[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 60914-60915] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-29828] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service Notice of Availability of the Draft Sharon Steel Restoration Plan and Public Information Meeting AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and public informational meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the release of the Draft Sharon Steel Restoration Plan for public review and comment. The draft plan identifies restoration projects to restore migratory bird resources injured by the release of hazardous materials from the Sharon Steel and Midvale Slag Superfund Sites, along the Jordan River in Salt Lake County, Utah. Restoration proposals were solicited through the Final Sharon Steel Damage Settlement: A Conceptual Restoration Plan and the Commerce Business Daily. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 15, 1997. ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Draft Plan may be made to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Salt Lake City Field Office, Lincoln Plaza, 145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Written comments should be sent to the above address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reed Harris, Field Supervisor, or Elise Peterson Environmental Contaminants Program, at the above Salt Lake City Field Office address (telephone 801/524-5001 extension 123). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background A $2.3 million damage settlement was awarded to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) in compensation for injuries to Federally- protected trust resources caused by contamination of the Jordan River corridor from the Sharon Steel and Midvale Slag Superfund Sites. Under Federal law, these trust resources are specifically protected on behalf of the public, and include migratory birds, as well as threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Consequently, Sharon Steel damage settlement money must be used to restore, replace, or acquire the equivalent of the trust resources injured on site by contaminants. The DOI and the State of Utah signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) July 11, 1991, to cooperate as trustees in planning and implementing resource restoration with Sharon Steel [[Page 60915]] settlement money. The MOU established a Trustee Committee consisting of representatives from DOI and the State of Utah to plan and direct restoration activities. The Trustee Committee outlined the following project goals: (1) to restore, replace, enhance, or acquire appropriate natural , functioning habitats along the Jordan River corridor for the benefit of identified trust resources; (2) to ensure that funds are utilized to provide maximum benefits for trust resources; and (3) to ensure the provision of benefits to trust resources in perpetuity. Restoration alternatives to meet these goals were identified. These alternatives included: (a) no-action or natural recovery, (b) restoration on the Sharon Steel/ Midvale Slag sites, and (c) Jordan River Corridor replacement/ enhancement of habitat for trust resources. Due to its protective and relatively cost effective nature, replacement/enhancement of resources in the Jordan River corridor was chosen as the preferred alternative for enhancement of wetland and riparian migratory bird habitats. The primary steps towards achievement of project restoration objectives were subsequently identified as: (1) definition of restoration targets in terms of species and habitats, (2) development of criteria to consider when identifying and ranking projects, (3) identification of restoration tools or activities and solicitation of cooperative project proposals, (4) identification and ranking of specific restoration projects (cooperative proposals) and/or sites, (5) implementation of selected project(s), and (6) monitoring of the project(s) to ensure long-term viability. The Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept Document was subsequently issued which lent guidance to the restoration project selection process. The Draft Sharon Steel Restoration Plan identifies restoration projects selected for funding through cooperative agreements that will be implemented through partnerships with State or Federal agencies, county or local governments, or nonprofit organizations. Close cooperation among all programs in the Jordan River corridor (e.g., Central Utah Project, Jordan River Parkway plans, Jordan River Sub-basin Watershed Management Council, etc.) will insure cost-effective expenditure of public funds, increase success of all programs, and provide maximum benefits to the Jordan River ecosystem. Management in perpetuity for wildlife will be assured by Restoration Plan stipulations which require land/wildlife management plans for each project proposal, and deed restrictions, which stipulate future land uses and return of lands to DOI or the State of Utah if cooperative agreements and management plan objectives are not upheld. Monitoring of sites will be performed by the Service to document project progress, assure compliance with management objectives and deed restrictions, and to measure timely success in the restoration of trust resources. Interested members of the public are invited to review and comment on the Draft Restoration Plan. In Utah, copies are available for review at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Services Office in Salt Lake City (145 East 1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City), the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (168 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City), and the Salt Lake City Library. A public informational meeting will be held to describe the restoration projects proposed in the Restoration Plan and to answer questions. The meeting will be held November 20, 1997, at Midvale City Hall at 7:30 p.m. All written and public meeting comments will be considered and addressed in the final Restoration Plan. Dated: November 6, 1997. Joseph J. Webster, Acting Regional Director, Denver, Colorado. [FR Doc. 97-29828 Filed 11-12-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-55-M