51680 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 191 / Thursday, October 2, 1997 / Notices

actions which do not individually or

cumulatively have a significant effect on

the human environment. Categorical

exclusions are not the equivalent of

statutory exemptions. If exceptions to

categorical exclusions apply, under 516

DM 2, Appendix 2 of the Departmental

Manual, the departmental categorical

exclusions cannot be used. Among the

types of actions available for a

Categorical Exclusion is for a ‘‘low

effect’’ HCP/incidental take permit

application. A ‘‘low effect’’ HCP is

defined as an application that,

individually or cumulatively, has a

minor or negligible effect on the species

covered in the HCP [Section 1.4(C)(2)].

The Service may consider the

Applicant’s project and HCP such a

Categorical Exclusion. The Service is

soliciting for public comments on this

determination. Based upon public

comments, the Service may make a final

determination that this action is

categorically excluded.

The Service has made a preliminary

determination that the issuance of the

ITP is not a major Federal action

significantly effecting the quality of the

human environment within the meaning

of Section 102(2)(C) of NEPA. This

preliminary information may be revised

due to public comment received in

response to this notice and is based on

information contained in the EA and

HCP. An appropriate excerpt from the

FONSI reflecting the Service’s finding

on the application is provided below:

Based on the analysis conducted by

the Service, it has been determined that:

1. Issuance of an ITP would not have

significant effects on the human

environment in the project area.

2. The proposed take is incidental to

an otherwise lawful activity.

3. The Applicant has minimized

impacts on the project site to the extent

practicable.

4. Other than impacts to the

threatened species as outlined in the

documentation of this decision, the

indirect impacts which may result from

issuance of the ITP are addressed by

other regulations and statutes under the

jurisdiction of other government

entities. The validity of the Service’s

ITP is contingent upon the Applicant’s

compliance with the terms of the permit

and all other laws and regulations under

the control of State, local, and other

Federal governmental entities.

The Service will also evaluate

whether the issuance of a Section

10(a)(1)(B) ITP complies with Section 7

of the Act by conducting an intraService Section 7 consultation. The

results of the biological opinion, in

combination with the above findings,

will be used in the final analysis to

determine whether or not to issue the

ITP.

Dated: September 25, 1997.

Judy L. Jones,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 97–26125 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Issuance of Permit for Marine

Mammals

On July 24, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 142, Page 39854, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by Maurice

Sterner, Spring Grove, PA for a permit

(PRT–832102) to import a sport-hunted

polar bear (Ursus maritimus) trophy,

taken from the Baffin Bay population,

Northwest Territories, Canada for

personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on

September 17, 1997, as authorized by

the provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

Documents and other information

submitted for these applications are

available for review by any party who

submits a written request to the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Rm 430, Arlington,

Virginia 22203. Phone (703) 358–2104

or Fax (703) 358–2281.

Dated: September 26, 1997.

Karen Anderson,

Acting Chief, Branch of Permits, Office of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 97–26098 Filed 10–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Operation and Maintenance Rate

Adjustment: Fort Belknap Irrigation

Project, Montana

ACTION: Notice of proposed irrigation

operation and maintenance (O&M) rate

adjustment.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs

proposes to change the assessment rates

for operating and maintaining the Fort

Belknap Irrigation Project for 1998,

1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and subsequent

years. The following table illustrates the

impact of the rate adjustment.

FORT BELKNAP IRRIGATION PROJECT; IRRIGATION RATE PER ASSESSABLE ACRE

[N/A—Not Applicable]

Year Present

1997

Proposed

1998

Proposed

1999

Proposed

2000

Proposed

2001

Proposed

2002

Non-Indian ......................................................................... $12.50 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Indian ................................................................................ 6.25 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Rate (all) ........................................................................... N/A $12.50 $13.00 $13.50 $14.00 $14.50

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Area

Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs,

Billings Area Office, 316 North 26th

Street, Billings, Montana 59101–1362,

telephone (406) 247–7998.

DATES: Interested parties may submit

comments on the proposed rate

adjustment. Comments must be

submitted on or before November 3,

1997.

ADDRESSES: All comments concerning

the proposed rate change must be in

writing and addressed to: Director,

Office of Trust Responsibilities, Attn:

Irrigation and Power, MS#4513–MIB,

Code 210, 1849 ‘‘C’’ Street, NW,

Washington, D.C. 20240, Telephone

(202) 208–5480.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

authority to issue this document is

vested in the Secretary of the Interior by

5 U.S.C. 301 and the Act of August 14,

1914 (38 Stat. 583, 25 U.S.C. 385). The

Secretary has delegated this authority to

the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs