Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 106 / Friday, May 31, 1996 / Notices 27365

advertised a joint public scoping

meeting, held on July 7, 1993. The

scoping process was initiated in

accordance with NEPA to solicit

comments from a variety of Federal,

State, and local entities on issues/

alternatives to be addressed in the EIR/

EIS. A report was prepared in

September 1993, summarizing the

scoping process. A joint Notice of

Availability of the Draft EIR/EIS, and

Notice of Receipt of applications for

incidental take permits associated with

the Orange County Central/Coastal

Subregion NCCP Plan/HCP, was

published in the Federal Register on

December 15, 1995 (60 FR 64447).

Adverse and beneficial effects,

associated with the implementation of

each alternative, were described in the

Draft EIR/EIS. The Service received 76

letters of comment on the Draft EIR/EIS

that mainly focused on the following

issues: (1) Creation of a permanent

habitat Reserve System; (2) Headlands/

Pacific pocket mouse issues; (3) reserve

design and process; (4) habitat coverage;

(5) species coverage; (6) adequacy of

biological linkages/connectivity; (7)

Coal Canyon habitat linkage; (8) El Toro

Marine Corps Air Station; (9) extension

of the comment period; (10) changes

requested by local jurisdictions; (11)

revisions to the draft IA; (12) role of

adaptive management; and (13)

assurance of implementation. Copies of

all comments received and responses to

all comments are available for public

review. The Draft EIR/EIS, Draft NCCP

Plan/HCP, and Draft IA were revised,

where appropriate, based on public

comments. No new issues or additional

significant impacts were identified as a

result of public comment on the Draft

EIR/EIS.

Alternatives Analyzed in the Final EIR/

EIS

Due to the scale of the NCCP program

for the Subregion, the lead agencies

assessed various regional conservation

strategies and reserve designs. Four

alternatives were advanced for detailed

analysis in the Final EIR/EIS: (1)

Proposed Project Alternative (approve

and implement the NCCP Plan/HCP), (2)

No Project/No Action Alternative, (3)

No Take Alternative, and (4) a

Programmatic Alternative. Each

alternative was evaluated for its

potential to result in significant adverse

environmental impacts, and the

adequacy or inadequacy of the proposed

measures to avoid, minimize, and

substantially reduce and mitigate such

negative effects.

The Service’s preferred action is

approval of the NCCP Plan/HCP, and

issuance of incidental take permits with

the mitigating, minimizing, and

monitoring measures outlined in the

Proposed Project Alternative. (See

Background section for a description of

this alternative).

Under the No Project/No Action

Alternative, a comprehensive regional

conservation strategy would not be

undertaken, and a Reserve System

would not be established. Development

would occur as planned by the local

jurisdictions. Protection of the coastal

California gnatcatcher and its CSS

habitat, and other federally listed

species, would occur on a project-byproject basis through the section 7 and

section 10 processes of the Act, as

appropriate. Other unlisted species

might be protected if included in the

planning process for each project.

The No Take Alternative is similar to

the No Project Alternative, except that it

assumes that no take of gnatcatchers or

their associated habitat would be

allowed within the Subregion pursuant

to section 9 of the Act, and that the

section 7 and 10 processes would not be

used to authorize or exempt such

incidental take. Development would be

limited to those projects that do not

result in take of the gnatcatcher or its

occupied habitat. Protection of other

species (not federally listed) would

occur only to the extent currently

required by State environmental

regulations.

Similar to the Proposed Project

Alternative, the Programmatic

Alternative would involve a subregional

conservation strategy, including the

creation of a large-scale habitat reserve

and the implementation of a long-term

management program. However, under

the programmatic approach, specific

boundaries for a habitat reserve system

and design of the management program

would be developed over time, as

specific projects requiring mitigation are

undertaken that contribute mitigation

fees or dedication lands to a

management entity.

The underlying goal of the Proposed

Project Alternative is to implement

ecosystem-based conservation measures,

aimed at the protection of multiple

species and multiple habitats on a

regional scale, while accommodating

compatible development. The Central

and Coastal Orange County NCCP Plan/

HCP would result in the

implementation of a comprehensive

reserve strategy for CSS and related

habitats in the Subregion, that is

expected to provide long-term benefits

to the coastal California gnatcatcher and

43 other covered species and their

habitats. The Service intends to approve

the Orange County Central/Coastal

NCCP Plan/HCP and issue section 10

incidental take permits to the

applicants.

Dated: May 23, 1996.

Thomas J. Dwyer,

Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, OR.

[FR Doc. 96–13538 Filed 5–30–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Bureau of Land Management

[ID–933–1430–01; IDI–31741]

Notice of Public Meetings for Proposed

Land Withdrawal; Idaho

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY: The Department of the Air

Force proposes to withdraw 11,583.34

acres under Alternative Site No. 1 or

9,673.34 acres under Alternative Site

No. 2 of public land from all forms of

appropriation under the public land

laws, mining laws and mineral leasing

laws, for the Mountain Home Air Force

Base Enhanced Training in Idaho (ETI)

site. Several public meetings will be

held to gather comments on the

proposal, at the dates, times, places and

addresses described in this Notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Date of publication.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Howard Hedrick, BLM Idaho State

Office, 3380 Americana Terrace, Boise,

Idaho 83706–2500, 208–384–3197.

The Department of the Air Force

proposes that 11,583.34 acres under

Alternative Site No. 1 or 9,673.34 acres

under Alternative Site No. 2 of public

land be withdrawn for a period of 20

years to provide protection of the ETI.

The lands are described as follows:

Boise Meridian

(Alternative Site No. 1)—Proposal: Clover

Butte Drop Zone

T. 12 S., R. 8E.,

Sec. 10, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 11, S1⁄2S1⁄2;

Sec. 12, S1⁄2S1⁄2;

Sec. 13;

Sec. 14;

Sec. 15, E1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 22, E1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 23 to 26 inclusive;

Sec. 27, E1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 34, E1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 35.

T. 12 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 7, lot 4, SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 and S1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 8, S1⁄2S1⁄2;

Sec. 17 to 20 inclusive;

Sec. 29 to 32 inclusive.

(No Drop Zone)

T. 11 S., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 23, S1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

T. 9 S., R. 6 E.,
27366 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 106 / Friday, May 31, 1996 / Notices

Sec. 21.

T. 13 S., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4

(Emitters)

T. 8 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 34, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

T. 9 S., R. 6 E.,

Sec. 15, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 11 S., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 23, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 11 S., R. 5 E.,

Sec. 17, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4.

T. 12 S., R. 3 E.,

Sec. 26, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4.

T. 12 S., R. 10 E.,

Sec. 30, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4 within lot

4.

T. 13 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 10, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4NW1⁄4.

The areas described aggregate 11,583.34

acres in Owyhee County.

(Alternative Site No. 2)—Proposal; Grasmere

Drop Zone

T. 11 S., R. 4 E.,

Secs. 25 to 27 inclusive;

Secs. 34, N1⁄2, SE1⁄4 and E1⁄2SW1⁄4;

Sec. 35.

T. 11 S., R. 5 E.,

Sec. 30, lots 1 to 4 inclusive;

Sec. 31, lots 1 to 4 inclusive.

T. 12 S., R. 4 E.,

Secs. 1 to 4 inclusive;

Sec. 9;

Sec. 10, NW1⁄4, S1⁄2, W1⁄2NE1⁄4 and

SE1⁄4NE1⁄4;

Sec. 11, S1⁄2, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NE1⁄4 and

NE1⁄4NW1⁄4;

Sec. 12;

Sec. 13, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, and

N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4;

Sec. 14, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

N1⁄2SE1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4, NE1⁄4 and

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4;

Sec. 15, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, N1⁄2SW1⁄4NW1⁄4,

N1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4,

N1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4 and N1⁄2SE1⁄4NE1⁄4.

(No Drop Zone)

T. 12 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 20, S1⁄2SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 9 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 21.

T. 13 S., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 4, N1⁄2NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

(Emitters)

T. 8 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 34, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

T. 9 S., R. 6 E.,

Sec. 15, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 11 S., R. 4 E.,

Sec. 23, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 11 S., R. 5 E.,

Sec. 17, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4NE1⁄4NE1⁄4.

T. 12 S., R. 3 E.,

Sec. 26, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4NE1⁄4.

T. 12 S., R. 10 E.,

Sec. 30, SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4SW1⁄4 within in

lot 4.

T. 13 S., R. 9 E.,

Sec. 10, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4NW1⁄4SE1⁄4.

The areas described aggregate 9,673.34

acres in Owyhee County.

Two (2) public meetings are

scheduled at the following dates, times,

places, and addresses:

1. July 2, 1996, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.,

Lion’s Den, Jordan Valley, Oregon.

2. July 1, 1996, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Elko

County Library, 720 Court Street, Elko,

Nevada.

These meetings are the first step in

soliciting public comments on the

proposed withdrawal. Information

gathered at these meetings will be used

in the development of an environmental

impact statement (EIS). Comments given

at these meetings should focus on the

merits of the proposal, the feasibility of

the identified alternatives, the

availability of other alternatives, issues

which should be addressed in the EIS,

any other comments the public wishes

the Air Force and BLM to consider, and

any questions concerning the

withdrawal proposal. Those who desire

to submit written statements, should file

them not later than August 1, 1996, to

BLM/USAF, P.O. Box 329, Boise, Idaho

83701–0329.

Dated: May 23, 1996.

J. David Brunner,

Deputy State Director for Resource Services.

[FR Doc. 96–13592 Filed 5–30–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–GG–M

[MT–924–1430–01; MTM 84500]

Notice of Intent to Prepare a National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Analysis; Notice of Public Meetings;

Montana

AGENCY: Forest Service and Bureau of

Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a

NEPA analysis on a mineral withdrawal

in southwestern Montana.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the

Interior, Bureau of Land Management

(BLM), with U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service (FS),

concurrence proposes to withdraw

approximately 19,100 acres of Federal

lands from location and entry under the

mining laws to protect the watersheds

within the drainages of the Clark’s Fork

of the Yellowstone, Soda Butte Creek,

and the Stillwater River, and the water

quality and fresh water fishery resources

within Yellowstone National Park. The

FE and BLM will jointly prepare a

NEPA analysis and, if necessary, amend

Custer and Gallatin National Forest

Land Management Plans. The FES will

recommend a preferred alternative. This

is a separate action not connected to the

ongoing New World Mine EIS being

prepared by the Gallatin National

Forest.

The following described National

Forest System lands are affected by this

proposal:

Principal Meridian, Montana

T. 8 S., R. 14 E.,

Sec. 25, surveyed;

Sec. 33, partly surveyed;

Secs. 34 to 36, inclusive, surveyed.

T. 9 S., R. 14 E.,

Secs. 1 to 28, inclusive;

Secs. 33 t 36, inclusive, partly surveyed.

T. 8 S., R. 15 E.

Secs. 30 and 31.

T. 9 S., R. 15 E.,

Secs. 5 to 8, inclusive;

Secs. 17 to 20, inclusive;

Secs. 29 to 32, inclusive.

The areas described aggregate

approximately 19,100 acres in Park County,

Montana..

DATES: The public meetings will be held

on Monday, July 15, 1996, in Red Lodge,

Montana, at the LuPine Inn, at 7:00

p.m., Tuesday, July 16, 1996, in Cooke

City, Montana, at 7:00 p.m. at the Fire

Hall; on Wednesday, July 17, 1996, in

Cody, Wyoming, at 7:00 p.m. at the

Cody Club Room; and on July 18, 1996,

Livingston, Montana, at 7:00 p.m. in the

Community Room of the park County

Courthouse.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to

the Cooke City Area Mineral

Withdrawal NEPA Analysis Team, BLM,

Montana State Office, P.O. Box 36800,

Billings, Montana 59107.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

John Thompson, Cooke City Area

Mineral Withdrawal NEPA Analysis

Team, BLM, Montana State Office, P.O.

Box 36800, Billings, Montana 59107,

406–255–2852.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice

of Proposed Withdrawal was published

in the Federal Register, 60 FR 45732,

September 1, 1995, which segregated

the lands described from location and

entry under the mining laws. Notice is

hereby given that a series of meetings

will be held to provide an opportunity

for public involvement regarding the

proposed withdrawal and the

preparation of a NEPA analysis by the

FS and BLM. These meetings fulfill the

public meeting requirements for

withdrawals proposals under 43 CFR

Part 2310.3–1. Comments and

recommendations on this proposal

should be received by August 29, 1996.

Dated: May 24, 1996.

Thomas P. Lonnie,

Deputy State Director, Division of Resources.

Dated: May 24, 1996.

Nancy T. Curriden,

Forest Supervisor Custer National Forest.

[FR Doc. 96–13692 Filed 5–30–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–ON–M