[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 228 (Monday, November 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59889-59891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30021]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on a Permit
Application to Incidentally Take Threatened and Endangered Species in
Association with a Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan for the
Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway Sites in the City of Beaumont,
County of Riverside, California
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has under
consideration for approval a draft Multiple Species Habitat
Conservation Plan and an application for incidental take submitted by
the Lockheed Martin
[[Page 59890]]
Corporation (Lockheed). In response to the plan, the Service intends to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act. The Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys
stephensi) is the only species within the plan area for this Multiple
Species Habitat Conservation Plan that is currently federally listed as
threatened or endangered. However, Lockheed is also seeking coverage
with respect to a number of species of plants and animals of concern
that may be listed in the future. The Multiple Species Habitat
Conservation Plan proposes a basis for the issuance of incidental take
permits and other authorizations under the Federal Endangered Species
Act and California Endangered Species Act for all the covered species.
This notice describes the action proposed by Lockheed and possible
alternatives, identifies mechanisms for the interested public to obtain
background materials, solicits written comments on the scope and
preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement, and identifies the
Service official to whom questions and comments concerning the proposed
action and the Environmental Impact Statement may be directed. The
Service is requesting comments addressing what issues and alternatives
should be considered in the development of the Environmental Impact
Statement.
DATES: Written comments related to the scope and content of the
Environmental Impact Statement should be received on or before December
26, 1996 at the address below.
ADDRESSES: Information, comments, or questions related to preparation
of the Environmental Impact Statement and the National Environmental
Policy Act process should be submitted to Mr. Gail Kobetich, Field
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Avenue West,
Carlsbad, California 92008. Written comments also may be sent by
facsimile to telephone (619) 431-9618.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Pete Sorensen, Assistant Field
Supervisor, at the above Carlsbad address, telephone (619) 431-9440.
Documents will also be available for public inspection by appointment
during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday)
at the above Carlsbad address. Individuals interested in background
materials, including Lockheed's draft Multiple Species Habitat
Conservation Plan and the Final Environmental Impact Report for the
Beaumont Gateway Specific Plan and Potrero Creek Specific Plan prepared
by Lockheed and its consultants for the City of Beaumont, should
contact Hugh Hewitt, representing Lockheed, at (714) 798-0500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service listed the Stephens' kangaroo
rat as an endangered species, effective October 31, 1988 (53 FR 38485).
Because of its listing as an endangered species, the Stephens' kangaroo
rat is protected by the Endangered Species Act's prohibition against
``take.'' This means no one may harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture or collect the species, or attempt to engage
in such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1538). The Service, however, may issue
permits to conduct activities involving endangered species under
certain circumstances, including carrying out scientific purposes,
enhancing the propagation or survival of the species, or incidentally
taking the species in connection with otherwise lawful activities (16
U.S.C. 1539).
Lockheed is applying to the Service for a 30-year incidental take
permit to incidentally take the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat on up
to 2,016 acres of occupied and potential habitat at Potrero Creek, and
14 acres of occupied and potential habitat at Beaumont Gateway, and
propose their Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan as the basis
for the issuance of the requested permit. In addition, Lockheed is
seeking authorization for the incidental take of seven other currently
listed species not known to occupy the Potrero Creek and Beaumont
Gateway sites, and seeks incidental take assurances for 44 other
species that may be listed in the future.
The Potrero Creek site supports one of the largest known contiguous
populations of the Stephens' kangaroo rat, and includes a significant
portion (2,000 to 2,200 acres of occupied and potential habitat, or
approximately 7 percent) of the known Stephens' kangaroo rat population
in Riverside County. The requested permit would allow future
development of portions of the 9,117 acre Potrero Creek site, including
up to 2,016 acres of occupied and potential Stephens' kangaroo rat
habitat, and all of the 160 acre Beaumont Gateway site, which includes
14 acres of occupied or potential habitat, pursuant to Specific Plans
approved by the city of Beaumont. The proposed developments would
proceed without further mitigation for sensitive biological resources
as long as the conservation program contained within the Multiple
Species Habitat Conservation Plan is being properly implemented.
The Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan proposes the
establishment and management of two open space preserves totaling 9,127
acres for sustainable multiple species uses, contribution of a $1,950
per acre fee, for a total of $5,325,450, to the Riverside County
Habitat Conservation Agency for acquisition, expansion and/or long-term
management of the Stephens' kangaroo rat Core Reserve System, and
implementation of measures designed to minimize and/or avoid adverse
effects of development of the Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway sites.
The proposed 30-year permit will be evaluated in the Environmental
Impact Statement.
The Environmental Impact Statement will consider the proposed
action and a reasonable range of alternatives. Possible alternatives
include:
Alternative 1: Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway Specific Plans
(proposed project by Lockheed). This alternative involves development
of the Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway Specific Plans, as currently
approved by the City of Beaumont, in concert with implementation of the
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
Alternative 2: Stephens' Kangaroo Preservation Alternative No. 1.
This alternative is intended to avoid take of the endangered Stephens'
kangaroo rat by confining any proposed development on either the
Potrero Creek or the Beaumont Gateway sites to areas that do not
adversely affect known Stephens' kangaroo rat occupied habitat.
Alternative 3: Stephens' Kangaroo Preservation Alternative No. 2.
This alternative involves a reduction in development areas on the
Potrero Creek site to retain approximately 70 percent of the existing
occupied habitat on the Potrero Creek site with no Stephens' kangaroo
rat habitat preservation on the Beaumont Gateway site.
Alternative 4: Bureau of Land Management Area of Critical
Ecological Concern Alternative. This alternative would result in the
application of the Bureau of Land Management's proposed Area of
Critical Ecological Concern designation upon the Potrero Creek site as
described in the South Coast Resource Management Plan prepared by the
Bureau of Land Management in 1994. Through a land exchange or other
means acceptable to Lockheed and the Bureau of Land Management, the
Potrero Creek site would be conserved and managed by the Bureau of Land
Management while the Beaumont Gateway site would be developed pursuant
to the approved land uses within the Beaumont Gateway Specific Plan.
[[Page 59891]]
Alternative 5: Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan Fee
Area Alternative. This alternative involves development of the Potrero
Creek and Beaumont Gateway sites according to approved land uses in the
respective Specific Plans. In contrast to preparing and implementing a
separate Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan as proposed, the
Potrero Creek and Beaumont Gateway projects would use existing
provisions in the ``Habitat Conservation Plan for the Stephens'
Kangaroo Rat in Western Riverside County'' for the authorization of
incidental take. Under this alternative Lockheed would be responsible
for acquiring a 1:1 ratio of occupied Stephens' kangaroo rat habitat
within the plan area boundary of the ``Habitat Conservation Plan for
the Stephens' Kangaroo Rat in Western Riverside County.''
Alternative 6: Reduced Stephens' Kangaroo Rat Mitigation Fee
Alternative. This alternative involves development of the Potrero Creek
and Beaumont Gateway sites according to approved land uses in the
respective Specific Plans, in concert with implementation of the
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan. Under this alternative the
Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan would propose the
contribution of a $500 per acre fee, for a total of $1,775,150, to the
Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency instead of the currently
proposed $1950 per acre contribution.
Alternative 7: No Project. Under this alternative, no incidental
take permit would be issued.
Environmental review of the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation
Plan will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the 1969
National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508),
other appropriate regulations, and Service procedures for compliance
with those regulations. This notice is being furnished in accordance
with section 1501.7 of the National Environmental Policy Act to obtain
suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the
scope of issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement.
Dated: November 15, 1996.
John H. Doebel,
Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 96-30021 Filed 11-22-96; 8:45 am]
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