Mussel Propagation and Restoration

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This is a Notice of Intent to award in accordance with 505 DM 2, 2.14 B (4) a Cooperative Agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) for the purpose of continuing mussel propagation and restoration activities within the Powell River watershed. These activities are being carried out as required by the consent decree that was entered with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia on March 5, 2001, to address natural resource damages resulting from a 1996 coal-slurry spill. The mussel propagation and restoration activities are described within the publicly reviewed Restoration Plan/Environmental Assessment for the Lone Mountain Processing, Inc. Coal Slurry Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (Plan). The Plan specifically identifies the VDGIF mussel propagation facility to implement the restoration, as they are uniquely qualified to accomplish mussel restoration tasks and have years of experience and knowledge of the Powell River mussel fauna assemblage. The activities funded via the cooperative agreement are a continuation of ongoing freshwater mussel propagation work initiated in 2004 and scheduled to continue until approximately 2014, as described in the cooperative agreement. This Single Source Award is being made in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B(4), which allows for award without competition to an applicant who is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based on, technical expertise. Substantial involvement on the part of the USFWS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded. In particular, the USFWS will be responsible for the distribution of the Powell River mussel fauna assemblage information. In accordance with 505 DM 2.9 B the Service will be substantially involved.

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