[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 43267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20696]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Revised Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement for Issuance of Permits, to Incidentally Take Threatened and 
Endangered Species, to the City of Sacramento, Sutter County, 
Reclamation District No. 1000, and Natomas Central Mutual Water Company 
in Association With a Revised Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan, 
Sacramento and Sutter Counties, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Revised notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: On December 18, 2000, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) regarding an Environmental Impact 
Statement for a revised Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan) 
and Incidental Take Permits (Permits) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Endangered Species Act. At that time, the Service was considering 
amending the Permit for the City of Sacramento and issuing a Permit to 
Sutter County. Reclamation District No. 1000 (RD 1000) and Natomas 
Central Mutual Water Company (Natomas Mutual) have now joined the City 
of Sacramento and Sutter County as applicants for Permits. RD 1000 
plans to participate as a co-lead agency with the City of Sacramento 
and Sutter County. In addition, Sacramento County may also apply for a 
Permit.
    The Permits would authorize incidental take of listed species and 
unlisted species that may be listed in the future. The original scope 
of the Environmental Impact Statement, as described in the December 18, 
2000 NOI, was to consider incidental take occurring as a result of 
urban development within the City of Sacramento and Sutter County, 
certain farming activities, and management of habitat reserves. Take 
resulting from Sacramento County is anticipated to be similar in scope 
to the City of Sacramento and Sutter County. With the proposed addition 
of the RD 1000 and Natomas Mutual Permits, the Environmental Impact 
Statement will also consider incidental take associated with RD 1000's 
and Natomas Mutual's operation and maintenance of water delivery and 
drainage canals and ditches, as well as the previously identified urban 
development, farming activities, and management of habitat reserves.
    Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the Service 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement addressing the 
proposed action of amending the Plan and issuing Permits. This 
Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared jointly with an 
Environmental Impact Report pursuant to the California Environmental 
Quality Act. Pursuant to the prior NOI, the Service conducted public 
scoping from December 18, 2000 to January 16, 2001, including three 
meetings in the project vicinity. This notice reopens the scoping 
process and solicits written comments because the project description 
has changed to include the participation of RD 1000 and Natomas Mutual. 
Comments previously submitted during the initial scoping period will be 
addressed in the Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact 
Statement.

DATES: Written comments are encouraged and should be received on or 
before September 17, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Information, written comments, or questions related to the 
inclusion of RD 1000 and Natomas Mutual into the Plan and Environmental 
Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement should be submitted to 
Vicki Campbell, Division Chief, Conservation Planning, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage 
Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 95825; FAX (916) 414-6713. All 
comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of 
the official administrative record and may be made available to the 
public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Rinek or Kelly Hornaday, Fish and 
Wildlife Biologists, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office at (916) 414-
6600. Additional information can also be obtained from the City of 
Sacramento [Grace Hovey, (916) 264-7601], Sutter County [Jeff Pemstein, 
(916) 361-8384], RD 1000 [Jim Clifton, (916) 922-9173], and Natomas 
Mutual [Peter Hughes, (916) 419-5936].

    Dated: August 10, 2001.
Daniel Walsworth,
Deputy Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office,Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 01-20696 Filed 8-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P