LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is seeking public comment on a draft environmental assessment (draft EA) for the State of Utah’s proposal to dispose of a 1.45-acre parcel on the Millville Face Wildlife Management Area in Cache County, Utah, in a trade to acquire a 40-acre interior parcel to the Hardware Ranch Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Cache County, Utah. The 1.45-acre propertywas acquired in-part with Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (PR) funds. Public comments are welcome for a 15-day period which ends July 31, 2015.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) acquired the Millville Face Big Game Management Area in 1972 to enhance big game winter range. The parcel proposed for disposal is a small piece of the Millville Face WMA that spans the Blacksmith Fork River. The 1.45-acre parcel was fenced out of the larger WMA due to topographic constraints. Since that time, private homes have been built up to the edge of the parcel. The parcel is surrounded on the southwest and north by private property where there is no public access, and is bounded on the remaining sides to the southeast and northeast by a deer fence and the larger area of the Millville Face WMA. UDWR has determined that disposal of the 1.45-acre property would have little to no impact on public recreation or on UDWR’s management of the remainder of the Millville Face WMA because the property is outside the deer fence and has not been actively managed since the fence was installed. UDWR has determined that the public interests and wildlife values would be unaffected by the disposal of this parcel and the loss of federal interest in the property. If relinquishing this parcel is used to acquire the Hardware Ranch 40-acre parcel via exchange, the federal interest will be transferred to that property.
The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act regulations require the UDWR to request Service approval prior to the disposition or exchange of real property purchased with grant funds. The Service’s decision to approve or disapprove the proposed exchange constitutes a federal action subject to the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and requires the Service to prepare a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze the effects of the proposed action. We have prepared this draft EA and are providing it for public review and comment pursuant to NEPA requirements.
Copies of the draft EA are available online by clicking on the title of the document at: http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/federalassistance/nepa . Those without internet access may request copies by calling the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program at 303-236-8165. Comments will be accepted until July 31, 2015 and should be sent to: Chief, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver, Colorado 80225.
