Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Establishment of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area in Western Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

for the Establishment of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Habitat

Preservation Area in Western Minnesota and Northwestern Iowa

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared a

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which is available for

public review. The DEIS evaluates the establishment of a Northern

Tallgrass Prairie Habitat Preservation Area as a means of working with

individuals, groups, and governmental entities to permanently preserve

remnant tracts of northern tallgrass prairie. Three alternatives,

including a No Action alternative are being considered. The action

alternatives are aimed at permanently protecting and enhancing prairie

remnants.

The Service's preferred alternative (Alternative B) is to

permanently protect and enhance prairie remnants through partnerships,

incentives, education, and cooperative agreements. Any conservation

easements, or acquisition of full title would be done by the Service

and Service Partners. Service acquisition of easements and fee interest

in lands would be on a voluntary basis from willing sellers.

DATES: Public comment on the DEIS is solicited pursuant to National

Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1503.1). All agencies and

individuals are urged to provide comments and suggestions for improving

the DEIS. The formal comment period extends for a 60-day period from

the date of distribution of the DEIS. All comments received by November

6, 1997, will be considered in preparation of the Final EIS. Formal

comments will be received at any time during this 60-day period in

person, by mail, or at the open house (specific locations and times are

listed under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION).

WRITTEN COMMENTS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: Jane West, Project Manager,

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BHW Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive,

Fort Snelling, MN 551121-4056.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jane West at the address listed above or by telephone at 612/725-3306.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: America's native grasslands are a vanishing

ecosystem, and mounting evidence indicates that many species are

disappearing as fast as the prairie habitats on which they depend. Few

other ecosystem types have experienced as great a degree of loss and

alteration. In Minnesota and Iowa, the native northern tallgrass

prairie has declined to less than 1 percent of its original 25 million

acres (10.1 million hectares).

Through an integrated ecosystem approach, the Service, with its

partners, proposes to protect and restore fish and wildlife habitats

through holistic management strategies using a wide variety of tools,

and techniques. The Service proposes to participate in public and

private partnerships at many levels, complementing other prairie

projects such as those of the Iowa County Conservation Boards, Iowa and

Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources, the Nature Conservancy, and

others.

The Service will hold 10 open houses from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the

following locations and dates: (1) Nobles County

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Courthouse, Worthington, MN (9/29/97), (2) Stub's Ranch Kitchen,

Spencer, IA (9/30/97), (3) Loess Ridge Nature Center, Sioux City, IA

(10/1/97), (4) Storey County Conservation Board--McFarland Park, Ames,

IA (10/2/97), (5) Lime Creek Nature Center, Mason City, IA (10/3/97),

(6) Northland Community & Technical College, Thief River Falls, MN (10/

6/97), (7) Barnesville High School, Barnesville, MN (10/7/97), (8)

Morris Wetland Management District, Morris, MN (10/8/97), (9) Lyon

County Courthouse, Marshall, MN (10/9/97), and (10) MN Department of

Natural Revenues, New Ulm, MN (10/10/97).

Dated: September 7, 1997.

John Christian,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 97-23678 Filed 9-5-97; 8:45 am]

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