Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of Comment Period for Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit for Ranching and Related Activities on El Coronado Ranch (PRT-837858), Cochise County, Arizona

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Reopening of

Comment Period for Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit

for Ranching and Related Activities on El Coronado Ranch (PRT-837858),

Cochise County, Arizona

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice: reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides notice

that the public comment period is reopened for an application for an

incidental take permit under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered

Species Act. The El Coronado Ranch (Applicant) has also requested

unlisted-species provisions in an Implementing Agreement to cover a

species of concern found in the planning area. The Applicant has been

assigned permit number PRT-837858. The requested permit, which is for a

period of 25 years, would authorize incidental take of the endangered

Yaqui chub (Gila purpurea) and the threatened Yaqui catfish (Ictalurus

pricei). The unlisted species provision covers the issuance of permits

for the incidental take of the Yaqui form of longfin dace (Agosia

chrysogaster), a species not presently listed under the Act, but which

might become listed during the term of the proposed permit. The

proposed take is on the 1,920 acres of private land and would occur

from ranching and related activities on the El Coronado Ranch, Cochise

County, Arizona.

The Service has prepared the Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the incidental take application. A

public comment period on the EA/HCP was open from January 5, 1998,

through February 4, 1998. However, the Service determines that there is

significant public interest in this proposed action, and finds good

cause to reopen the comment period for 15 days following the date of

this publication. Thus, a determination of whether jeopardy to the

species is likely to occur, or a Finding of No Significant Impact

(FONSI), will not be made before 15 days from the date of publication

of this notice. This notice is provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of

the Act and National Environmental Policy Act regulations (40 CFR

1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the application should be received on or

before March 25, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy

by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Persons wishing to review

the EA/HCP may obtain a copy by contacting Doug Duncan, Tucson

Suboffice, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 300 West Congress,

Room 4D, Tucson, Arizona 85701 (520-670-4860), or Angie Brooks, Arizona

Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103,

Phoenix, Arizona 85021, (602-640-2720; Fax 602-640-2730). Documents

will be available for public inspection by written request, by

appointment only, during normal business hours (7:30 to 4:30), at the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Tucson or Phoenix offices listed above.

Written data or comments concerning the application and EA/HCP should

be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office,

Phoenix, Arizona (see address above). Please refer to permit number

PRT-837858 when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan at the above Tucson

Suboffice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act prohibits the

``taking'' of threatened and endangered species such as the Yaqui

catfish and Yaqui Chub. However, the Service, under limited

circumstances, may issue permits to take threatened or endangered

wildlife species when such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose

of, otherwise lawful activities. Regulations governing permits for

endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.

The EA considers the environmental consequences of two

alternatives, including the proposed action. Three other alternatives

were explored, but were rejected as unworkable. The proposed action

alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit and

implementation of the HCP as submitted by the Applicant. The other

alternative is to take no action. The HCP provides for a strategy to

conserve the listed and unlisted species and to restore watershed

health in the West Turkey Creek drainage. The HCP is designed to

provide a net benefit to the species. The HCP has stipulations for

monitoring of species populations and habitats and functioning of the

HCP. The HCP also provides for funding the mitigation measures and

monitoring.

Applicant

El Coronado Ranch plans to pursue ranching and related activities

on 1.920 acres of private land and 13,284 acres of leased grazing

allotments. The anticipated incidental take will occur on ponds,

ditches, and associated structures on private land. El Coronado Ranch

is located in the West Turkey Creek watershed of the Chiricahua

Mountains, Cochise County, Arizona.

Dated: February 23, 1998.

Renne Lohoefener,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 98-5824 Filed 3-9-98; 8:45 am]

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