Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 122 / Friday, June 23, 2000 / Notices 39173

ecosystem approach, (2) providing a

public forum for the public to comment

on the type, extent and compatibility of

wildlife-dependent recreational uses

within the refuge area, and (3) ensuring

public involvement in refuge

management decisions by providing a

process for effective coordination,

interaction, and cooperation with

affected parties.

The CCP will address habitat and

wildlife management, habitat protection

and possible restoration, wildlifedependent recreational uses, and

adjacency issues that could affect the

Refuge goals and management objectives

that will be developed during this

process. Public input into this planning

process is essential. The Service will

solicit comments from the public via

noticed meetings, open houses, and

written comments. Special mailings,

newspaper articles, and announcements

will inform people in the general area of

the time and place of such opportunities

for public input into the CCP.

Refuge Information

The South San Diego Unit of the San

Diego NWR, located at the southern end

of San Diego Bay, supports tens of

thousands of migrating shorebirds,

nesting seabirds, wintering sea ducks

and other migratory waterfowl. Included

within the refuge boundaries is a salt

production operation that maintains

about 1,050 acres of salt ponds. These

ponds provide large amounts of food in

the form of fish, brine shrimp and brine

flies, all of which are particularly

important for shorebirds and seabirds.

This refuge provides nesting, feeding,

and resting habitat for six endangered

bird species, and feeding habitat for one

listed sea turtle species.

The Sweetwater Marsh NWR, located

in the southeast end of San Diego Bay,

includes 316 acres of salt marsh and

coastal uplands. This refuge provides

habitat for two federally endangered

species of bird (California Least Tern

and Light-footed Clapper Rail), one

federally endangered plant species (salt

marsh bird’s beak), the Belding’s

Savannah Sparrow (a State of California

endangered bird species), and the

Western Snowy Plover, a federally

threatened species of bird. Sweetwater

Marsh functions as an essential link

between Multiple Species Conservation

Program wildlands, the South San Diego

Bay Unit, and the Tijuana Slough NWR

in Imperial Beach.

Review of the CCP and associated

environmental document will be

conducted in accordance with the

requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of

1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et

seq.), NEPA Regulations (40 CFR 1500–

1509), other appropriate Federal laws

and regulations, including the National

Wildlife Refuge System Improvements

Act of 1997, Executive Order 12996, and

Service policies and procedures for

compliance with those regulations. It is

estimated that a draft CCP and NEPA

document will be made available for

public review in October 2001.

Dated: June 16, 2000.

Elizabeth H. Stevens,

Acting Manager, California/Nevada

Operations, Sacramento, California.

[FR Doc. 00–15891 Filed 6–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Extension to Public

Comment Period

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of extension to public

comment period.

SUMMARY: This notice informs the public

that the comment period for the Draft

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Boundary Revision—Environmental

Impact Statement for Stillwater National

Wildlife Refuge Complex is extended.

DATES: The comment period has been

extended to August 12, 2000. Comments

will be considered during the

preparation of the Final Environmental

Impact Statement.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and

requests for more information to: Refuge

Manager, Stillwater National Wildlife

Refuge Complex, P.O. Box 1236, Fallon,

NV 89406.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim

Hanson, Refuge Manager, Stillwater

National Wildlife Refuge Complex (775)

423–5128.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

published in the Federal Register of

April 14, 2000 (Vol. 65, No. 73), that

comments to the Stillwater National

Wildlife Refuge Complex

Comprehensive Conservation Plan and

Boundary Revision draft Environmental

Impact Statement were to be received on

or before June 12, 2000. In response to

public interest, the Service has granted

two separate 30 day extensions to the

public comment period.

Dated: June 16, 2000.

Elizabeth H. Stevens,

Acting CA/NV Operations Manager.

[FR Doc. 00–15892 Filed 6–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife:

Extension of Comment Period on Draft

Environmental Assessment and

Application for an Incidental Take

Permit of the Atlantic Coast Piping

Plover in Massachusetts

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment

period.

SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service

provides notice to extend the public

comment period on the draft

Environmental Assessment and the

Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and

Wildlife application to the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (Service) for an

incidental take permit pursuant to

Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered

Species Act (Act). The requested permit,

which is for a period of three years,

would authorize the incidental take of

the threatened piping plover

(Charadrius melodus) in Massachusetts.

The proposed take would occur as a

result of specific actions relating to the

management of recreational use of

beaches where breeding piping plovers

are found. All interested parties are

invited to submit comments on these

proposals.

DATES: Written comments on the

application and draft EA must be

received no later than July 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments

regarding the draft EA and application

should be addressed to Field

Supervisor, New England Field Office,

22 Bridge St., Unit 1, Concord, New

Hampshire 03301–4986, telephone (603)

225–1411. Comments regarding the

conservation plan will be forwarded to

the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries

and Wildlife for review and response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susanna L. von Oettingen at the above

address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Atlantic Coast piping plover was listed

as a threatened species on January 10,

1986. Because of its listing as

threatened, the piping plover is

protected by the Act’s prohibitions

against ‘‘take’’. However, the Service

may issue permits to carry out otherwise

prohibited activities involving

endangered and threatened wildlife

under certain circumstances. For

threatened species, such permits are

available for scientific purposes,

incidental take, or special purposes

consistent with the purposes of the Act.

39174 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 122 / Friday, June 23, 2000 / Notices

The Massachusetts Division of

Fisheries and Wildlife has applied to

the Service for an incidental take permit

pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the

Act. This permit would authorize the

incidental take of piping plovers

through otherwise lawful activities

occurring on plover breeding beaches.

Included in the application is a

conservation plan prepared by the

Division detailing the activities that

would result in incidental take and

describing measures that mitigate,

minimize and monitor the amount of

take.

The purpose of the proposed

incidental take permit is to provide

increased flexibility in managing

Massachusetts beaches for use by

recreationists and homeowners, while

assuring continued progress toward the

recovery of the Massachusetts and

Atlantic Coast populations of the piping

plover. The additional flexibility in

managing beaches will prevent a

disproportionate expenditure of

resources directed at the protection of a

few nests or broods in areas where they

may significantly disrupt beach access

by large numbers of people and be

highly vulnerable to disturbance and/or

mortality. Management flexibility also

will create incentives for the continued

participation by beach management

agencies and organizations involved in

protecting piping plovers.

On May 18, 2000, the Service

published a notice of availability of the

draft EA and receipt of an application

for an incidental take permit for the

Atlantic coast piping plover in

Massachusetts. The public comment

period originally was announced to

close on June 19, 2000. Because of

several requests for additional time, the

Service is extending the public

comment period to July 3, 2000.

Dated: June 19, 2000.

Margaret T. Kolar,

Acting Deputy Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 00–15890 Filed 6–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[ID–075–1330–AC]

Notice of Availability of Final

Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: The Department of the

Interior, Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), announces availability of the

Final Environmental Impact Statement

(FEIS) for the Dry Valley Mine

Extension, Panels C and D. The FEIS

analyzes the direct, indirect, and

cumulative impacts associated with a

proposal by Astaris, LLC (Formerly FMC

Corporation) to extend existing open-pit

phosphate mining operations in

southeastern Idaho. BLM, US Forest

Service, and the US Army Corps of

Engineers prepared the FEIS. BLM is

acting as the lead agency; the US Forest

Service is a joint lead agency; and the

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is a

cooperating agency for preparation of

the FEIS. The Proposed Action includes:

construction of two mining pits (Pits C

and D), associated haul and access

roads, overburden dumps, and use of

existing mine facilities to support

continued mining. Alternatives to the

Proposed Action include the No Action

Alternative and alternative methods of

handling overburden to reduce impacts

caused by the proposed mine extension.

The Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) was distributed in July

1999. The FEIS responds to comments

received on the DEIS.

Agency Decisions

The BLM will issue a Record of

Decision regarding the proposed Dry

Valley Panel C and D Mine and

Reclamation Plan and modification

(enlargement) of Federal Phosphate

Lease I–0678. The Caribou National

Forest will provide BLM with

recommendations for those portions of

the project that are on National Forest

System lands. The U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, Walla Walla District

anticipates signing a separate Record of

Decision regarding issuance of a Section

404 Clean Water Act Permit for the

project.

DATES: The Bureau of Land Management

and the Department of the Army, Corps

of Engineers intend to issue

independent Records of Decision (ROD)

on the proposal no sooner than July 24,

2000 or 30 days after publication of this

Notice in the Federal Register by the

Environmental Protection Agency.

ADDRESSES: Limited numbers of the

FEIS are available at the Bureau of Land

Management, Pocatello Field Office,

1111 N. 8th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho

83201, telephone (208) 478–6354; the

Soda Springs Ranger District of the

Caribou National Forest, 421 W. 2nd

South, Soda Springs, Idaho 83276,

telephone (208) 547–4356; and the US

Army Corps of Engineers, Walla Walla

District, Idaho Falls Regulatory Office,

900 North Skyline Drive, Suite A, Idaho

Falls, Idaho 83402 Falls, telephone (208)

522–1645.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Comments or questions may be directed

to Jeff Cundick, EIS Project Manager,

Bureau of Land Management, Pocatello

Field Office, 1111 N. 8th Avenue,

Pocatello, Idaho 83201. Telephone:

(208) 478–6354.

Jeff S. Steele,

Manager, Pocatello Field Office, Bureau of

Land Management.

[FR Doc. 00–15418 Filed 6–22–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT–020–00–5101–ER–J206, U–76985]

Notice of Availability of a Draft

Environmental Impact Statement and

Proposed Plan Amendment to the

Pony Express Resource Management

Plan (RMP)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft

Environmental Impact Statement and

Proposed Plan Amendment to the Pony

Express Resource Management Plan

(RMP).

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM), Salt Lake Field

Office, Utah announces the availability

of a Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) and plan amendment

to the Transportation and Corridor

Decision of the Pony Express RMP.

On April 15, 1999 the Salt Lake Field

Office published in the Federal Register

a notice of intent to conduct a plan

amendment to the RMP. Further, the

notice indicated that BLM was a

cooperating agency with the Nuclear

Regulatory Commission (NRC), lead

agency for the DEIS. The NRC is

publishing a separate notice for the

DEIS, ‘‘Draft Environmental Impact

Statement for the Construction and

Operation of an Independent Spent

Nuclear Fuel Storage Installation on the

Reservation of the Skull Valley Band of

Goshute Indians and the Related

Transportation Facility in Tooele

County, Utah’’ NUREG–1714, June 2000,

regarding the proposal of Private Fuel

Storage, L.L.C. (PFS) to construct and

operate an independent spent fuel

storage installation (ISFSI) on the

Reservation of the Skull Valley Band of

Goshute Indians. BLM intends to adopt

the EIS as a basis for its plan

amendment decision.

DATES: Comments on the land use plan

amendment and DEIS will be accepted

though September 21, 2000. Public

meetings concerning both the DEIS and