Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan for the Counties of Yuba and Sutter, CA; Scoping for Environmental Impact Statement, 74107-74111 [2014-29255]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 2014 / Notices
Number of
respondents
Information collection
Frequency
of
response
Responses
per annum
Burden
minutes
per
response
Total burden
hours
Annual
burden
hours
Hourly
cost per
response
Annual
cost
Loan origination and performance
data: Lenders ...............................
Service tracking information: Housing counseling agencies ...............
Tracking Letter .................................
3
6
2
60
18
6
35
630
3,450
6,000
2
9
1
3
10
5
1,150
4,500
1,150
1,500
25
5
28,750
270,000
Total ..........................................
18,117
21
10
..................
9,666
6,654
..................
521,830
B. Solicitation of Public Comment
This notice is soliciting comments
from members of the public and affected
parties concerning the collection of
information described in Section A on
the following:
(1) Whether the proposed collection
of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) The accuracy of the agency’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information;
(3) Ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(4) Ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond; including through
the use of appropriate automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
HUD encourages interested parties to
submit comment in response to these
questions.
C. Authority: Section 3507 of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.
Chapter 35.
Date: December 9, 2014
Colette Pollard,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014–29308 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5800–FA–07]
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Announcement of Funding Awards
HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program
Fiscal Year (FY) 2014
Office of the Acting Assistant
Secretary for Public and Indian
Housing, HUD
ACTION: Announcement of funding
awards.
AGENCY:
In accordance with Section
102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development
SUMMARY:
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Reform Act of 1989, this announcement
notifies the public of funding decisions
made by the Department in a
competition for funding under the FY
2014 Notice of Funding Availability
(NOFA) for the HOPE VI Main Street
Program. This announcement contains
the name and address of the award
recipient under said NOFA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
questions concerning the HOPE VI Main
Street Program awards, contact
Lawrence Gnessin, HOPE VI Main Street
Program Manager, Office of Public and
Indian Housing, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SW., Washington, DC 20410, email
lawrence.gnessin@hud.gov, and
telephone (202) 402–2676. Hearing or
speech-impaired individuals may access
this number via TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Information Relay Service
at (800) 877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
purpose of the HOPE VI Main Street
program is to provide grants to small
communities to assist in the
rejuvenation of an historic or traditional
central business district or ‘‘Main
Street’’ area by replacing unused
commercial space in buildings with
affordable housing units. The objectives
of the program are to redevelop Main
Street areas; preserve historic or
traditional architecture or design
features in Main Street areas; enhance
economic development efforts in Main
Street areas; and provide affordable
housing in Main Street areas.
The FY 2014 award announced in this
Notice was selected for funding in a
NOFA competition posted on the https://
www.grants.gov Web site on July 4,
2014. Applicants to this Notice were
eligible for awards in FY 2014, but HUD
reserved the right to award one FY 2015
grant to applicants from this FY 2014
NOFA. In addition, HUD intends to
award FY 2015 funds to an FY 2014
applicant if funding becomes available.
That process will be announced
separately.
The amount allotted to fund the
HOPE VI Main Street grant were from
appropriations for Section 24 of the
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Housing Act of 1937, as amended. The
amount allotted for FY2014 was
$500,000. The HOPE VI Main Street
grantee information is as follows:
Town of Kit Carson
301 Main Street
Kit Carson, CO 80825–0375
In accordance with Section 102
(a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing
and Urban Development Reform Act of
1989 (103 Stat.1987, 42 U.S.C. 3545),
the Department is publishing the name,
address, and amount of the award made
under FY 2014 HOPE VI Main Street
NOFA.
Dated: December 5, 2014.
Jemine Bryon,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and
Indian Housing.
[FR Doc. 2014–29309 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2014–N209; FF08ESMF00–
FXES11120800000F2–145]
Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan/
Natural Community Conservation Plan
for the Counties of Yuba and Sutter,
CA; Scoping for Environmental Impact
Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public
scoping meeting; request for comments.
AGENCY:
Under the National
Environmental Policy Act, we, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, intend to
prepare a draft environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the proposed habitat
conservation plan/natural community
conservation plan for the Counties of
Yuba and Sutter, hereafter referred to as
the Yuba-Sutter Regional Conservation
Plan (YSRCP). The YSRCP would
provide a regional approach for the
long-term conservation of covered
species plan area, while allowing for
compatible future land use and
development under county and city
SUMMARY:
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general plan updates and the regional
transportation plans. The draft EIS is
being prepared under the Federal
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, and the California Natural
Community Conservation Planning Act.
We announce meetings and invite
comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by January
29, 2015. The public scoping meeting is
on Tuesday, January 6th, from 3–5 and
6–8, at the Yuba County Government
Center, Wheatland room, 915 8th St,
Marysville, CA 95901.
ADDRESSES: To request further
information or submit written
comments, please use one of the
following methods, and note that your
information request or comment is in
reference to the Yuba-Sutter Regional
Conservation Plan:
• U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife
Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W–
2605, Sacramento, CA 95825.
• In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or
Pickup: Call (916) 414–6600 to make an
appointment during regular business
hours to drop off comments or view
received comments at the above
location.
• Fax: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
(916) 414–6713, Attn.: Ellen McBride.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen McBride, Senior Biologist, or Mike
Thomas, Chief Conservation Planning
Division, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife
Office, by phone at (916) 414–6600 or by
U.S. mail at the above address. If you
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf, please call the Federal Information
Relay Service at (800) 877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), intend to prepare a
draft environmental impact statement
(EIS) to evaluate the impacts of several
alternatives related to the potential
issuance of an incidental take permit
(ITP), as well as impacts of the
implementation of the supporting
proposed habitat conservation plan/
natural community conservation plan,
which we will refer to as the YubaSutter Regional Conservation Plan
(YSRCP). The EIS will be a joint EIS/
environmental impact report (EIS/EIR),
for which the Service, Yuba and Sutter
Counties, and the California Department
of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) intend to
gather information necessary for
preparation.
The YSRCP is designed to be a
comprehensive regional plan that will
provide long-term conservation and
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management of natural communities,
sensitive species, and the habitats upon
which those species depend, while
accommodating other important uses of
the land. It is intended to serve as a
habitat conservation plan pursuant to
the Federal Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), and as a natural community
conservation plan under the California
Natural Community Conservation
Planning Act.
The YSRCP will address State and
Federal endangered species compliance
requirements for the Counties of Yuba
and Sutter (Counties); the Cities of
Wheatland, Yuba City, and Live Oak;
and the YSRCP implementing entity
that will be established to implement
the YSRCP (permit applicants) for
activities and projects in the YSRCP
plan area that they conduct or approve.
The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), while not
directly a permit applicant because of
limited discretionary authority over
projects, may participate in the YSRCP
by contributing conservation lands to
the overall conservation strategy
established by the YSRCP. The plan area
generally includes the Counties of
Sutter and Yuba; however, the plan area
does not include the Sutter Buttes,
portions of Southern Sutter County
within the Natomas Basin HCP, portions
of Eastern Yuba County that are
dominated by oak woodlands, and the
City of Marysville. The permit
applicants are currently preparing a
complete draft of the YSRCP as an HCP/
NCCP and the permitting agencies
(Service and CDFW) are assisting and
will be proceeding with agency review
and finalization in the coming months.
The permit applicants intend to apply
for a 50-year incidental take permit
(ITP) from the Service. The permittees
are seeking authorized incidental take of
threatened and endangered species that
could result from activities covered
under the YSRCP. We announce
meetings and invite comments.
The Service will serve as the
administrative lead for all actions
related to this Federal Register notice
for the EIS component of the EIS/EIR.
Sutter County will serve as the State
lead agency under the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for
the EIR component. Sutter County, in
accordance with CEQA, is publishing a
similar notice.
Project Summary
In 2001, Caltrans began the planning
process for improvements to State
Routes 70 and 99 in Yuba and Sutter
Counties. Early environmental review
indicated that the roadway
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improvement projects would affect
federally listed species and would lead
to additional cumulative effects,
because the roadway improvements
would prompt additional urban
development within these corridors. In
order to ensure compliance with the
Act, the Service recommended
preparation of an HCP, to which the
Counties and Caltrans agreed. The
parties agreed to interim planning
guidelines during preparation of the
HCP, which allowed the Service to issue
a biological opinion to allow the
roadway projects to proceed. The
Counties, Service, CDFW, and Caltrans
formed a working group in accordance
with the provisions of the biological
opinion. The working group evaluated
conservation planning approaches, and
the Counties pursued grant funding. The
working group agreed to address the
California Endangered Species Act
(CESA), as well as the federal Act, by
preparing a combined HCP/NCCP. Work
on the YSRCP began in 2004 and
resulted in delineation of the plan area
boundaries, determination of the
covered species, and identification of
the permit applicants. Development of
the YSRCP is still in progress. In 2012,
the the permit applicants, CDFG, and
the Service entered into the YSRCP
Planning Agreement. The planning
agreement set out the initial scope of the
program and defined the roles and
responsibilities of the parties in the
development of the YSRCP. The
planning agreement has helped guide
the YSRCP planning process and to
define the initial scope of the effort.
Sutter County served as the lead in
coordination of the process and
preparation of the YSRCP.
The YSRCP’s conservation strategy
proposes to provide a regional approach
for the long-term conservation of
covered species (see Covered Species)
and natural communities within the
YSRCP plan area, while allowing for
compatible future land use and
development under county and city
general plan updates and the regional
transportation plans. The YSRCP
identifies and addresses the covered
activities that would be carried out by
the permittees that could result in take
of covered species within the YSRCP
plan area. The proposed YSRCP is
intended to be consistent with and
support compliance with other Federal
and State wildlife-related laws and
regulations, other local conservation
planning efforts, and county and city
general plans.
The YSRCP is being designed to
streamline and coordinate existing
processes for review and permitting of
public and private activities that
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potentially affect protected species. To
meet this goal, the YSRCP sets out a
conservation strategy that includes
measures that are intended to ensure
that impacts on covered species and
their habitat related to covered activities
are avoided, minimized, or mitigated, as
appropriate. These covered activities
encompass the range of existing and
future activities that are associated with
much of the regional economy (see
Covered Activities).
Background
Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of wildlife
species listed as endangered or
threatened. The Act defines the term
‘‘take’’ as: to harass, harm, pursue, hunt,
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
collect listed species, or to attempt to
engage in such conduct (16 U.S.C.
1532). Harm includes significant habitat
modifications or degradation that
actually kills or injures listed wildlife
by significantly impairing essential
behavioral patterns, including breeding,
feeding, and sheltering [50 CFR 17.3(c)].
Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Act, we may issue permits to authorize
‘‘incidental take’’ of listed species.
‘‘Incidental take’’ is defined by the Act
as take that is incidental to, and not the
purpose of, carrying out an otherwise
lawful activity. Service regulations
governing permits for threatened species
and endangered species, respectively,
are promulgated in 50 CFR 17.22 and
17.32.
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act contains
provisions for issuing such ITPs to nonFederal entities for the take of
endangered and threatened species,
provided the following criteria are met:
• The take will be incidental;
• The applicants will, to the
maximum extent practicable, minimize
and mitigate the impact of such taking;
• The applicants will develop a
proposed HCP and ensure that adequate
funding for the plan will be provided;
• The taking will not appreciably
reduce the likelihood of the survival
and recovery of the species in the wild;
and
• The applicants will carry out any
other measures that the Service may
require as being necessary or
appropriate for the purposes of the HCP.
Thus, the purpose of issuing an ITP is
to allow the applicants, under their
respective regional authority, to
authorize development while
conserving the covered species and their
habitat. Implementation of a
multispecies HCP, rather than a speciesby-species or project-by-project
approach, will maximize the benefits of
conservation measures for covered
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species and eliminate expensive and
time-consuming efforts associated with
processing individual ITPs for each
project within the applicants’ proposed
plan area. The Service expects that the
permit applicants will request ITP
coverage for a period of 50 years.
Plan Area
The proposed YSRCP plan area (or
permit area) includes approximately
469,271 acres, including 141,644 acres
in Yuba County and 327,627 acres in
Sutter County. This area includes the
Cities of Wheatland, Yuba City, and
Live Oak, and the spheres of influence
of each jurisdiction. The plan area
excludes the areas listed below:
• The Sutter Buttes, because their
ecological characteristics are distinct
from surrounding areas and because the
Buttes are largely protected from future
development;
• Portions of southern Sutter County
within the Natomas Basin HCP area;
• Portions of eastern Yuba County
dominated by oak woodlands; and
• Marysville, because of lack of
funding and no future growth plans.
The YSRCP plan area is bounded on
the west by Yolo and Colusa Counties,
on the north by Butte County, on the
east by Placer County and portions of
Yuba County outside the Plan Area, and
on the south by Yolo and Sacramento
Counties and by the portion of Sutter
County that is located within the
Natomas Basin HCP Area.
The boundary of the YSRCP plan area
is based on political, ecological, and
hydrologic factors. The geographic
scope focuses on valley bottom lands.
Areas chosen for inclusion were
selected on the basis of their likelihood
to experience future growth; need to
expand and maintain infrastructure;
ability to provide connectivity to
adjacent conservation efforts; and
feasibility of contributing to a plan that
is scientifically defensible, flexible, and
amenable to analysis and
implementation. The plan area is broad
enough to accommodate changes in
jurisdictional boundaries over time,
provided the boundaries do not extend
beyond the boundaries of the plan area
and project impacts do not exceed the
take authorization provided by the final
ITP.
Covered Activities
The proposed section 10 ITP may
allow take of Covered Species resulting
from proposed Covered Activities on
non-Federal land in the YSRCP Plan
Area. The Permit Applicants intend to
request incidental take authorization for
Covered Species that could be affected
by activities identified in the YSRCP.
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The proposed activities within the
YSRCP Plan Area for which ITP
coverage is requested include
construction and maintenance of
facilities and infrastructure, both public
and private, that are consistent with
local general plans and local, State, and
Federal laws. The following list is not
intended to be exhaustive; rather, it
provides an overview of the types of
activities that would be expected to
occur. Covered Activities fall into nine
general categories, which are further
described below:
1. Residential, commercial, industrial,
and commercial agricultural facilities;
2. Recreational facilities;
3. Transportation facilities;
4. Public and private utilities;
5. Mining and mineral extraction;
6. Groundwater supply and delivery
facilities;
7. Flood control maintenance and
other stream-related facilities;
8. Wastewater and waste management
facilities; and
9. Monitoring and management
activities within the YSRCP reserves.
These categories were created to help
organize Covered Activities into
groupings that would have similar
impacts on Covered Species. Covered
Activities, which would normally be
implemented or carried out in
accordance with all other Federal, State,
and local laws and regulations, are
described in greater detail below. In
addition to the description of Covered
Activities below, the YSRP also contains
a list of specific projects that are
currently proposed and that would be
covered by the Plan.
1. Residential, Commercial, Industrial,
and Agricultural Facilities
This category includes construction,
operation, maintenance, and use of
residential, commercial, industrial, and
agricultural facilities within the Plan
Area. This category is intended to be as
inclusive as possible, to accommodate
both urban growth and public
infrastructure projects; it includes the
construction, operation, maintenance,
and use of typical public and private
urban and rural facilities. This category
also includes the construction,
maintenance, and use of urban and rural
facilities, including residential,
commercial, industrial, and other types
of urban development and
infrastructure; rural residential
development and infrastructure;
agricultural structures, warehouses, and
processing facilities; and public service
and community serving and cultural
facilities, including fire and police
stations, community and convention
centers, recreation centers, and similar
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facilities. Vegetation management and
control and fuel management activities
would also be included.
2. Recreational Facilities
This category includes construction,
operation, maintenance, and use of
recreational facilities in the Plan Area.
This category is intended to be as
inclusive as possible, to accommodate
both urban growth and public
infrastructure projects, and includes but
is not limited to the construction,
maintenance, and use of urban and rural
facilities, including large recreational
facilities such as golf courses, parks, and
ball fields; recreational facilities
maintenance; and improvements to and
expansion of existing parks and bicycle
and pedestrian trails. Trail maintenance
activities, including vegetation
management activities, and minor
remediation projects within recreational
facilities, are also proposed for
inclusion.
3. Transportation Facilities
This category includes construction of
transportation facilities in the Plan
Area, including construction, operation,
and maintenance of State highways,
including addition of new lanes and offramps; paved and unpaved roads,
bridges, culverts, and transit facilities;
new construction and improvements,
including road widening, bridges,
intersection level-of-service
improvements, grade separations, and
sound wall installation; and road repair
and rehabilitation, including
construction of retaining walls to
stabilize adjacent embankments. This
category also includes channel
modifications incidental to streambank
stabilization and road restoration and
vegetation management.
4. Public and Private Utilities
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This category includes construction,
operation and maintenance, and use of
public and private utilities in the Plan
Area, including transmission lines,
telecommunication lines,
telecommunication towers, and gas
lines; vegetation management activities;
maintenance of small utility facilities;
and access and maintenance of
infrastructure facilities.
5. Mining and Mineral Extraction
This category includes mining or
mineral extraction in the Plan Area,
including construction, operation, and
maintenance of operations for mining of
sand, soil, aggregate, and other mineral
resources, and mineral extraction,
including gas wells and gas pipelines.
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6. Groundwater Supply and Delivery
Facilities
This category includes construction of
typical water supply and delivery
facilities in the Plan Area, including
water treatment plants, water supply
pipelines, percolation ponds, and pump
stations; groundwater recharge sites and
associated facilities; maintenance of
water supply facilities; and operation
and maintenance of pump stations,
operations yards, utility yards, and
corporation yards. Surface water
projects will not be covered under the
YSRCP.
7. Flood Control Maintenance and Other
Stream-Related Facilities
This category includes detention
basins and other stream-related facilities
in the Plan Area, including bank and
levee stabilization and bank or levee
improvements, including levee grouting.
This includes the construction,
operation and maintenance, and use of
retention/detention ponds; channel
modifications incidental to streambank
stabilization associated with retention/
detention ponds; bridge construction
and replacement, including vehicular,
train, and pedestrian bridges; culverts;
restoration projects outside the reserve
system; creek-side trail projects; and
levee maintenance.
8. Wastewater and Waste Management
Facilities
This category includes construction,
operation and maintenance, and use of
wastewater and waste management
facilities in the Plan Area, including
typical wastewater and waste
management facilities; stormwater
management facilities, such as storm
sewer systems, nonpoint source
reduction, outfalls, and drainage
improvements; hazardous materials
remediation for, and restoration related
to, abandoned dumps; operation and
maintenance of pump stations,
operations yards, utility yards, and
corporation yards; and sewage treatment
plants, sanitary sewer systems
(including rehabilitation of force mains
and effluent lines, discharge and
reclamation lines, and pump stations),
water recycling, recycling centers,
transfer stations, and landfills.
9. Monitoring and Management
Activities Within the YSRCP Reserves
This includes projects and activities
associated with implementation of the
YSRCP’s conservation strategy, most of
which will take place within the reserve
system assembled by the Plan. This
includes construction and maintenance
of recreational and management and
maintenance and operational facilities
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and infrastructure; vegetation
management; relocation of covered
species from impact sites and within
reserves as necessary; demolition or
removal of structures, roads, or artificial
livestock ponds to increase public safety
or to restore habitat; control of
introduced predators; stream
maintenance for habitat purposes;
surveys and monitoring for mitigation
and restoration/enhancement projects;
travel through reserves by various
means for management or maintenance
purposes; fire management hazardous
materials remediation; repair of existing
facilities damaged by floods or fire; and
operations related to water supply for
reserve management. This category also
includes limited recreational use of
YSRCP reserves and activities related to
habitat enhancement, restoration, and
creation, and species surveys,
monitoring, and research.
Covered Species
Covered Species are those species
addressed in the proposed YSRCP for
which conservation actions will be
implemented and for which the Permit
Applicants will seek incidental take
authorizations for a period of up to 50
years. Proposed Covered Species are
expected to include threatened and
endangered species listed under the Act,
species listed under the CESA, and
currently unlisted species that have the
potential to become listed during the
life of the YSRCP and have some
likelihood to occur within the YSRCP
Plan Area. The YSRCP is currently
expected to address 18 listed and nonlisted wildlife and plant species. The
list of proposed Covered Species may
change as the planning process
progresses; species may be added or
removed as more is learned about the
nature of Covered Activities and their
impact within the YSRCP Plan Area.
The following Federally listed
threatened and endangered wildlife
species are proposed to be covered by
the YSRCP. The threatened vernal pool
fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi),
endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp
(Lepidurus packardi), threatened valley
elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus
californicus dimorphus), and the
threatened giant garter snake
(Thamnophis gigas).
The following unlisted wildlife
species are proposed to be covered by
the YSRCP: western spadefoot toad
(Spea hammondii), western pond turtle
(Actinemys marmorata), Swainson’s
hawk (Buteo swainsoni), western
yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus
americanus occidentalis), bank swallow
(Riparia riparia), California black rail
(Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus),
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greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis
tabida), bald eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus), western burrowing owl
(Athene cunicularia hypugaea), and
tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor).
‘‘Take’’ as defined under the Act does
not apply to listed plant species, and
therefore cannot be authorized under a
section 10 permit. However, the Permit
Applicants propose to include plant
species on the permit in recognition of
the conservation benefits provided for
them under an HCP. For the purposes of
the Plan, certain plant species are
further included to meet regulatory
obligations under section 7 of the Act
and CESA. All species included on an
ITP would receive assurances under the
Service’s ‘‘No Surprises’’ regulations
found in 50 CFRs 17.22(b)(5) and
17.32(b)(5). The following unlisted plant
species are proposed for inclusion in the
YSRCP in recognition of the
conservation benefits provided for them
under the YSRCP and the assurances
permit holders would receive if they are
included on a permit: Bogg’s Lake
hedge-hyssop (Gratiola heterosepala),
Ahart’s dwarf rush (Juncus leiospermus
var. ahartii), dwarf downingia
(Downingia pusilla), and legenere
(Legenere limosa). Bogg’s Lake hedgehyssop is listed as endangered under
CESA.
Environmental Impact Statement
Before deciding whether to issue the
requested Federal ITP, the Service will
prepare a draft EIS in order to analyze
the environmental impacts associated
with issuance of the ITP. In the EIS
component of the EIS/EIR, the Service
will consider the following alternatives:
(1) The proposed action, which includes
the issuance of take authorizations
consistent with the proposed YSRCP
under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act; (2)
no action (no permit issuance); and (3)
a reasonable range of additional
alternatives. The EIS/EIR will include a
detailed analysis of the impacts of the
proposed action and alternatives. The
range of alternatives could include
variations in impacts, conservation,
permit duration, Covered Species,
Covered Activities, Permit Area, or a
combination of these elements.
The EIS/EIR will identify and analyze
potentially significant direct, indirect,
and cumulative impacts of our
authorization of incidental take (permit
issuance) and the implementation of the
proposed YSRCP on biological
resources, land uses, utilities, air
quality, water resources, cultural
resources, socioeconomics and
environmental justice, recreation,
aesthetics, climate change and
greenhouse gases, and other
VerDate Sep<11>2014
02:54 Dec 13, 2014
Jkt 235001
environmental issues that could occur
with implementation of each
alternative. The Service will also
identify measures to avoid or minimize
any significant effects of the proposed
action on the quality of the human
environment.
Following completion of the
environmental review, the Service will
publish a notice of availability and a
request for comment on the Draft EIS/
EIR and the applicants’ permit
application, which will include the
proposed the YSRCP.
Public Comments
We request data, comments, new
information, or suggestions from the
public, other concerned governmental
agencies, the scientific community,
Tribes, industry, or any other interested
party on this notice. We will consider
these comments in developing a Draft
EIS/EIR and in the development of an
HCP and ITP. We particularly seek
comments on the following:
1. Biological information concerning
species in the proposed Plan Area;
2. Relevant data concerning these
species;
3. Additional information concerning
the range, distribution, population size,
and population trends of the species;
4. Current or planned activities in the
subject area and their possible impacts
on the species;
5. The presence of archaeological
sites, buildings and structures, historic
events, sacred and traditional areas, and
other historic preservation concerns,
which are required to be considered in
project planning by the National
Historic Preservation Act; and
6. Identification of any other
environmental issues that should be
considered with regard to the proposed
development and permit action.
You may submit your comments and
materials by one of the methods listed
in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments and materials we receive,
as well as supporting documentation we
use in preparing the EIS/EIR document,
will be available for public inspection
by appointment during normal business
hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m.) at the Service’s Sacramento
address (see ADDRESSES).
Scoping Meetings
See DATES for the date and time of the
scheduled public meeting. The purpose
of the scoping meeting is to provide the
public with a general understanding of
the background of the proposed HCP
and activities it would cover, alternative
proposals under consideration for the
Draft EIS, and the Service’s role and
PO 00000
Frm 00049
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
74111
steps to be taken to develop the Draft
EIS for the proposed HCP/NCCP.
The primary purpose of these
meetings and public comment period is
to solicit suggestions and information
on the scope of issues and alternatives
for the Service to consider when
drafting the EIS. Written comments will
be accepted at the meeting. Comments
can also be submitted by methods listed
in the ADDRESSES section. Once the Draft
EIS and proposed HCP/NCCP are
complete and made available for review,
there will be additional opportunity for
public comment on the content of these
documents through additional public
comment periods.
Meeting Location Accommodations
Persons needing reasonable
accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public meetings
should contact Ellen McBride at (916)
414–6600 as soon as possible. In order
to allow sufficient time to process
requests, please call at least one week
before the public meeting. Information
regarding this proposed action is
available in alternative formats upon
request.
Authority
We publish this notice under the
National Environmental Policy Act (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22), as well as
in compliance with section 10(c) of the
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: November 25, 2014.
Alexandra Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region,
Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2014–29255 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[14XL 1109AF LLUTW01100
L12200000.AL0000 24 1A]
Notice of Closure: Target Shooting
Public Safety Closure on the Lake
Mountains in Utah County, UT
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM), pursuant to its
regulations, is maintaining an existing
closure of approximately 900 acres of
public land on the Lake Mountains in
Utah County, Utah, to the discharge or
use of firearms or dangerous weapons
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\15DEN1.SGM
15DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 240 (Monday, December 15, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74107-74111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29255]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2014-N209; FF08ESMF00-FXES11120800000F2-145]
Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation
Plan for the Counties of Yuba and Sutter, CA; Scoping for Environmental
Impact Statement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public scoping meeting; request for
comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act, we, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, intend to prepare a draft environmental impact
statement (EIS) for the proposed habitat conservation plan/natural
community conservation plan for the Counties of Yuba and Sutter,
hereafter referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Regional Conservation Plan
(YSRCP). The YSRCP would provide a regional approach for the long-term
conservation of covered species plan area, while allowing for
compatible future land use and development under county and city
[[Page 74108]]
general plan updates and the regional transportation plans. The draft
EIS is being prepared under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973,
as amended, and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning
Act. We announce meetings and invite comments.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
January 29, 2015. The public scoping meeting is on Tuesday, January
6th, from 3-5 and 6-8, at the Yuba County Government Center, Wheatland
room, 915 8th St, Marysville, CA 95901.
ADDRESSES: To request further information or submit written comments,
please use one of the following methods, and note that your information
request or comment is in reference to the Yuba-Sutter Regional
Conservation Plan:
U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish
and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-2605, Sacramento, CA
95825.
In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (916) 414-
6600 to make an appointment during regular business hours to drop off
comments or view received comments at the above location.
Fax: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (916) 414-6713,
Attn.: Ellen McBride.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen McBride, Senior Biologist, or
Mike Thomas, Chief Conservation Planning Division, Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office, by phone at (916) 414-6600 or by U.S. mail at the
above address. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf,
please call the Federal Information Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to prepare
a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) to evaluate the impacts of
several alternatives related to the potential issuance of an incidental
take permit (ITP), as well as impacts of the implementation of the
supporting proposed habitat conservation plan/natural community
conservation plan, which we will refer to as the Yuba-Sutter Regional
Conservation Plan (YSRCP). The EIS will be a joint EIS/environmental
impact report (EIS/EIR), for which the Service, Yuba and Sutter
Counties, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
intend to gather information necessary for preparation.
The YSRCP is designed to be a comprehensive regional plan that will
provide long-term conservation and management of natural communities,
sensitive species, and the habitats upon which those species depend,
while accommodating other important uses of the land. It is intended to
serve as a habitat conservation plan pursuant to the Federal Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and as a
natural community conservation plan under the California Natural
Community Conservation Planning Act.
The YSRCP will address State and Federal endangered species
compliance requirements for the Counties of Yuba and Sutter (Counties);
the Cities of Wheatland, Yuba City, and Live Oak; and the YSRCP
implementing entity that will be established to implement the YSRCP
(permit applicants) for activities and projects in the YSRCP plan area
that they conduct or approve. The California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans), while not directly a permit applicant
because of limited discretionary authority over projects, may
participate in the YSRCP by contributing conservation lands to the
overall conservation strategy established by the YSRCP. The plan area
generally includes the Counties of Sutter and Yuba; however, the plan
area does not include the Sutter Buttes, portions of Southern Sutter
County within the Natomas Basin HCP, portions of Eastern Yuba County
that are dominated by oak woodlands, and the City of Marysville. The
permit applicants are currently preparing a complete draft of the YSRCP
as an HCP/NCCP and the permitting agencies (Service and CDFW) are
assisting and will be proceeding with agency review and finalization in
the coming months. The permit applicants intend to apply for a 50-year
incidental take permit (ITP) from the Service. The permittees are
seeking authorized incidental take of threatened and endangered species
that could result from activities covered under the YSRCP. We announce
meetings and invite comments.
The Service will serve as the administrative lead for all actions
related to this Federal Register notice for the EIS component of the
EIS/EIR. Sutter County will serve as the State lead agency under the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the EIR component.
Sutter County, in accordance with CEQA, is publishing a similar notice.
Project Summary
In 2001, Caltrans began the planning process for improvements to
State Routes 70 and 99 in Yuba and Sutter Counties. Early environmental
review indicated that the roadway improvement projects would affect
federally listed species and would lead to additional cumulative
effects, because the roadway improvements would prompt additional urban
development within these corridors. In order to ensure compliance with
the Act, the Service recommended preparation of an HCP, to which the
Counties and Caltrans agreed. The parties agreed to interim planning
guidelines during preparation of the HCP, which allowed the Service to
issue a biological opinion to allow the roadway projects to proceed.
The Counties, Service, CDFW, and Caltrans formed a working group in
accordance with the provisions of the biological opinion. The working
group evaluated conservation planning approaches, and the Counties
pursued grant funding. The working group agreed to address the
California Endangered Species Act (CESA), as well as the federal Act,
by preparing a combined HCP/NCCP. Work on the YSRCP began in 2004 and
resulted in delineation of the plan area boundaries, determination of
the covered species, and identification of the permit applicants.
Development of the YSRCP is still in progress. In 2012, the the permit
applicants, CDFG, and the Service entered into the YSRCP Planning
Agreement. The planning agreement set out the initial scope of the
program and defined the roles and responsibilities of the parties in
the development of the YSRCP. The planning agreement has helped guide
the YSRCP planning process and to define the initial scope of the
effort. Sutter County served as the lead in coordination of the process
and preparation of the YSRCP.
The YSRCP's conservation strategy proposes to provide a regional
approach for the long-term conservation of covered species (see Covered
Species) and natural communities within the YSRCP plan area, while
allowing for compatible future land use and development under county
and city general plan updates and the regional transportation plans.
The YSRCP identifies and addresses the covered activities that would be
carried out by the permittees that could result in take of covered
species within the YSRCP plan area. The proposed YSRCP is intended to
be consistent with and support compliance with other Federal and State
wildlife-related laws and regulations, other local conservation
planning efforts, and county and city general plans.
The YSRCP is being designed to streamline and coordinate existing
processes for review and permitting of public and private activities
that
[[Page 74109]]
potentially affect protected species. To meet this goal, the YSRCP sets
out a conservation strategy that includes measures that are intended to
ensure that impacts on covered species and their habitat related to
covered activities are avoided, minimized, or mitigated, as
appropriate. These covered activities encompass the range of existing
and future activities that are associated with much of the regional
economy (see Covered Activities).
Background
Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits the
``take'' of wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. The
Act defines the term ``take'' as: to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect listed species, or to attempt to
engage in such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532). Harm includes significant
habitat modifications or degradation that actually kills or injures
listed wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral
patterns, including breeding, feeding, and sheltering [50 CFR 17.3(c)].
Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, we may issue permits to
authorize ``incidental take'' of listed species. ``Incidental take'' is
defined by the Act as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose
of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. Service regulations
governing permits for threatened species and endangered species,
respectively, are promulgated in 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32.
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act contains provisions for issuing such
ITPs to non-Federal entities for the take of endangered and threatened
species, provided the following criteria are met:
The take will be incidental;
The applicants will, to the maximum extent practicable,
minimize and mitigate the impact of such taking;
The applicants will develop a proposed HCP and ensure that
adequate funding for the plan will be provided;
The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of
the survival and recovery of the species in the wild; and
The applicants will carry out any other measures that the
Service may require as being necessary or appropriate for the purposes
of the HCP.
Thus, the purpose of issuing an ITP is to allow the applicants,
under their respective regional authority, to authorize development
while conserving the covered species and their habitat. Implementation
of a multispecies HCP, rather than a species-by-species or project-by-
project approach, will maximize the benefits of conservation measures
for covered species and eliminate expensive and time-consuming efforts
associated with processing individual ITPs for each project within the
applicants' proposed plan area. The Service expects that the permit
applicants will request ITP coverage for a period of 50 years.
Plan Area
The proposed YSRCP plan area (or permit area) includes
approximately 469,271 acres, including 141,644 acres in Yuba County and
327,627 acres in Sutter County. This area includes the Cities of
Wheatland, Yuba City, and Live Oak, and the spheres of influence of
each jurisdiction. The plan area excludes the areas listed below:
The Sutter Buttes, because their ecological
characteristics are distinct from surrounding areas and because the
Buttes are largely protected from future development;
Portions of southern Sutter County within the Natomas
Basin HCP area;
Portions of eastern Yuba County dominated by oak
woodlands; and
Marysville, because of lack of funding and no future
growth plans.
The YSRCP plan area is bounded on the west by Yolo and Colusa
Counties, on the north by Butte County, on the east by Placer County
and portions of Yuba County outside the Plan Area, and on the south by
Yolo and Sacramento Counties and by the portion of Sutter County that
is located within the Natomas Basin HCP Area.
The boundary of the YSRCP plan area is based on political,
ecological, and hydrologic factors. The geographic scope focuses on
valley bottom lands. Areas chosen for inclusion were selected on the
basis of their likelihood to experience future growth; need to expand
and maintain infrastructure; ability to provide connectivity to
adjacent conservation efforts; and feasibility of contributing to a
plan that is scientifically defensible, flexible, and amenable to
analysis and implementation. The plan area is broad enough to
accommodate changes in jurisdictional boundaries over time, provided
the boundaries do not extend beyond the boundaries of the plan area and
project impacts do not exceed the take authorization provided by the
final ITP.
Covered Activities
The proposed section 10 ITP may allow take of Covered Species
resulting from proposed Covered Activities on non-Federal land in the
YSRCP Plan Area. The Permit Applicants intend to request incidental
take authorization for Covered Species that could be affected by
activities identified in the YSRCP. The proposed activities within the
YSRCP Plan Area for which ITP coverage is requested include
construction and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure, both
public and private, that are consistent with local general plans and
local, State, and Federal laws. The following list is not intended to
be exhaustive; rather, it provides an overview of the types of
activities that would be expected to occur. Covered Activities fall
into nine general categories, which are further described below:
1. Residential, commercial, industrial, and commercial agricultural
facilities;
2. Recreational facilities;
3. Transportation facilities;
4. Public and private utilities;
5. Mining and mineral extraction;
6. Groundwater supply and delivery facilities;
7. Flood control maintenance and other stream-related facilities;
8. Wastewater and waste management facilities; and
9. Monitoring and management activities within the YSRCP reserves.
These categories were created to help organize Covered Activities
into groupings that would have similar impacts on Covered Species.
Covered Activities, which would normally be implemented or carried out
in accordance with all other Federal, State, and local laws and
regulations, are described in greater detail below. In addition to the
description of Covered Activities below, the YSRP also contains a list
of specific projects that are currently proposed and that would be
covered by the Plan.
1. Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and Agricultural Facilities
This category includes construction, operation, maintenance, and
use of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural facilities
within the Plan Area. This category is intended to be as inclusive as
possible, to accommodate both urban growth and public infrastructure
projects; it includes the construction, operation, maintenance, and use
of typical public and private urban and rural facilities. This category
also includes the construction, maintenance, and use of urban and rural
facilities, including residential, commercial, industrial, and other
types of urban development and infrastructure; rural residential
development and infrastructure; agricultural structures, warehouses,
and processing facilities; and public service and community serving and
cultural facilities, including fire and police stations, community and
convention centers, recreation centers, and similar
[[Page 74110]]
facilities. Vegetation management and control and fuel management
activities would also be included.
2. Recreational Facilities
This category includes construction, operation, maintenance, and
use of recreational facilities in the Plan Area. This category is
intended to be as inclusive as possible, to accommodate both urban
growth and public infrastructure projects, and includes but is not
limited to the construction, maintenance, and use of urban and rural
facilities, including large recreational facilities such as golf
courses, parks, and ball fields; recreational facilities maintenance;
and improvements to and expansion of existing parks and bicycle and
pedestrian trails. Trail maintenance activities, including vegetation
management activities, and minor remediation projects within
recreational facilities, are also proposed for inclusion.
3. Transportation Facilities
This category includes construction of transportation facilities in
the Plan Area, including construction, operation, and maintenance of
State highways, including addition of new lanes and off-ramps; paved
and unpaved roads, bridges, culverts, and transit facilities; new
construction and improvements, including road widening, bridges,
intersection level-of-service improvements, grade separations, and
sound wall installation; and road repair and rehabilitation, including
construction of retaining walls to stabilize adjacent embankments. This
category also includes channel modifications incidental to streambank
stabilization and road restoration and vegetation management.
4. Public and Private Utilities
This category includes construction, operation and maintenance, and
use of public and private utilities in the Plan Area, including
transmission lines, telecommunication lines, telecommunication towers,
and gas lines; vegetation management activities; maintenance of small
utility facilities; and access and maintenance of infrastructure
facilities.
5. Mining and Mineral Extraction
This category includes mining or mineral extraction in the Plan
Area, including construction, operation, and maintenance of operations
for mining of sand, soil, aggregate, and other mineral resources, and
mineral extraction, including gas wells and gas pipelines.
6. Groundwater Supply and Delivery Facilities
This category includes construction of typical water supply and
delivery facilities in the Plan Area, including water treatment plants,
water supply pipelines, percolation ponds, and pump stations;
groundwater recharge sites and associated facilities; maintenance of
water supply facilities; and operation and maintenance of pump
stations, operations yards, utility yards, and corporation yards.
Surface water projects will not be covered under the YSRCP.
7. Flood Control Maintenance and Other Stream-Related Facilities
This category includes detention basins and other stream-related
facilities in the Plan Area, including bank and levee stabilization and
bank or levee improvements, including levee grouting. This includes the
construction, operation and maintenance, and use of retention/detention
ponds; channel modifications incidental to streambank stabilization
associated with retention/detention ponds; bridge construction and
replacement, including vehicular, train, and pedestrian bridges;
culverts; restoration projects outside the reserve system; creek-side
trail projects; and levee maintenance.
8. Wastewater and Waste Management Facilities
This category includes construction, operation and maintenance, and
use of wastewater and waste management facilities in the Plan Area,
including typical wastewater and waste management facilities;
stormwater management facilities, such as storm sewer systems, nonpoint
source reduction, outfalls, and drainage improvements; hazardous
materials remediation for, and restoration related to, abandoned dumps;
operation and maintenance of pump stations, operations yards, utility
yards, and corporation yards; and sewage treatment plants, sanitary
sewer systems (including rehabilitation of force mains and effluent
lines, discharge and reclamation lines, and pump stations), water
recycling, recycling centers, transfer stations, and landfills.
9. Monitoring and Management Activities Within the YSRCP Reserves
This includes projects and activities associated with
implementation of the YSRCP's conservation strategy, most of which will
take place within the reserve system assembled by the Plan. This
includes construction and maintenance of recreational and management
and maintenance and operational facilities and infrastructure;
vegetation management; relocation of covered species from impact sites
and within reserves as necessary; demolition or removal of structures,
roads, or artificial livestock ponds to increase public safety or to
restore habitat; control of introduced predators; stream maintenance
for habitat purposes; surveys and monitoring for mitigation and
restoration/enhancement projects; travel through reserves by various
means for management or maintenance purposes; fire management hazardous
materials remediation; repair of existing facilities damaged by floods
or fire; and operations related to water supply for reserve management.
This category also includes limited recreational use of YSRCP reserves
and activities related to habitat enhancement, restoration, and
creation, and species surveys, monitoring, and research.
Covered Species
Covered Species are those species addressed in the proposed YSRCP
for which conservation actions will be implemented and for which the
Permit Applicants will seek incidental take authorizations for a period
of up to 50 years. Proposed Covered Species are expected to include
threatened and endangered species listed under the Act, species listed
under the CESA, and currently unlisted species that have the potential
to become listed during the life of the YSRCP and have some likelihood
to occur within the YSRCP Plan Area. The YSRCP is currently expected to
address 18 listed and non-listed wildlife and plant species. The list
of proposed Covered Species may change as the planning process
progresses; species may be added or removed as more is learned about
the nature of Covered Activities and their impact within the YSRCP Plan
Area.
The following Federally listed threatened and endangered wildlife
species are proposed to be covered by the YSRCP. The threatened vernal
pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi), endangered vernal pool tadpole
shrimp (Lepidurus packardi), threatened valley elderberry longhorn
beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus), and the threatened giant
garter snake (Thamnophis gigas).
The following unlisted wildlife species are proposed to be covered
by the YSRCP: western spadefoot toad (Spea hammondii), western pond
turtle (Actinemys marmorata), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni),
western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis), bank
swallow (Riparia riparia), California black rail (Laterallus
jamaicensis coturniculus),
[[Page 74111]]
greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida), bald eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus), western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea),
and tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor).
``Take'' as defined under the Act does not apply to listed plant
species, and therefore cannot be authorized under a section 10 permit.
However, the Permit Applicants propose to include plant species on the
permit in recognition of the conservation benefits provided for them
under an HCP. For the purposes of the Plan, certain plant species are
further included to meet regulatory obligations under section 7 of the
Act and CESA. All species included on an ITP would receive assurances
under the Service's ``No Surprises'' regulations found in 50 CFRs
17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5). The following unlisted plant species are
proposed for inclusion in the YSRCP in recognition of the conservation
benefits provided for them under the YSRCP and the assurances permit
holders would receive if they are included on a permit: Bogg's Lake
hedge-hyssop (Gratiola heterosepala), Ahart's dwarf rush (Juncus
leiospermus var. ahartii), dwarf downingia (Downingia pusilla), and
legenere (Legenere limosa). Bogg's Lake hedge-hyssop is listed as
endangered under CESA.
Environmental Impact Statement
Before deciding whether to issue the requested Federal ITP, the
Service will prepare a draft EIS in order to analyze the environmental
impacts associated with issuance of the ITP. In the EIS component of
the EIS/EIR, the Service will consider the following alternatives: (1)
The proposed action, which includes the issuance of take authorizations
consistent with the proposed YSRCP under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Act; (2) no action (no permit issuance); and (3) a reasonable range of
additional alternatives. The EIS/EIR will include a detailed analysis
of the impacts of the proposed action and alternatives. The range of
alternatives could include variations in impacts, conservation, permit
duration, Covered Species, Covered Activities, Permit Area, or a
combination of these elements.
The EIS/EIR will identify and analyze potentially significant
direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of our authorization of
incidental take (permit issuance) and the implementation of the
proposed YSRCP on biological resources, land uses, utilities, air
quality, water resources, cultural resources, socioeconomics and
environmental justice, recreation, aesthetics, climate change and
greenhouse gases, and other environmental issues that could occur with
implementation of each alternative. The Service will also identify
measures to avoid or minimize any significant effects of the proposed
action on the quality of the human environment.
Following completion of the environmental review, the Service will
publish a notice of availability and a request for comment on the Draft
EIS/EIR and the applicants' permit application, which will include the
proposed the YSRCP.
Public Comments
We request data, comments, new information, or suggestions from the
public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific
community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party on this
notice. We will consider these comments in developing a Draft EIS/EIR
and in the development of an HCP and ITP. We particularly seek comments
on the following:
1. Biological information concerning species in the proposed Plan
Area;
2. Relevant data concerning these species;
3. Additional information concerning the range, distribution,
population size, and population trends of the species;
4. Current or planned activities in the subject area and their
possible impacts on the species;
5. The presence of archaeological sites, buildings and structures,
historic events, sacred and traditional areas, and other historic
preservation concerns, which are required to be considered in project
planning by the National Historic Preservation Act; and
6. Identification of any other environmental issues that should be
considered with regard to the proposed development and permit action.
You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods
listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we use in preparing the EIS/EIR document, will be
available for public inspection by appointment during normal business
hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the Service's
Sacramento address (see ADDRESSES).
Scoping Meetings
See DATES for the date and time of the scheduled public meeting.
The purpose of the scoping meeting is to provide the public with a
general understanding of the background of the proposed HCP and
activities it would cover, alternative proposals under consideration
for the Draft EIS, and the Service's role and steps to be taken to
develop the Draft EIS for the proposed HCP/NCCP.
The primary purpose of these meetings and public comment period is
to solicit suggestions and information on the scope of issues and
alternatives for the Service to consider when drafting the EIS. Written
comments will be accepted at the meeting. Comments can also be
submitted by methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. Once the Draft
EIS and proposed HCP/NCCP are complete and made available for review,
there will be additional opportunity for public comment on the content
of these documents through additional public comment periods.
Meeting Location Accommodations
Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public meetings should contact Ellen McBride at
(916) 414-6600 as soon as possible. In order to allow sufficient time
to process requests, please call at least one week before the public
meeting. Information regarding this proposed action is available in
alternative formats upon request.
Authority
We publish this notice under the National Environmental Policy Act
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR
1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22), as well as in compliance with section
10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Dated: November 25, 2014.
Alexandra Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific
Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2014-29255 Filed 12-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
