The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is proposing to adopt the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE) for intermediate endangered species habitat improvement by vegetation removal in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska Segments of the Missouri River? and issue a "Finding of No Significant Impact? (FONSI). The public comment on this proposal will close on February 2, 2007.
The Yankton Sioux Tribe (YST) proposes to restore nesting, brood-rearing, and foraging habitats for the federally endangered least tern (Sterna antillarum) and the threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus). These habitats, collectively referred to as emergent sandbar habitat (ESH), are proposed to be restored at a three-complex at Missouri River mile 866. The YST proposes to clear and burn vegetation on these islands, resulting in the restoration of 40.8 acres of ESH. The project is entitled: "Riverine Endangered Species Habitat Development? and is a part of the Final EA by the USCOE. This action is required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposal is funded in-part through the Services? Tribal Wildlife Grants Program and the YST.
The Service reviewed the Final EA accessing the environmental and social factors relevant to the proposed project. These include, but are not necessarily limited to, threatened and endangered species, vegetation, air quality, water quality, wetlands, fisheries, wildlife, prime farmland, flood plains, and cultural resources. Adverse effects of this proposal include a slight, temporary increase in noise, suspended solids and fugitive dust during the vegetation clearing. There will also be a loss of other sandbar organisms. The proposed project will have no adverse impact to threatened and endangered species or cultural resources. The review process determined the actions of vegetation removal will have no significant adverse impacts on the environment and the project is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.
The Final EA will be available for review for 15 days at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office, 134 Union Boulevard, Suite 440, Lakewood, Colorado 80225. The Final EA may be reviewed online at:
Visit the Mountain Prairie website at: http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov
