81 FR 39949 - South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Phase 2 at the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 118 (June 20, 2016)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 118 (June 20, 2016)
| Page Range | 39949-39951 | |
| FR Document | 2016-14565 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 118 (Monday, June 20, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 39949-39951] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-14565] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R8-R-2016-N061; FXRS282108E8PD0-167-F2013227943] South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Phase 2 at the Eden Landing Ecological Reserve; Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of meeting; request for public comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), are preparing a joint environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed restoration of ponds at the CDFW's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (Reserve) in Alameda County, California. We intend to gather information necessary to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We encourage the public and other agencies to participate in the NEPA scoping process by attending the public scoping meeting and/or by sending written suggestions and information on the issues and concerns that should be addressed in the draft EIS/EIR, including the range of alternatives, appropriate mitigation measures, and the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts. DATES: Submitting Comments: To ensure that we have adequate time to evaluate and incorporate suggestions and other input, we must receive your comments on or before July 20, 2016. Public Scoping Meeting: A public scoping meeting will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2016, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters--Third Flood Auditorium located at 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, California, 94555. The details of the public scoping meeting will be posted on the SBSP Restoration Project's Web site (http://www.southbayrestoration.org/events/). Scoping meeting details will also be emailed to the Project's Stakeholder Forum and to those interested parties who request to be notified. Notification requests can be made by emailing the SBSP Restoration Project's public outreach coordinator, Ariel Ambruster, at [email protected] (email) or 510-815-7111 (phone). Reasonable Accommodations: Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public scoping meeting should contact Ariel Ambruster at least 1 week in advance of the meeting to allow time to process the request. ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: Send written comments to Chris Barr, Deputy Complex Manager, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555, or to Scott Wilson, CDFW Regional Manager, Bay Delta Region, Silverado Trail, Napa, CA 94558. Alternatively, you may send written comments by facsimile to 510- 792-5828, or via the Internet through the public comments link on the SBSP Restoration Project Web site at www.southbayrestoration.org/Question_Comment.html. Your correspondence should indicate which issue your comments pertain to. Mailing List: To have your name added to our mailing list, contact Ariel Ambruster; telephone (510) 815-7111; email [email protected]. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Barr, Refuge Manager, USFWS, 510-792-0222 (phone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), are preparing a joint environmental impact statement/ environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed restoration of ponds E1, E1C, E2, E2C, E4, E4C, E5, E5C, E6, E6C, and E7 at the CDFW's Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (Reserve) in Alameda County, California. Phase 2 of the SBSP Restoration Project at Eden Landing is intended to [[Page 39950]] restore and enhance a mix of approximately 2,300 acres of wetland habitats while simultaneously providing flood protection and wildlife- oriented public access and recreation in the South Bay. We intend to gather information necessary to prepare an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We encourage the public and other agencies to participate in the NEPA scoping process by attending the public scoping meeting and/or by sending written suggestions and information on the issues and concerns that should be addressed in the draft EIS/EIR, including the range of alternatives, appropriate mitigation measures, and the nature and extent of potential environmental impacts. Background The SBSP Restoration Project is located in the San Francisco Bay, in northern California. The project is a multiagency, multiphase effort to restore and enhance a mix of wetland habitats while simultaneously providing flood protection and wildlife-oriented public access and recreation in the South Bay. The SBSP Restoration Project as a whole contains over 15,000 acres of former industrial salt production ponds in three complexes: The Ravenswood pond complex, the Alviso pond complex, and the Eden Landing pond complex. The Ravenswood and Alviso pond complexes are owned and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). The Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (Reserve) is owned by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). In 2007, the USFWS and the CDFW published a Final EIS/EIR for the SBSP Restoration Project (72 FR 71937-71939). The SBSP Restoration project presented in the Final EIS/EIR was both programmatic, covering a 50-year period, as well as project-level, addressing the specific components and implementation of Phase 1. Both the USFWS and the CDFW selected the Tidal Emphasis Alternative (Alternative C) for implementation. Alternative C represents a goal of 90 percent of the salt ponds restored to tidal action and 10 percent restored to managed ponds. This ratio of restoration is guided by the Adaptive Management Plan. Implementation of Phase 1 actions began in 2008 and was completed in 2016. The northern half of the Eden Landing pond complex was addressed in Phase 1 and is now complete. The Phase 2 actions at the Alviso and Ravenswood pond complexes were considered in a separate project-level EIS/EIR, the draft of which was published in August of 2015 and is expected to be finalized in the summer of 2016. Proposed Action The CDFW now proposes restoration or enhancement of approximately 2,300 acres of former salt ponds in the southern half of the CDFW-owned Eden Landing pond complex. Phase 2 project-level actions to be evaluated in this EIS/EIR are project-level habitat restoration of approximately 2,300 acres of former salt ponds, while also providing recreation and public access opportunities, and maintaining or improving current levels of flood protection in the surrounding communities. Habitat restoration actions evaluated in the EIS/EIR may include the following:Breaching levees at one or more locations to allow tidal flows into the ponds. Adding water control structures to allow some ponds to be retained as enhanced managed ponds for pond-dependent bird species. Increasing habitat complexity by adding deep-water channels, islands, and/or habitat transition zones. Modifying pond bottom elevations or topography to redirect tidal flows. Using dredged or upland fill material to speed marsh vegetation establishment. Recreation and public access actions may include the following: Maintain the existing trail that runs along the top of the large Federal levee that forms the southern edge of the complex. This may involve constructing bridge(s) over any changes that are made to that levee. Complete the Bay Trail spine along the eastern edge of the pond complex. Adding a spur trail along the northern edge of Pond E6 from the Bay Trail spine to the site of the former Alvarado Salt Works. Convert the above spur trail into a loop by building a footbridge over Old Alameda Creek and a trail back to the Bay Trail spine. Flood protection may include: Raising and improving existing levees or berms or making other improvements to maintain or increase coastal flood risk protection. Alternatives The EIS/EIR will consider a range of alternatives and their impacts, including the No Action/No Project Alternative. Scoping is designed to be an early and open process to determine the issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. The range of alternatives may include varying approaches to restoring and enhancing a mix of wetland habitats, as well as varying levels and means of flood management, and recreation and public access components which correspond to the project objectives. The Phase 2 EIS/EIR for Eden Landing will identify the anticipated effects of the alternatives (both negative and beneficial) and describe and analyze direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of each alternative. NEPA Compliance This EIS/EIR is a project-level environmental document that is tiered from the programmatic portion of the 2007 Final EIS/EIR for the SBSP Restoration Project. Information gathered through this scoping process will assist us in developing a reasonable range of alternatives to continue to address the restoration of Eden Landing salt ponds and collaborative integration with adjacent landowners and operators of public infrastructure. A detailed description of the proposed action and alternatives will be included in the EIS/EIR. For each issue or potential impact identified, the EIS/EIR will include a discussion of the parameters used in evaluating the impacts as well as recommended mitigation, indicating the effectiveness of mitigation measures proposed to be implemented and what, if any, additional measures would be required to reduce the degree of impact. The EIS/EIR will include an analysis of the restoration, flood management, and recreation and public access components associated with the proposed restoration. We will conduct environmental review in accordance with the requirements of NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), its implementing regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), other applicable regulations, and our procedures for compliance with those regulations. The environmental document will be prepared to meet both the requirements of NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The CDFW is the CEQA lead agency and USFWS is the lead agency under NEPA. We are the NEPA lead agency because we provide a variety of biological monitoring, financial and management support on this CDFW unit. We anticipate that a Draft EIS/EIR will be available for public review in November 2016. [[Page 39951]] Public Comment We are furnishing this notice in accordance with section 1501.7 of the NEPA implementing regulations to obtain suggestions and information from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. We invite written comments from interested parties to ensure identification of the full range of issues. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in you comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Public Scoping Meeting In addition to providing written comments, the public is encouraged to attend a public scoping meeting on Thursday, June 30, 2016, to provide us with suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to consider when drafting the EIS/EIR. The location of the public scoping meeting is provided in DATES. Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and participate in the public meeting should contact us at the address in ADDRESSES no later than 1 week before the public meeting. Information regarding the proposed restoration is available in alterative formats upon request. We will accept written comments at the scoping meeting or afterwards. Alexandra Pitts, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2016-14565 Filed 6-17-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 118 / Monday, June 20, 2016 / Notices 39949
action on the Indiana bat and the Bloomington, Indiana (see FOR FURTHER Public Scoping Meeting: A public
northern long-eared bat. INFORMATION CONTACT). scoping meeting will be held on
Thursday, June 30, 2016, from 1:00 p.m.
Alternatives in the Draft EA Authority
to 3:00 p.m., at Don Edwards San
The DEA contains an analysis of four We provide this notice under section Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge
alternatives: (1) No Action alternative, 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) Headquarters—Third Flood Auditorium
in which all 125 turbines would be and its implementing regulations (50 located at 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont,
feathered up to 5.0 meters per second CFR 17.22), the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4371 California, 94555. The details of the
(m/s) from 1⁄2 hour before sunset to 1⁄2 et seq.) and its implementing public scoping meeting will be posted
hour after sunrise from March 15 regulations (40 CFR 1506.6; 43 CFR part on the SBSP Restoration Project’s Web
through May 15, and all turbines would 46), and the NHPA (16 U.S.C. 470 et site (http://www.southbayrestoration
be feathered up to 6.9 m/s from 1⁄2 hour seq.) and its implementing regulations .org/events/). Scoping meeting details
before sunset to 1⁄2 hour after sunrise (36 CFR 800). will also be emailed to the Project’s
from August 1 through October 15, the Dated: May 25, 2016. Stakeholder Forum and to those
primary spring and fall migratory Lynn Lewis, interested parties who request to be
periods of the Indiana bat and the Assistant Regional Director, Ecological notified. Notification requests can be
northern long-eared bat, each year Services, Midwest Region. made by emailing the SBSP Restoration
during the operational life (27 years) of [FR Doc. 2016–14566 Filed 6–17–16; 8:45 am] Project’s public outreach coordinator,
Wildcat; (2) the 5.0 m/s Cut-In Speed BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Ariel Ambruster, at aambrust@
(feathered) Alternative including ccp.csus.edu (email) or 510–815–7111
implementation of the HCP and (phone).
Issuance of a 28-year ITP; (3) the 6.5 m/ DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Reasonable Accommodations:
s Cut-In Speed (feathered) Alternative, Persons needing reasonable
including implementation of the HCP Fish and Wildlife Service accommodations in order to attend and
and issuance of a 28-year ITP; and (4) [FWS–R8–R–2016–N061; participate in the public scoping
the 4.0 m/s Cut-In Speed (Feathered) FXRS282108E8PD0–167–F2013227943] meeting should contact Ariel Ambruster
Alternative, including implementation at least 1 week in advance of the
of the HCP and Issuance of a 28-year South Bay Salt Pond Restoration meeting to allow time to process the
ITP. The DEA considers the direct, Project, Phase 2 at the Eden Landing request.
indirect, and cumulative effects of the Ecological Reserve; Intent To Prepare ADDRESSES:
alternatives, including any measures an Environmental Impact Statement/ Submitting Comments: Send written
under the Proposed Action alternative Environmental Impact Report comments to Chris Barr, Deputy
intended to minimize and mitigate such Complex Manager, Don Edwards San
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
impacts. The DEA also identifies three Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge,
Interior.
additional alternatives that were 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555,
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement
considered but were eliminated from or to Scott Wilson, CDFW Regional
consideration as detailed in Section 3.4 of meeting; request for public
comments. Manager, Bay Delta Region, Silverado
of the DEA. Trail, Napa, CA 94558.
The Service invites comments and SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Alternatively, you may send written
suggestions from all interested parties Wildlife Service (USFWS), in comments by facsimile to 510–792–
on the content of the DEA. In particular, coordination with the California 5828, or via the Internet through the
information and comments regarding Department of Fish and Wildlife public comments link on the SBSP
the following topics are requested: (CDFW), are preparing a joint Restoration Project Web site at
1. The direct, indirect, or cumulative environmental impact statement/ www.southbayrestoration.org/Question_
effects that implementation of any environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) Comment.html. Your correspondence
alternative could have on the human for the proposed restoration of ponds at should indicate which issue your
environment; the CDFW’s Eden Landing Ecological comments pertain to.
2. Whether or not the significance of Reserve (Reserve) in Alameda County, Mailing List: To have your name
the impact on various aspects of the California. We intend to gather added to our mailing list, contact Ariel
human environment has been information necessary to prepare an EIS Ambruster; telephone (510) 815–7111;
adequately analyzed; and pursuant to the National Environmental email aambrust@ccp.csus.edu.
3. Any other information pertinent to Policy Act (NEPA). We encourage the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
evaluating the effects of the proposed public and other agencies to participate Chris Barr, Refuge Manager, USFWS,
action on the human environment. in the NEPA scoping process by 510–792–0222 (phone).
attending the public scoping meeting SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
Public Comments
and/or by sending written suggestions U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
You may submit your comments and and information on the issues and (USFWS), in coordination with the
materials concerning the notice by one concerns that should be addressed in California Department of Fish and
of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We the draft EIS/EIR, including the range of Wildlife (CDFW), are preparing a joint
request that you send comments only by alternatives, appropriate mitigation environmental impact statement/
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
one of the methods described in measures, and the nature and extent of environmental impact report (EIS/EIR)
ADDRESSES. potential environmental impacts. for the proposed restoration of ponds
Comments and materials we receive, DATES: E1, E1C, E2, E2C, E4, E4C, E5, E5C, E6,
as well as documents associated with Submitting Comments: To ensure that E6C, and E7 at the CDFW’s Eden
the notice, will be available for public we have adequate time to evaluate and Landing Ecological Reserve (Reserve) in
inspection by appointment, during incorporate suggestions and other input, Alameda County, California.
normal business hours, at the Indiana we must receive your comments on or Phase 2 of the SBSP Restoration
Ecological Services Field Office in before July 20, 2016. Project at Eden Landing is intended to
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 118 / Monday, June 20, 2016 / Notices 39951
Public Comment endangered species. With some general husbandry activities at the
We are furnishing this notice in exceptions, the Endangered Species Act Oakland Zoo in Oakland, California, for
accordance with section 1501.7 of the (Act) prohibits activities with the purpose of enhancing the species’
NEPA implementing regulations to endangered and threatened species survival.
obtain suggestions and information from unless a Federal permit allows such
Permit No. TE–170381
other agencies and the public on the activity. The Act also requires that we
scope of issues to be addressed in the invite public comment before issuing Applicant: Bill Stagnaro, San Francisco,
EIS/EIR. We invite written comments recovery permits to conduct certain California
activities with endangered species. The applicant requests a permit
from interested parties to ensure
identification of the full range of issues. DATES: Comments on these permit renewal to take (harass by survey,
Before including your address, phone applications must be received on or capture, handle, and release) the San
number, email address, or other before July 20, 2016. Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis
personal identifying information in your ADDRESSES: Written data or comments sirtalis tetrataenia); and take (harass by
comment, you should be aware that should be submitted to the Endangered survey using taped vocalization
your entire comment—including your Species Program Manager, U.S. Fish and callback) the California Ridgway’s rail
personal identifying information—may Wildlife Service, Region 8, 2800 Cottage (California clapper r.) (Rallus obsoletus
be made publicly available at any time. Way, Room W–2606, Sacramento, CA obsoletus) (R. longirostris o.) in
While you can ask us in you comment 95825 (telephone: 916–414–6464; fax: conjunction with survey activities
to withhold your personal identifying 916–414–6486). Please refer to the throughout the range of the species in
information from public review, we respective permit number for each California for the purpose of enhancing
cannot guarantee that we will be able to application when submitting comments. the species’ survival.
do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel Marquez, Fish and Wildlife Permit No. TE–94719B
Public Scoping Meeting Biologist; see ADDRESSES (telephone: Applicant: Richard Lis, Redding,
In addition to providing written 760–431–9440; fax: 760–431–9624). California
comments, the public is encouraged to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The The applicant requests a permit to
attend a public scoping meeting on following applicants have applied for take (harass by survey, capture, handle,
Thursday, June 30, 2016, to provide us scientific research permits to conduct release, collect vouchers, and collect
with suggestions and information on the certain activities with endangered branchiopod cysts) the Conservancy
scope of issues and alternatives to species under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio),
consider when drafting the EIS/EIR. The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We seek longhorn fairy shrimp (Branchinecta
location of the public scoping meeting review and comment from local, State, longiantenna), San Diego fairy shrimp
is provided in DATES. and Federal agencies and the public on (Branchinecta sandiegonensis),
Persons needing reasonable the following permit requests. Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus
accommodations in order to attend and Applicants woottoni), and vernal pool tadpole
participate in the public meeting should shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) in
contact us at the address in ADDRESSES Permit No. TE–080779 conjunction with survey activities
no later than 1 week before the public Applicant: Melissa Busby, San Diego, throughout the range of the species in
meeting. Information regarding the California California for the purpose of enhancing
proposed restoration is available in the species’ survival.
alterative formats upon request. We will The applicant requests a permit
accept written comments at the scoping renewal to take (survey by pursuit) the Permit No. TE–94702B
meeting or afterwards. Quino checkerspot butterfly
(Euphydryas editha quino); and take Applicant: Kristin Hubbard, Redding,
Alexandra Pitts, (harass by survey, capture, handle, California
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest release, collect vouchers, analyze soil The applicant requests a permit to
Region. samples, and collect branchiopod cysts) take (harass by survey, capture, handle,
[FR Doc. 2016–14565 Filed 6–17–16; 8:45 am] the Conservancy fairy shrimp release, collect vouchers, and collect
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P (Branchinecta conservatio), longhorn branchiopod cysts) the Conservancy
fairy shrimp (Branchinecta fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio),
longiantenna), San Diego fairy shrimp longhorn fairy shrimp (Branchinecta
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (Branchinecta sandiegonensis), longiantenna), San Diego fairy shrimp
Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus (Branchinecta sandiegonensis),
Fish and Wildlife Service woottoni), and vernal pool tadpole Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus
[FWS–R8–ES–2016–N097; shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) in woottoni), and vernal pool tadpole
FXES11130800000–167–FF08E00000] conjunction with survey activities shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) in
throughout the range of the species in conjunction with survey activities
Endangered Species Recovery Permit California for the purpose of enhancing throughout the range of the species in
Applications the species’ survival. California for the purpose of enhancing
the species’ survival.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Permit No. TE–85448A
Interior. Permit No. TE–94998A
Applicant: East Bay Zoological Society,
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit
Oakland, California Applicant: Leonard Liu, Oakland,
applications; request for comment. California
The applicant requests a permit
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and renewal to take (receive, handle, and The applicant requests a permit
Wildlife Service, invite the public to administer veterinary treatment and renewal to take (harass by survey using
comment on the following applications care) the California condor (Gymnogyps taped vocalization callback) the
to conduct certain activities with californianus) in conjunction with California Ridgway’s rail (California
VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:05 Jun 17, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20JNN1.SGM 20JNN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/81_FR_40067/page/3.svg)
Document Created: 2016-06-18 00:09:33
Document Modified: 2016-06-18 00:09:33
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of intent; announcement of meeting; request for public comments. | |
| Dates | Submitting Comments: To ensure that we have adequate time to evaluate and incorporate suggestions and other input, we must receive your comments on or before July 20, 2016. | |
| Contact | Chris Barr, Refuge Manager, USFWS, 510-792-0222 (phone). | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 39949 |
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