[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 59 (Monday, March 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16217-16218]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7168]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report on the Restoration and Management Plan for 
Bair Island, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 
San Mateo County, California, and Announcement of Public Scoping 
Meeting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement/
environmental impact report and notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) intends to gather information necessary to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) 
for the development of a Restoration and Management Plan (RMP) for Bair 
Island located in San Mateo County, California. Interested persons are 
encouraged to submit written comments and/or attend a public scoping 
meeting to identify and discuss issues and alternatives that should be 
addressed in the RMP and in the EIS/EIR. The Service is furnishing this 
notice in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) for the following purposes: (1) To advise 
other agencies and the public of our intentions; (2) to obtain 
suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be addressed in 
the EIS/EIR; and (3) to announce a public scoping meeting. Comments and 
participation in this scoping process are solicited. We estimate the 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement will be made available to the 
public by February 2001.

DATES: A public scoping meeting will be held on April 27, 2000, from 
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., see addresses for location. Written comments 
related to the scope and content of the Restoration and Management Plan 
and EIS/EIR should be received by the Service at the Newark address 
below by April 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Community Activities 
Building, 1400 Roosevelt Avenue, Redwood City, California. Oral and 
written comments will be taken at the meeting. Written comments also 
may be mailed to Ms. Margaret T. Kolar, Refuge Complex Manager, San 
Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex, P.O. Box 524, Newark, 
California 94560; or sent by facsimile to (510) 792-5828.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clyde Morris, Refuge Manager, Don 
Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Newark, California, 
telephone (510) 792-0222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) will manage all State 
and Federal land on Bair Island as a part of the Don Edwards San 
Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Lands owned by the 
California Department of Fish and Game on Bair Island will be managed 
as a part of the Refuge in compliance with a Memorandum of 
Understanding.
    The Service proposes to restore Bair Island to tidal wetlands. The 
purpose of the project is to restore saltwater marsh habitat for 
endangered species and other native wildlife; and to enhance the 
public's appreciation and awareness of the unique resources of Bair 
Island.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 
CFR 1500-1508), other appropriate Federal regulations, and Service 
procedures for compliance with those regulations.

Project Objectives

    The objectives of the project follow.
    1. Restore and enhance habitat for the endangered California 
clapper rail and salt marsh harvest mouse.
    2. Create and enhance habitat for other endangered and threatened 
species, and other wetland dependent species if compatible with 
restoration for the clapper rail and harvest mouse.
    3. Minimize disturbance to any sensitive species (clapper rail, 
harbor seals, etc.).
    4. Provide for control of undesirable species including invasive 
plants, undesirable predators, and mosquitos.
    5. Enhance the public's awareness of the unique resources at Bair 
Island by providing opportunities for wildlife-oriented recreation and 
nature study.

Questions and Issues

    Questions and issues identified to date include the following.
    1. What recreational uses are compatible with restoration?
    2. How will historic and cultural resources be protected?
    3. What are the impacts of restoration activities on sensitive 
wildlife resources?
    4. How will invasive non-native and undesirable species be 
controlled?

[[Page 16218]]

    5. Would this project improve flood conditions along Redwood, 
Pulgas, and Cordilleras creeks, or affect the stability of Highway 101 
and flood control levees along Steinberger Slough and Redwood Creeks?
    6. How will San Carlos Airport property on Inner Bair Island be 
protected from tidal inundation?
    7. What impacts will there be to adjacent marinas and the Port of 
Redwood City from increased tidal currents?
    8. What are the risks to low flying aircraft from increased 
waterbird use?
    9. How will this project impact the South Bayside System 
Authority's pipeline and Pacific Gas and Electric's towers?

Public Comments

    Comments already received are on record and need not be 
resubmitted. All comments received from individuals on the EIS/EIR 
become part of the official public record. Requests for such comments 
will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, the 
Council on Environmental Quality's NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6(f)), 
and other Service and Departmental policy and procedures. When 
requested, the Service generally will provide comment letters with the 
names and addresses of the individuals who wrote the comments. 
Telephone numbers of commenting individuals, however, will not be 
provided in response to such requests to the extent permissible by law. 
Additionally, public comment letters are not required to contain the 
commentator's name, address, or other identifying information. Such 
comments may be submitted anonymously to the Service.

    Dated: March 17, 2000.
Elizabeth H. Stevens,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 00-7168 Filed 3-24-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P