[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 11944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4268]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[80213-9421-0000-7B]


Notice of Adoption of an Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of adoption of an environmental impact statement 
prepared by the National Park Service for the Giacomini Wetland 
Restoration Project.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), give notice 
of our intent to adopt the National Park Service's existing 
environmental impact statement/environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) 
for the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project in Marin County, 
California (Project). We are considering a decision to approve a 
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program grant for the California 
State Coastal Conservancy (SCC) to assist SCC in implementing the 
Project. The grant would help SCC restore and conserve a 556-acre 
coastal wetland ecosystem at the head of Tomales Bay. We propose to 
adopt the existing EIS/EIR, which evaluates the environmental effects 
of implementing field and construction activities related to restoring 
tidal and freshwater marsh habitat on the former dairy farm.

DATES: We must receive any written comments on or before April 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Ms. Laura Valoppi, Chief of Federal 
Assistance, California and Nevada Region, Fish and Wildlife Service, 
2800 Cottage Way, W-2606, Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Rebecca Miller, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-2606, Sacramento, CA 95825, or call 
(916) 978-6185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Availability of Documents

    The final EIS/EIR for the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Project is 
available online for public access and review at: http://www.nps.gov/pore/parkmgmt/planning_giacomini_wrp.htm. A copy of the final EIS/EIS 
will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal 
business hours at the Fish and Wildlife Service's Federal Assistance 
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1729, Sacramento, CA, 95825, for 30 
days after this Notice is published in the Federal Register. 
Appointments may be arranged by calling (916) 978-6185 during normal 
business hours.

Background

    We are considering a decision to approve a National Coastal Wetland 
Conservation grant to the SCC to assist in funding project activities 
that will help meet the objectives for the wetland restoration project 
on Giacomini Ranch and Olema Creek: (1) Improving water quality in 
Tomales Bay by restoring hydrologic connectivity to floodplains 
currently maintained as pasture through diking; (2) improving other 
natural functions provided by wetlands, such as food chain support and 
fish and wildlife habitat; and (3) providing opportunities for the 
public to experience and enjoy the wetlands and the restoration 
process.

Project Location

    The Project is located in the north district of the Golden Gate 
National Recreation Area and the Point Reyes National Seashore at the 
southern end of Tomales Bay in Marin County, California.

National Environmental Policy Act

    The proposed Federal decision to approve and grant Federal funds to 
implement the wetland restoration project triggers the need for 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The NPS--
as the acting lead agency for the NEPA process--and the California 
State Lands Commission--as the lead agency for the CEQA process--
prepared and finalized a combined EIS/EIR document to address Federal 
and State actions associated with implementing the Project. The EIS/EIR 
evaluated one No Action alternative and four restoration or ``Action'' 
alternatives that vary in the amount of acres to be restored. The 
alternative selected for implementation is Alternative D, which is also 
the environmentally preferred alternative. The Project EIS/EIR was 
finalized in June 2007, and the NPS signed a Record of Decision (ROD) 
on August 18, 2007.
    The final EIS/EIR for the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project 
satisfies the requirement for NEPA compliance for the overall wetlands 
restoration project and includes identification of and supporting 
environmental documentation for necessary local, State, and Federal 
permits. Our review of the final EIS/EIR and ROD finds that they 
adequately address appropriate alternatives, and the environmental 
effects of the alternatives adequately consider the issues relevant to 
the Federal decision to grant Federal funds to the SCC to assist in 
implementing the selected alternative and they fully comply with 
implementing regulations of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508). Because the 
final EIS/EIR also provides substantial information needed to support 
grant applications for obtaining the funding necessary to implement 
elements of the overall project, we intend to adopt the existing final 
EIS/EIR to meet our obligation to fully comply with the regulations for 
implementing NEPA for the proposed Federal grant decision.

Public Review

    We provide this notice under the regulations for implementing NEPA, 
as amended (40 CFR 1506.6). We invite the public to review the final 
EIS/EIR during a 30-day public comment period (see DATES). Before 
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your 
comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: February 27, 2008.
Ken McDermond,
Deputy Regional Director, California and Nevada Region, Sacramento, 
California.
 [FR Doc. E8-4268 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]
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