13368 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 1997 / Notices

Dated: March 13, 1997.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–6975 Filed 3–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

[I.D. 031397D]

Marine Mammals; Scientific Research

Permit (PHF# 662–1345)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

Dena Matkin, Box 22, Gustavus, Alaska

99826, has applied in due form for a

permit to take killer whales (Orcinus

orca) and humpback whales (Megaptera

novaengliae) for purposes of scientific

research.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before April 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The application and related

documents are available for review

upon written request or by appointment

in the following office(s):

Permits Division, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring,

MD 20910 (301/713–2289); and

Regional Administrator, Alaska

Region, P.O. Box 21688, Juneau, AK

99802–1668 (907/586–7221).

Written data or views, or requests for

a public hearing on this request, should

be submitted to the Director, Office of

Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Room 13130, Silver

Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals

requesting a hearing should set forth the

specific reasons why a hearing on this

application would be appropriate.

Concurrent with the publication of

this notice in the Federal Register,

NMFS is forwarding copies of this

application to the Marine Mammal

Commission and its Committee of

Scientific Advisors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject permit is requested under the

authority of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), the Regulations

Governing the Taking and Importing of

Marine Mammals (50 CFR part 216), the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and

the regulations governing the taking,

importing, and exporting of endangered

fish and wildlife (50 CFR part 222.23).

The application requests

authorization to unintentionally harass

up to 400 killer whales and 100

humpback whales annually over a five

year period. The purpose of the research

is to continue long-term, year-round

photo-identification work in

Southeastern Alaska to define the

population size, structure and range of

killer whales; and to obtain

identification of photographs of

humpback whales opportunistically in

conjunction with the killer whale

research.

In compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial

determination has been made that the

activity proposed is categorically

excluded from the requirement to

prepare an environmental assessment or

environmental impact statement.

Dated: March 14, 1997.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7056 Filed 3–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

[I.D. 031397A]

Marine Mammals; Permit No. 957

(P771#71)

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application for

amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that

the National Marine Mammal

Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science

Center, NMFS,7600 Sand Point Way

NE., BIN C15700, Seattle, WA 98115–

0070, has requested a amendment to

permit No. 957.

DATES: Written comments must be

received on or before April 21, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request

and related documents are available for

review upon written request or by

appointment in the following office(s):

Permits Division, Office of Protected

Resources, NMFS, 1315 East-West

Highway, Room 13130, Silver Spring,

MD 20910 (301/713–2289); and

Regional Administrator, Alaska

Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,

AK 99802–1668 (907/586–7221).

Written data or views, or requests for

a public hearing on this request should

be submitted to the Director, Office of

Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315 EastWest Highway, Room 13130, Silver

Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals

requesting a hearing should set forth the

specific reasons why a hearing on this

particular amendment request would be

appropriate.

Concurrent with the publication of

this notice in the Federal Register,

NMFS is forwarding copies of this

application to the Marine Mammal

Commission and its Committee of

Scientific Advisors.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The subject amendment to permit no.

957, issued on May 31, 1995 (60 FR

30065) is requested under the authority

of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.) and the Regulations Governing the

Taking and Importing of Marine

Mammals (50 CFR part 216).

Permit no. 957 authorizes the permit

holder to: satellite tag up to 50 beluga

whales (Delphinapterus leucas) over a

5-year period, but not more than 10 in

any one year; and to unintentionally

harass up to 900 annually. Activities are

authorized to occur in Cook Inlet and

along the western Alaska coastline.

The permit holder requests

authorization to increase the number of

animals taken to 30 annually for the

next 3 years (1997 through 1999).

Dated: March 14, 1997.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 97–7057 Filed 3–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army

Corps of Engineers

Columbia River System Operation

Review, Selection of a System

Operation Strategy (Record of

Decision (ROD))

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,

DoD.

ACTION: Notice of availability of Record

of Decision.

SUMMARY: In 1990, the three Federal

agencies responsible for management of

the Federal Columbia River Power

System; the Corps of Engineers, the

Bureau of Reclamation, and Bonneville

Power Administration; began the

System Operation Review (SOR) for the

purpose of developing and

implementing a coordinated system

operating strategy for managing the

multiple uses of the system while
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 54 / Thursday, March 20, 1997 / Notices 13369

meeting the biological needs of species

protected under the Endangered Species

Act. Pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969,

selection of a system operation strategy

preferred alternative is documented in

the SOR Final Environmental Impact

Statement, November 1995. This Record

of Decision documents the decision of

the Corps of Engineers to implement

existing and modified plans for

reservoir regulation and project

operation for the following Corps

projects: Bonneville, The Dalles, John

Day, and McNary; Oregon and

Washington: Ice Harbor, Lower

Monumental, Little Goose, Lower

Granite, and Chief Joseph; Washington:

Dworshak and Albeni Falls, Idaho: and

Libby, Montana. The Record of Decision

was signed on February 20, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Copies of the record of decision and

further information may be requested

from: Division Engineer, US Army

Engineer Division, North Pacific

Division, 220 NW 8th Ave., Portland,

Oregon 97209-3589, PO Box 2870,

97208–2870, Attention: Ray Jaren,

Telephone (503) 326–5194 ((503) 808–

3857 after March 21, 1997).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Copies of

the Record of Decision are available for

inspection and review at the following

Corps of Engineers offices:

Office, Chief of Engineers, 20

Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington,

DC 20314–1000.

Portland District, Robert Duncan Plaza,

333 SW First Ave., Portland, OR

97204–3495, (503) 326–5268.

Seattle District, 4735 East Marginal Way

South, Seattle, WA 98134–2385, (206)

764–6578.

Walla Walla District, 201 North 3rd

Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362–1876,

(509) 527–7244.

Robert H. Griffin,

Brigadier General, U.S. Army, Division

Engineer.

[FR Doc. 97–7005 Filed 3–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–AR–M

Intent To Prepare a Draft

Environmental Impact Statement

(DEIS) for the Eastern Arkansas

Region Comprehensive Study, Grand

Prairie Area Demonstration Project,

General Reevaluation

AGENCY: Memphis District, U.S. Army

Corps of Engineers, Department of

Defense.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this general

reevaluation is to develop a plan of

improvement that addresses all of the

identified water resource problems and

opportunities within the Grand Prairie

project area. It will evaluate and

determine the optimum plan for

providing agricultural water supply and

conservaiton while incorporating water

quality, fish and wildlife, recreaiton,

and environmental protection/

restoration measures. The general

reevaluation is being conducted in

response to congressional direction and

funding provided by Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Acts. It is

a continuation of preconstruction,

engineering, and design of the Eastern

Arkansas Region Comprehensive Study

authorized by the Committee on Public

Works and Transportaiton of the U.S.

House of Representatives on September

23, 1982. The Grand Prairie—Bayou

Metro Project was reauthorized by the

Water Resources Development Act of

1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Ken Bright, telephone (901) 544–0745,

CELMM–PD–F, 167 North Main Street

B–202, Memphis, TN 38103–1894.

Questions regarding the DEIS may be

directed to Mr. Edward Lambert,

telephone (901) 544–0707, CELMM–PD–

R.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Proposed Action

A Corps feasibility study, completed

in 1990, identified the Grand Prairie as

one of five geographic areas within

eastern Arkansas exhibiting critical

groundwater depletion proglems as a

result of agricultural irrigation demands

on the alluvial aquifer. Subsequent

congressional appropriaiton acts

directed the Corps to select and develop

implementation plans for one of the five

areas to serve as an agricultrual water

supply demonstraiton project. The

Grand Prairie was selected because

groundwater depletion is comparably

more severe within this area. The Grand

Prairie Area Demonstration Project

general reevaluation proposes to

devleop an economically feasible and

environmentally acceptable plan to

supply and conserve irrigation water in

such a manner as to allow stabilization

of the aquifer. An eloborate water

distribution system, water conservation

measures, groundwater management

strategies, retrofit of existing farm

irrigation systems, and new on-farm

storage reservoirs will be integral

components of this plan. In addition,

harvested rice fields will be flooded to

benefit migratory waterfowl and shore

birds. Since a vast tallgrass prairie

historically occupied this area, native

prairie grasses will be planted within

project rights-of-way. This project area

encompasses 362,662 acres and

includes significant portions of Prairie

and Arkansas counties and small

portions of Monroe and Lonoke

counties.

2. Alternatives

Alternatives being considered include

plans that provide various on-farm

water conservation measures and

additonal water storage and plans that

combine conservation measures and

additional storage with irrigation water

supply from the White River. These

plans will be compared to the No Action

alternative.

3. Scoping Process

An intensive public involvement

program has been maintianed

throughout this study to (1) solicit input

from individuals and interested parties

so that problems, needs, and

opportunities within the project area

could be properly identified and

addressed and (2) provide status

updates to concerned organizations and

the general public. A formal public

meeting was held in Stuttgart, Arkansas,

on December 8, 1992, to provide

information on the general reevaluation

and proposed project alternatives and to

discuss project related issues and

concerns with the general public.

Numerous meetings with the local

public, sponsor coordination meetings,

interagency environmental meetings,

and public project briefings/

presentaitons have been conducted.

Also, project displays have been

exhibited at county fairs and outdoors

festivals. No additional public scoping

meetings are anticipated, but

interagency environmental meetings

will continue. Significant issues being

analyzed include potential project

impacts (negative and positive) to

fisheries, water quality, wetlands,

upland forests, waterfowl, endangered

species, and cultural resources. It is

anticipated that the DEIS will be

available for public review during the

fall or winter of 1997. A public meeting

will be held during the reivew period to

recieve comments and address

questions concerning the DEIS.

Josef R. Hallatschek,

Major, Corps of Engineers, Deputy District

Engineer.

[FR Doc. 97–7006 Filed 3–19–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3710–KS–M