[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4636-4637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-1706]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of the Draft Sharon Steel Damage
Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept Document, and Public
Informational Meeting for its Review
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior Department.
ACTION: Notice of availability and public informational meeting.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces release
of the draft Sharon Steel Damage Settlement Restoration Plan: A Concept
Document (Concept Plan) for public review. The Concept Plan covers the
Service proposal to fund cooperative projects to restore natural
resources injured as a result of hazardous materials released from the
Sharon Steel Superfund Site, Midvale, Utah. The Concept Plan details
the primary steps toward achievement of restoration as--(1) definition
of restoration targets in terms of species and habitats, (2)
development of criteria for identifying and ranking projects, (3)
identification of restoration tools and solicitation of cooperative
project proposals, (4) identification and ranking of restoration
project proposals, (5) implementation of selected project(s), and (6)
long-term monitoring.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 31, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Concept 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 or materials regarding the Concept Plan should be
sent to the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field Supervisor, or Brandt Gutermuth,
Environmental Contaminants Program, at the above Salt Lake City Field
Office address (telephone 801/524-5001).
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 federal protected
trust resources along the Jordan River, Utah, caused by 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 and by contaminants from the site.
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 settlement money.
The MOU establishes 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 are 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. Because of 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 toward achievement of project restoration goals
were subsequently identified as (1) definition of restoration targets
in terms of species and habitats, (2) development of criteria for
ranking and selecting projects, (3) identification of restoration tools
or activities and solicitation of cooperative project proposals, (4)
ranking and selection 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 (Concept Plan) was subsequently drafted to lend guidance in
the process and to establish sideboards to guide Jordan River
restoration. The Concept Plan proposes to accomplish trust resources
restoration by selecting and funding cooperative projects that will be
implemented in partnership with State or Federal agencies, county or
local governments, or nonprofit organizations. Close cooperation among
all programs in the Jordan River corridor [[Page 4637]] (e.g., Central
Utah Project, Jordan River Parkway plans, Jordan River Subbasin
Watershed Management Council, etc.) will ensure cost-effective
expenditure of public funds, increase success of all programs, and
provide maximum benefits to the Jordan River ecosystem.
Specific restoration project proposals will be identified,
reviewed, and ranked according to the following 13 defined ranking
criteria:
1. Restoration of Trust Resources
2. Location of Restoration Project(s)
3. Ownership/Management
4. Surrounding Land Use
5. Size of Individual Projects
6. Restoration Longevity
7. Project Cost/Benefits
8. Project Hazards--Attractive Nuisance Issues
9. Cooperative Projects
10. Natural Recovery Potential
11. Annual Maintenance Requirements
12. Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations
13. Other associated ranking factors:
Threat of additional trust resource loss
Public Health and Safety
Community Acceptance
The highest-ranked projects will be referred to the trustee
committee for final review and selection for implementation.
Ultimately, a restoration plan, which includes selected cooperative
projects for implementation, will be developed. A National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessment (EA) will be
prepared which addresses the cumulative potential environmental impact
of all funded Sharon Steel restoration projects. Public review of the
concept and restoration plans and input on NEPA issues will be
solicited through the Federal Register and scoping meetings. Public
review of the Final Concept Plan and accompanying request for project
proposals will be solicited through local notices. Cooperators will
work together with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the
State of Utah to implement projects.
Management in perpetuity for wildlife will be ensured by Concept
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 if cooperative agreements and
management plan objectives are not upheld. Monitoring of sites will be
performed by the Service to document project progress, to ensure
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 Concept Plan. In Utah, copies are available for review at the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Ecological Services Office in Salt
Lake City (see ADDRESSES section), 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. The Service
also is soliciting input regarding the timeframe for preparing and
submitting project proposals once the Concept Plan is finalized and a
request for proposals has been advertised.
A public informational meeting will be held to explain the Concept
Plan and to answer questions. The meeting will be held in the
Commission Chambers, at the Salt Lake County Government Center--South
Building, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, on Wednesday,
March 8, 1995, at 7:30 p.m. All written and public meeting comments
will be considered and addressed in the final Concept Plan.
Dated: January 18, 1995.
Terry T. Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-1706 Filed 1-23-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
