[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18407-18408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10271]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of a Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of an
Application for an Incidental Take Permit of Utah Prairie Dog Related
to the Development of a 29-Acre Manufacturing Site by Smead
Manufacturing Company, Cedar City, Iron County, UT
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Smead Manufacturing Company (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 (Act of 1973, as
amended. The Applicant has been assigned Permit Number PRT-814008. The
requested permit, which is for a period not to exceed 5 years, would
authorize the incidental take of the threatened Utah prairie dog
(Cynomys parvidens), The proposed take would occur as a result of the
development of a 29 acre site owned by Smead Manufacturing Company in
Cedar City, Iron County, UT.
The Applicant has prepared a habitat conservation plan for the
incidental take permit application. This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the Act. An Environmental Assessment will comply with
the Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1508.4).
DATES: Written comments on the habitat conservation plan and permit
application must be received on or before may 28, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Requests for any of the above documents and comments of
materials concerning them should be sent to the Assistant Field
Supervisor, Utah Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 145 East
1300 South, Suite 404, Salt Lake City, UT 84115. The documents and
comments and materials received will be available for public
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the above
address. Please refer to Permit Number PRT-814008 in all correspondence
regarding these documents.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert D. Williams, Assistant Field Supervisor (see ADDRESSES above)
(Telephone (801) 524-5001 extension 124, fascimile (801 524-5021).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act
(Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits the
``taking'' of any threatened or endangered species, including the Utah
prairie dog. However, the Fish and Wildlife Service, under limited
circumstances, may issue
[[Page 18408]]
permits to take threatened and endangered wildlife species if 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.
The Smead Manufacturing Company, a corporation, wishes to construct
a 312,000 square foot building and appropriate and corresponding
parking, roadway and walkway facilities in Cedar City, Iron County, UT.
The construction will impact approximately 29 acres of a 36.95 acre
lot. The lot is presently inhabited by the Utah prairie dog, a
threatened species.
The Applicant considered a no-action alternative. The Applicant's
current facility is located in an earthquake zone and has recently been
damaged by an earthquake. The Applicant is, also, unable to expand at
its present facilities to meet current demand. The Applicant rejected
the no-action alternative as being dangerous for its employees and
economically unfeasible.
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: April 18, 1996.
Ralph O. Morgenweck,
Regional Director, Denver, CO.
[FR Doc. 96-10271 Filed 4-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M
