April 3, 2013
PUBLIC NOTICE
Finding of No Significant Impact for the Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Richardson Flat Tailings Site, Park City, Utah
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) prepared a Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) for the Richardson Flat Tailings Site, Park City, Utah. The RP/EA was prepared as part of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration settlement between United Park City Mines, as the Responsible Party, and the Service, on behalf of the Department of the Interior, as the applicable Natural Resource Trustee. We issued a scoping notice for public comment on November 6, 2012, and issued a draft RP/EA for 30-day public review on the web at http://www.fws.gov/utahfieldoffice/ and http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/. We issued a final RP/EA on February 8, 2013. The final RP/EA responds to the public comments we received on the draft. The final RP/EA is available by request from the Utah Ecological Services Field Office by contacting Larry Crist, Utah Ecological Service Field Supervisor, by phone or fax at the numbers provided below.
As determined by the RP/EA, we determined no additional response and restoration activities to be necessary at Richardson Flat Tailings Site – Operable Unit 1in Park City, Utah, to restore, rehabilitate, replace, and/or acquire the equivalent of natural resource injured from releases of hazardous substances. The No Action proposal was selected over other considered alternatives because a habitat equivalency analysis conducted by the Service for the site determined that no additional restoration projects are necessary to restore the site to either baseline trust natural resource conditions or to compensate further for lost trust natural resource uses and services. We anticipate that on-site resources will recover over time through enhanced habitat availability due to restoration projects already completed by the Responsible Party and through natural attenuation of residual environmental contamination. Implementation of our proposal will have no significant environmental, social, and economic impacts since it is the No Action alternative.
We would like to know what you think about the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI is available for public review and comment. All comments received within 30 days following April 4, 2013, the date of this notice, will be considered.
The RP/EA can be reviewed by clicking the hyperlink above or by contacting the Utah Ecological Services Field Office at 801-975-3330. Comments on the FONSI may be sent to Larry Crist by mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2369 W. Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 84119, or by fax to 801-975-3331.
February 12, 2013
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Utah Field Office Announces 2013 Threatened and Endangered Speices Training Opportunities
In coordination with the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, we will be offering four threatened and endangered species survey trainings this year. These trainings are mandatory for those who plan to conduct surveys in Utah in 2013 for listed plant species, Mexican spotted owls, Utah prairie dogs, or southwestern willow flycatchers. We may receive more requests to enroll in the training courses than can be accommodated in the classroom and in the field. If this is the case, we will consider a number of factors in approving applicants to attend, including: 1) if you have previously completed similar training; 2) if you are enrolled in a survey course in another State; and 3) your survey plans for the species in Utah. Please visit the Surveyor Information web page for more information.
October 26, 2012
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Provides Notice of Availability for Richardson Flat Tailings Site Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared a Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment (RP/EA) for the Richardson Flat Tailings Site, Park City, Utah. The RP/EA was prepared as part of a Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) settlement between United Park City Mines, as the Responsible Party, and the Service, on behalf of the Department of the Interior (DOI), as the applicable Natural Resource Trustee.
The RP/EA combines the elements of a restoration plan and integrates National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment requirements by describing the affected environment, describing the purpose and need for action, identifying alternative actions, assessing their applicability and environmental consequences and summarizing opportunities for public participation.
United Park City Mines Company (United Park) is the owner of the Richardson Flat Tailings Site (Site) located near Park City, Utah. United Park has completed certain activities to restore natural resources that may have been injured as a result of the discharge of hazardous substances at or from the Site. United Park undertook the restoration activities simultaneous with other activities approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to remove and remediate hazardous materials at the Site.
The DOI is now considering whether natural resource restoration required by NRDAR has been met, or whether additional restoration is necessary to supplement previously completed restoration projects.
The Service would like to know what you think about the restoration plan. The RP/EA is available for public review and comment. All comments received within 30 days following November 6, 2012, the date of this notice, will be considered in finalizing the RP/EA.
The RP/EA can be reviewed by clicking the hyperlink above or by contacting the Utah Ecological Services Field Office at 801-975-3330. Comments may be sent to Larry Crist, Utah Ecological Services Field Supervisor by mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2369 W. Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 84119, or by fax to 801-975-3331.
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 http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/. Connect with our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/USFWSMountainPrairie, follow our tweets at http://twitter.com/USFWSMtnPrairie, watch our YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwsmtnprairie/
August 31, 2011
Utah Field Office's Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical Inventories and Monitoring of Federally Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Plants
In addition to offering training focused on rare plants in the Uinta Basin, our office developed Guidelines for Conducting and Reporting Botanical Inventories and Monitoring of Federally Listed, Proposed, and Candidate Plants. These guidelines were developed to provide you with up-front guidance regarding our minimum standards for botanical surveys of sensitive (federally listed, proposed and candidate) plant species throughout the state of Utah. The guidelines are available by clicking the hyperlink above.
These guidelines are intended to strengthen the quality of information we use in assessing the status, trends, and vulnerability of target plant species to a wide array of factors and known threats. We hope that you will find these guidelines helpful in the planning and implementation of botanical inventory and monitoring work evaluating federally listed, proposed, and candidate plant species throughout the state of Utah.
