designed to 
provide a net benefit to the species. The HCP has stipulations for 
monitoring of species populations and habitats and functioning of the 
HCP. The HCP also provides for funding the mitigation measures and 
monitoring.

Applicant

    El Coronado Ranch plans to pursue ranching and related activities 
on 1.920 acres of private land and 13,284 acres of leased grazing 
allotments. The anticipated incidental take will occur on ponds, 
ditches, and associated structures on private land. El Coronado Ranch 
is located in the West Turkey Creek watershed of the Chiricahua 
Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona.

    Dated: February 23, 1998.
Renne Lohoefener,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 98-5824 Filed 3-9-98; 8:45 am]
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