Fish and Wildlife Service Announces Availability of a Draft EIS/EIR for the California Department of Fish and Game’s Fish Hatchery and Stocking Program
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing the availability of the draft environmental impact report/environmental impact statement (EIR/EIS) for the California Department of Fish and Game’s Fish Hatchery and Stocking Program.Under the Sport Fish Restoration Act, FWS proposes to fund actions associated with the operation of CDFG’s 14 trout hatcheries and the Mad River Hatchery for the anadromous steelhead, and stocking from the 15 hatcheries.
Four alternatives were developed for detailed analysis in the draft EIS/EIR.
·Under the Preferred Alternative, the Fish and Wildlife Service would continue to provide funding, as modified by mitigation provisions for the trout hatcheries and Mad River hatchery.
·Under the Continuation of Interim Program Provisions Alternative, the Service would continue to provide funding for operations of the 14 trout hatcheries and the Mad River Hatchery for steelhead, and associated stocking of fish produced at those hatcheries, consistent with the court-ordered prohibitions and exceptions on fish stocking that were put into place for the interim period between the date of the court order and completion of the EIR/EIS.
·The Continuation of Existing Program Alternative (consistent with the CEQA No Project Alternative) is the continuation of Sport Fish Restoration Act funding for the existing Fish Hatchery and Stocking Program.The hatcheries’ operation and stocking activities undertaken by CDFG over the past five years would continue unchanged.
·Under the No Action Alternative, the Service would not approve SFRA grant funds to be used by CDFG to support actions associated with operations of the CDFG Fish Hatchery and Stocking Program.
We will hold four public meetings to solicit comments:
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Sacramento, CA
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Elks Lodge, Riverside Hall
6446 Riverside Blvd.
Monday, Oct. 26: Redding, CA
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Shasta Builders Exchange Training Facility, Shasta Room
2985 Innsbruck Dr.
Wednesday, Oct. 28: Bakersfield, CA
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Doubletree Hotel, California Grill Room
3100 Camino Del Rio Court
Thursday, Oct. 29: Carson, CA
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Carson Community Center, Main Hall
3 Civic Plaza Drive
We invite and encourage anyone to review the draft EIR/EIS and submit written comments regarding alternatives addressed in the document. We must receive written comments by November 30. Mail comments to Mr. Bart Prose, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1729, Sacramento, CA95825; via e-mail to bart_prose@fws.gov; or via fax to (916) 978-6155.Copies of the draft EIR/EIS can be downloaded from the CDFG Web site at http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/pubnotice/hatchery/.
Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in comments, please 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 your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.We will use the comments to prepare a final EIR/EIS.A decision will be made no sooner than 30 days after the publication of the final EIR/EIS.We anticipate that a Record of Decision will be issued by FWS in 2010.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
