[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 200 (Monday, October 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61214-61215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26471]


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UTAH RECLAMATION MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION COMMISSION


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
Constructing a Warm-Water Sportfish and Native Aquatic Species Hatchery 
in Millard County, Utah

AGENCY: The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission.

ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct scoping and prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission 
with cooperating agencies: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, U.S. 
Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, U. S. Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service will prepare 
an EIS on a proposal to construct a warm-water sportfish and native 
aquatic species hatchery near Gandy Warm Springs in Millard County, 
Utah. The site is located on federal land managed by the BLM. The BLM 
intends to use this Notice of Intent and EIS for their Record of 
Decision for any required land transaction.
    Species to be propagated include the channel catfish, June sucker, 
least chub, leatherside chub, roundtail chub, boreal toad, and spotted 
frog.
    Facilities to be constructed include: water systems--control 
structures, supply/drain lines, effluent treatment; rearing 
facilities--earthen, concrete and plastic ponds, raceways or tanks; 
buildings--hatchery/lab/office, shop, service/storage, residences, 
visitors' facilities.
    The Central Utah Project Completion Act of 1992 (Act) authorized 
funding to improve existing hatchery facilities or construct new ones 
to increase

[[Page 61215]]

production of warm water and cold water fish for the areas affected by 
the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) in Utah. In compliance with 
the Act, a Fish Hatchery Production Plan (Plan) and Environmental 
Assessment (EA) on the Plan were completed in 1995. The Plan was 
revised in 1998 based on updated information. The Plan identifies long-
term warm water sport-fish and native aquatic species stocking needs 
for meeting management objectives in CRSP-affected area waters, and 
recommends construction of a warm water hatchery. The Mitigation 
Commission accepted the revised Plan, and issued a Finding of No 
Significant Impact on implementation of the Plan.
    Three possible alternatives have been identified: 1. No Action--
build no facility; 2. Use an existing hatchery facility; and 3. 
Construct a new facility at the Gandy Warm Springs site (proposed 
action).
    The No Action Alternative would be no new construction, but the use 
of a small, existing warm-water culture effort. The Existing Hatchery 
System Alternative would be an evaluation of a facility or facilities 
within the existing hatchery system for possible improvements for warm-
water culture.
    The Proposed Action Alternative would be the new facility 
construction at the Gandy Warm Springs site, Millard County, Utah. It 
would include a land transaction by the BLM under the Recreation and 
Public Purposes Act (68 Statute 173; 43 USC 869 et seq.).

DATES: 1. Submit scoping comments on or before November 10, 2000.
    2. An open house will be held October 30, 2000, 6 to 9 p.m., local 
time.

ADDRESSES: 1. Address all comments to Maureen Wilson, Project 
Coordinator, Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission, 
102 West 500 South, #315, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. Submit electronic 
comments to [email protected].
    2. The open house location is the Community Center in Baker, Nevada 
89311

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Wilson, 801-524-3146.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An initial scoping was completed in May, 
2000. Over 160 scoping notices were mailed or posted. A public meeting 
was held in Trout Creek, in Millard Co. on May 25, 2000. Responses from 
27 individuals and agencies were received.
    Issues identified to date include: escapement of exotic species, 
site-specific construction impacts, protection of existing water 
rights, quality of hatchery effluent discharge, impact on historical 
and recreational use of the area.
    Comments should address environmental issues to be considered, 
feasible alternatives to examine, possible mitigation, and information 
relevant to the Proposed Action. A public meeting will be held in 
Baker, Nevada during this scoping period.
    It is important that comments be received by the close of the 
formal scoping period so they can be considered in a meaningful manner 
in the draft EIS.
    Tentative Project Schedule: Begin comment period: May 2000; Scoping 
and Issue Identification Period Ends: November 2000; Draft EIS: October 
2001; Final EIS and Record of Decision: January 2002.

    Dated: October 3, 2000.
Michael C. Weland,
Executive Director.
[FR Doc. 00-26471 Filed 10-13-00; 8:45 am]
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