[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 117 (Monday, June 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35284-35285]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9567]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability, Draft Restoration Plan

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), on behalf of the 
Department of the Interior (DOI) as the sole natural resource trustee, 
announces the release for public review of the Draft Restoration Plan 
(RP) for the Cortese Landfill Superfund Site (Site). As a result of 
remedial activities and the off-site migration of Site-related 
contaminants, 1.6 acres of wetland were destroyed and/or degraded. 
Adversely affected natural resources include waterfowl, wading birds, 
hawks, woodpeckers, swallows, migratory songbirds, invertebrates, 
reptiles, and amphibians. In addition, the section of the Upper 
Delaware River watershed near the Site hosts the largest population of 
wintering bald eagles in the Northeast. The embayment provides feeding 
and/or spawning habitat for forage fish, American shad, striped bass, 
and American eel. The funds available from this settlement for 
restoration activities total approximately $85,000. The restoration 
project proposed in the Draft RP involves wet meadow/wetland 
restoration and protection.
    The Draft RP presents a preferred alternative consisting of a 
restoration project that compensates for impacts to natural resources 
caused by contaminant releases and remedial activities associated with 
the Site.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 19, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Draft RP may be made to: U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, New York Field Office, 3817 Luker Road, 
Cortland, New York 13045.
    Written comments or materials regarding the Draft RP should be sent 
to the same address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Karwowski, Environmental 
Contaminants Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New York Field 
Office, 3817 Luker Road, Cortland, New York 13045. Interested parties 
may also call 607-753-9334 or e-mail [email protected] for further 
information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In May 1996, a natural resource damage 
settlement was achieved for the Site. The Service, on behalf of the 
DOI, was the sole settling Trustee. The funds available from the 
settlement for restoration activities total approximately $85,000.
    The Draft RP is being released in accordance with the CERCLA of 
1980 as amended, commonly known as Superfund (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), 
the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Regulations found at 43 CFR, 
part 11, and the National Environmental Policy Act. It is intended to 
describe the Trustee's proposal to restore natural resources injured at 
the Site and evaluate the potential impacts of the project.
    The Draft RP describes a number of habitat restoration and 
protection alternatives and discusses the environmental consequences of 
each. The restoration effort with the greatest potential to restore 
natural resources and services that were injured by contaminants or 
remedial activities is preferred. Based on an evaluation of the various 
restoration alternatives, the preferred alternative consists of a 
restoration project involving wet meadow/wetland restoration and 
protection.
    Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment 
on the Draft RP. Copies of the Draft RP are available for review at the 
Service's New

[[Page 35285]]

York Field Office at 3817 Luker Road, Cortland, New York. Additionally, 
the Draft RP will be available for review at the following Web site 
link: http://nyfo.fws.gov/ec/CorteseDRP.pdf. Written comments will be 
considered and addressed in the final RP/Environmental Assessment at 
the conclusion of the restoration planning process.
    Author: The primary author of this notice is Ken Karwowski, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, New York Field Office, 3817 Luker Road, 
Cortland, New York 13045.

    Authority: The authority for this action is the CERCLA of 1980 
as amended, commonly known as Superfund, (42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.), 
and the Natural Resource Damage Assessment Regulations found at 43 
CFR, part 11.

    Dated: June 5, 2006.
Kathleen Bangert,
Acting Regional Director, Region 5, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
U.S. Department of the Interior, DOI Authorized Official.
 [FR Doc. E6-9567 Filed 6-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P