[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60914-60915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29828]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft Sharon Steel Restoration Plan 
and Public Information Meeting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and public informational meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the 
release of the Draft Sharon Steel Restoration Plan for public review 
and comment. The draft plan identifies restoration projects to restore 
migratory bird resources injured by the release of hazardous materials 
from the Sharon Steel and Midvale Slag Superfund Sites, along the 
Jordan River in Salt Lake County, Utah. Restoration proposals were 
solicited through the Final Sharon Steel Damage Settlement: A 
Conceptual Restoration Plan and the Commerce Business Daily.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 15, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Draft Plan may be made to U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Salt Lake City Field Office, Lincoln Plaza, 
145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Written 
comments should be sent to the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reed Harris, Field Supervisor, or 
Elise Peterson Environmental Contaminants Program, at the above Salt 
Lake City Field Office address (telephone 801/524-5001 extension 123).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    A $2.3 million damage settlement was awarded to the U.S. Department 
of the Interior (DOI) in compensation for injuries to Federally-
protected trust resources caused by contamination of the Jordan River 
corridor from the Sharon Steel and Midvale Slag Superfund Sites. Under 
Federal law, these trust resources are specifically protected on behalf 
of the public, and include migratory birds, as well as threatened and 
endangered species and their habitats. Consequently, Sharon Steel 
damage settlement money must be used to restore, replace, or acquire 
the equivalent of the trust resources injured on site by contaminants.
    The DOI and the State of Utah signed a Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) July 11, 1991, to cooperate as trustees in planning and 
implementing resource restoration with Sharon Steel

[[Page 60915]]

settlement money. The MOU established a Trustee Committee consisting of 
representatives from DOI and the State of Utah to plan and direct 
restoration activities.
    The Trustee Committee outlined the following project goals: (1) to 
restore, replace, enhance, or acquire appropriate natural , functioning 
habitats along the Jordan River corridor for the benefit of identified 
trust resources; (2) to ensure that funds are utilized to provide 
maximum benefits for trust resources; and (3) to ensure the provision 
of benefits to trust resources in perpetuity. Restoration alternatives 
to meet these goals were identified. These alternatives included: (a) 
no-action or natural recovery, (b) restoration on the Sharon Steel/
Midvale Slag sites, and (c) Jordan River Corridor replacement/
enhancement of habitat for trust resources. Due to its protective and 
relatively cost effective nature, replacement/enhancement of resources 
in the Jordan River corridor was chosen as the preferred alternative 
for enhancement of wetland and riparian migratory bird habitats.
    The primary steps towards achievement of project restoration 
objectives were subsequently identified as: (1) definition of 
restoration targets in terms of species and habitats, (2) development 
of criteria to consider when identifying and ranking projects, (3) 
identification of restoration tools or activities and solicitation of 
cooperative project proposals, (4) identification and ranking of 
specific restoration projects (cooperative proposals) and/or sites, (5) 
implementation of selected project(s), and (6) monitoring of the 
project(s) to ensure long-term viability.
    The Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept 
Document was subsequently issued which lent guidance to the restoration 
project selection process. The Draft Sharon Steel Restoration Plan 
identifies restoration projects selected for funding through 
cooperative agreements that will be implemented through partnerships 
with State or Federal agencies, county or local governments, or 
nonprofit organizations. Close cooperation among all programs in the 
Jordan River corridor (e.g., Central Utah Project, Jordan River Parkway 
plans, Jordan River Sub-basin Watershed Management Council, etc.) will 
insure cost-effective expenditure of public funds, increase success of 
all programs, and provide maximum benefits to the Jordan River 
ecosystem.
    Management in perpetuity for wildlife will be assured by 
Restoration Plan stipulations which require land/wildlife management 
plans for each project proposal, and deed restrictions, which stipulate 
future land uses and return of lands to DOI or the State of Utah if 
cooperative agreements and management plan objectives are not upheld. 
Monitoring of sites will be performed by the Service to document 
project progress, assure compliance with management objectives and deed 
restrictions, and to measure timely success in the restoration of trust 
resources.
    Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment 
on the Draft Restoration Plan. In Utah, copies are available for review 
at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Services Office in 
Salt Lake City (145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City), the 
Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Environmental 
Response and Remediation (168 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City), and the 
Salt Lake City Library.
    A public informational meeting will be held to describe the 
restoration projects proposed in the Restoration Plan and to answer 
questions. The meeting will be held November 20, 1997, at Midvale City 
Hall at 7:30 p.m. All written and public meeting comments will be 
considered and addressed in the final Restoration Plan.

    Dated: November 6, 1997.
Joseph J. Webster,
Acting Regional Director, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-29828 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M