Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2001 / Notices 31947

The Program will encompass the

VRFRP and VSCAS so that actions

identified in these documents can be

funded, implemented, and evaluated for

effectiveness. In addition, the Program

will provide measures to offset

proposed Federal project impacts during

section 7 consultations in order to

prevent future conflict over water

development and minimize impacts of

Federal projects on protected aquatic

species. Goals and objectives of the

Program are based on recovery of the

endangered fish and conservation of

Virgin spinedace in an environment of

continuing water development.

Although some impacts to native

species are expected through future

water development projects, recovery

actions have been and will continue to

be implemented in advance of project

impacts such that the status of species

and/or its habitat is expected to improve

and remain greater than that necessary

to offset anticipated impacts. A

crediting system has been developed to

assess, measure, and track benefits and

impacts of projects and is designed to

maintain measured benefits at a higher

level than impacts so that the Program

is always moving toward recovery and

conservation of protected species.

Although participation is limited to

Utah portions of the Virgin River basin

at this time, it is expected that the

remaining portions of the Virgin River

basin in Arizona and Nevada will be

invited to participate in the Program in

future years, as it becomes better

established and demonstrates

effectiveness.

It is important to note that

participation in this Program does not

represent or guarantee legal authority

for any water development project. Such

projects must be evaluated individually

as they are proposed and continue to be

subject to all applicable Federal and

State laws, including the National

Environmental Policy Act and the

Endangered Species Act. This EA is not

intended to provide analysis for specific

project impacts but rather analyzes only

effects of Federal participation in the

Program.

Author

The primary author of this notice is

Yvette K. Converse, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300 South

State Street, Suite 404, Salt Lake City,

Utah 84115, 801–524–5001 extension

135.

Authority

The authorities for this action are the

National Environmental Policy Act of

1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and the

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16

U.S.C. 1532 et seq.).

Dated: May 30, 2001.

Duane K. McDermond,

Acting Regional Director, Denver, CO.

Finding of No Significant Impact—Federal

Participation in the Virgin River Resource

Management and Recovery Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as lead

agency, with the Bureau of Land

Management and National Park Service as

cooperating agencies, propose to participate

in the Virgin River Resource Management

and Recovery Program (Program). The

Program will be a multiagency program

designed to implement recovery actions for

two endangered fish species, the woundfin

and the Virgin River chub. It also will

implement conservation actions for the

Virgin spinedace, a species being managed as

sensitive by the State of Utah and subject of

a conservation agreement. In addition to

implementing recovery actions, the Program

will facilitate resolution of conflicts between

endangered species protection and water

development in the Virgin River Basin in

Utah by providing actions to improve the

status of these species so that proposed water

development will not jeopardize these

species existence or adversely modify their

critical habitat. Other Program participants

will be the State of Utah Department of

Natural Resources, the Washington County

Water Conservancy District, and Grand

Canyon Trust, a local nonprofit

environmental conservation group.

An Environmental Assessment was

prepared which addressed three alternatives:

(A) a no action alternative whereby the

Federal agencies would not participate in the

Program but would continue to administer

and comply with the Endangered Species Act

(Act) as previously done; (B) Federal agency

participation in the Program which describes

a process for administration and compliance

with the Act that provides for full

implementation of recovery and conservation

actions for the protected fish species, as well

as providing a mechanism for section 7

compliance of the Act that reduces conflict

in the Utah portion of the Virgin River basin;

and (C) Federal agency participation in a

basinwide recovery program that includes

implementation of the Program in Arizona

and Nevada, as well as Utah.

Alternative B, the Preferred Alternative,

will result in the most effective participation

by Department of the Interior agencies, State

and local agencies, and organizations to

coordinate, direct, and fund recovery actions

for imperiled aquatic fish species in the

Basin in Utah. It also will facilitate

implementation of the Virgin River Resource

Management and Recovery Program that was

developed by resource agencies in Utah.

Based on my review and evaluation of the

Environmental Assessment and supporting

documentation, I have determined that

Federal agency participation in the Virgin

River Resource and Management Program is

not a major Federal action which would

significantly affect the quality of the human

environment within the meaning of section

102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969. Accordingly, preparation

of an environmental impact statement is not

required.

Dated: May 30, 2001.

Duane K. McDermond,

Acting Regional Director.

References: Environmental Assessment dated

May 2000; Intra-Service Section 7

Consultation

[FR Doc. 01–14863 Filed 6–12–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[CO–930–1430–ET; COC–017768]

Public Land Order No. 7488; Extension

of Public Land Order No. 5979;

Colorado

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Public Land Order.

SUMMARY: This order extends Public

Land Order No. 5979 for an additional

20-year period. This extension is

necessary to continue the protection of

two Bureau of Land Management

administrative sites. The lands have

been and will remain open to mineral

leasing.

EFFECTIVE DATE: September 3, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Doris E. Chelius, BLM Colorado State

Office, 2850 Youngfield Street,

Lakewood, Colorado 80215–7093, 303–

239–3706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By virtue

of the authority vested in the Secretary

of the Interior by Section 204 of the

Federal Land Policy and Management

Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714 (1994), it is

ordered as follows:

1. Public Land Order No. 5979, which

withdrew public lands to protect two

Bureau of Land Management

administrative sites, is hereby extended

for an additional 20-year period

following its date of expiration.

2. This withdrawal will expire 20

years from the effective date of this

order unless, as a result of a review

conducted prior to the expiration date

pursuant to Section 204(f) of the Federal

Land Policy and Management Act of

1976, 43 U.S.C. 1714(f) (1994), the

Secretary determines that the

withdrawal shall be extended.

Dated: May 29, 2001.

Gale A. Norton,

Secretary of the Interior.

[FR Doc. 01–14826 Filed 6–12–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P