[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63065-63066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-30025]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Coyote Springs Investments Multiple Species Habitat Conservation 
Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, 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 (EIS) regarding the proposed Coyote Springs 
Investments Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) and 
issuance of an incidental take permit (Permit) to take endangered and 
threatened species in accordance with section 10(a) of the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Permit applicant is Coyote 
Springs Investments (Applicant). The application is related to 
potential development activities in Southern Lincoln County. The 
Applicants intend to request a Permit for federally listed threatened 
or endangered species as well as Evaluation List species. Evaluation 
List species include species that have been petitioned for listing; 
state listed species; species that have been nominated for inclusion by 
technical specialists; and other species of concern that co-occur with 
federally listed species. The species list is being refined as a part 
of the scoping process. In accordance with the Act, the Applicant will 
prepare a Habitat Conservation Plan (Plan), for, among other things, 
minimizing and mitigating any such take which could occur incidental to 
the proposed Permit activities.
    The Service is furnishing this notice in order to: (1) Advise other 
Federal and State agencies, affected tribes, and the public of our 
intentions; (2) to announce the initiation of a 60-day public scoping 
period and (3) to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to be included in the EIS.

DATES: Written comments from all interested parties must be received on 
or before February 4, 2002. Public scoping meetings will be held in Las 
Vegas, Nevada on December 11, 2001 at Texas Station Hotel, 2101 Texas 
Star Lane from 7 to 9 p.m. and in Alamo, Nevada on December 12, 2001 at 
the Alamo Annex, 100 South First West Street, from 7 to 9 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Comments and requests for information should be sent to 
Robert D. Williams, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, Nevada 89502, telephone 775-
861-6300, facsimile 775-861-6301. Comments and materials received will 
be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed project area generally includes 
portions of Coyote Springs Valley in both Clark and Lincoln Counties, 
and consists of roughly 42,800 acres of fee and leased land located in 
portions of Townships 11, 12 and 13 South and Ranges 63 & 64 East. The 
project site occupies most of the eastern portion of Coyote Springs 
Valley straddling both the Pahranagat Wash and the Kane Springs Wash. 
It is bordered by the Delamar Mountains to the north, the Meadow Valley 
Mountains to the east, SR 168 and the Arrow Canyon Range to the south, 
and US 93 to the west.
    Some of the Applicant's future activities have the potential to 
impact species subject to protection under the Act. Section 10(a)(1)(B) 
permits non-Federal land owners to take endangered and threatened 
species, provided the take is incidental to otherwise lawful activities 
and will not appreciably reduce the likelihood for the survival and 
recovery of the species in the wild, among other permit issuance 
criteria. An applicant for a Permit under section 10 of the Act must 
prepare and submit to the Service for approval a Plan containing, among 
other things, a strategy for minimizing and mitigating all take 
associated with the proposed activities to the maximum extent 
practicable. The applicant must also ensure that adequate funding for 
the Plan will be provided.
    The Applicant have initiated discussions with the Service regarding

[[Page 63066]]

the possibility of a Permit and associated MSHCP for their activities 
on lands to be covered by a Permit. General activities proposed for 
Permit coverage include residential and commercial development, 
construction, and maintenance activities.
    The Service will conduct an environmental review of the Plan and 
prepare an EIS. The environmental review will analyze the proposal as 
well as a full range of reasonable alternatives and the associated 
impacts of each. The Service is currently in the process of developing 
alternatives for analysis.
    Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested parties to 
ensure that the full range of issues related to the Permit request are 
addressed and that all significant issues are identified. Comments or 
questions concerning this proposed action and the EIS should be 
directed to the Service (see ADDRESSES).
    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. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508) and other appropriate 
Federal laws and regulations, policies, and procedures of the Service 
for compliance with those regulations. It is estimated that the draft 
EIS will be available for public review during the third quarter of 
2002.

    Dated: November 28, 2001.
John Engbring,
Acting Deputy Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office.
[FR Doc. 01-30025 Filed 12-3-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P