34926 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 1998 / Notices

access and safety and the accuracy of

information available to potential park

and city visitors. It also would better

protect cultural resources and enhance

existing park partnerships. Alternative

2, the no-action alternative, would

continue current management direction.

Benefits would continue for visitors in

information and interpretation, but

crowding in the visitor center unit

would result in adverse visitor safety

conditions. In addition, the uses of

adjacent lands would continue to have

adverse effects on visual resources and

land use. Alternative 3 would

emphasize resource preservation. This

alternative would increase protection of

cultural and natural resources,

moderately benefit visual resources and

the visitor experience, and improve park

administration and operation.

Alternative 4 would accommodate more

visitors during peak visitation times. It

would lead to some improvement in

visitor access and circulation in and

near the park, improvements in

opportunities for information about

Sitka attractions, and a better visitor

experience.

Dated: June 18, 1998.

Paul R. Anderson,

Regional Director, Alaska.

[FR Doc. 98–17084 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–70–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

Salton Sea Project, Riverside and

Imperial Counties, California

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

for the improvement of the Salton Sea,

California and notice of public scoping

meetings.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the

Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation)

and the Salton Sea Authority

(Authority), State of California, in

accordance with the California

Environmental Quality Act, will be

preparing an EIR/EIS document to

assess the impacts of alternative

solutions for restoring the Salton Sea

(Sea) located in Riverside and Imperial

Counties, California.

DATES: Written comments on the

scoping issues will be accepted until

September 30, 1998. Public scoping

meetings will be held at the following

locations:

July 15, 1998, 5 PM—8 PM, Veterans of

Foreign Wars Hall, West Shores Post

3251, 50 Desert Shores Drive, Desert

Shores, California.

July 16, 1998, 5 PM—8 PM, Imperial

Irrigation District Board Room, 81–

600 Avenue 58, La Quinta, California.

July 17, 1998, 10 AM—1 PM, El Centro

Board of Supervisors Chambers, 940

Main Street, Suite 212, El Centro,

California.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to

Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado

Region, PO Box 61470, Boulder City,

NV, 89006–1470, ATTN: Salton Sea

Program Manager or to the Salton Sea

Authority, Tom Kirk, Executive

Director, 46–209 Oasis Street, 2nd Floor,

Indio, CA 92201.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

William Steele, Salton Sea Program

Manager (Reclamation), at (702) 293–

8129; or Mr. Tom Kirk, Salton Sea

Authority Executive Director, at (760)

863–7942.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pub. L.

102–575, 1992, directs the Secretary of

the Interior to ‘‘conduct a research

project for the development of a method

or combination of methods to reduce

and control salinity, provide

endangered species habitat, enhance

fisheries, and protect human

recreational values * * * in the area of

the Salton Sea * * *’’ In addition to

this authority, Reclamation and the

Authority have entered into an

agreement, Salton Sea Planning and

Research Program, to jointly study

problems associated with the Sea.

The Authority is a public agency

formed under the provisions of Articles

I and II, Chapter 5, Division 7, Title 1

of the Government Code of the State of

California for the purpose of ‘‘directing

and coordinating actions relating to

improvement of water quality and

stabilization of water elevation and to

enhance recreational and economic

development potential of the Sea and

other beneficial uses, recognizing the

importance of the Sea for the

continuation of the dynamic agricultural

economy of Imperial and Riverside

Counties.’’

The Sea is a hypersaline lake located

in a closed basin of the southern

California desert; it is the largest body

of water within California. The Sea was

initially formed in 1905–1907 by

flooding on the Colorado River which

breached an irrigation control structure

allowing virtually the full flow of river

water into the Salton Basin. The Sea’s

current existence is primarily due to

agricultural drainage from the Imperial,

Coachella, and Mexicali Valleys; smaller

volumes of municipal effluent and

storm water runoff also flow to the Sea.

The Sea is home to a highly eutrophic

ecosystem and a productive sport

fishery. The Sea, and wetlands along its

shoreline, are a critical part of the

Pacific flyway providing seasonal and

migratory habitat to millions of birds of

varying species. Several endangered

species, including the desert pupfish,

Yuma clapper rail, brown pelican,

peregrine falcon, and bald eagle, inhabit

the Sea and/or adjacent habitats.

The Sea ecosystem is under stress.

Increasing salinity, currently about 43

parts per thousand, is threatening the

reproductive ability of some parts of the

biota. Other potential issues include

high nutrient loading, heavy metals,

DDT residues, and discharges of

agricultural chemicals to irrigation

drains leading to the Sea. At the scoping

meetings, participants will be requested

to identify other potentially significant

issues as well as potential alternative

solutions.

The purpose of the project is to

identify a plan that improves the human

environment and ecological conditions

of the Sea. Based on past studies,

various alternatives to control salinity in

the Sea have been investigated. These

alternatives include diked

impoundments, pump-out, a

combination of impoundment and

pump-out alternatives, and salt removal

from inflow to the Sea. Other options

may surface during the scoping process.

Opportunities to address other

environmental issues facing the Sea,

including issues related to wildlife

resources, will be investigated and

considered for implementation as we

increase our understanding of the Sea’s

ecology.

The objective of this effort is to

evaluate alternatives (1) capable of

maintaining the Sea as a reservoir of

agricultural drainage, (2) provide a safe,

productive environment for resident

and migratory birds and endangered

species, (3) restore recreational uses, (4)

maintain a viable sport fishery, and (5)

identify opportunities for economic

development.

The analysis will address the current

issues of (1) accumulation and

concentration of salts, nutrients, and

organic compounds and other

constituents, (2) water elevation

stabilization, (3) reduced recreational

use of the Sea, and (4) reduced

ecological values. The environmental

document will also address any Indian

Trust Assets (ITA) of the TorresMartinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and

assets of any other Tribe(s).

Environmental and engineering

baseline data have been collected over
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 123 / Friday, June 26, 1998 / Notices 34927

the past several years and the project is

now ready to move forward under the

CEQA/NEPA process. The Secretary of

the Interior has identified this as a high

priority project and action is being

expedited due to the worsening

conditions at the Sea. Over 200,000

birds have died at the Sea over the past

six years as a result of the current

conditions. Reclamation and the

Authority will be working closely with

interested Congressional members and

other stakeholders to develop possible

solutions.

A Research Management Committee

(Committee) has been established of

high-level managers from the U.S.

Department of the Interior, Authority,

State of California, and the Torres

Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians. This

Committee makes funding and other

relevant decisions regarding science to

be funded to support the CEQA/NEPA

process. A Science Subcommittee

(Subcommittee) has been established to

serve as an advisory committee to

provide scientific evaluations and

recommendations to the Committee.

The Subcommittee functions as a

coordinated body to determine

information gaps, identify science/

information needs, and provide the

Committee with recommendations for

funding priorities regarding the science

activities.

The draft EIR/EIS is expected to be

completed by the end of December

1999.

Dated: June 16, 1998.

LeGrand Neilson,

Acting Regional Director, Lower Colorado

Region.

[FR Doc. 98–17022 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–94–P

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[USITC SE–98–012]

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United

States International Trade Commission.

TIME AND DATE: July 14, 1998 at 11:00

a.m.

PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20436.

STATUS: Open to the public.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:

1. Agenda for future meeting: none.

2. Minutes.

3. Ratification List.

4. Inv. No. 731–TA–768 (Final) (Fresh

Atlantic Salmon from Chile)—briefing

and vote.

5. Outstanding action jackets: none.

In accordance with Commission

policy, subject matter listed above, not

disposed of at the scheduled meeting,

may be carried over to the agenda of the

following meeting.

Issued: June 22, 1998.

By order of the Commission.

Donna R. Koehnke,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–17258 Filed 6–24–98; 12:57 pm]

BILLING CODE 7020–02–P

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

COMMISSION

[USITC SE–98–011]

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: United

States International Trade Commission.

TIME AND DATE: July 10, 1998 at 11:00

a.m.

PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street S.W.

Washington, DC 20436.

STATUS: Open to the public.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:

1. Agenda for future meeting: none.

2. Minutes.

3. Ratification List.

4. Inv. Nos. 751–TA–17–20 (Titanium

Sponge from Japan, Kazakstan, Russia,

and Ukraine)—briefing and vote.

5. Outstanding action jackets: none.

In accordance with Commission

policy, subject matter listed above, not

disposed of at the scheduled meeting,

may be carried over to the agenda of the

following meeting.

Issued: June 22, 1998.

By order of the Commission.

Donna R. Koehnke,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98–17259 Filed 6–24–98; 12:57 pm]

BILLING CODE 7020–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Notice of Lodging of Consent Decree

Under the Comprehensive

Environmental Response,

Compensation and Liability Act 42

U.S.C. 9601, et seq.

Notice is hereby given that on, June 8,

1998 a proposed Consent Decree

(‘‘Decree’’) in United States v. Asarco

Incorporated, et al., Civil Action No.

2:98CVO415B was lodged with the

United States District Court for the

District of Utah. The United States filed

this action pursuant to the

Comprehensive Environmental

Response, Compensation and Liability

Act, as amended (‘‘CERCLA’’), 42 U.S.C.

9601, et seq., to recover the past and

future response costs incurred at or in

connection with the Murray Smelter

Site in the City of Murray, Utah.

The proposed Consent Decree

resolves claims against: Asarco

Incorporated; Murray City Corporation;

SALS Investors Partnership; Utah

Transit Authority; Monroc Inc.; TB

Warehouse L.L.C.; Timothy Buehner;

Paul Buehner; Alma Utah Company,

Otto Buehner and Company; Buehner

Salt Lake Properties,. L.C.; Buehner

Corp.; Hi–Ute Investment Company;

Murray Land Trust L.C.; W.R. White

Company; Ash Grove Cement; and

Paragon Properties. This proposed

Consent Decree recovers response costs

of $109,547.37, and requires Asarco,

and the other settling defendants, to

implement EPA’s selected remedy for

the Site. The Decree also settles

potential claims against the United

States at the Site.

The Department of Justice will receive

for a period of thirty (30) days from the

date of this publication comments

relating to the Decree. Comments should

be addressed to the Assistant Attorney

General of the Environment and Natural

Resources Division, Department of

Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, and

should refer to, United States v. Asarco

Incorporated, et al., Civil Action No. 2:

98CVO415B, and D.J. Ref. #90–11–3–

1729.

The Decree may be examined at the

United States Department of Justice,

Environment and Natural Resources

Division, Denver Field Office, 999 18th

Street, North Tower Suite 945, Denver,

Colorado, 80202 and the U.S.; EPA

Region VIII, 999 18th Street, Superfund

Records Center, Suite 500, Denver, Co.

80202, and at the Consent Decree

Library, 1120 G Street, NW., 4th Floor,

Washington, DC 20005, (202) 624–0892.

A copy of the Decree may be obtained

in person or by mail from the Consent

Decree Library, 1120 G Street, NW., 4th

Floor, Washington, DC 20005. In

requesting a copy, please enclose a

check in the amount of $32.00 for the

Decree, without attachments (25 cents

per page reproduction cost) payable to

the Consent Decree Library.

Joel M. Gross,

Chief, Environmental Enforcement Section,

Environment and Natural Resources,

Division.

[FR Doc. 98–17011 Filed 6–25–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410–15–M