99-25438. Adoption of Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact, Inyo County Saltcedar Control Program; Owens Valley, CA

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 189 (Thursday, September 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52785-52786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25438]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6447-8]


Adoption of Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No 
Significant Impact, Inyo County Saltcedar Control Program; Owens 
Valley, CA

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY:

Project Location and Description

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to adopt an 
EA for a long-term, comprehensive program to control and possibly 
eradicate saltcedar (also known as tamarix) from portions of the Owens 
Valley. This plant is an aggressive non-native shrub or tree that 
displaces native vegetation and wildlife. The work will primarily 
involve cutting stems and applying herbicides to cut stems in infested 
areas on land owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power 
(LADWP). The project area extends from the Inyo County line north of 
Bishop to the southern end of the valley near Olancha. It consists of 
unincorporated land owned by the LADWP. The work area extends from the 
Inyo County line north of Bishop to the southern end of the valley near 
Olancha. Saltcedar stands occur in patches and encompass about 25,000 
acres. The work will primarily occur during the months of October 
through March, and will continue for 5 or more years. Funding is 
provided by LADWP and a grant from the EPA.

Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action

    The purpose of the program is to systematically eradicate saltcedar 
on City of Los Angeles land within Inyo County. The benefit of the 
program would be to facilitate the recovery of native plant communities 
in the affected areas, thereby increasing the abundance and variety of 
plant and animal life. The program would implement an element of the 
Inyo County/Los Angeles Long-term Water Agreement, result in beneficial 
impacts to the native habitats and wildlife, and assist in implementing 
the Lower Owens River Project.

Environmental Consequences and Conditions

    The proposed saltcedar control program will represent a beneficial 
impact to the native habitats of the Owens Valley because there will be 
an increase in the amount and diversity of native plant communities, 
which will result in an increase in the abundance and diversity of fish 
and wildlife. The project includes 14 mitigation measures to avoid 
significant impacts, therefore, no significant impacts to the 
environment will result from the implementation of this project.

Preliminary Findings

    EPA has determined that the proposed project will not have a 
significant adverse impact on the environment and that an environmental 
impact statement will not be required for the project.
    The EA is available for public inspection at EPA Region 9 in San 
Francisco, California at 75 Hawthorne Street. To review the project 
document, to obtain a copy of the document, or to obtain additional 
information regarding the project, please contact Wendy Melgin of EPA 
Region 9 at [phone] or via e-mail at 
[e-mail].

[[Page 52786]]

    Comments on this Finding of No Significant Impact may be submitted 
for consideration by EPA on or before November 1, 1999. No 
administrative action will be taken by EPA on the project described 
above prior to the expiration of this public comment period. Comments 
should be: (1) Mailed to Wendy Melgin, U.S. EPA Region IX, (WTR-9), 75 
Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105; (2) faxed to Wendy Melgin at 
[phone]; or e-mailed to Wendy Melgin at 
[e-mail].

    Dated: September 21, 1999.
Alexis Strauss,
Acting Regional Administrator, Region 9.
[FR Doc. 99-25438 Filed 9-29-99; 8:45 am]
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