[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2229-2230]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-727]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Scoping and Public Meetings on Proposed Withdrawal of
Public Lands; Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of scoping and public meetings.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has filed an application to
withdraw 5,360 acres of reserved Federal minerals from mining and
9,459.66 acres of public lands from surface entry and mining as part of
the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Nye County, Nevada. This land
has been and will remain open to mineral leasing. The reserved Federal
minerals and public lands proposed for withdrawal are located within
the existing boundary of the refuge. The withdrawal has been proposed
for a period of 20 years to protect seeps, springs, and associated
habitats for at least 24 plants and animals found nowhere else in the
world. No private lands or valid existing mineral rights would be
affected by the proposed withdrawal. This notice advises that the
Service has scheduled a series of meetings to inform the public of the
proposed withdrawal. The
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Service is seeking suggestions and information from the public and
other agencies on the scope of issues related to the proposed
withdrawal, including the range of alternatives that should be
considered in the environmental review documents required under the
National Environmental Policy Act. The Service is also seeking comments
on other elements related to the future of the refuge including, but
not limited to, habitat and wildlife management, habitat protection,
public use, cultural resources, refuge goals, long-range objectives,
and strategies for achieving refuge purposes. Information on dates and
deadlines is provided below.
DATES: Comments should be received on or before March 12, 1999. The
meeting dates are:
5. Wednesday, February 17, 1999, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Las Vegas, NV.
2. Thursday, February 18, 1999, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Pahrump, NV.
3. Thursday, February 18, 1999, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Amargosa
Valley, NV.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the scope of the environmental review
document and other issue related to the future of the refuge should be
sent to the Division of Refuge Planning (ARW/RPL), Fish and Wildlife
Service , 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 97232-4181. See
Supplementary Information section for electronic access and filing
addresses. The meeting locations are:
1. Las Vegas, NV--Las Vegas Field Office, Bureau of Land Management,
4765 Vegas Drive.
5. Pahrump, NV--Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 East Basin Road at
Highway 160.
5. Amargosa Valley, NV--Amargosa Valley Community Center, 821 East Farm
Road.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles J. Houghten, 503-232-2231.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
On July 22, 1998 a petition was approved allowing the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to file an application to withdraw 5,360 acres of
reserved Federal minerals from location and entry under the mining
laws, but not the mineral leasing laws, subject to valid existing
rights, and 9,459.66 acres of public lands from settlement, sale,
location, or entry under the general land laws, including the mining
laws, but not the mineral leasing laws, subject to valid existing
rights. The legal description of these lands is as published in 63 FR
43190, August 12, 1998. A copy of the legal description is available by
contacting Charles J. Houghten at the address or phone number listed
above. The public lands and reserved minerals proposed for withdrawal
are within the existing boundary of the Ash Meadows National Wildlife
Refuge, Nye County, Nevada. Private lands within the existing boundary
are not affected by the proposed withdrawal.
The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, located in the Amargosa
Valley northwest of Pahrump, Nevada, was established in 1984. The
primary purpose of the refuge is to provide for the protection and
recovery of endangered fish and plants. At least 24 plants and animals
that occur here are found nowhere else in the world. This diversity of
native life distinguishes the Ash Meadows ecosystem as having a greater
concentration of endemic species than any other local area in the
United States, and the second greatest in all of North America. Twelve
of these species are listed under the Endangered Species Act. The
Service believes that settlement, sale, location, entry, and other
mining activities would disturb, degrade, or destroy critical surface
habitat within the refuge. The purpose of the proposed 20-year
withdrawal is to protect seeps, springs, and associated habitats for
the 24 plants and animals that are unique to the Ash Meadows ecosystem.
In addition, by Federal law all lands within the National Wildlife
Refuge System are to be managed in accordance with an approved
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The CCP guides management
decisions and identifies refuge goals, long-range objectives, and
strategies for achieving refuge purposes. This planning process may
consider many elements, including habitat and wildlife management,
habitat protection, public use, and cultural resources. Public input
into this planning process is essential. Although a decision to develop
a CCP for this refuge at this time has not been made, the Service is
soliciting information from the public regarding issues that should be
addressed should the decision be made to proceed with the development
of a CCP. A formal notice of any decision to prepare a CCP will be made
at a future date.
Scoping and Public Meetings
Three public meetings have been scheduled. The purpose of these
meetings is to provide an opportunity for interested persons and
agencies to comment on the scope of the environmental assessment or
environmental impact statement and issues related to the proposed
withdrawal. Each meeting will have an open house format. A brief
overview of the proposed withdrawal will be presented at the opening of
the meeting. After this presentation, refuge management, planning, and
environmental compliance staff will be available to discuss and receive
comments on the proposed withdrawal.
Electronic Access and Filing Addresses
You may submit comments by electronic mail (e-mail) to:
r1planning__guest@fws.gov (Please type ``Ash Meadows'' in the subject
line).
Authority
This notice is published in accordance with the regulations set
forth in 43 CFR part 2300, and pursuant to the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), (NEPA
Regulations 40 CFR parts 1500-1508) to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues
and alternatives that would be analyzed or considered in preparation of
an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement, and
other appropriate Federal laws and regulations, including the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Executive Order 12996,
and Service policies and procedures for compliance with those
regulations.
Dated: January 7, 1999.
Dan Walsworth,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 99-727 Filed 1-12-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
