Hoopeston Wind Farm Draft Habitat Conservation Plan; Draft Environmental Assessment, 13130-13132 [2017-04663]
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13130
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Notices
agency name and the OMB Control
Number 1615–0030.
You may wish to consider limiting the
amount of personal information that you
provide in any voluntary submission
you make. For additional information
please read the Privacy Act notice that
is available via the link in the footer of
https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy,
Regulatory Coordination Division,
Samantha Deshommes, Chief, 20
Massachusetts Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20529–2140,
Telephone number (202) 272–8377
(This is not a toll-free number;
comments are not accepted via
telephone message). Please note contact
information provided here is solely for
questions regarding this notice. It is not
for individual case status inquiries.
Applicants seeking information about
the status of their individual cases can
check Case Status Online, available at
the USCIS Web site at https://
www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS
National Customer Service Center at
(800) 375–5283; TTY (800) 767–1833.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Comments
You may access the information
collection instrument with instructions,
or additional information by visiting the
Federal eRulemaking Portal site at:
https://www.regulations.gov and enter
USCIS–2008–0012 in the search box.
Written comments and suggestions from
the public and affected agencies should
address one or more of the following
four points:
(1) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
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17:43 Mar 08, 2017
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Overview of This Information
Collection
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
(1) Type of Information Collection
Request: Revision of a Currently
Approved Collection.
(2) Title of the Form/Collection:
Application for Waiver of the Foreign
Residence Requirement of Section
212(e) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act.
(3) Agency form number, if any, and
the applicable component of the DHS
sponsoring the collection: I–612; USCIS.
(4) Affected public who will be asked
or required to respond, as well as a brief
abstract: Primary: Individuals or
households. This information collection
is necessary and may be submitted only
by an alien who believes that
compliance with foreign residence
requirements would impose exceptional
hardship on his or her spouse or child
who is a citizen of the United States, or
a lawful permanent resident; or that
returning to the country of his or her
nationality or last permanent residence
would subject him or her to persecution
on account of race, religion, or political
opinion. Certain aliens admitted to the
United States as exchange visitors are
subject to the foreign residence
requirements of section 212(e) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (the
Act). Section 212(e) of the Act also
provides for a waiver of the foreign
residence requirements in certain
instances.
(5) An estimate of the total number of
respondents and the amount of time
estimated for an average respondent to
respond: The estimated total number of
respondents for the information
collection I–612 is 736 and the
estimated hour burden per response is
.333 hours.
(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collection: The total estimated annual
hour burden associated with this
collection is 245 hours.
(7) An estimate of the total public
burden (in cost) associated with the
collection: The estimated total annual
cost burden associated with this
collection of information is $90,160.
Dated: March 2, 2017.
Samantha Deshommes,
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division,
Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2017–04579 Filed 3–8–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
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Hoopeston Wind Farm Draft Habitat
Conservation Plan; Draft
Environmental Assessment
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Receipt of application; draft
habitat conservation plan; draft
environmental assessment; and request
for comments.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we,
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), announce the availability of
an application from Hoopeston Wind
Farm LLC (Applicant) for a permit to
incidentally take federally endangered
Indiana bats and federally threatened
northern long-eared bats. The take could
result from operation and
decommissioning activities at the
Applicant’s facility in Vermilion
County, Illinois. Included with the
application is a draft habitat
conservation plan (HCP). Also available
for review is our draft environmental
assessment (EA) that was prepared in
response to the application. We are
seeking public comments on the permit
application, draft HCP, and draft EA.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
submit your comments on or before
April 10, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Availability of Documents:
The draft habitat conservation plan
(HCP) and draft environmental
assessment (EA) are available on the
Midwest Region’s Web site at https://
www.fws.gov/Midwest/endangered/
permits/hcp/r3hcps.html. Alternatively,
copies of the permit application, draft
HCP, and draft EA will be available for
public review during regular business
hours at the Rock Island Field Office
(see ADDRESSES). Those who do not have
access to the Web site or cannot visit
our office can request copies by
telephone at 309–757–5800 or by letter
to the Rock Island Field Office (see
ADDRESSES).
Submitting Comments: Send
comments to Kraig McPeek by U.S. mail
at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock
Island Field Office, 1511 47th Avenue,
Moline, IL 61265; by facsimile to 309–
757–5807; or by electronic mail to
RockIsland@fws.gov. In the subject line
of your letter, facsimile, or electronic
mail, include the document identifier
‘‘Hoopeston Wind Farm HCP.’’
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Notices
Pursuant
to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.;
ESA) and the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.;
NEPA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce the
availability of an application from
Hoopeston Wind Farm LLC for a permit
to incidentally take federally
endangered Indiana bats (Myotis
sodalis) and federally threatened
northern long-eared bats (Myotis
septentrionalis) that could result from
operation, and decommissioning
activities at the Applicant’s facility in
Vermilion County, Illinois. Included
with the application is a draft habitat
conservation plan (HCP). The draft HCP
describes how take of Indiana and
northern long-eared bats (covered
species) will be minimized and
mitigated to the maximum extent
practicable. The draft HCP also
describes the covered species’ life
history and ecology, biological goals and
objectives, the estimated take and its
potential impact on covered species
populations, adaptive management and
monitoring, and compensatory
mitigation. Also included is the
Service’s draft environmental
assessment (EA), which describes
possible alternatives to the proposed
permit action, including an analysis of
potential effects on the human
environment. We are seeking public
comments on the permit application,
draft HCP, and draft EA.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Endangered Species Act
Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ‘‘take’’
of fish and wildlife species listed as
endangered under section 4 (16 U.S.C.
1538, and 1533, respectively). The ESA
implementing regulations extend, under
certain circumstances, the prohibition of
take to threatened species (50 CFR
17.31). Under section 3 of the ESA, the
term ‘‘take’’ means to harass, harm,
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap,
capture, or collect, or attempt to engage
in any such conduct (16 U.S.C.
1532(19)). The term ‘‘harm’’ is defined
by regulation as an act which actually
kills or injures wildlife. Such act may
include significant habitat modification
or degradation where it actually kills or
injures wildlife by significantly
impairing essential behavioral patterns,
including breeding, feeding, or
sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term
‘‘harass’’ is defined in the regulations as
an intentional or negligent act or
omission which creates the likelihood of
injury to wildlife by annoying it to such
an extent as to significantly disrupt
normal behavioral patterns, which
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include, but are not limited to, breeding,
feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3).
Under section 10 of the ESA, the
Service may issue permits to authorize
incidental take of federally listed fish
and wildlife species. ‘‘Incidental take’’
is defined by the ESA as ‘‘take that is
incidental to, and not the purpose of,
carrying out an otherwise lawful
activity.’’ To obtain an ITP, an applicant
must submit an HCP that specifies (1)
the impact that will likely result from
the taking; (2) what steps the applicant
will take to monitor, minimize and
mitigate the impacts, and the funding
that will be available to implement such
steps; (3) what alternative actions to the
taking the applicant considered and the
reasons why the alternatives are not
being utilized; and (4) how the
applicant will carry out any other
measures that we may require as being
necessary or appropriate for purposes of
the HCP (50 CFR 17.22(b)(1)(iii); 50 CFR
17.32(b)(1)(iii)(C)). If we find, after
opportunity for public comment, with
respect to the permit application and
the related HCP, that (1) the taking will
be incidental; (2) the applicant will, to
the maximum extent practicable,
minimize and mitigate the impacts of
such taking; (3) the applicant will
ensure that adequate funding for the
HCP will be provided, as well as
procedures to deal with unforeseen
circumstances; (4) the taking will not
appreciably reduce the likelihood of the
survival and recovery of the species in
the wild; and (5) the measures, if any,
required by us will be carried out; and
we have received assurances that the
plan will be implemented, then we will
issue the applicant the requested permit
(50 CFR 17.22, 17.32(b)(2)(i)). The
purpose of the HCP process and
subsequent issuance of a permit is to
authorize the incidental take of
threatened or endangered species, not to
authorize the underlying activities that
result in take. This process ensures that
the effects of the authorized incidental
take will be adequately minimized and
mitigated to the maximum extent
practicable.
National Environmental Policy Act
The proposed issuance of a permit is
a Federal action that triggers the need
for compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.;
NEPA). Pursuant to NEPA, we have
prepared a draft EA to analyze the
environmental impacts of three
alternatives related to the issuance of
the requested permit and
implementation of the conservation
program under the proposed HCP. The
three alternatives analyzed in the EA are
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13131
a no-action alternative, the proposed
action, and a reduced take alternative.
No-action alternative: Under the noaction alternative, no permit would be
issued and no HCP would be
implemented.
Proposed action alternative: The
proposed action alternative is the
implementation of the Applicants
proposed HCP and issuance of the
requested permit as described above.
Reduced take alternative: The
reduced take alternative evaluates
potential modifications to the
Applicants operating regime beyond
those proposed by the Applicant.
Public Comments
All comments received, including
names and addresses, will become part
of the administrative record and may be
made available to the public. Before
including your address, phone number,
email address, or other personal
identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment, including your
personal identifying information, could
be made publicly available at any time.
While you may request at the top of
your document that we withhold your
personal identifying information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that
we will be able to do so.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the draft HCP and
any comments we receive to determine
whether the permit application meets
the requirements of section 10(a) of the
ESA. We will also evaluate whether
issuance of the requested permit
complies with section 7 of the ESA by
conducting an intra-Service ESA section
7 consultation. Our EA process will
culminate with a decision by the
Service’s Midwest Region Regional
Director on one of the three alternatives
found in the EA. Once an alternative is
selected, the Regional Director will
decide whether the alternative selected
will significantly impact the quality of
the human environment, as defined by
the NEPA and its implementing
regulations. If he finds that the
alternative selected will not result in
significant environmental impacts, he
will issue a ‘‘Finding No Significant
Impact.’’ If he finds that the alternative
selected will result in significant
environmental impacts, he will issue a
Notice of Intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Authority
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the ESA and NEPA
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
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13132
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 45 / Thursday, March 9, 2017 / Notices
Dated: January 13, 2017.
Lori Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological
Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2017–04663 Filed 3–8–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 731–TA–663 (Fourth
Review)]
Paper Clips From China: Notice of
Commission Determination To
Conduct a Full Five-Year Review and
Scheduling of a Full Five-Year Review
United States International
Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Commission hereby gives
notice of its determination to conduct,
and scheduling of, a full review
pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the
Act’’) to determine whether revocation
of the antidumping duty order on paper
clips from China would be likely to lead
to continuation or recurrence of material
injury within a reasonably foreseeable
time. The Commission has determined
to exercise its authority to extend the
review period by up to 90 days.
DATES: Effective March 1, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
Ruggles ((202) 205–3187), Office of
Investigations, U.S. International Trade
Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Washington, DC 20436. Hearingimpaired persons can obtain
information on this matter by contacting
the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202–
205–1810. Persons with mobility
impairments who will need special
assistance in gaining access to the
Commission should contact the Office
of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.
General information concerning the
Commission may also be obtained by
accessing its internet server (https://
www.usitc.gov). The public record for
this review may be viewed on the
Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS)
at https://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background.—On September 6, 2016,
the Commission determined that it
should proceed to a full review in the
subject five-year review pursuant to
section 751(c) of the Tariff Act of 1930
(19 U.S.C. 1675(c)). The Commission
found that the domestic interested party
group response to its notice of
institution (81 FR 35052, June 1, 2016)
was adequate. The Commission found
that the respondent interested party
group response was inadequate. The
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SUMMARY:
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17:43 Mar 08, 2017
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Commission also found that other
circumstances warranted conducting
full reviews. Accordingly, a full review
is being scheduled pursuant to section
751(c)(5) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19
U.S.C. 1675(c)(5)). A record of the
Commissioners’ votes, the
Commission’s statement on adequacy,
and any individual Commissioner’s
statements will be available from the
Office of the Secretary and at the
Commission’s Web site.
Participation in the review and public
service list.—Persons, including
industrial users of the subject
merchandise and, if the merchandise is
sold at the retail level, representative
consumer organizations, wishing to
participate in this review as parties
must file an entry of appearance with
the Secretary to the Commission, as
provided in section 201.11 of the
Commission’s rules, by 45 days after
publication of this notice. A party that
filed a notice of appearance following
publication of the Commission’s notice
of institution of the review need not file
an additional notice of appearance. The
Secretary will maintain a public service
list containing the names and addresses
of all persons, or their representatives,
who are parties to the review.
For further information concerning
the conduct of this review and rules of
general application, consult the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure, part 201, subparts A and B
(19 CFR part 201), and part 207,
subparts A, D, E, and F (19 CFR part
207).
Limited disclosure of business
proprietary information (BPI) under an
administrative protective order (APO)
and BPI service list.—Pursuant to
section 207.7(a) of the Commission’s
rules, the Secretary will make BPI
gathered in this review available to
authorized applicants under the APO
issued in the review, provided that the
application is made by 45 days after
publication of this notice. Authorized
applicants must represent interested
parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 1677(9),
who are parties to the review. A party
granted access to BPI following
publication of the Commission’s notice
of institution of the review need not
reapply for such access. A separate
service list will be maintained by the
Secretary for those parties authorized to
receive BPI under the APO.
Staff report.—The prehearing staff
report in the review will be placed in
the nonpublic record on June 2, 2017,
and a public version will be issued
thereafter, pursuant to section 207.64 of
the Commission’s rules.
Hearing.—The Commission will hold
a hearing in connection with the review
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beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday,
June 22, 2017, at the U.S. International
Trade Commission Building. Requests
to appear at the hearing should be filed
in writing with the Secretary to the
Commission on or before June 13, 2017.
A nonparty who has testimony that may
aid the Commission’s deliberations may
request permission to present a short
statement at the hearing. All parties and
nonparties desiring to appear at the
hearing and make oral presentations
should participate in a prehearing
conference to be held on June 16, 2017,
at the U.S. International Trade
Commission Building, if deemed
necessary. Oral testimony and written
materials to be submitted at the public
hearing are governed by sections
201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), 207.24, and
207.66 of the Commission’s rules.
Parties must submit any request to
present a portion of their hearing
testimony in camera no later than 7
business days prior to the date of the
hearing.
Written submissions.—Each party to
the review may submit a prehearing
brief to the Commission. Prehearing
briefs must conform with the provisions
of section 207.65 of the Commission’s
rules; the deadline for filing is June 13,
2017. Parties may also file written
testimony in connection with their
presentation at the hearing, as provided
in section 207.24 of the Commission’s
rules, and posthearing briefs, which
must conform with the provisions of
section 207.67 of the Commission’s
rules. The deadline for filing
posthearing briefs is July 3, 2017. In
addition, any person who has not
entered an appearance as a party to the
review may submit a written statement
of information pertinent to the subject of
the review on or before July 3, 2017. On
July 27, 2017, the Commission will
make available to parties all information
on which they have not had an
opportunity to comment. Parties may
submit final comments on this
information on or before July 31, 2017,
but such final comments must not
contain new factual information and
must otherwise comply with section
207.68 of the Commission’s rules. All
written submissions must conform with
the provisions of section 201.8 of the
Commission’s rules; any submissions
that contain BPI must also conform with
the requirements of sections 201.6,
207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission’s
rules. The Commission’s Handbook on
E-Filing, available on the Commission’s
Web site at https://www.usitc.gov/
secretary/documents/handbook_on_
filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 45 (Thursday, March 9, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13130-13132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04663]
=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2016-N094; FVES59420300000F2 14X FF03E00000]
Hoopeston Wind Farm Draft Habitat Conservation Plan; Draft
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Receipt of application; draft habitat conservation plan; draft
environmental assessment; and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), announce the availability of an application from Hoopeston
Wind Farm LLC (Applicant) for a permit to incidentally take federally
endangered Indiana bats and federally threatened northern long-eared
bats. The take could result from operation and decommissioning
activities at the Applicant's facility in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Included with the application is a draft habitat conservation plan
(HCP). Also available for review is our draft environmental assessment
(EA) that was prepared in response to the application. We are seeking
public comments on the permit application, draft HCP, and draft EA.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please submit your comments on or
before April 10, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Availability of Documents: The draft habitat conservation
plan (HCP) and draft environmental assessment (EA) are available on the
Midwest Region's Web site at https://www.fws.gov/Midwest/endangered/permits/hcp/r3hcps.html. Alternatively, copies of the permit
application, draft HCP, and draft EA will be available for public
review during regular business hours at the Rock Island Field Office
(see ADDRESSES). Those who do not have access to the Web site or cannot
visit our office can request copies by telephone at 309-757-5800 or by
letter to the Rock Island Field Office (see ADDRESSES).
Submitting Comments: Send comments to Kraig McPeek by U.S. mail at
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock Island Field Office, 1511 47th
Avenue, Moline, IL 61265; by facsimile to 309-757-5807; or by
electronic mail to RockIsland@fws.gov. In the subject line of your
letter, facsimile, or electronic mail, include the document identifier
``Hoopeston Wind Farm HCP.''
[[Page 13131]]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.; NEPA), we, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of an
application from Hoopeston Wind Farm LLC for a permit to incidentally
take federally endangered Indiana bats (Myotis sodalis) and federally
threatened northern long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis) that could
result from operation, and decommissioning activities at the
Applicant's facility in Vermilion County, Illinois. Included with the
application is a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP). The draft HCP
describes how take of Indiana and northern long-eared bats (covered
species) will be minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent
practicable. The draft HCP also describes the covered species' life
history and ecology, biological goals and objectives, the estimated
take and its potential impact on covered species populations, adaptive
management and monitoring, and compensatory mitigation. Also included
is the Service's draft environmental assessment (EA), which describes
possible alternatives to the proposed permit action, including an
analysis of potential effects on the human environment. We are seeking
public comments on the permit application, draft HCP, and draft EA.
Endangered Species Act
Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ``take'' of fish and wildlife
species listed as endangered under section 4 (16 U.S.C. 1538, and 1533,
respectively). The ESA implementing regulations extend, under certain
circumstances, the prohibition of take to threatened species (50 CFR
17.31). Under section 3 of the ESA, the term ``take'' means to harass,
harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
attempt to engage in any such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term
``harm'' is defined by regulation as an act which actually kills or
injures wildlife. Such act may include significant habitat modification
or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by
significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including
breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term ``harass'' is
defined in the regulations as an intentional or negligent act or
omission which creates the likelihood of injury to wildlife by annoying
it to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral
patterns, which include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or
sheltering (50 CFR 17.3).
Under section 10 of the ESA, the Service may issue permits to
authorize incidental take of federally listed fish and wildlife
species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by the ESA as ``take that is
incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful
activity.'' To obtain an ITP, an applicant must submit an HCP that
specifies (1) the impact that will likely result from the taking; (2)
what steps the applicant will take to monitor, minimize and mitigate
the impacts, and the funding that will be available to implement such
steps; (3) what alternative actions to the taking the applicant
considered and the reasons why the alternatives are not being utilized;
and (4) how the applicant will carry out any other measures that we may
require as being necessary or appropriate for purposes of the HCP (50
CFR 17.22(b)(1)(iii); 50 CFR 17.32(b)(1)(iii)(C)). If we find, after
opportunity for public comment, with respect to the permit application
and the related HCP, that (1) the taking will be incidental; (2) the
applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize and
mitigate the impacts of such taking; (3) the applicant will ensure that
adequate funding for the HCP will be provided, as well as procedures to
deal with unforeseen circumstances; (4) the taking will not appreciably
reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in
the wild; and (5) the measures, if any, required by us will be carried
out; and we have received assurances that the plan will be implemented,
then we will issue the applicant the requested permit (50 CFR 17.22,
17.32(b)(2)(i)). The purpose of the HCP process and subsequent issuance
of a permit is to authorize the incidental take of threatened or
endangered species, not to authorize the underlying activities that
result in take. This process ensures that the effects of the authorized
incidental take will be adequately minimized and mitigated to the
maximum extent practicable.
National Environmental Policy Act
The proposed issuance of a permit is a Federal action that triggers
the need for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA). Pursuant to NEPA, we
have prepared a draft EA to analyze the environmental impacts of three
alternatives related to the issuance of the requested permit and
implementation of the conservation program under the proposed HCP. The
three alternatives analyzed in the EA are a no-action alternative, the
proposed action, and a reduced take alternative.
No-action alternative: Under the no-action alternative, no permit
would be issued and no HCP would be implemented.
Proposed action alternative: The proposed action alternative is the
implementation of the Applicants proposed HCP and issuance of the
requested permit as described above.
Reduced take alternative: The reduced take alternative evaluates
potential modifications to the Applicants operating regime beyond those
proposed by the Applicant.
Public Comments
All comments received, including names and addresses, will become
part of the administrative record and may be made available to the
public. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying
information, could be made publicly available at any time. While you
may request at the top of your document that we withhold your personal
identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the draft HCP and any comments we receive to
determine whether the permit application meets the requirements of
section 10(a) of the ESA. We will also evaluate whether issuance of the
requested permit complies with section 7 of the ESA by conducting an
intra-Service ESA section 7 consultation. Our EA process will culminate
with a decision by the Service's Midwest Region Regional Director on
one of the three alternatives found in the EA. Once an alternative is
selected, the Regional Director will decide whether the alternative
selected will significantly impact the quality of the human
environment, as defined by the NEPA and its implementing regulations.
If he finds that the alternative selected will not result in
significant environmental impacts, he will issue a ``Finding No
Significant Impact.'' If he finds that the alternative selected will
result in significant environmental impacts, he will issue a Notice of
Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Authority
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA and
NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
[[Page 13132]]
Dated: January 13, 2017.
Lori Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-04663 Filed 3-8-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
