Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 204 / Friday, October 20, 2000 / Notices 63089

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan

(SDCP) for Pima County, Arizona

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to extend the

public comment period on scoping

issues for preparation of an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

related to the SDCP.

SUMMARY: On September 7, 2000,

pursuant to the National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA), the public was

advised that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) intends to prepare an

EIS to evaluate the impacts of and

alternatives for the possible issuing of

an incidental take permit, pursuant to

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

Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act),

to Pima County. At public scoping

meetings held on October 4, 2000 in

Tucson, Arizona, the public requested

additional time in which to respond.

This notice provides an extension of 30

days to the public comment period.

DATES AND ADDRESSES: Written

comments on conservation alternatives

and issues to be addressed in the EIS are

now requested by Friday, November 24,

2000, and should be sent to Mr. David

Harlow, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 2321 West Royal Palm

Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ, 85021 at

602/640–2720. For the information of

the general public, names and addresses

of anyone who comments may and can

be disclosed under the Freedom of

Information Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE EIS,

CONTACT: Ms. Sherry Barrett, Assistant

Field Supervisor, Tucson Suboffice,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300

West Congress, Room 6J, Tucson, AZ,

85701, at 520/670–4617, or Mr. David

Harlow, Field Supervisor, Arizona State

Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103,

Phoenix, AZ, 85021 at 602/640–2720.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON

THE SDCP, CONTACT: Mr. Paul

Fromer, RECON, 1927 Fifth Avenue,

Suite 200, San Diego, California 92101–

2358 at 619/308–9333. Information on

the purpose, membership, meeting

schedules, and documents associated

with the SDCP may be obtained on the

Internet at http://www.co.pima.az.us/

cmo/sdcp/index.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice advises the public that the

Service intends to extend the public

scoping period through November 24,

2000, for gathering of information

necessary to determine impacts and

formulate alternatives for an EIS related

to the potential issuance of an

incidental take permit to Pima County,

Arizona, and the development and

implementation of the SDCP, which will

provide measures to minimize and

mitigate the effects of the incidental take

of federally listed species.

Background: Following is a

preliminary list for public scoping

comments of probable environmental

resources, effects, and issues associated

with the proposed action. The public is

requested to add items to this list, make

suggestions for possible alternative

actions regarding these resources, and/

or comment on how these resources

may be impacted by the development,

implementation, and potential issuance

of a permit for the Sonoran Desert

Conservation Plan.

Biological resources, including listed

species

Urban land uses, including residential,

commercial, and industrial

development

Transportation

Water resources, including hydrology

and water quality

Agriculture

Air resources

Cultural and historical resources

Recreation

Ranching practices and livestock

grazing

Mineral resources

Utility rights-of-way

Fire management

Social and economic resources

Environmental justice

Comments and suggestions are invited

from all interested parties to ensure that

a range of issues and alternatives related

to the proposed action are identified.

The review of this project will be

conducted according to the

requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),

National Environmental Policy Act

Regulations (40 CFR 1500–1508), and

other appropriate Federal laws,

regulations, policies and guidance.

Related Project Documentation—It is

anticipated that the EIS process will

make full use (including incorporation

by reference, as appropriate, pursuant to

NEPA) of documents prepared by Pima

County and other entities regarding the

environmental and socioeconomic

issues in the project area, copies of

which will be available for public

inspection at the Pima County

Administrator’s Office, 130 West

Congress, 10th floor, Tucson AZ 85701.

After the environmental review is

completed, the Service will publish a

notice of availability and a request for

comment on the draft EIS and Pima

County’s permit application, which will

include the SDCP.

The draft EIS is expected to be

completed by December, 2002.

Nancy M. Kaufman,

Regional Director, Southwest Region,

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 00–27050 Filed 10–19–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–94–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

Request for Public Comments on

Proposed Information Collection To Be

Submitted to the Office of Management

and Budget for Review Under the

Paperwork Reduction Act

The proposal for the collection of

information described below will be

submitted to the Office of Management

and Budget for approval under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of the

proposed collection of information and

related forms may be obtained by

contacting the Bureau’s clearance officer

at the phone number listed below.

Comments and suggestions on the

proposal should be made within 60 days

directly to the Bureau clearance officer,

U.S. Geological Survey, 807 National

Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive,

Reston, Virginia, 20192, telephone (703)

648–7313.

Specific public comments are

requested as to:

1. Whether the collection of

information is necessary for the proper

performance of the functions on the

bureaus, including whether the

information will have practical utility;

2. The accuracy of the bureau’s

estimate of the burden of the collection

of information, including the validity of

the methodology and assumptions used:

3. The quality, utility, and clarity of

the information to be collected; and

4. How to minimize the burden of the

collection of information on those who

are to respond, including the use of

appropriate automated, electronic,

mechanical, or other forms of

information technology.

Title: National Spatial Data

Infrastructure (NSDI) Cooperative

Agreements Program (CAP).

OMB approval number: New

collection.

Abstract: Respondents submit

proposals for receiving assistance in

implementing the National Spatial Data

Infrastructure (NSDI) including

metadata, clearinghouse, and

63090 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 204 / Friday, October 20, 2000 / Notices

framework. The technological and

institutional development of NSDI

supports the ease of discovery, access

and utilization of geographic

information on the Internet. This

information will be used as the basis for

selection and award of projects meeting

program objectives. Annual or final

reports are required on the

performances of each selected.

Bureau form number: None.

Frequency: Annual proposals and

final reports.

Description of respondents: State,

local, and Federal government,

academic institutions, private business,

and non-profit organizations.

Annual responses: 120.

Annual burden hours: 6,640 hours.

Bureau clearance officer: John

Cordyack, 703–648–7313.

Dated: October 11, 2000.

Barbara J. Ryan,

Associate Director for Geography.

[FR Doc. 00–27000 Filed 10–19–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–7Y–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

Notice of Intent To Take Land in Trust

for the Little Traverse Bay Band of

Odawa Indians

AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary—

Indian Affairs, United States

Department of the Interior, made a final

agency determination on August 21,

2000, that the United States will accept

the South 1⁄2 of the NE 1⁄4 of Section 2,

Township 37 North, Range 5 West,

containing 80 acres, and the East 1⁄2 of

the NW 1⁄4 Section 36, Township 36

North, Range 6 West, containing 80

acres, Michigan Meridian, Emmet

County, Michigan, in the name of the

United States for the benefit of the Little

Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.

Notices sent to all political entities on

August 21, 2000, contained a

typographical error in the number of

acres contained in each tract. The notice

should have said 80 acres per tract

instead of 40 acres. The Little Traverse

Bay Bands of Odawa Indians is

organized pursuant to the Indian

Reorganization Act of 1934, as

amended, and it has been determined

that this trust acquisition is mandated

for the Little Traverse Bay Bands of

Odawa Indians pursuant to 25 U.S.C.

1300k–4(a). The United States shall

acquire title no sooner than 30 days

after this notice is published. This

notice is published in accordance with

25 CFR 151.12(b) which was published

on April 24, 1996 (61 FR 18082).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Larry Scrivner, Deputy Director, Office

of Trust Responsibilities, Bureau of

Indian Affairs, Washington, DC 20240;

202–208–5831.

Dated: October 13, 2000.

Kevin Gover,

Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.

[FR Doc. 00–27062 Filed 10–19–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ–020–1220–HA]

Closure of Public Lands in Yavapai

County to Off-Highway Vehicle Use;

Phoenix Field Office, Arizona

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of off-road vehicle

closure.

SUMMARY: This notice is to inform the

public that the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) intends to close

certain lands near Prescott, Arizona in

Yavapai County to any and all types of

off-highway vehicle (OHV) use. This

closure will be year-round and will

remain in effect until rescinded or

modified by the Phoenix Field Office

Manager. The public land affected by

this closure is specifically identified as

follows:

All BLM administered public lands in

Township 14 North, Range 1 West, G&SRM

Public Lands within Section 33,

W1⁄2W1⁄2NW1⁄4

Containing approximately 40 acres

This OHV closure will protect public

lands from environmental damage and

to aid in the protection of adjoining

state and private lands. The closure will

eliminate excessive vehicle noise in

residential neighborhoods, reduce the

incidence of fugitive dust impacting

homeowners, and curtail unattended

campfires and fireworks use. Trespass

across state and private land to reach

this parcel of BLM-administered lands

will be curbed by this closure. Dumping

of construction debris and litter on the

BLM lands will also be halted by this

action.

BLM is coordinating this action with

adjoining land owners, including the

Arizona State Land Department, the

Arizona Public Service utility company,

the Arizona Game and Fish Department,

private residents, and the City of

Prescott Police Department. The

designated closed area will be posted

with signs and have barriers and fences

installed where needed. This closure

will be monitored and enforced by the

BLM, the City of Prescott Police

Department, and other law enforcement

agencies.

The following persons, operating

within the scope of their official duties,

are exempt from the provisions of the

closure: Employees of the BLM, Arizona

Game and Fish Department, Arizona

State Land Department, and local or

federal law enforcement and fire

protection personnel. This closure is in

accordance with the provisions of the

Federal Land Policy and Management

Act of 1976 (43 USC 1701) and 43 CFR,

Subpart 8364.1. Any person who fails to

comply with the provisions of this

closure may be subject to penalties

outlined in 43 CFR Subpart 8360.0–7.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This order will be

effective upon publication of this notice

in the Federal Register and completion

of on-the-ground signing and posting by

BLM, the Arizona State Land

Department and local law enforcement

authorities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Michael A. Taylor, Field Manager,

Phoenix Field Office, 2015 West Deer

Valley Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85027;

623–580–5500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 40

acres of public land affected by this offhighway vehicle closure order are

adjacent to expanding urban and

residential development. Unregulated

and unauthorized off-highway and

cross-country vehicle travel is not

consistent with the orderly growth of

the community, public health and

safety, and the use of adjoining private

land for residences.

Loud noise and fugitive dust from offhighway vehicle operation is a growing

and continuing problem. OHV users

have been operating their vehicles from

early morning till late at night,

disturbing nearby property owners.

Unattended campfires and use of

fireworks create extreme fire hazards for

the community. Target shooting and

gunfire have disturbed neighborhoods to

the north, east and south of this public

land parcel. Trespass by off-highway

vehicle users from public land onto

adjoining private lands has been

documented. Increasing levels of local

law enforcement personnel and time

have been allocated to answering

disturbance calls from residents due to

noise, dust, late night activity,

unattended campfires, firework use,