7794 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices

of their ecosystems is a primary goal of

the Service’s endangered species

program. To help guide the recovery

effort, the Service is working to prepare

recovery plans for most of the listed

species native to the United States.

Recovery plans describe actions

considered necessary for conservation of

the species, establish criteria for the

recovery levels for downlisting or

delisting species, and estimate time and

cost for implementing the recovery

measures needed.

The Endangered Species Act of 1973

(Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

seq.) requires the development of

recovery plans for listed species unless

such a plan would not promote the

conservation of a particular species.

Section 4(f) of the Act, as amended in

1988, requires that public notice, and an

opportunity for public review and

comment be provided during recovery

plan development. The Service will

consider all information presented

during a public comment period prior to

approval of each new or revised

recovery plan. The Service and other

Federal agencies will take these

comments into account in the course of

implementing approved recovery plans.

The Florida salt marsh vole inhabits

one known coastal marsh site in Levy

County, Florida. The vole is limited by

two factors, an extremely restricted

range encompassing only one known

population, and the threat of losing this

population to a storm event or

population fluctuations.

The immediate goal of this recovery

plan is to prevent extinction of the salt

marsh vole by protecting the existing

population. The actions needed to

recover this species are: (1) Protect

existing population, (2) conduct surveys

to locate additional populations, and (3)

conduct life history studies.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments

on the recovery plan. All comments

received by the date specified above

will be considered prior to the approval

of the plans.

Authority

The authority for this action is section

4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16

U.S.C. 1533(f).

David Hankla,

Field Supervisor.

[FR Doc. 97–4094 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment and Receipt of an

Application for an Incidental Take

Permit for Obyan Beach Resort

Associates, Saipan, Commonwealth of

the Northern Mariana Islands

(Commonwealth)

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public

that Obyan Beach Resort Associates has

applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service for an incidental take permit

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

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended. The application has been

assigned permit number PRT–824821.

The proposed permit would authorize

the incidental take of nightingale reedwarblers (Acrocephalus luscinia),

federally listed as endangered, and/or

nightingale reed-warbler habitat during

the construction of a proposed 36-hole

golf course and resort. The Micronesian

megapode (Megapodius laperouse) also

occurs on site but is not expected to be

impacted by this project. Green sea

turtles (Chelonia mydas) may nest at a

beach near the project site, but outside

of the project boundaries, and are not

expected to be impacted by this project.

The permit would be in effect for 50

years.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

also announces the availability of an

Environmental Assessment for the

incidental take permit application,

which includes the proposed Habitat

Conservation Plan fully describing the

proposed project and mitigation, and

the accompanying Implementing

Agreement. This notice is provided

pursuant to section 10(a) of the

Endangered Species Act and National

Environmental Policy Act regulations

(40 CFR 1506.6). All comments,

including names and addresses,

received will become part of the official

administrative record and may be made

available to the public.

DATES: Written comments on the permit

application, Environmental Assessment

and Implementing Agreement should be

received on or before March 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the

application or adequacy of the

Environmental Assessment and

Implementing Agreement should be

addressed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala

Moana Blvd., Room 3108, P.O. Box

50088, Honolulu, HI 96850. Please refer

to permit number PRT–824821 when

submitting comments. Individuals

wishing to obtain review copies of the

application, Environmental Assessment,

or Implementing Agreement should

immediately contact the above office.

Documents also will be available for

public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Brooks Harper, Ms. Karen Evans or Dr.

Annie Marshall, Pacific Islands Office,

808–541–3441.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Endangered Species Act prohibits

the ‘‘taking’’ of a species listed as

threatened or endangered. However, the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under

limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take listed species incidental

to, and not the purpose of, otherwise

lawful activities. Regulations governing

permits for threatened species are

promulgated in 50 CFR 17.32;

regulations governing permits for

endangered species are promulgated in

50 CFR 17.22.

Background

Obyan Beach Resort Associates

propose to construct a 36-hole golf

course and resort on the southeastern

part of Saipan, Commonwealth of the

Northern Mariana Islands. Obyan Beach

Resort Associates seeks coverage for

impacts to 814 acres that contain

nightingale reed-warbler habitat. To

compensate for project impacts, Obyan

Beach Resort Associates will: (1)

Minimize on-site impacts and maintain

habitat on site for 10 pairs of nightingale

reed-warblers, and (2) work with the

local Commonwealth government to

establish the Saipan Wildlife Mitigation

Bank, that will consist of 3 conservation

sites located north of the project site.

The mitigation sites provide suitable

habitat for nightingale reed-warbler

(tangantangan forest and mixed

tangantangan/grassland mosaic). Obyan

Beach Resort Associates will work with

the Commonwealth government to

ensure that the mitigation bank is secure

through the promulgation of regulations

and will provide funding for long-term

management of the mitigation sites.

Other measures are specified in the

Habitat Conservation Plan to minimize

potential for take during construction

activities.

The Environmental Assessment

considers the environmental

consequences of three alternatives.

Alternative 3, the proposed action,

consists of the issuance of an incidental

take permit and implementation of the

Habitat Conservation Plan and its

Implementing Agreement. This

alternative is preferred because: (1) It

satisfies the purpose and needs of the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 34 / Thursday, February 20, 1997 / Notices 7795

Obyan Beach Resort Associates; (2)

impacts are minimized during

construction, and (3) incidental take is

mitigated by the establishment of a

wildlife mitigation bank and other

measures specified in the Habitat

Conservation Plan. This mitigation bank

would be established in perpetuity for

the protection of the endangered

nightingale reed-warbler and other

wildlife species. Alternative 2 entails

developing the project as originally

permitted by the local government. The

impacts to nightingale reed-warblers on

site would be greater under this

alternative and a wildlife mitigation

bank would not be established. Under

Alternative 1, the no action alternative,

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

would not issue an incidental take

permit. The area leased would then be

likely to revert back to the

Commonwealth government. None of

the existing nightingale reed-warblers

would be lost, at least immediately.

After the land reverted back to the

Commonwealth, it would then be

available for other uses. These uses

could have greater impacts to

nightingale reed-warblers as a result of

subdivision and the subsequent habitat

fragmentation. Under the no action

alternative, the mitigation sites would

not be preserved as a wildlife mitigation

bank.

This notice is provided pursuant to

section 10(a) of the Endangered Species

Act and the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 regulations (40 CFR

1506.6). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service will evaluate the application,

associated documents, and comments

submitted thereon to determine whether

the application meets the requirements

of the National Environmental Policy

Act regulations and section 10(a) of the

Endangered Species Act. If it is

determined that the requirements are

met, a permit will be issued for the

incidental take of the listed species. The

final permit decision will be made no

sooner than 30 days from the date of

this notice.

Dated: February 12, 1997.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland,

Oregon.

[FR Doc. 97–4141 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Bureau of Land Management

[WY–985–0222–66]

Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural

Gas Development Project in Natrona

County, Wyoming; Availability of the

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

(DEIS)

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) announces the

availability of the Cave Gulch-BullfrogWaltman Natural Gas Development

Project Draft Environmental Impact

Statement (DEIS) which analyzes the

environmental consequences of the oil

and gas operators proposal to continue

to drill wells on their leased acreages

within the Cave Gulch-BullfrogWaltman oil and gas project area. This

development area is located in Natrona

County and generally located within

Townships 36 and 37 North; Ranges 86

and 87 West, 6th Principal Meridian.

The area is accessed by U.S. Highway

20/26 west of Casper, Wyoming; and,

north of Waltman, Wyoming via county

road 104. Access to the interior of the

Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman project

area is provided by a road system

developed to service prior and on-going

drilling and production activities.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS will be

accepted for 45 days following the date

the Environmental Protection Agency

publishes their Notice of Availability in

the Federal Register. The EPA notice is

expected on or about February 14, 1997.

In addition, a public meeting will be

held Tuesday, March 11, 1997. The

meeting will be located at the University

of Wyoming, Natrona County

Cooperative Extension Building, 2011

Fairgrounds Road, Casper, Wyoming.

The meeting will be in two parts

beginning with an open house from 3

p.m.–5 p.m. followed by a public

meeting from 7 p.m.–9 p.m. Comments

on the DEIS will be entertained during

the open house and the public meeting.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS

should be sent to Ms. Kate Padilla,

Team Leader for the Cave GulchBullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas

Development Project EIS, Bureau of

Land Management, Casper District

Office, 1701 East ‘‘E’’ Street, Casper,

Wyoming 82601.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS

analyzes a proposed action, two (2)

development alternatives, and the no

action alternative. The proposal

presented by the operators is to

continue to drill additional wells on

their leased acreage within this natural

gas development area. The current oil

and gas operators are Chevron U.S.A.,

Barrett Resources Corporation, Prima

Oil & Gas Company, Goldmark

Engineering, Inc., W.A. Moncrief, Jr.,

Marathon Oil Company, and John P.

Lockridge, Inc. The land ownership

pattern of the Cave Gulch-BullfrogWaltman project area is 66 percent

Private, 29 percent Federal (BLM), and

5 percent State of Wyoming. The

mineral ownership is as follows, 20

percent Private, 77 percent Federal

(BLM), and 3 percent State of Wyoming.

Over the next 10 years, the operators

propose to drill up to 160 additional

wells where approximately 40 wells are

currently active to obtain maximum

recovery of natural gas from existing

Federal, State, and private oil and gas

leases. The area was divided into four

segments by the operators to allow for

better definition of the Proposed Action

with regard to well spacing and density,

based on BLM’s February 1996,

preliminary geologic report. The two

development alternatives analyze wells

based on areas defined in the BLM’s

June 1996, final geologic report.

The DEIS describes the physical,

biological, cultural, historic, and socioeconomic resources in and surrounding

the project area. The focus of the impact

analysis was based upon resource issues

and concerns identified during public

scoping. Potential impacts of concern

from development were primarily

concerned with raptor breeding and

nesting, sensitive soils, and economics.

Dated: February 5, 1997.

Alan L. Kesterke,

Associate State Director.

[FR Doc. 97–4097 Filed 2–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–22–P

[UT–056–1430–01–24–1A]

Mountain Valley Management

Framework Plan; Piute Co., UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to amend plan.

SUMMARY: This Notice of Intent is to

advise the public that the Bureau of

Land Management (BLM) intends to

consider a proposal which would

require amending an existing planning

document.

DATES: The comment period for this

proposed plan amendment will

commence with publication of this

notice. Comments must be submitted

within the thirty day period

commencing with the publication of

this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dave Henderson, Sevier River Resource

Area Manager, 150 East 900 North,

Richfield, Utah 84701. Existing