34442 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 2, 1996 / Notices

lower elevations between Libby Dam

and Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was

somewhat earlier, peaking in late May.

Combined flows were often in excess of

1700 cubic meters per second (m3/s)

[60,000 cubic feet per second (cfs)].

During the remainder of the year, river

flows declined to basal conditions of

113 to 226 m3/s (4,000 to 8,000 cfs).

Annual flushing events re-sorted river

sediments providing a clean cobble

substrate conducive to insect

production and sturgeon egg incubation.

Side channels and low-lying deltaic

marsh lands were unimpounded at this

time, providing productive, low velocity

backwater areas. Nutrient delivery in

the system was unimpeded by dams and

occurred primarily during spring runoff.

Floodplain ecosystems like the Kootenai

River are characterized by seasonal

floods that promote the exchange of

nutrients and organisms among a

mosaic of habitats and thus enhance

biological productivity.

Modification of the Kootenai River

white sturgeon’s habitat by human

activities has changed the natural

hydrograph of the Kootenai River,

altering white sturgeon spawning, egg

incubation, nursery, and rearing

habitats, and reducing overall biological

productivity. These factors have

contributed to a general lack of

recruitment in the white sturgeon

population over the past 22 years.

Recovery of the Kootenai River white

sturgeon is contingent upon reestablishing natural recruitment,

minimizing additional loss of genetic

variability to the population, and

successfully mitigating biological and

physical habitat changes caused by the

construction and operation of Libby

Dam. This draft recovery plan proposes

conservation actions to benefit white

sturgeon within the entire Kootenai

River watershed in Canada and the

United States. However, recovery tasks

proposed for the Canadian portion of

the white sturgeon’s range are only

recommendations since the Act does not

impose any restrictions or commitments

on Canada. The draft recovery plan also

proposes a strategy for improving

coordination and cooperation between

the United States and Canada on the

operation of Libby Dam with the

operation of other hydroelectric

facilities within the Kootenai River

basin and elsewhere in Canada.

The draft plan was developed by a

recovery team composed of

representatives of the Kootenai Tribe of

Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and

Game, Montana Fish, Wildlife and

Parks, Bonneville Power

Administration, U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers, Canadian Department of

Fisheries and Oceans, British Columbia

Ministry of Environment, Lands and

Parks, and the Service. Short-term

recovery objectives proposed are: a)

prevent extinction and b) begin to reestablish successful natural recruitment

to the Kootenai River population of

white sturgeon. Proposed recovery

actions include providing additional

Kootenai River flows necessary for

natural recruitment and using

aquaculture, i.e. hatchery propagation,

to prevent extinction. The long-term

objectives are to provide suitable habitat

conditions to ensure a self-sustaining

Kootenai River population of white

sturgeon. Specific delisting criteria are

not determinable or proposed at this

time.

Public Comments Solicited

The Service solicits written comments

on the recovery plan described. All

comments received by the date specified

above will be considered prior to

approval of the plan.

Authority: The authority for this action is

Section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act,

16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: June 25, 1996.

Thomas Dwyer,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland,

OR.

[FR Doc. 96–16806 Filed 7–1–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Bureau of Land Management

[CO–017–1610–00]

Availability of White River Resource

Area’s Proposed Management Plan

and Final Environmental Impact

Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

of the National Environmental Policy

Act (NEPA) of 1969 (40 CFR 1505.2), the

Department of the Interior, Bureau of

Land Management (BLM), has prepared

a Proposed Resource Management Plan

and Final Environmental Impact

Statement (PRMP/FEIS) for the White

River Resource Area. The PRMP/FEIS

describes and analyzes the proposed

management for 1,455,900 acres of

public land and 365,000 acres of federal

mineral estate in portions of Rio Blanco,

Moffat and Garfield Counties in western

Colorado.

Decisions generated as a result of this

planning process will supersede and/or

incorporate decisions of earlier land use

plans, including the 1975 White River

Management Framework Plan, the 1981

White River Resource Area Coal

Amendment to the White River

Management Framework Plan, the 1981

White River Resource Area Grazing

Management Environmental Impact

Statement, and the 1987 White River

Resource Area Piceance Basin Resource

Management Plan and Environmental

Impact Statement.

DATES: Protests of the proposed plan

must be received by August 5, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Written protests on the

PRMP/FEIS should be addressed to:

Director (480), Bureau of Land

Management, Resource Planning Team,

1849 ‘‘C’’ Street, NW., Washington, DC

20240.

Copies of the PRMP/FEIS will be

available for review at the following

locations: (1) Bureau of Land

Management, White River Resource

Area Office, 73544 Highway 64, Meeker,

Colorado 81641; (2) Bureau of Land

Management, Craig District Office, 455

Emerson Street, Craig, Colorado 81625;

and (3) Bureau of Land Management,

Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield

Street, Denver, Colorado 80215.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Bill Hill, RMP Team Leader, White

River Resource Area Office, Meeker,

Colorado 81641, (970) 878–4160.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

PRMP/FEIS addresses issues identified

through public scoping and internal

Bureau of Land Management review,

including: (1) Salinity in the Colorado

River; (2) mineral development

throughout the resource area; (3) the

spread of noxious and problem weeds;

(4) reintroduction of the black-footed

ferret; (5) unrestricted motorized travel

throughout the resource area; and (6)

habitat competition among wild horses,

livestock and big game. Four

alternatives were analyzed in the Draft

RMP/EIS that was published in October

1994. The Proposed Resource

Management Plan and Final

Environmental Impact Statement

combines ecosystem concepts, public

comments, and components from the

four alternatives described in the Draft.

Some of the major decisions

developed in the proposed management

plan deal with: (1) Making mineral

resources available for exploration,

leasing and development, in compliance

with environmental laws, regulations

and policies; (2) protecting sensitive

resources by designating certain areas as

closed or limited to off highway vehicle

use until a subsequent travel

management plan can be developed; (3)

releasing the river and stream segments

inventoried for Wild and Scenic River

(WSR) Management from further WSR

consideration; (4) managing wild horse
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 2, 1996 / Notices 34443

herds in the Piceance-East Douglas Herd

Management Area to maintain 95 to 140

head of horses; and (5) designating

eleven additional areas as Areas of

Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).

Public participation has occurred

throughout the RMP/EIS process

starting with a Federal Register Notice

of Intent to prepare a RMP in October

1990. Since that time, several open

houses, public meetings, and public

hearings were held to solicit comments

and ideas. Public comments provided

throughout the process were considered

in the development of the document.

Robert Schneider,

Acting District Manager, Craig, CO.

[FR Doc. 96–16799 Filed 7–1–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–BY–M

[NM–070–5101–00–018); NMNM 96322]

Notice of Right-of-Way Application;

New Mexico

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: An application, serialized as

NMNM 96322, was received for a 36

mile right-of-way for a 30-inch diameter

pipeline.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant

to Section 28 of the Mineral Leasing Act

of 1920 (30 U.S.C. 185), as amended by

the Act of November 16, 1973, (37 Stat.

576), Williams Gas Processing Company

(WGP) has applied for a right-of-way

serialized as NMNM 96327 to construct

36 miles of 30-inch diameter natural gas

pipeline across public land in San Juan

and Rio Arriba Counties, New Mexico.

This is part of a project that will loop

existing lines and/or roads most of route

(74%). In May 1996, WFS’s Trunk S

pipeline failed along a reach of its

alignment beneath Navajo Lake. The

failure of the line has interrupted

service to 31 oil/gas producers in the

San Juan Basin which effects the

movement of approximately 210–235

MMSCF/D of natural gas and liquid

recovery product. A land re-route is

proposed to reconnect affected gas

producers south of Navajo Lake to the

Ignacio Plant in southwestern Colorado.

The pipeline is urgently needed by WGP

to meet contractual obligations with

numerous producers affected by the

Trunk S pipeline failure. The proposed

line crosses the following lands in San

Juan County.

New Mexico Principal Meridian

T. 30 N., R. 6 W.,

Sec. 17, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4;

Sec. 18, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4,

NW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

T. 30 N., R. 7 W.,

Sec. 13, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4. S1⁄2SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 14, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 15, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4; W1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 17, Lot 8;

Sec. 19, Lots, 10, 11, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 20, Lot 2, E1⁄2NW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 21, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4;

Sec. 22, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4NW1⁄4;

T. 30 N., R. 8 W.,

Sec. 5, lots 3, 4, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4;

Sec. 6, lot 11, E1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 7, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 14, SW1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 19, lot 8, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 20, lots 7, 8, 9, S1⁄2NE1⁄4;

Sec. 21, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, N1⁄2S1⁄2;

Sec. 22, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, S1⁄2N1⁄2, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 23, N1⁄2N1⁄2;

Sec. 24, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2NW1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

N1⁄2SE1⁄4, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4.

T. 30 N., R. 9 W.,

Sec. 12, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 13, NE1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 24, lots 2, 3, 5–8 inclusive.

T. 31 N., R. 8 W.,

Sec. 5, SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 8, E1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 17, E1⁄2E1⁄2;

Sec. 28, SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, W1⁄2SW1⁄4;

Sec. 29, E1⁄2E1⁄4;

Sec. 33, W1⁄2NW1⁄4.

T. 32 N., R. 7 W.,

Sec. 17, lots 4–7, inclusive;

Sec. 18, lots 2, 3, E1⁄2SW1⁄4NE1⁄4,

E1⁄2NW1⁄4SW1⁄4NE1⁄4, W1⁄2SE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

SE1⁄4NW1⁄4.

T. 32 N., R. 8 W.,

Sec. 13, NE1⁄4SW1⁄4, S1⁄2SW1⁄4, N1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 14, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 22, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4, S1⁄2SE1⁄4;

Sec. 23, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4, S1⁄2NW1⁄4,

NW1⁄4SW1⁄4;

Sec. 27, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NE1⁄4NW1⁄4,

SW1⁄4NW1⁄4, W1⁄2SW1⁄4;

Sec. 28, SE1⁄4SE1⁄4;

Sec. 33, N1⁄2NE1⁄4, SE1⁄4NW1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4.

The purpose of this notice is to inform

the public that the Bureau will be

deciding whether the right-of-way

should be approved, and if so, under

what terms and conditions.

Interested persons desiring to express

their views should promptly send their

name and address to the District

Manager, Bureau of Land Management,

1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington,

New Mexico 87401 within 14 days of

publication of this notice. Additional

information can be obtained by

contacting Mary Jo Albin at (505) 599–

6332.

Dated: June 25, 1996.

Robert Moore,

Acting Assistant District Manager for

Resources.

[FR Doc. 96–16802 Filed 7–1–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–FB–M

[MT–070–96–1430–01; MTM–83735]

Notice of Realty Action; Proposed Sale

of Public Land; Montana

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

DOI.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The following land has been

found suitable for direct sale under

Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy

and Management Act of 1976 (90 Stat.

2750, U.S.C. 1713), at not less than

estimated fair market value. The land

will not be offered for sale until at least

60 days after the date of this notice.

Principle Meridian, Montana

T. 7 N., R. 13 W.

Sec. 30, Lot 23.

Containing approximately 1.99 acres.

This land is being offered by direct

sale to David Harris, Philipsburg, MT,

and will resolve a long standing

inadvertent unauthorized occupancy of

the land. It has been determined that the

reservation of minerals is interfering

with appropriate nonmineral

development of the lands; therefore,

mineral interests may be conveyed

simultaneously. Acceptance of the

direct sale offer will qualify the

purchaser to make application for

conveyance of those mineral interests.

The patent, when issued, will contain

certain reservations to the United States

and will be subject to valid existing

rights. Detailed information concerning

these reservations as well as specific

conditions of the sale are available for

review at the Garnet Resource Area

Office, Bureau of Land Management,

3255 Ft. Missoula Rd., Missoula, MT

59801.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim

Ledger, Realty Specialist, Garnet

Resource Area, at (406) 329–3914.

The land described is hereby

segregated from appropriation under the

public land laws, including the mining

laws, pending disposition of this action

or 270 days from the date of publication

of this notice, whichever occurs first.

For a period of 45 days from the date

of issuance of this notice, interested

parties may submit comments to the

Area Manager, Garnet Resource Area, at

the above address. In the absence of

timely objections, this proposal shall

become the final determination of the

Department of the Interior.

Dated: June 4, 1996.

W. Delon Potter,

Acting Area Manager.

[FR Doc. 96–16800 Filed 7–1–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P