[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32125-32126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4918]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Paiute 
Cutthroat Trout Restoration Project, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness, 
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Alpine County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent of public scoping.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) as the 
lead agency, advises the public that we intend to gather information 
necessary to prepare, in cooperation with the United States Department 
of Agriculture Forest Service (Forest Service), an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on the proposed Paiute Cutthroat Trout Restoration 
Project (Project). The Forest Service is a cooperating agency because 
activities within designated wilderness on National Forest System lands 
require Forest Service approval (36 CFR 261.9f, 293.6c).
    The Service provides this notice to: (1) Describe the proposed 
action and possible alternatives; (2) advise other Federal and State 
agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an 
EIS; (3) announce the initiation of a 30-day public scoping period; and 
(4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and 
alternatives to be included in the EIS.

DATES: A public meeting will be held on: June 19, 2006 from 4 to 7 p.m. 
Written comments should be received on or before July 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at Turtle Rock Park 
Community Center 17300 State Route 89 Markleeville, California 96120. 
Information, written comments, or questions related to the preparation 
of the EIS and the NEPA process should be submitted to Robert D. 
Williams, Field Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service, Nevada Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, Nevada 
89502; or FAX (775) 861-6301. Comments may be submitted electronically 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Mellison (See ADDRESSES) at (775) 
861-6300.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Reasonable Accommodation

    Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and 
participate in the public meeting should contact Chad Mellison (See 
ADDRESSES) at (775) 861-6300 as soon as possible. In order to allow 
sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than one week 
before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed action 
is available in alternative formats upon request.

Authority

    This action is done in accordance with Recovery implementation 
section 4(f)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(ESA).

Background

    At the time of its original listing as endangered under the 
Endangered Species Protection Act of 1966, non-native trout were 
considered a threat to the Paiute cutthroat trout (PCT; Oncorhynchus 
clarki seleniris). In 1975, PCT were reclassified as threatened under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and a 4(d) rule was issued to 
facilitate management between California Department of Fish and Game 
and the Service. In order to recover the subspecies, non-native trout 
need to be removed from their historic habitat and PCT reintroduced as 
specified in the 2004 Revised PCT Recovery Plan. Without this project, 
PCT in the Silver King drainage will continue to be at risk from an 
illegal introduction of non-native trout and/or stochastic (one time) 
events such as a large fire or flood. Recovery of the species cannot be 
achieved without this project and the long-term survival of the species 
will be in doubt.
    We propose to eradicate non-native trout with the piscicide 
rotenone from 14.7 kilometers (9.1 miles) of historic PCT habitat, in 
Silver King Creek, from Llewellyn Falls downstream to Silver King 
Canyon as well as the accessible reaches of three small named 
tributaries: Tamarack Creek, Tamarack Lake Creek, the lower reaches of 
Coyote Valley Creek downstream of barrier falls, and Tamarack Lake.

Environmental Impact Statement

    The Service has selected Entrix to prepare the EIS. Entrix will 
prepare the EIS under the supervision of the Service, which will be 
responsible for the scope and content of the NEPA document.
    NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requires that Federal agencies 
conduct and environmental analysis of their proposed actions to 
determine if the actions may significantly affect the human 
environment. Under NEPA, a reasonable range of alternatives to proposed 
projects is developed and considered in the Services' environmental 
review. Alternatives considered for analysis in an EIS may include: 
Variations in the scope of proposed activities; variations in the 
location, amount, and types of conservation; variations in activity 
duration; or, a combination of these elements. In addition, the EIS 
will identify potentially significant direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts on biological resources, land use, air quality, water quality, 
water resources, socio-economics, and other environmental issues that 
could occur with the implementation of the proposed action and 
alternatives. For all potentially significant impacts, the EIS will 
identify avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures to reduce 
these impacts, where feasible, to a level below significance.
    The EIS will consider the proposed action, no action, and a 
reasonable range of alternatives. A detailed description of the impacts 
of the proposed action and each alternative will be included in the 
EIS. The alternatives to be considered for analysis in the EIS may 
include: Various fish removal methods; variations in timing; or, a 
combination of these elements.

Request for Comments

    The primary purpose of the scoping process is for the public to 
assist the Services in developing the EIS by identifying important 
issues and

[[Page 32126]]

alternatives related to the proposed action. A public meeting will be 
held on June 19, 2006 as noted in the DATES section above.
    Written comments from interested parties are welcome to ensure that 
the full range of issues related to the proposed action are identified.
    All comments and materials received, including names and addresses, 
will become part of the administrative record and may be released to 
the public.
    Comments and materials received will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the office 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    The Service requests that comments be specific. In particular, we 
request information regarding: Direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts 
of implementation of the proposed action; other possible alternatives 
that meet the purpose and need; potential adaptive management and/or 
monitoring provisions; existing environmental conditions in the project 
area; other plans or projects that might be relevant to this proposed 
project; and minimization and mitigation efforts.
    The environmental review of this project will be conducted in 
accordance with the requirements of the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on the Environmental Quality Regulations 
(40 CFR parts 1500-1518), other applicable Federal laws and 
regulations, and applicable policies and procedures of the Services. 
This notice is being furnished in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 to 
obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public 
on the scope of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS.

    Dated: May 23, 2006.
John Engbring,
Acting Deputy Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 06-4918 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
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