Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices 21733

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Natural Resources Conservation

Service

Iowa Watershed Rehabilitation Pilot

Project Plan, Monona and Mills

Counties, IA

AGENCY: Natural Resources

Conservation Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no

significant impact.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969; the Council on

Environmental Quality Regulations (40

CFR part 1500); and the Natural

Resources Conservation Service

Regulations (7 CFR part 650); the

Natural Resources Conservation Service,

U.S. Department of Agriculture, gives

notice that an environmental impact

statement is not being prepared for the

Iowa Watershed Rehabilitation Pilot

Project Plan, Monona and Mills

Counties, Iowa.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leroy Brown, State Conservationist,

Natural Resources Conservation Service,

210 Walnut Street, 693 Federal

Building, Des Moines, IA 50309–2180.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

environmental assessment of this

federally assisted action indicates that

the project will not cause significant

impacts on the environment. As a result

of these findings, Leroy Brown, State

Conservationist, has determined that the

preparation and review of an

environmental impact statement are not

needed for this project.

The project purpose is to develop

procedures and demonstrate actions that

may be used to implement a statewide

watershed rehabilitation program in

Iowa. To accomplish this, two aging

watershed structures will be

rehabilitated as a pilot project to

demonstrate methods and develop

public support for the rehabilitation

program. These actions will restore

these two structures so they will

continue to function for 50 years.

The project actions include the

reshaping of the road ditch in a road

right-of-way, modifying the auxiliary

spillway to lower its elevation by three

feet and replacement of a principal

spillway outlet on a structure in Mills

County that threatens motorist safety on

U.S. Highway 34 in case of a dam

breach. The project actions in Monona

County include renovation of structure

fill and spillway, a conservation

easement to convert existing 49 acres of

cropland to native grass and forbs,

approximately eight sediment and water

control basins, 6.8 acres of waterway,

pasture renovation plantings on 60

acres, and one livestock watering

system.

The Plan and Environmental

Assessment has been forwarded to the

Environmental Protection Agency and

to various Federal, State, and local

agencies and to interested parties. A

limited number of copies of the plan

and environmental assessment are

available to fill single copy requests at

the above address. Basic data developed

during the environmental assessment

are on file and may be viewed by

contacting Leroy Brown.

No administrative action will be taken

until 30 days after the date of this

publication in the Federal Register.

Finding of No Significant Impact for the

Iowa Watershed Rehabilitation Pilot

Project, Lawson Creek and Pony Creek

Watersheds, Monona and Mills

Counties, Iowa

Introduction

The proposed plan is for an Iowa

Watershed Rehabilitation Pilot Project

to address aging and impaired

watershed structures in the State of

Iowa. Two watersheds were selected for

the pilot project. One structure in each

watershed was chosen for use in the

pilot project.

Lawson site 1–1 is an earthfill

structure that was installed in 1970 to

control severe gully erosion and reduce

flooding. The structure receives runoff

from 258 acres of agricultural land and

originally had a permanent pool of 1.3

acres. The structure prematurely filled

with sediment due to extreme actions of

a previous private landowner. The

structure is in danger of failing and a

major gully problem will reform.

Pony Creek site 31 was installed in

1963 to control severe gully erosion and

reduce flooding. The earthfill structure

receives drainage from 270 acres of

agricultural land and has a permanent

pool of 14 acres. U.S. Highway 34 was

relocated below the structure in 1974.

This places about 8000 motor vehicles

daily within the potential dam breach

area. Hydraulic routings indicate that

the breach of the structure would put

water about two feet deep across the

highway.

These two structures were chosen

because they are representative of the

types of problems that will be

encountered in other watersheds when

a state wide Watershed Rehabilitation

Program is implemented.

Lawson Creek Watershed was a

federally assisted action authorized and

installed under Public Law 78–534, The

Flood Control Act as part of the Little

Sioux River Flood Prevention Project.

Pony Creek watershed was a federally

assisted action authorized and installed

under Public law 83–566, The

Watershed Protection and Flood

Prevention Act. The proposed

rehabilitation actions to remedy

problems with the existing structural

components at Site 1–1 in Lawson Creek

Watershed and Site 31 in Pony Creek

Watershed are authorized in accordance

with the original federal authorities as

amended by the Small Watershed

Rehabilitation Amendments of 2000,

and the Soil and Water Conservation,

Soil Conservation and Domestic

Allotment Act of 1936, as amended,

Public Law 74–46, 16 U.S.C. 590 a–f

(CFDA No. 10.902). An environmental

assessment was undertaken by the

Natural Resources Conservation Service

(NRCS) in conjunction with the

development of this rehabilitation plan.

This assessment was undertaken in

consultation with local, state and

federal agencies as well as interested

organizations and individuals. Data

developed during assessment and

copies of the rehabilitation plan are

available for public review at the

following location: Natural Resources

Conservation Service, 210 Walnut

Street, 693 Federal Building, Des

Moines, Iowa 50309–2180.

An Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) was prepared for the Little Sioux

Watershed Flood Prevention Project in

1976. The EIS discusses the effects of

installing flood prevention and grade

stabilization dams and land treatment

practices.

Recommended Action

Proposed actions for Site 1–1 in

Lawson Creek Watershed are:

1. Raising the existing structure height

by about 15 feet.

2. Installing a new principal spillway

couduit.

3. Securing a conversation easement on

49 acres above the existing pool area

in perpetuity.

4. Converting the land use from

cropland to native grass and forbs

within the conservation easement

area.

5. Installing about eight water and

sediment control basins to prevent

gully erosion and trap sediment.

6. Establishing 6.8 acres of grassed

waterway to control erosion in

drainage ways.

7. Planting improved grass mixture on

60 acres of existing pastureland to

improve soil cover.

8. Installing one livestock watering

system.

Proposed actions for Site 31 in Pony

Creek Watershed are:

21734 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices

1. Modifying a constructed earth block

in the highway road ditch below the

structure in the right-of-way of U.S.

Highway 34. The man made block

would be lowered about two feet for

a distance of about 50 feet.

2. Replacing the existing corrugated

metal pipe principal spillway.

3. The auxiliary spillway will be

modified to lower its’ elevation by

about three feet.

Effects of the Recommended Actions

Lawson Creek Watershed

The actions in the proposed plan for

Lawson Creek Watershed will control

gully erosion for 50 years at Site 1–1,

reduce sheet, rill and ephemeral

cropland gully erosion in the watershed

above the site, reduce delivery of

sediment both to the structure site and

the Maple River, provide a source of

water for minnow species in the

structure pool, and reduce downstream

peak flows.

There are three cultural resource sites

recorded in the area. None are in the

area of potential effect. Following its

procedures, NRCS surveyed the area of

potential effect and no sites were

identified. Construction discoveries will

be handled in accordance with NRCS

General Manual, Section 420, Part 401.

The Loess Hills are a nationally

significant natural area. The installation

of the project measures will prevent

gully damages to this portion of the

Loess Hills. The planting of native

vegetation as per Iowa NRCS

specifications for restoration of rare and

declining habitats on the 49 acre

easement area will help restore native

prairie vegetation to this portion of the

Loess Hills.

The project will convert 49 acres of

cropland to a diverse mixture of native

grasses and forbs. This will add

diversity and improve wildlife habitat

on these 49 acres and within the

watershed. Any incidental or

unavoidable impacts to woody

vegetation or other significant wildlife

habitat types will be quantified prior to

construction and any losses will be

replaced through mitigation.

No threatened or endangered species

are recorded in the area. No critical

habitat for any species is present in the

proposed project area.

There are no wetlands, prime

farmland or other unique or protected

land resources that will be negatively

impacted to the proposed actions.

No other significant adverse

environmental impacts will occur from

installation of project features.

There is no existing or anticipated

public controversy associated with this

proposed action.

The effects of the recommended

actions in Lawson Watershed are

consistent with the Environmental

Impact Statement prepared for the Little

Sioux River Watershed Flood

Prevention Project.

Pony Creek Watershed

The actions in the proposed plan for

Pony Creek Watershed Site 31 will

allow the structure to continue to

control gully erosion, prevent any

downstream sedimentation, and prevent

a flood hazard to motorists on U.S.

Highway 34 from a dam breach failure.

There are no significant cultural

resources identified within the work

area for the replacement of the existing

principal spillway outlet. No new

earthfill will be required.

The deepening of the block in the

road ditch will affect previously

disturbed soil material except for the

south slope where a small area of

undisturbed hillside will be disturbed.

This small undisturbed area has been

archaeologically surveyed and contains

no cultural resources. The modification

of the auxiliary spillway is in an area

previously disturbed and will not affect

deposits that could contain cultural

resources.

If a construction discovery is made,

the NRCS will take action as prescribed

in the NRCS General Manual, Section

420, Part 401.

There will be no impacts to any

threatened or endangered species.

No wildlife or fisheries habitats will

be adversely impacted.

There will be no impacts to the Loess

Hills, a nationally significant natural

area.

There are no wetlands, prime

farmland, agricultural land, or other

natural or unique land resources that

will be impacted by the actions in the

proposed plan.

There will be a minor, short term

adverse impact to recreational use of the

Mills County Conservation Board park

in which the structure is located while

the new outlet pipe is being installed.

The pool will be drawn down by about

six feet while the new pipe is installed.

This will expose some unsightly

shoreline conditions and may have a

minor impact on use of the pool by

shoreline anglers. The project will be

done quickly and all efforts will be

made to limit the duration and severity

of such disruptions in recreational use.

No new earthfill will be required.

No other significant adverse

environmental impacts will occur from

installation of project features.

There is no existing or anticipated

public controversy associated with this

proposed action.

Alternative Actions

Other alternative actions were

considered in the planning process but

were rejected. The recommended

alternatives for both watersheds that are

included in the proposed plan, are both

the most practical and lowest cost

means of accomplishing the

rehabilitation of the structures so that

they continue to provide the original

benefits for which they were

constructed. These actions meet the

sponsors objectives and goals, provide

environmental benefits, cause no

significant adverse environmental

impacts, and cause no public

controversy.

Consultation and Public Participation

Lawson Creek Watershed

The Monona County Soil and Water

Conservation District (SWCD) has

discussed the plan for Lawson Creek

Watershed Site 1–1 at their regular

public meetings.

The one landowner involved with

Site 1–1 rehabilitation plan,

conservation easement and land

treatment measures has been involved

with the development of this plan.

Twenty Indian tribes and three local

historical societies were notified of this

intended action and consulted about

their knowledge of historical properties

in the project area.

Only one response was received from

one of the Indian tribes stating they

were unaware of any cultural resources

associated with the project area.

Inter-agency consultation and public

participation to date have shown no

unresolved conflicts with implementing

this selected plan action in the Lawson

Creek Watershed.

Pony Creek Watershed

The Mills County Soil and Water

Conservation District (SWCD) has

reviewed the plan for Pony Creek

Watershed Site 31 at a public meeting.

The Mills County Conservation Board

and the Iowa Department of

Transportation have been involved with

the development of this plan.

Twenty Indian tribes and three local

historical societies were notified of this

intended action and consulted about

their knowledge of historical properties

in the project area. Only one response

was received from one of the Indian

tribes stating they were unaware of any

cultural resources associated with the

project area. A cultural resource field

investigation did not indicate the

presence of cultural resources.

Inter-agency consultation and public

participation to date have shown no

unresolved conflicts with implementing

Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2001 / Notices 21735

this selected plan action in the Pony

Creek Watershed.

Conclusion

The Environmental Assessment

summarized above indicates that this

Federal action will not cause significant

impacts on the environment. Therefore,

based on the above findings, I have

determined that an environmental

impact statement for the Iowa

Watershed Rehabilitation Pilot Project is

not required.

Dated: April 2, 2001.

Leroy Brown,

State Conservationist.

[FR Doc. 01–10813 Filed 4–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–16–M

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Sunshine Act Meeting

AGENCY: Rural Telephone Bank, USDA.

ACTION: Staff briefing for the Board of

Directors.

TIME AND DATE: 2 p.m., Thursday, May

10, 2001.

PLACE: Conference Room 5030, South

Building, Department of Agriculture,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW.,

Washington, DC.

STATUS: Open.

MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED:

1. Current telecommunications

industry issues.

2. Contract for business advisor to the

Privatization Committee.

3. Transferability of Class C stock to

a stockholder’s subsidiary company.

4. Office of the Inspector General’s

audit report on FY 2000 financial

statements.

5. FY 2000 annual report.

6. Administrative issues.

ACTION: Board of Directors meeting.

TIME AND DATE: 9 a.m., Friday, May 11,

2001.

PLACE: Conference Room 107–A, Jamie

L. Whitten Building, Department of

Agriculture, 12th and Jefferson Drive,

SW., Washington, DC.

STATUS: Open.

MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: The

following matters have been placed on

the agenda for the Board of Directors

meeting:

1. Call to order.

2. Action on Minutes of the February

6, 2001, board meeting.

3. Report on loans approved in the

second quarter of FY 2001.

4. Report on financial activity for the

second quarter of FY 2001.

5. Privatization Committee report.

6. Clarification on stock policy

regarding the transferability of Class C

stock to a stockholder’s subsidiary

company.

7. Action on the Bank’s annual report

for FY 2000.

8. Adjournment.

CONTACT PERSON FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Roberta D. Purcell, Assistant Governor,

Rural Telephone Bank, (202) 720–9554.

Dated: April 26, 2001.

Blaine D. Stockton,

Acting Governor, Rural Telephone Bank.

[FR Doc. 01–10958 Filed 4–27–01; 12:29 pm]

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

Tri-State Generation and Transmission

Association, Inc.; Notice of Intent To

Hold A Public Workshop and Prepare

an Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to hold a public

workshop and prepare an

environmental assessment.

SUMMARY: The Rural Utilities Service

(RUS) intends to hold a public scoping

workshop and prepare an

environmental assessment (EA) in

connection with possible impacts

related to the construction and

operation of a combustion turbine

generation facility. The project is being

proposed by Tri-State Generation and

Transmission Association, Inc. (TriState), of Westminster, Colorado. RUS

will conduct a public scoping workshop

at the Lordsburg High School, 41 W. 4th

Street, Lordsburg, New Mexico. The

meeting/workshop will be held on May

16, 2001, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dennis E. Rankin, Environmental

Protection Specialist, RUS, Engineering

and Environmental Staff, Stop 1571,

1400 Independence Avenue, SW,

Washington, DC 20250–1571, telephone:

(202) 720–1953 or e-mail:

drank@inrus.usda.gov.; or Karl Myers,

Senior Environmental Planner, TriState, P.O. Box 33695, Denver, Colorado

80233, telephone: (303) 452–6111 or email: kmyerstristategt.org.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Tri-State

is proposing to construct a 150 MW

peaking facility consisting of four GE

LM6000 combustion turbine generators

with associated auxiliary and support

facilities including transmission

connections and a high-pressure natural

gas pipeline connection available for

commercial dispatch in January 2003.

The preferred site is located

approximately 12 miles southeast of

Lordsburg, New Mexico. The preferred

transmission alternative is to connect

these generators via two new/rebuilt 115

kV lines between the generating site and

the Hidalgo 115 kV Substation.

RUS may provide financial assistance

for the project. The Bureau of Land

Management has received a right-of-way

application for the 115 kV transmission

line. The EA will address the impacts

associated with granting the right-ofway.

Alternatives to be considered by RUS

include no action, load management

and energy conservation, purchase

power, alternative generators and

alternative sites.

Comments regarding the proposed

project may be submitted in writing at

the public meeting/workshop or in

writing no later than June 16, 2001, to

RUS at the address provided above.

An environmental assessment (EA)

will be prepared for the proposed

project. Based on a review of the

Environmental Assessment and other

relevant information, RUS will

determine if the preparation of an

environmental impact statement is

necessary. Should RUS determine that

the preparation of an environmental

impact statement is not necessary, it

will prepare a Finding of No Significant

Impact.

Any final action by RUS related to the

proposed project will be subject to, and

contingent upon, compliance with all

relevant Federal, State and local

environmental laws and regulations and

completion of the environmental review

procedures as prescribed by RUS’s

Environmental Policies and Procedures.

Dated: April 25, 2001.

Mark S. Plank,

Acting Director, Engineering and

Environmental Staff.

[FR Doc. 01–10777 Filed 4–30–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3410–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

DOC has submitted to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for

clearance the following proposal for

collection of information under the

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction

Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

AGENCY: U.S. Census Bureau.

Title: Census 2000 Count Question

Resolution Program.

Form Number(s): None.

Agency Approval Number: None.