Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement adn Final, Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan for Incidental Take by the Salt River Project.

The Salt River Project (SRP) has submitted an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) for the following federally listed and candidate species: southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus, flycatcher), Yuma clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis, clapper rail), bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), and the yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus, cuckoo). The proposed take would occur in Gila and Maricopa counties, Arizona, as a result of management actions allowing Roosevelt Lake to fill, causing inundation of occupied habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has issued a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates the impacts of and alternatives for the possible issuance of an incidental take permit (ITP). SRP completed the final Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) as part of the application package submitted to the Service as required by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act) for consideration of issuance of an ITP. The RHCP provides measures to minimize and mitigate the effects of the proposed taking of listed and candidate species and the habitats upon which they depend. The final EIS includes (in attached volume 3) all comments received on the draft EIS, and responses to those comments. No decision will be made on the proposed action until at least 30 days after publication of this notice of availability of the final EIS in the Federal Register. After the 30-day waiting period, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will complete a Record of Decision (ROD) that states whether the action will be implemented and discusses all factors leading to the decision.