[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 9 (Monday, January 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 1781]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-849]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Threemile Canyon Farms Multi-Species Candidate Conservation 
Agreement with Assurances

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, this notice 
advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), 
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and Portland General Electric (PGE), 
intends to gather information necessary to prepare an environmental 
document (environmental assessment or environmental impact statement) 
regarding the proposed Threemile Canyon Farms Multi-Species Candidate 
Conservation Agreement with Assurances (MSCCAA) and issuance of an 
enhancement of survival permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). Threemile Canyon 
Farms is the potential permit applicant.
    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) announce the initiation of a 30-day public scoping 
period; and (3) to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of 
issues to be included in the environmental document.

DATES: Written comments from all interested parties must be received on 
or before February 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to Kemper McMaster, State 
Supervisor, USFWS, 2600 SE 98th Ave., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97266, 
telephone (503) 231-6179, facsimile (503) 231-6195.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kemper McMaster, (503) 231-6179.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Candidate Conservation Agreements with 
Assurances contain a strategy for covered lands and activities that 
demonstrate an applicant's contribution to preclude or remove the need 
to list a covered species as threatened or endangered under the Act. In 
return, the applicant is provided with regulatory certainty that they 
will not be required to provide additional conservation measures should 
any of the covered species become listed under the ESA in the future. 
The MSCCAA will cover approximately 93,000 acres near Boardman, Oregon, 
including a 23,000-acre wildlife conservation area managed by TNC and 
property owned by PGE located within the plan boundaries. The primary 
goal of the MSCCAA is to implement a variety of habitat conservation 
measures for the following covered species: the Washington ground 
squirrel (Spermophilus washington), ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), 
loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), grasshopper sparrow 
(Ammodramus savannarum), and the sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli). 
Conservation measures will focus on restoration and re-establishment of 
native plant communities including sagebrush and bitterbrush steppe 
along with grassland species such as needle and thread (Stipa spp.). 
Other measures include control of exotic species and implementation 
monitoring. Potential covered activities include: mechanized farming 
and dairy operations; product transportation; road construction, use 
and maintenance; site preparation; fertilizer application; fire 
suppression; prescribed burning and other agricultural or habitat 
restoration activities.
    The Service will conduct an environmental review of the Plan and 
prepare an environmental document. The review will analyze the 
proposal, as well as a full range of reasonable alternatives, and the 
associated impacts of each. Should information become available during 
the scoping process that indicates the likelihood of significant 
impacts from the proposed project, an Environmental Impact Statement 
will be prepared. Otherwise, an Environmental Assessment will be 
prepared. Comments and suggestions are invited from all interested 
parties to ensure the full range of issues related to this proposed 
action are identified. Comments, or questions should be addressed to 
the Service at the address or telephone number provided above.
    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.), National 
Environmental Policy Act Regulations 40 CFR (1500-1508), other 
appropriate Federal laws and regulations, and policies and procedures 
of the Service for compliance with those regulations.

    Dated: January 8, 2002.
Rowan W. Gould,
 Deputy Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, 
Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 02-849 Filed 1-11-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P