Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices 33693

Department of Defense authorized by

the Sikes Act; and 3,000 pounds for the

Hatchery public fishing ponds.

Whirling disease was first detected in

Colorado in 1987 and has since been

detected in 13 major river basins, 16

State fish hatcheries, and the Leadville

Hatchery. Reports that whirling disease

was responsible for decreases in wild

rainbow trout recruitment in the upper

Colorado River in Colorado during 1994

and 1995, and population declines of

wild rainbow trout in the upper

Madison River, Montana beginning in

1991 caused significant concern over

the disease’s effects on wild trout

populations in Colorado. Colorado

Division of Wildlife has responded to

this concern by adopting new policies

and regulations in January 1997 which

severely restrict the stocking locations

of fish produced at hatcheries were

whirling disease has been detected.

Nine alternatives for the disposition

of the Leadville Hatchery were

formulated utilizing input from the

public, environmental organizations,

and resource agencies. Each alternative

was evaluated for consistency with

Service priorities, compliance with

Service operational and fish health

policies, compliance with Colorado

Division of Wildlife regulations,

preservation of the historical value of

the Hatchery, potential for spreading

whirling disease and other fish diseases

to native fish and wild fish in Colorado,

and cost effectiveness. Alternative 1

(current program, no action) was used as

a baseline for evaluation of the

environmental impacts of the other

alternatives.

The Service designated Alternative 2a

as the preferred alternative. This is

strictly a preliminary decision which

will be reevaluated after comments from

the public are received. Alternative 2a

was chosen as the most feasible means

of fulfilling fish stocking obligations

while taking progressive action towards

controlling whirling disease infection

levels. Disease monitoring indicates that

the earthen lakes and ponds used for

fish production are the most significant

sources of disease on the Hatchery.

Lining these rearing units would vastly

reduce tubifex worm populations at the

Hatchery which host the disease.

Alternative 2b (installing hatchery

influent ozonation facility) will be

considered in the future if funding can

be attained.

Although construction costs are lower

for Alternatives 3a and 3b, these

alternatives would necessitate

termination of production for

Fryingpan-Arkansas Project waters.

These alternatives are not as cost

effective in the long run due to a

significant decrease in fish production

and increase in cost per pound of fish

produced.

Alternatives 4, 5a, and 5b emphasize

production of native cutthroat trout

utilizing spring water in the Hatchery

building. Under current Service policies

and Colorado Division of Wildlife

regulations, such trout can only be

certified as whirling disease-negative if

all fish production utilizing open water

supplies is terminated. Therefore,

Alternative 4 (maintaining production

using open water supplies) cannot be

achieved under current Service policies

and Colorado Division of Wildlife

regulations. Alternatives 5a and 5b

(ceasing all production using open

water supplies) are not cost effective

since only 500 to 3,000 pounds of trout

could be achieved in producing

whirling disease negative fingerlings

due to the proximity of whirling disease

to the Hatchery building. It would be

more practical to use currently whirling

disease-negative hatchery facilities to

produce disease-free native cutthroat

trout for restoration purposes.

Alternative 6 (closing the Hatchery

and transferring ownership) was not

chosen due to opposition from the

general public, and because the Service

desires to continue to honor the

obligations for fish production currently

being fulfilled by the Leadville

Hatchery. Since the Leadville Hatchery

stocks waters where there is no trout

reproduction, where whirling disease

already exists, and at considerable

distances from uncontaminated waters,

the Service believes that the most

feasible means of fulfilling these

obligations is by continuing to produce

the fish at the Leadville Hatchery.

Author: The primary author of this

notice is Mr. John Hamill (See

ADDRESSES section) (telephone 303/236–

8155, extension 252).

Authority: The authority for this action is

the National Environmental Policy Act of

1969, as amended (P.L. 91–190, 42 U.S.C. et

seq.).

Dated: June 12, 1998.

Ralph O. Morgenweck,

Regional Director, Region 6, Fish and Wildlife

Service.

[FR Doc. 98–16332 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Intent To Prepare

Comprehensive Conservation Plans

for 8 National Wildlife Refuges in the

Southwest Region

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public

that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) intends to gather information

necessary to prepare a comprehensive

conservation plan (CCP) and other

environmental documents for certain

National Wildlife Refuges listed in the

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION section

pursuant to the National Environmental

Policy Act and its implementing

regulations.

DATES: The Service will be open to

written comments through October 30,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Address comments and

requests for more information to: Mr.

Lou Bridges, Project Coordinator,

Research Management Consultants, Inc.,

1746 Cole Blvd., Bldg. 21, Suite 300,

Golden, CO 80401

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is

Service policy to have all lands within

the National Wildlife Refuge System

managed in accordance with an

approved CCP. The CCP guides

management decisions and identifies

refuge goals, long-range objectives, and

strategies for achieving refuge purposes.

The planning process will consider

many elements, including habitat and

wildlife management, habitat protection

and acquisition, public and recreational

uses, and cultural resources. Public

input into this planning process is

essential. The CCP will provide other

agencies and the public with a clear

understanding of the desired conditions

for the Refuges and how the Service will

implement management strategies.

The Service intends to gather

information necessary to prepare a CCP

and other environmental documents for

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge, Las

Vegas, New Mexico; Maxwell National

Wildlife Refuge, Maxwell, New Mexico;

Muleshoe and Grulla National Wildlife

Refuges, Muleshoe, Texas; Buffalo Lake

National Wildlife Refuge, Umbarger,

Texas; Salt Plains National Wildlife

Refuge, Jet, Oklahoma; and Sequoyah

and Ozark Plateau National Wildlife

Refuges, Vian, Oklahoma. The Service is

furnishing this notice in compliance

with Service CCP policy: (1) to advise

other agencies and the public of our

intentions, and (2) to obtain suggestions
33694 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 118 / Friday, June 19, 1998 / Notices

and information on the scope of issues

to include in the environmental

documents.

Additional opportunities for written

comments will be provided during the

draft review process. If necessary, the

Service will solicit information from the

public via open houses, meetings, and

workshops. Special mailings,

newspaper articles, and announcements

will inform people in the general area

near each refuge of the current status of

the project as well as the time and place

of any meetings to be conducted.

Review of these projects will be

conducted in accordance with the

requirements of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

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

Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),

other appropriate Federal laws and

regulations, including the National

Wildlife Refuge System Improvement

Act of 1997, Executive Order 12996, and

Service policies and procedures for

compliance with those regulations.

The Service anticipates that draft CCP

documents and any associated NEPA

documents will be available by June,

1999.

Dated: June 12, 1998.

Geoffrey L. Haskett,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 98–16326 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY–921–41–5700; WYW126102]

Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of

Terminated Oil and Gas Lease

June 10, 1998.

Pursuant to the provisions of 30

U.S.C. 188(d) and (e), and 43 CFR

3108.2–3(a) and (b)(1), a petition for

reinstatement of oil and gas lease

WYW126102 for lands in Natrona

County, Wyoming, was timely filed and

was accompanied by all the required

rentals accruing from the date of

termination.

The lessee has agreed to the amended

lease terms for rentals and royalties at

rates of $5.000 per acre, or fraction

thereof, per year and 162⁄3 percent,

respectively.

The lessee has paid the required $500

administrative fee and $125 to

reimburse the Department for the cost of

this Federal Register notice. The lessee

has met all the requirements for

reinstatement of the lease as set out in

Section 31 (d) and (e) of the Mineral

Lands Leasing Act of 1920 (30 U.S.C.

188), and the Bureau of Land

Management is proposing to reinstate

lease WYW126102 effective February 1,

1998, subject to the original terms and

conditions of the lease and the

increased rental and royalty rates cited

above.

Mavis Love,

Acting Chief, Leasable Minerals Section.

[FR Doc. 98–16305 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CA–010–08–1430–01; CACA–39215, CACA–

39714]

El Dorado and Amador Counties,

California: Realty Action, CACA–39215

and CACA–39714

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management.

ACTION: Notice of Realty Action—

Leasing of Public Lands; El Dorado and

Amador Counties, California.

SUMMARY: The following public lands in

El Dorado County, California will be

leased under the provisions of Section

302 of the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act of 1976 and 43 CFR

Part 2920. The lands will be leased for

seasonal commercial use, including RV

storage, primitive tent camping, a

volleyball court, and RV camp sites

(partial), to Ponderosa Park

Campground.

Mount Diablo Meridian, California

T. 11 N., R. 10 E.,

Sec. 18, portion of NWNENW.

Containing 5.0 acres, more or less.

In addition, the following described

public lands in Amador County,

California, will be leased under the

provisions of Section 302 of the Federal

Land Policy and Management Act of

1976 and 43 CFR Part 2920. The lands

will be leased to Mr. Elton Rodman, of

the Roaring Camp Mining Company, for

seasonal recreation use associated with

the Roaring Camp Mining Resort,

including picnic facilities, vehicle

parking, equipment storage, and a small

assay office.

Mount Diablo Meridian, California

T. 6 N., R. 12 E.,

Sec. 13, that portion of lot 5 lying west of

the North Fork of the Mokelumne River.

Containing 5.0 acres more or less.

This action will resolve two

inadvertent trespasses. The leases will

be issued for 10 years, with the right to

renew.

DATES: For a period of 45 days from the

date of publication of this notice,

interested persons may submit

comments regarding the proposed lease

to the address under the ADDRESSES

caption of this notice. Any adverse

comments will be evaluated by the Field

Manager who may vacate or modify this

Realty Action and issue a final

determination. In the absence of any

action by the Field Manager, this Realty

Action will become the final

determination of the Bureau.

ADDRESSES: For further information or

to submit comments regarding the

proposed leases contact Karen

Montgomery, Realty Specialist, or John

Beck, Realty Specialist, Bureau of Land

Management, Folsom Field Office, 63

Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630, (916)

985–4474.

D.K. Swickard,

Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 98–16364 Filed 6–18–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–40–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY–989–1050–00–P]

Filing of Plats of Survey; Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The plats of survey of the

following described lands are scheduled

to be officially filed in the Wyoming

State Office, Cheyenne, Wyoming, thirty

(30) calendar days from the date of this

publication.

Sixth Principal Meridian, Wyoming

T. 26 N., R. 71 W., accepted June 10, 1998

T. 23 N., R. 116 W., accepted June 10, 1998

T. 24 N., R. 116 W., accepted June 10, 1998

If protests against a survey, as shown

on any of the above plats, are received

prior to the official filing, the filing will

be stayed pending consideration of the

protest(s) and or appeal(s). A plat will

not be officially filed until after

disposition of protest(s) and or appeal(s)

These plats will be placed in the open

files of the Wyoming State Office,

Bureau of Land Management, 5353

Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne,

Wyoming, and will be available to the

public as a matter of information only.

Copies of the plats will be made

available upon request and prepayment

of the reproduction fee of $1.10 per

copy.

A person or party who wishes to

protest a survey must file with the State

Director, Bureau of Land Management,

Cheyenne, Wyoming, a notice of protest

prior to thirty (30) calendar days from