83 FR 53075 - South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Phase 2; Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, California; Record of Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)
| Page Range | 53075-53077 | |
| FR Document | 2018-22763 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 53075-53077] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-22763] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R8-NWRS-2018-N130; FXRS282108E8PD0-190-F2013227943] South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, Phase 2; Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, California; Record of Decision for Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; record of decision. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California State Coastal Conservancy, announce the availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge--Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project final environmental impact statement/environmental impact report. The ROD explains that the selected alternative is the environmentally preferred alternative. ADDRESSES: Document Availability: The ROD is available at the following places: Internet: http://www.southbayrestoration.org/planning/phase2/. In Person: San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters, 1 Marshlands Rd., Fremont, CA 94555. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chris Barr, Deputy Project Leader, 510-792-0222 (phone), or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and the California State Coastal Conservancy, announce the availability of the record of decision (ROD) for the final environmental impact statement/environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project (SBSP) at the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. The ROD explains that the selected alternative is the environmentally preferred alternative. Background In December 2007, the USFWS and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) published a Final EIS/EIR for the SBSP Restoration Project at the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and the CDFW Eden Landing Ecological Reserve (December 19, 2007; 72 FR 71937). The overall south bay salt pond restoration area includes 15,100 acres, which the USFWS and the CDFW [[Page 53076]] acquired from Cargill, Inc., in 2003. The lands acquired from Cargill are divided into three pond complexes: The Ravenswood Pond Complex, in San Mateo County, managed by the USFWS; the Alviso Pond complex, also managed by the USFWS, which is mostly in Santa Clara County, with five ponds in Alameda County; and the Eden Landing Pond Complex, in Alameda County, which is owned and managed by the CDFW. The SBSP Restoration Project presented in the Final EIS/EIR was both programmatic, covering a 50-year period, and project-level, addressing the specific components and implementation of Phase 1. In January 2008, we signed a Record of Decision selecting the Tidal Emphasis Alternative (Alternative C) for implementation. This alternative will result in 90 percent of the USFWS's ponds on the Refuge being restored to tidal wetlands and 10 percent converted to managed ponds. Under Phase 1 of Alternative C, we restored ponds E8A, E8X, E9, E12, and E13 at the Eden Landing complex; A6, A8, A16, and A17 at the Alviso complex; and SF2 at the Ravenswood complex. We also added several trails, interpretive features, and other recreational access points. Construction was completed on the USFWS ponds in 2013. Project The SBSP Phase 2 project site is located on the following three geographically separate pond clusters: the Ravenswood Pond Complex (R3, R4, R5, and S5), the Alviso Pond Complex-Mountain View Ponds (A1 and A2W), the Alviso Pond Complex-A8 Ponds (A8 and A8S), and the Alviso Pond Complex-Island Ponds (A19, A20, and A21). These pond clusters are illustrated in Figures 1-5 on the SBSP Restoration Project website at http://www.southbayrestoration.org/planning/phase2/. Phase 2 of the SBSP Restoration Project will restore and enhance over 2,000 acres of tidal wetlands and managed pond habitats in South San Francisco Bay while providing for flood management and wildlife- oriented public access and recreation. On June 3, 2016, we announced the availability of the Final EIS/EIR for Phase 2 (81 FR 35790). Alternatives We analyzed a range of alternatives in the Final EIS/EIR, including No Action Alternatives for each group of ponds. The range of alternatives included varying approaches to restoring tidal marshes (including number and location of breaches and other levee modifications), habitat enhancements (islands, transition zones, and channels), modifications to existing levees and berms to maintain or improve flood protection, and recreation and public access components (including trails, boardwalks, and viewing platforms) which correspond to the project objectives. The alternatives for each group of ponds, or pond cluster, are described briefly below. The no-action alternatives are described together, followed by the action alternatives that were considered for each pond cluster. Alviso-Island Ponds, Alviso-Mountain View Ponds, Alviso-A8 Ponds, and Ravenswood Ponds--Alternatives A (No Action) Under Alternatives Island A, Mountain View A, A8 A, and Ravenswood A (the no-action alternative at each of these pond clusters), no new activities would be implemented as part of Phase 2. The pond clusters would continue to be monitored and managed through the activities described in the Adaptive Management Plan (AMP) and in accordance with current USFWS practices. Alviso Island Ponds Alternative Island B Alternative Island B would breach Pond A19's northern levee and remove or lower levees between Ponds A19 and A20 to increase connectivity and improve the ecological function of both ponds. Alternative Island C Alternative Island C would include the components of Alternative Island B with the addition of levee breaches on the north sides of Ponds A20 and A21, lowering of portions of levees around Pond A20, pilot channels in Pond A19, and widening the existing breaches on the southern levee of Pond A19. Alviso-Mountain View Ponds Alternative Mountain View B Under Alternative Mountain View B, Ponds A1 and A2W levees would be breached at several points to introduce tidal flow in the ponds. Portions of Pond A1's western levee would be built up to maintain current levels of flood protection provided by the pond itself. Habitat transition zones and habitat islands would be constructed in the ponds to increase habitat complexity and quality for special-status species. A new trail and viewing platform would be installed to improve recreation and public access at these ponds. Alternative Mountain View C Under Alternative Mountain View C, levees would be breached and lowered to increase tidal flows in Pond A1, Pond A2W, and Charleston Slough. The inclusion of Charleston Slough (by breaching and lowering much of Pond A1's western levee) is the primary distinguishing feature between Alternative Mountain View B and Alternative Mountain View C. Several additional new trails and viewing platforms would be installed or replaced to improve recreation and public access at the pond cluster. To continue providing water to the City of Mountain View's Shoreline Park sailing lake, a new water intake would be constructed at the proposed breach between Pond A1 and Charleston Slough. Alviso-A8 Ponds Alternative A8 B Alternative A8 B proposes the construction of habitat transition zones in Pond A8S's southwest corner, southeast corner, or both, depending on the amount of material available. Ravenswood Ponds Alternative Ravenswood B Alternative Ravenswood B would open Pond R4 to tidal flows, improve levees to provide additional flood protection, create habitat transition zone along the western edge of Pond R4, establish managed ponds to improve habitat for diving and dabbling birds, increase pond connectivity, and add a viewing platform to improve recreation and public access. Alternative Ravenswood C Alternative Ravenswood C would be similar to Alternative Ravenswood B, with the following exceptions: Ponds R5 and S5 would be converted to a particular type of managed pond that is operated to maintain intertidal mudflat elevation; water control structures would be installed on Pond R3 to allow for improvement to the habitat for western snowy plover; an additional habitat transition zone would be constructed; and two public access and recreational trails and additional viewing platforms would be constructed. Alternative Ravenswood D Alternative Ravenswood D would open Pond R4 to tidal flows, improve levees to provide additional flood protection, create two habitat transition zones in Pond R4, establish enhanced managed ponds in Ponds R5 and S5, increase pond connectivity, enhance Pond R3 for western snowy plover [[Page 53077]] habitat, remove the levees within and between Ponds R5 and S5, and improve recreation and public access. Alternative Ravenswood D would also allow temporary stormwater detention into Ponds R5 and S5 via connections with the City of Redwood City's Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel Project. This would treat a residual salinity problem in Ponds R5 and S5. Following public review of the Draft EIS/EIR, USFWS and the California State Coastal Conservancy, in coordination with the Project Management Team and other project partners, identified the preferred alternative, which is based on restoration enhancements at all four pond clusters, as well as maintained or increased flood protection and additional public access and recreation features at two of the Phase 2 pond clusters. The preferred alternative is described in Chapter 6 of the Final EIS/EIR. A summary is provided below. Preferred Alternative: The preferred alternative at each pond cluster is as follows:At the Island Ponds it is Alternative Island B, with one restoration component of Alternative Island C included, which is to widen only the westernmost of the two existing breaches on the south side of Pond A19. At the Mountain View Ponds it is essentially Alternative Mountain View B, with the substitution of one habitat enhancement (do not include Charleston Slough in tidal marsh restoration but do construct a habitat transition zone across the entire southern extent of Pond A1, but only across central portion of A2W) and the addition of one public access component drawn from Mountain View C (add recreational trail on eastern levee of Pond A2W to the northeast corner of Pond A2W). There is also a modification of one of the flood protection features presented in the two action alternatives (raise the Coast Casey Forebay levee along southern border of Charleston Slough and maintain necessary access to existing utilities adjacent to that levee). At the A8 Ponds it is Alternative A8 B, except that the top elevation of the proposed transition zones has been increased to provide greater erosion protection. At the Ravenswood Ponds it is similar to Alternative Ravenswood B, in its restoration goals and features for Ponds R3, R4, R5, and S5, but it also includes an additional habitat transition zone and a trail on the eastern edge of Ponds R5 and S5, all of which were included in Alternatives Ravenswood C and D. Selected Alternative The ROD identifies the preferred alternative as the selected alternative. This alternative is also the environmentally preferred alternative. The basis for the decision, descriptions of the alternatives considered, an overview of the measures to be implemented to avoid and minimized environmental effects, and a summary of the public involvement process are provided in the ROD. Authority We publish this notice under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and the Department of Interior's implementing regulations in title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR part 46). Jody Holzworth, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2018-22763 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices 53075
comment on the permit application, another Service-approved sand skink DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
which includes the proposed habitat conservation bank.
conservation plan, as well as on our Fish and Wildlife Service
preliminary determination that the plan Our Preliminary Determination
[FWS–R8–NWRS–2018–N130;
qualifies as low-effect under the We have determined that the FXRS282108E8PD0–190–F2013227943]
National Environmental Policy Act. To Applicant’s proposal, including the
make this determination, we used our proposed mitigation and minimization South Bay Salt Pond Restoration
environmental action statement and Project, Phase 2; Don Edwards
measures, would have minor or
low-effect screening form, which are National Wildlife Refuge, California;
negligible effects on the species covered
also available for review. Record of Decision for Final
in the HCP. Therefore, we have
DATES: To ensure consideration, please Environmental Impact Statement/
determined that the incidental take
send your written comments by Environmental Impact Report
permit for this project would be ‘‘low
November 19, 2018.
effect’’ and qualify for categorical AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the Interior.
exclusion under the National
application, including the HCP, as well
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A ACTION: Notice of availability; record of
as our environmental action statement
low-effect HCP is one involving (1) decision.
or low-effect screening form, you may
request the documents by email, phone, minor or negligible effects on federally
listed or candidate species and their SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
or U.S. mail. These documents are also Wildlife Service, and the California
available for public inspection by habitats, and (2) minor or negligible
State Coastal Conservancy, announce
appointment during normal business effects on other environmental values or
the availability of the record of decision
hours at the office below. Send your resources.
(ROD) for the Don Edwards National
comments or requests by any one of the Public Availability of Comments Wildlife Refuge—Phase 2 of the South
following methods. Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project final
Email: northflorida@fws.gov. Use Before including your address, phone environmental impact statement/
‘‘Attn: TE98747C–0.’’ number, email address, or other environmental impact report. The ROD
Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731– personal identifying information in your explains that the selected alternative is
3191, ‘‘Attn: TE98747C–0.’’ comment, be aware that your entire the environmentally preferred
U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, comment—including your personal alternative.
Jacksonville Ecological Services Field
identifying information—may be made ADDRESSES:
Office, Attn: TE69161C–0, U.S. Fish and
publicly available at any time. While Document Availability: The ROD is
Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows
Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256. you may request in your comment that available at the following places:
In-person drop-off: You may drop off we withhold your personal identifying Internet: http://www.southbay
information during regular business information, we cannot guarantee that restoration.org/planning/phase2/.
hours at the above office address. we will be able to do so. In Person: San Francisco Bay National
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters,
Next Steps
M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731–3121; 1 Marshlands Rd., Fremont, CA 94555.
email: erin_gawera@fws.gov. We will evaluate the HCP and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the comments we receive to determine Chris Barr, Deputy Project Leader, 510–
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), whether the ITP application meets the 792–0222 (phone), or chris_barr@
have received an application for an permit issuance requirements of section fws.gov.
incidental take permit (ITP) under the 10(a) of the ESA. We will also conduct SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as an intra-Service consultation pursuant U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). to section 7 of the ESA. If the and the California State Coastal
McDonald Ventures XXXVIII, LLC requirements for permit issuance are Conservancy, announce the availability
(applicant) is requesting a 5-year ITP to met, we will issue ITP number of the record of decision (ROD) for the
take sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) TE98747C–0 to the Applicant for final environmental impact statement/
incidental to the conversion of incidental take of the sand skink. environmental impact report (EIS/EIR)
approximately 0.25 acres of occupied for Phase 2 of the South Bay Salt Pond
sand skink foraging and sheltering Authority Restoration Project (SBSP) at the Don
habitat for construction of a commercial Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. The
We provide this notice under section
development. The 9.37-acre project site ROD explains that the selected
10 of the Endangered Species Act of
is located on parcel Number Parcel ID alternative is the environmentally
numbers 42226000200000400, 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531
preferred alternative.
42226000200000500, et seq.) and the ESA’s regulations, the
42226000200000700, National Environmental Policy Act Background
42226000200000800, and (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and In December 2007, the USFWS and
42226000200000900, within Section 34, NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). the California Department of Fish and
Township 22 South, Range 26 East in Jay B. Herrington, Wildlife (CDFW) published a Final EIS/
Lake County, Florida. The project EIR for the SBSP Restoration Project at
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office,
includes the clearing, infrastructure Southeast Region.
the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay
building, and landscaping associated National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) and
[FR Doc. 2018–22749 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am]
with construction. The applicant the CDFW Eden Landing Ecological
proposes to mitigate for the take of the BILLING CODE 4333–15–P Reserve (December 19, 2007; 72 FR
threatened sand skink by purchasing 71937). The overall south bay salt pond
0.50 mitigation credits within the Lake restoration area includes 15,100 acres,
Wales Ridge Conservation Bank or which the USFWS and the CDFW
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![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices 53077
habitat, remove the levees within and Selected Alternative Æ https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/
between Ponds R5 and S5, and improve The ROD identifies the preferred Oklahoma/.
recreation and public access. alternative as the selected alternative. Æ CD–ROM: Contact Ms. Jonna Polk
Alternative Ravenswood D would also This alternative is also the (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
allow temporary stormwater detention Æ Telephone: 918–581–7458.
environmentally preferred alternative.
into Ponds R5 and S5 via connections • Hard copy: You may review the
The basis for the decision, descriptions
with the City of Redwood City’s final environmental impact statement
of the alternatives considered, an
Bayfront Canal and Atherton Channel (EIS) at the following locations (by
overview of the measures to be
Project. This would treat a residual appointment only):
implemented to avoid and minimized
salinity problem in Ponds R5 and S5. Æ Department of the Interior, Natural
environmental effects, and a summary
Following public review of the Draft Resources Library, 1849 C Street NW,
of the public involvement process are
EIS/EIR, USFWS and the California Washington, DC 20240. Call 202–208–
provided in the ROD.
State Coastal Conservancy, in 5815.
coordination with the Project Authority Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500
Management Team and other project We publish this notice under the Gold Avenue SW, Room 6034,
partners, identified the preferred authority of the National Environmental Albuquerque, NM 87102. Call 505–248–
alternative, which is based on Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and 6920.
restoration enhancements at all four the Department of Interior’s Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
pond clusters, as well as maintained or implementing regulations in title 43 of 9014 E 21st St., Tulsa, OK 74129. Call
increased flood protection and the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR 918–581–7458.
additional public access and recreation part 46). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
features at two of the Phase 2 pond Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor, via U.S.
clusters. The preferred alternative is Jody Holzworth, mail at Oklahoma Ecological Services
described in Chapter 6 of the Final EIS/ Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
EIR. A summary is provided below. Region. Service, 9014 E. 21st St., Tulsa, OK
Preferred Alternative: The preferred [FR Doc. 2018–22763 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am] 74129; or via phone at 918–581–7458.
alternative at each pond cluster is as BILLING CODE 4333–15–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
• At the Island Ponds it is Alternative announce the availability of several
Island B, with one restoration DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR documents related to an incidental take
component of Alternative Island C permit (ITP) application under the
Fish and Wildlife Service
included, which is to widen only the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
westernmost of the two existing amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
[Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2017–0105;
breaches on the south side of Pond A19. FXES11140200000–190–FF02ENEH00] The final EIS was developed in
• At the Mountain View Ponds it is compliance with the agency decision-
essentially Alternative Mountain View Final Environmental Impact Statement making requirements of the National
B, with the substitution of one habitat on American Electric Power’s Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
enhancement (do not include American Burying Beetle Habitat U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and is based on the
Charleston Slough in tidal marsh Conservation Plan in Arkansas, habitat conservation plan (HCP) as
restoration but do construct a habitat Oklahoma, and Texas submitted by American Electric Power
transition zone across the entire (applicant). We described, fully
southern extent of Pond A1, but only AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, evaluated, and analyzed all three
across central portion of A2W) and the Interior. alternatives in detail in our 2018 final
addition of one public access ACTION: Notice of availability. EIS.
component drawn from Mountain View Our proposed action is to issue an ITP
C (add recreational trail on eastern levee SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and to the applicant under section
of Pond A2W to the northeast corner of Wildlife Service, under the National 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA that authorizes
Pond A2W). There is also a modification Environmental Policy Act, make incidental take of the American burying
of one of the flood protection features available the final environmental impact beetle (Nicrophorus americanus; ABB)
presented in the two action alternatives statement analyzing the impacts of from the applicant’s maintenance,
(raise the Coast Casey Forebay levee issuance of an incidental take permit operation, and expansion of its
along southern border of Charleston (ITP) for implementation of American electrical facilities in Oklahoma,
Slough and maintain necessary access to Electric Power’s American Burying Arkansas, and Texas. American Electric
existing utilities adjacent to that levee). Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan in Power is one of the largest electric
• At the A8 Ponds it is Alternative A8 Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas (HCP). utilities in the country, with an electric
B, except that the top elevation of the Our decision is to issue a 30-year ITP for system that includes transmission lines,
proposed transition zones has been implementation of the HCP, which substations, switching stations, and a
increased to provide greater erosion authorizes incidental take of the distribution network. American Electric
protection. American burying beetle under the Power’s ability to serve its customers
• At the Ravenswood Ponds it is Endangered Species Act. depends on the timely installation,
similar to Alternative Ravenswood B, in DATES: We will finalize a record of operation, and maintenance of its
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1
its restoration goals and features for decision and issue a permit no sooner electric facilities. The plan area for the
Ponds R3, R4, R5, and S5, but it also than November 19, 2018. HCP includes areas where authorized
includes an additional habitat transition ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of incidental take would occur and
zone and a trail on the eastern edge of the documents in the following formats: conservation measures would take
Ponds R5 and S5, all of which were • Electronic: place, a total of almost 32 million acres.
included in Alternatives Ravenswood C Æ http://www.regulations.gov, in The applicant requested a term of 30
and D. Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2017–0105. years from the date of ITP issuance. The
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Document Created: 2018-10-19 01:25:19
Document Modified: 2018-10-19 01:25:19
| 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 availability; record of decision. | |
| Contact | Chris Barr, Deputy Project Leader, 510-792-0222 (phone), or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 53075 |
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