25228 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 88 /Thursday, May 7, 1998 / Notices

review by August 1998. An

announcement of the meeting will

appear in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and

requests for more information to: Refuge

Manager, Noxubee National Wildlife

Refuge, Route 1, Box 142, Brooksville,

Mississippi 39739.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is the

policy of the Fish and Wildlife Service

to have all lands within the National

Wildlife Refuge System managed in

accordance with an approved

comprehensive conservation plan. The

plan guides management decisions and

identifies refuge goals, objectives, and

strategies for achieving refuge purposes.

Public input into this planning process

is encouraged. The plan will provide

other agencies and the public with a

clear understanding of the desired

conditions of the refuge and how the

Service will implement management

strategies. The Service began the

comprehensive management planning

process for Noxubee National Wildlife

Refuge in March 1998.

Some of the issues to be addressed in

the plan include the following:

(a) public use management;

(b) habitat management;

(c) wildlife population management;

and

(d) cultural resource identification

and protection.

Alternatives that address the issues

and management strategies associated

with these topics will be included in the

environmental document.

The refuge was established in 1940, to

provide a refuge and breeding ground

for migratory birds and other wildlife.

The refuge is located in eastern

Mississippi and consists of 47,879 acres.

Dated: May 1, 1998.

Sam D. Hamilton,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 98–12238 Filed 5–6–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Intent To Prepare a

Programmatic Environmental Impact

Statement/ Environmental Impact

Report on the Natural Community

Conservation Plan/Habitat

Conservation Plan for the South

Subregion of Orange County, CA; and

Announcement of Public Scoping

Meeting

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public

meeting.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public

that the Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) intends to gather information

necessary to prepare a joint

Environmental Impact Statement/

Environmental Impact Report (Impact

Statement/Report) for an anticipated

incidental take permit application from

the Environmental Management

Agency, County of Orange (County),

California. The Service has been

notified by the County that they intend

to prepare a Natural Community

Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation

Plan (Conservation Plan) to conserve

coastal sage scrub and adjacent habitats

in the South Subregion of Orange

County. Interested persons are

encouraged to attend a public scoping

meeting to identify and discuss issues

and alternatives that should be

addressed in the Conservation Plan and

in the Impact Statement/Report. This

notice is provided as required by the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended, and the National

Environmental Policy Act regulations.

DATES: A joint public scoping meeting

will be held on May 14, 1998, from 7:00

p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Written comments

related to the scope and content of the

Conservation Plan and Impact

Statement/Report should be received by

the Service at the Carlsbad address

below by June 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be

held at San Clemente High School,

Little Theater, 700 Avenida Pico, San

Clemente, California 92673. Oral and

written comments will be taken at the

meeting. Written comments also may be

mailed to Mr. Jim Bartel, Assistant Field

Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife

Office, 2730 Loker Avenue West,

Carlsbad, California 92008; or sent by

facsimile to (760) 431–9624.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

John Bradley, Fish and Wildlife

Biologist, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife

Office, Carlsbad, California; telephone

(760) 431–9440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability of Documents

Background material may be obtained

by contacting the County Environmental

Management Agency, Planning and

Zoning Administrator, 300 N. Flower

Street, Santa Ana, California 92702.

Documents also will be available for

public inspection by appointment

during normal business hours (8:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday), at

the Service’s Carlsbad office (see

ADDRESSES).

Background

The County intends to prepare a

Conservation Plan pursuant to the State

of California’s Natural Community

Conservation Planning Act of 1991 and

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended. The purpose of the statewide

Natural Community Conservation

Planning Program is to provide for

subregional and regional protection of

natural diversity, while allowing

compatible and appropriate

development within the Natural

Community Conservation Planning

subregion. This program intends that

these goals be achieved through the

development and implementation of

Natural Community Conservation Plans.

The program is designed to provide an

alternative to single-species

conservation efforts by formulating

natural community-based habitat

protection programs on a regional basis

to protect the numerous species

inhabiting each of the targeted

communities. The Natural Community

Conservation Planning process is

sponsored jointly by the California

Resources Agency and California

Department of Fish and Game, and is

conducted in cooperation with the

Service pursuant to a Memorandum of

Understanding between Fish and Game

and the Service dated December 4, 1991.

The proposed Conservation Plan

would identify those actions necessary

to maintain the viability of the

remaining coastal sage scrub habitat for

the three ‘‘target species’’ residing in

coastal sage scrub habitats in

accordance with the State’s

Conservation Guidelines. The target

species are the threatened California

gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica

californica), cactus wren

(Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus),

and orange-throated whiptail lizard

(Cnemidophorus hyperythrus beldingi).

The Conservation Plan would treat the

three target species as listed species and

would be subject to the standards set

forth in section 10(a)(1)(B) of the

Endangered Species Act, and 50 CFR

17.32(b) and 17.22(b). In addressing the

habitat needs of the three target species,

the Conservation Plan would benefit

other species that may be addressed as

species receiving regulatory coverage

pursuant to the provisions of the

Natural Community Conservation

Planning Act and section 10(a)(1)(B) of

the Endangered Species Act. The

Natural Community Conservation Plan

would function as a multiple species

conservation plan that could establish

the basis for maintaining the viability of

the remaining coastal sage scrub
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 88 /Thursday, May 7, 1998 / Notices 25229

ecosystem and other habitats at the

community level.

If the Conservation Plan is approved

by the Service, the Service would

authorize incidental take of the coastal

California gnatcatcher through the

special section 4(d) rule (60 FR 36010)

via the Service’s issued written

concurrence that the Conservation Plan

meets the standards set forth in 50 CFR

17.32(b)(2). In addition, the Service, at

the request of the County, would

simultaneously issue an Endangered

Species Act section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.

The Conservation Plan, coupled with an

implementation agreement, likely

would form the basis for issuing an

incidental take permit for the cactus

wren and orange-throated whiptail

lizard, and any additional species

proposed for regulatory coverage should

these species subsequently be listed.

The proposed agenda for the

facilitated public meeting includes a

summary of the proposed action, status

of and threats to subject species,

tentative issues, concerns, opportunities

and alternatives. Attendees of the

scoping meeting will have an

opportunity to discuss the specific

coastal sage scrub conservation goals

and conservation planning alternatives

and other aspects of the proposed

Conservation Plan and related Impact

Statement/Report. Submittal of

independent written comments is

encouraged.

This notice is provided as required by

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (16 USC 1531 et seq., 50 CFR

17.22), and National Environmental

Policy Act (40 CFR 1501.7) regulations.

Dated: May 1, 1998.

David J. Wesley,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland,

Oregon.

[FR Doc. 98–12111 Filed 5–6–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

Technology Transfer Act of 1986;

Cooperative Research and

Development Agreement With U.S.

Army Topographic Engineering Center,

Alexandria, VA and EarthData

Technologies, LLC, Hagerstown, MD

AGENCY: Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed Cooperative

Research and Development Agreement

(CRADA) negotiations.

SUMMARY: The United States Geological

Survey (USGS) is planning to enter into

a Cooperative Research and

Development Agreement (CRADA) with

the U.S. Army Topographic Engineering

Center, Alexandria, Virginia and

EarthData Technologies, LLC,

Hagerstown, Maryland. The purpose of

the CRADA is to jointly research and

develop a camera calibration

methodology and capability for digital

airborne cameras. Any other

organization interested in pursuing the

possibility of a CRADA for similar kinds

of activities should contact the USGS.

ADDRESSES: Inquiries may be addressed

to the Acting Chief of Research, U.S.

Geological Survey, National Mapping

Division, 500 National Center, 12201

Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia

20192; Telephone (703) 648–4643,

facsimile (703) 648–4706; Internet

‘‘ebrunson@usgs.gov’’.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ernest B. Brunson, address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is to meet the USGS requirement

stipulated in the Survey Manual.

Dated: April 20, 1998.

Richard E. Witmer,

Chief, National Mapping Division.

[FR Doc. 98–12091 Filed 5–6–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–17–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WO–350–4210–01]

Extension of Approved Information

Collection, OMB Number 1004–0107

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice and request for

comments.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is

announcing its intention to request an

extension of existing approval to collect

certain information from respondents

identified in 43 CFR 2800 and 2880.

This information is in addition to that

collected on the Form SF–299, OMB No.

1004–0060, and is necessary for those

large complex projects which require a

right-of-way. The authorization for such

collection is provided by the 2800 and

2880 regulations. On multi-million

dollar energy production and

transmission projects, and complex

communication sites for which a rightof-way is required, information over and

above that provided on the application

form is required such as construction

and other plans; a more detailed map;

specific certificates, permits, and

approvals from other agencies; and any

other necessary information relative to

the completion of the project.

DATES: Comments on the proposed

information collection must be received

by July 6, 1998 to be assured of

consideration.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed

to: Director (420), Bureau of Land

Management, 1849 C Street NW., Room

401LS, Washington, DC 20240.

Comments may be sent via Internet to:

WoComment@wo.blm.gov. Please

include ‘‘Attn: 1004–0107’’ and your

name and return address in your

Internet message.

Comments may be hand-delivered to

the Bureau of Land Management

Administrative Record, Room 401, 1620

L Street, NW., Washington, DC.

Comments will be available for public

review at the L Street address during

regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:15

p.m), Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Carl C. Gammon, (202) 452–7777.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with 5 CFR 1320.12(a), BLM

is required to provide 60-day notice in

the Federal Register concerning a

collection of information contained in a

published current rule to solicit

comments on: (a) Whether the proposed

collection of information is necessary

for the proper performance of the

functions of the agency, including

whether the information will have

practical utility, (b) the accuracy of the

agency’s estimate of the burden of the

proposed collection of information,

including the validity of the

methodology and assumptions used; (c)

ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be

collected; and (d) ways to minimize the

burden of the collection of information

on those who are respond, including

through the use of appropriate

automated, electronic, mechanical, or

other technological collection

techniques or other forms of information

technology. The BLM will review and

analyze any comments sent in response

to this notice and include them with its

request for approval from the Office of

Management and Budget under 44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

BLM grants rights-of-way on public

lands through the authority of Title V of

the FLPMA, 90 Stat. 2776, 43 U.S.C.

1761 and the Mineral Leasing Act

(MLA) of 1920, as amended, 30 U.S.C.

185. Information in addition to that

collected on the right-of-way form (SF–

299) is needed for large complex

projects.There is no standard form for

the collection of this required additional

information. The authorization for such

collection is provided by the 2800 and