Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / Notices 27507 

sharks will improve quota monitoring 

and the data used in stock assessments. 

These workshops will train shark dealer 

permit holders or their proxies to 

properly identify Atlantic shark 

carcasses. 

Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshops 

Since January 1, 2007, shark limited 

access and swordfish limited access 

permit holders who fish with longline 

or gillnet gear, have been required to 

submit a copy of their Protected Species 

Safe Handling, Release, and 

Identification Workshop certificate in 

order to renew either permit (71 FR 

58057; October 2, 2006). These 

certificate(s) are valid for three years. As 

such, vessel owners who have not 

already attended a workshop and 

received a NMFS certificate, or vessel 

owners whose certificate(s) are due to 

expire in 2009, must attend one of the 

workshops offered in 2009 to fish with, 

or renew, their swordfish and shark 

limited access permits. Additionally, 

new shark and swordfish limited access 

permit applicants who intend to fish 

with longline or gillnet gear must attend 

a Protected Species Safe Handling, 

Release, and Identification Workshop 

and submit a copy of their workshop 

certificate before either of the permits 

will be issued. 

In addition to certifying permit 

holders, all longline and gillnet vessel 

operators fishing on a vessel issued a 

limited access swordfish or limited 

access shark permit are required to 

attend a Protected Species Safe 

Handling, Release, and Identification 

Workshop and receive a certificate. The 

certificate(s) are valid for three years. 

Vessels that have been issued a limited 

access swordfish or limited access shark 

permit may not fish unless both the 

vessel owner and operator have valid 

workshop certificates onboard at all 

times. Approximately 65 free Protected 

Species Safe Handling, Release, and 

Identification Workshops have been 

conducted since 2006. 

Workshop Dates, Times, and Locations 

1. July 15, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 

Holiday Inn, 3845 Veterans Memorial 

Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779. 

2. July 29, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., 

Holiday Inn, 5264 International 

Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29418. 

3. August 5, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 5 

p.m., Holiday Inn, 3535 Ulmerton Road, 

State Route 688 W., Clearwater, FL 

33762. 

4. August 26, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 5 

p.m., Hilton New Orleans Airport, 901 

Airline Drive, Kenner, LA 70062. 

5. September 2, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 

5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1 Newbury Street, 

Peabody, MA 01960. 

6. September 30, 2009, from 9 a.m. – 

5 p.m., Holiday Inn, 151 Route 72 East, 

Manahawkin, NJ 08050. 

Registration 

To register for a scheduled Protected 

Species Safe Handling, Release, and 

Identification Workshop, please contact 

Angler Conservation Education at (877) 

411–4272, 1640 Mason Avenue, 

Daytona Beach, FL 32117. 

Registration Materials 

To ensure that workshop certificates 

are linked to the correct permits, 

participants will need to bring the 

following items with them to the 

workshop: 

Individual vessel owners must bring a 

copy of the appropriate permit(s), a 

copy of the vessel registration or 

documentation, and proof of 

identification. 

Representatives of a business owned 

or co–owned vessel must bring proof 

that the individual is an agent of the 

business (such as articles of 

incorporation), a copy of the applicable 

permit(s), and proof of identification. 

Vessel operators must bring proof of 

identification. 

Workshop Objectives 

The protected species safe handling, 

release, and identification workshops 

are designed to teach longline and 

gillnet fishermen the required 

techniques for the safe handling and 

release of entangled and/or hooked 

protected species, such as sea turtles, 

marine mammals, and smalltooth 

sawfish. The proper identification of 

protected species will also be taught at 

these workshops in an effort to improve 

reporting. Additionally, individuals 

attending these workshops will gain a 

better understanding of the 

requirements for participating in these 

fisheries. The overall goal of these 

workshops is to provide participants 

with the skills needed to reduce the 

mortality of protected species, which 

may prevent additional regulations on 

these fisheries in the future. 

Grandfathered Permit Holders 

Participants in the industry– 

sponsored workshops on safe handling 

and release of sea turtles that were held 

in Orlando, FL (April 8, 2005) and in 

New Orleans, LA (June 27, 2005) were 

issued a NOAA workshop certificate in 

December 2006 that is valid for three 

years. These workshop certificates may 

be expiring in 2009. Vessel owners and 

operators whose certificates expire prior 

to permit renewal in 2009 must attend 

a workshop, successfully complete the 

course, and obtain a new certificate in 

order to renew their limited access 

shark and limited access swordfish 

permits. Failure to provide a valid 

NOAA workshop certificate could result 

in a permit denial. 

Dated: June 2, 2009. 

Alan D. Risenhoover, 

Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, 

National Marine Fisheries Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–13606 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3510–22–S 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 

Department of the Army; Corps of 

Engineers 

Intent To Prepare a Draft 

Environmental Impact Statement 

(DEIS) for the Revised Great Salt Lake 

Minerals Corporation’s Solar 

Evaporation Pond Expansion Project 

Within the Great Salt Lake, Box Elder 

County, UT 

AGENCY: Department of the Army; U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. 

ACTION: Notice of intent. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

National Environmental Policy Act 

(NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers—Sacramento District (Corps) 

will prepare an Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS) for Corps authorization 

actions for the proposed Revised Great 

Salt Lake Minerals Corporation Solar 

Evaporation Ponds Expansion project. 

The basic project purpose is potassium 

sulfate extraction/mining. The overall 

project purpose is to increase 

production/output of organically 

certified potassium sulfate to help meet 

the increasing demand for this type of 

fertilize. The applicant believes there is 

a need to increase production of 

potassium sulfate in order to maintain 

its market share over the next 50 years. 

The proposed expansion would add 

approximately 91,000 acres of solar 

evaporative ponds, impacting 

approximately 80,000 acres of waters of 

the United States, including wetlands, 

and reduce the need to import raw 

potassium from other sources. The EIS 

will address impacts such as wildlife 

habitat, water quality, Great Salt Lake 

water elevations, wetlands, hydrology, 

cultural resources, transportation, 

endangered species and industry. The 

projected date for public release of the 

Draft EIS is October 30, 2009. 

DATES: Four public scoping meetings 

will be held. The first scoping meeting 

will be held on June 4, 2009 from 5–8 


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27508 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / Notices 

p.m. at the Davis County Library, 725 

South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah. The 

second public meeting will be on June 

9, 2009 from 5–8 p.m. at the Comfort 

Suites Hotel, 2250 South 1200 West, 

Ogden, Utah. The third meeting will be 

held on June 11, 2009, from 5–8 p.m. at 

West High School, 241 North 300 West, 

Salt Lake City, Utah. The fourth meeting 

will be held on June 24, 2009, from 5– 

8 p.m. also at West High School, 241 

North 300 West, Salt Lake City, Utah. 

ADDRESSES: Public comments will be 

accepted at the scoping meetings or may 

be mailed to Mr. Jason Gipson, NevadaUtah Regulatory Branch, 533 West 2600 

South, Suite 150, Bountiful, Utah 84010, 

or e-mailed to: 

jason.a.gipson@usace.army.mil. All 

comments must be received on or before 

July 9, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Questions about the proposed action 

and the DEIS should be directed to the 

Corps project manager, Mr. Jason 

Gipson at 801–295–8380 x14, or e-mail 

at jason.a.gipson@usace.army.mil. 

Please refer to identification number 

200700121. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Great Salt 

Lake Minerals Corporation (GSL 

Minerals) currently operates 

approximately 47,000 acres of 

evaporative ponds located on the east 

and west shores of the Great Salt Lake. 

A 25,000-acre evaporation facility is 

located on the west shore of the North 

Arm of the Great Salt Lake and a 22,000- 

acre evaporation facility is located on 

the east shore of the Bear River Bay. The 

existing solar evaporation pond 

facilities are located within the Great 

Salt Lake, i.e., the ponds are located 

below 4205 feet mean sea level, which 

is below the high water mark of the 

Great Salt Lake. The company draws 

naturally occurring brine from the lake 

into shallow ponds and allows solar 

evaporation to produce sulfate of 

potash, as well as salt and magnesium 

chloride minerals. Sulfate of potash is a 

specialty fertilizer that improves the 

yield and quality of high-value crops 

such as fruits, vegetables, tea, tree nuts 

and turf grasses. The GSL Minerals 

facility has operated on the lake for 40 

years. 

The applicant originally proposed in 

late 2007 to construct three additional 

solar evaporation ponds totaling 

approximately 33,000 acres. The 2007 

proposed project included adding two 

new solar ponds to the existing west 

side complex, an 18,000-acre Dolphin 

Island expansion pond and a 7,000-acre 

pond at the southern end of Clyman Bay 

between the Union Pacific Railway and 

several existing ponds. A new feed 

canal into the lake and a new pump 

station would be constructed on the 

north end of the proposed Dolphin 

Island pond. Diesel driven pumps, 

similar to those currently in use, would 

pump brine from the new feed canal to 

the new pond. Existing pumps would be 

used to pump brine from the new pond 

to an existing pond. The total 25,000- 

acre pond expansion on the west side 

would increase the concentration of 

brine transferred to an existing gravityflow trench for transport to the east 

ponds in the Bear River Bay. 

Additionally under the 2007 proposal, 

an 8,000-acre pond would be 

constructed on the east side of the Great 

Salt Lake in the Bear River Bay. Brine 

would be pumped to and from the new 

pond with existing pump stations; 

however, the capacity of these pump 

stations would be increased 

proportional to the new pond acreage. 

Additional feed brine for this new pond 

would come from the North Arm of the 

Great Salt Lake (Gunnison Bay), flowing 

through existing east side ponds. 

Under the 2007 proposal, dikes would 

be built to accommodate the pond 

expansion and impound the waters of 

the respective areas. On the east side of 

the lake, approximately 540,000 cubic 

yards of fill would be discharged into 

Bear River Bay to create the dikes. On 

the west side, approximately 900,000 

cubic yards of fill would be discharged 

into open water in the vicinity of 

Clyman Bay to create dikes. 

The 2009 revised project proposes to: 

(1) Retain the proposed construction of 

an 8,000-acre pond in Bear River Bay, 

(2) decrease the previously proposed 

8,000 acre pond on the west shore of the 

lake along the north side of the railroad 

causeway to 6,000 acres, (3) increase the 

18,000-acre pond to 23,000 acres, (4) 

add an additional 2,000-acre pond west 

of the above described 6,000-acre pond 

along the north side of the railroad 

causeway, (5) add a 14,000-acre pond on 

the south side of the railroad causeway, 

and (6) add an additional 38,000-acre 

pond in the Dolphin Island area of the 

lake. On the east side of the lake, 

approximately 540,000 cubic yards of 

fill would be discharged into Bear River 

Bay to create the dikes. On the west 

side, approximately 4.7 million cubic 

yards of fill would be discharged into 

open water in the vicinity of Clyman 

Bay to create dikes. 

The total 83,000-acre West Pond 

Expansion (including Lakeside Lease 

areas) would increase the concentration 

of brine transferred to an existing 

gravity-flow trench (Behrens Trench) for 

transport to the GSL Minerals east solar 

evaporation ponds in the Bear River Bay 

(Figures 1, 2 and 3). Ultimately as part 

of the proposed project the efficiency of 

the Behrens Trench would be improved 

to reduce mixing of concentrated brine 

with lake water surrounding the trench 

by either improving the existing open 

Behrens Trench by excavating the 

trench wider and deeper or by laying 

pipes in the existing trench. 

In addition the project includes the 

purchasing and transporting SOP from 

the U.S. Magnesium ponds located 

along the southwestern margin of the 

lake to the existing processing facility. 

GSL Minerals will also increase SOP 

production by constructing an SOP 

processing plant within the U.S. 

Magnesium pond area (Figure 4). 

The proposed project habitat areas 

include saline open water, sporadically 

inundated playa lakebed, seasonally 

flooded playa, saline wetlands, potential 

freshwater springs, rip-rapped dikes and 

sandy upland habitats. These areas are 

located adjacent and to the north of the 

existing evaporation pond facilities. The 

Corps verified a jurisdictional wetland 

delineation for the 2007 proposed 

project on October 10, 2007, which 

identified approximately 34,180.08 

acres of waters of the U.S., including 

21.4 acres of saline wet meadow 

wetlands, 1,102.94 acres of seasonally 

inundated playa above the high water 

mark of the western side of the Great 

Salt Lake and 33,055.74 acres of 

seasonally or sporadically inundated 

playa lake bed below the high water 

mark of the Lake. A delineation of 

waters of the U.S. has not been 

completed or verified for the additional 

areas proposed under the 2009 revised 

application. However, it is estimated the 

additional 50,000 acres are all located 

within the ordinary high water mark of 

the Great Salt Lake, resulting in the 

same acreage of additional impacts to 

waters of the U.S. The proposed project 

would result in approximately 80,000 

acres of permanent adverse impacts to 

waters. 

The applicant has not proposed 

compensatory mitigation for project 

impacts. The determination of 

appropriate compensatory mitigation 

will be determined through public 

scoping and impact analysis of the EIS 

process. 

The proposed project will not affect 

any federally-listed threatened or 

endangered species, however, it may 

affect state-listed special status species. 

Once a habitat assessment of the areas 

has been completed, the Corps will 

consult with state and Federal wildlife 

agencies. The Corps will also consult 

with the State Historic Preservation 

Officer under Section 106 of the 

National Historic Preservation Act for 

properties listed or potentially eligible 


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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 / Notices 27509 

for listing on the National Register of 

Historic Places, as appropriate. 

A number of on-site and off-site 

alternatives, including the no action 

alternative, will be evaluated in the 

DEIS in accordance with NEPA and the 

Section 404(b)(1) guidelines. 

As part of the Corps 404 permitting 

process, pre-application interagency 

meetings have been held to provide 

information and identify issues and 

concerns. In addition, meetings have 

been held with local environmental 

organizations for the same purposes. 

Preliminary issues identified as part of 

this process include: Water quality, 

heavy metals, nutrient loading, fresh 

water exchange, changes in salinity, and 

brine shrimp habitat, economic issues 

and cultural resources. Additionally, 

potential avian impacts were identified 

to waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors 

including the American white pelican, 

snowy plover, Canada goose, and others. 

The above determinations are based 

on information provided by the 

applicant and upon the Corps’ 

preliminary review. The Corps is 

soliciting verbal and written comments 

from the public, Federal, state and local 

agencies and officials, Native American 

tribes, and other interested parties in 

order to consider and evaluate the 

impacts of this proposed activity. The 

Corps’ public involvement program 

includes multiple opportunities for 

interested parties to provide written and 

oral comments. Affected Federal, state, 

local agencies, Indian tribes, and other 

interested private organizations and the 

general public are invited to participate. 

Brenda S. Bowen, 

Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 

[FR Doc. E9–13437 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3720–58–P 

U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE 

COMMISSION 

Sunshine Act Notice 

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission. 

ACTION: Notice of public meeting 

agenda. 

DATE & TIME: Wednesday, June 17, 2009; 

1 p.m.–4 p.m. EDT. 

PLACE: U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission, 1225 New York Ave, NW., 

Suite 150, Washington, DC 20005 

(Metro Stop: Metro Center). 

AGENDA: The Commission will hold a 

public meeting to consider 

administrative matters. The Commission 

will receive an update on guidance to 

the States regarding 2009 requirements 

payments. The Commission will 

consider a report to Congress on the 

Election Data Collection Grants. The 

Commission will discuss a report to 

Congress on the Impact of the National 

Voter Registration Act. The Commission 

will discuss the 2010 Election Day 

Survey. Members of the public may 

observe but not participate in EAC 

meetings unless this notice provides 

otherwise. 

Members of the public may use small 

electronic audio recording devices to 

record the proceedings. The use of other 

recording equipment and cameras 

requires advance notice to and 

coordination with the Commission’s 

Communications Office.* 

* View EAC Regulations 

Implementing Government in the 

Sunshine Act. 

This Meeting Will be Open to the 

Public. 

PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION: 

Bryan Whitener, Telephone: (202) 566– 

3100. 

Alice Miller, 

Chief Operating Officer, U.S. Election 

Assistance Commission. 

[FR Doc. E9–13647 Filed 6–8–09; 11:15 am] 

BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P 

U.S. ELECTION ASSISTANCE 

COMMISSION 

Publication of State Plan Pursuant to 

the Help America Vote Act 

AGENCY: U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission (EAC). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to sections 

254(a)(11)(A) and 255(b) of the Help 

America Vote Act (HAVA), Public Law 

107–252, the U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission (EAC) hereby causes to be 

published in the Federal Register 

changes to the HAVA State plan 

previously submitted by Illinois. 

DATES: This notice is effective upon 

publication in the Federal Register. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Bryan Whitener, Telephone 202–566– 

3100 or 1–866–747–1471 (toll-free). 

Submit Comments: Any comments 

regarding the plans published herewith 

should be made in writing to the chief 

election official of the individual State 

at the address listed below. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 

24, 2004, the U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission published in the Federal 

Register the original HAVA State plans 

filed by the fifty States, the District of 

Columbia and the Territories of 

American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, 

and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 69 FR 

14002. HAVA anticipated that States, 

Territories and the District of Columbia 

would change or update their plans 

from time to time pursuant to HAVA 

section 254(a)(11) through (13). HAVA 

sections 254(a)(11)(A) and 255 require 

EAC to publish such updates. This is 

Illinois’ third revision to its State plan. 

The revised State plan from Illinois 

addresses changes in the respective 

budgets of the previously submitted 

State plans and accounts for the use of 

Fiscal Year 2008 requirements 

payments. In accordance with HAVA 

section 254(a)(12), all the State plans 

submitted for publication provide 

information on how the respective State 

succeeded in carrying out its previous 

State plan. The States all confirm that 

these changes to their respective State 

plans were developed and submitted to 

public comment in accordance with 

HAVA sections 254(a)(11), 255, and 256. 

Upon the expiration of thirty days 

from June 10, 2009, the State is eligible 

to implement the changes addressed in 

the plan that is published herein, in 

accordance with HAVA section 

254(a)(11)(C). 

EAC wishes to acknowledge the effort 

that went into revising this State plan 

and encourages further public comment, 

in writing, to the State election official 

listed below. 

Chief State Election Official 

Mr. Daniel White, Executive Director, 

Illinois State Board of Elections, 1020 S. 

Spring Street, Springfield, Illinois 

62704, Phone: (217) 782–4141, Fax: 

(217) 782–5959. 

Thank you for your interest in 

improving the voting process in 

America. 

Dated: June 4, 2009. 

Thomas R. Wilkey, 

Executive Director, U.S. Election Assistance 

Commission. 

BILLING CODE 6820–KF–P 


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