[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9204-9205]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4995]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of Draft Environmental Assessment, Receipt of
Application for, and Intent to Issue, Incidental Take Permit for
Development of Church Facility in Cedar City, Iron County, UT
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability, receipt of application for, and intent
to issue permit.
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SUMMARY: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Applicant)
has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service for an incidental take
permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended. The Applicant has been assigned permit number PRT-
825570. The requested permit, which is for a period of 2 years, would
authorize incidental take of the threatened Utah Prairie Dog (Cynomys
parvidens). The proposed take would occur as a result of development of
church facilities on a 6.3-acre privately-owned parcel located within
Cedar City, Iron County, Utah.
The Service has prepared the Environmental Assessment for issuance
of the incidental take permit. The Applicant has prepared a habitat
conservation plan as part of the incidental take permit application. A
determination of whether jeopardy to the species will occur, or a
Finding of No Significant Impact, and/or issuance of the incidental
take permit, will not be made before 30 days from the date of
publication of this notice. This notice is provided pursuant to section
10(c) of the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40
CFR 1506.6).
[[Page 9205]]
DATES: Written comments on the permit application must be received on
or before March 31, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the permit application may obtain
a copy by writing to the Assistant Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East 1300
South Street, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, Utah 84115. Documents will be
available for public inspection by written request, or by appointment
only, during business hours (8:00 AM to 4:30 PM) at the above address.
Written data or comments concerning the permit application should
be submitted to the Assistant Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Salt Lake City,
Utah (see ADDRESSES above). Please refer to permit number PRT-825570 in
all correspondence regarding these documents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field
Supervisor or Marilet A. Zablan, Wildlife Biologist, at the above U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service office in Salt Lake City, Utah (see ADDRESSES
above) (telephone: (801) 524-5001, facsimile: (801) 524-5021).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act prohibits the
``taking'' of any threatened or endangered species, such as the
threatened Utah Prairie Dog. However, the Service, under limited
circumstances, may issue permits to take threatened or endangered
wildlife species when such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose
of, otherwise lawful activities. Regulations governing permits for
threatened and endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.
Applicant
The Applicant plans to develop a 6.3-acre church facility, located
in section 35 in Township 35 South, Range 11 West, Salt Lake Base and
Meridian, within Cedar City, Iron County, Utah. Development is planned
to include a meeting house, seminary building, parking area, and
installation of associated infrastructure such as natural gas, sewer,
water, electrical power, and telephone service. The construction will
impact 6.3 acres of Utah Prairie Dog habitat, and the Applicant
foresees an incidental take of a maximum of 22 Utah Prairie Dogs
through trapping and relocation and the potential incidental take of no
more than two Utah Prairie Dogs as a result of direct mortality during
construction. The Applicant proposes to compensate for this habitat
loss by payment of $900 per acre for each acre developed, to be used
for public land management actions for Utah Prairie Dog conservation
and to implement recovery actions for conservation of the Utah Prairie
Dog, through contribution to the Utah Prairie Dog Conservation Fund.
A no-action alternative to the proposed action was considered,
consisting of foregoing the development of the 6.3-acre area of Utah
Prairie Dog habitat. The no-action alternative was rejected for reasons
including loss of use of the private property, resulting in significant
economic loss to the Applicant.
Authority: The authority for this action is the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.) and the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et. seq.)
Dated: February 24, 1997.
Terry Terrell,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 97-4995 Filed 2-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
