Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit Application and Environmental Assessment for Road Construction Activities; Hernando and Citrus Counties, FL, 18155-18156 [2017-07676]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 72 / Monday, April 17, 2017 / Notices mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 17, 2017. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and sent via electronic mail to oira.submission@ omb.eop.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection should be made to Director, Records Management Division, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472–3100, or email address FEMA-InformationCollections-Management@fema.dhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed information collection previously published in the Federal Register on February 2, 2017 at 82 FR 9071 with a 60 day public comment period. FEMA received one request for a copy of the proposed information collection by the public. The Agency responded to this comment and provided the most up-to-date copy of the proposed information collection to the requester. The purpose of this notice is to notify the public that FEMA will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance. Collection of Information Title: FEMA Preparedness Grants: Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). Type of Information Collection: Extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. OMB Number: 1660–0126. Form Titles and Numbers: None. Abstract: The Emergency Management Performance Grants (EMPG) Program assists State and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. The EMPG Work Plan narrative must demonstrate how proposed projects address gaps, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Apr 14, 2017 Jkt 241001 deficiencies, and capabilities in current programs and the ability to provide enhancements consistent with the purpose of the program and guidance provided by FEMA. FEMA uses the information to provide details, timelines, and milestones on proposed projects. Affected Public: State, Local, Territorial, or Tribal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 58. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 174 hours. Estimated Cost: The estimated annual cost to respondents for the hour burden is $9,008.26. There are no annual costs to respondents operations and maintenance costs for technical services. There is no annual start-up or capital costs. The cost to the Federal Government is $415,206. Dated: April 5, 2017. Tammi Hines, Records Management Program Chief (Acting), Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2017–07613 Filed 4–14–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–46–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2017–N019; FXES11140400000–178–FF04E00000] Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit Application and Environmental Assessment for Road Construction Activities; Hernando and Citrus Counties, FL Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and accompanying documents for activities associated with the construction of the Suncoast Parkway 2, a four-lane limited-access toll facility (project) in Citrus and Hernando Counties, Florida. If issued, the permit would authorize take of the federally threatened eastern indigo snake (indigo snake) and the Federal candidate gopher tortoise incidental to project construction. We invite the public to comment on these documents. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by May 17, 2017. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 18155 Obtaining Documents: Documents are available for public inspection by appointment during regular business hours at either of the following locations: • Atlanta Regional Office, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345. • North Florida Ecological Services Office, Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256–7517. Submitting Comments: Submit comments by one of the following methods. Please reference TE97201B–0 in all comments. For additional guidance, please see Public Comments under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. U.S. mail: You may mail comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Atlanta Regional Office. Hand-delivery: You may hand-deliver comments to the Atlanta or the Jacksonville Office. Email: You may email comments to david_dell@fws.gov. Please include your name and return address in your email message. If you do not receive a confirmation from us that we have received your email message, contact us directly at either telephone number in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Dell, Regional HCP Coordinator, (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 404–679– 7313; or Jay Herrington, Field Supervisor, at the North Florida Ecological Services Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 904–731–3191. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), accompanying incidental take permit (ITP) application, and environmental assessment (EA) related to an application from Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (applicant), a unit of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), for a permit associated with construction of the Suncoast Parkway 2, a limited-access toll facility (project) in Hernando and Citrus Counties, Florida. We invite the public to comment on these documents. The applicant’s proposed HCP describes the mitigation and minimization measures proposed to address the impacts resulting from take of the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon courais cooperi) and gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), the covered species, incidental to the project. Per the ADDRESSES: E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM 17APN1 18156 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 72 / Monday, April 17, 2017 / Notices National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), the EA analyzes the take of the covered species and the environment. The applicant requests a 10-year ITP under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Environmental Assessment The EA assesses the likely environmental impacts associated with the project, including the environmental consequences of the no-action alternative and the proposed action alternative. The proposed action alternative is issuance of the ITP and implementation of the HCP as submitted by the applicant. The applicant anticipates direct impacts to approximately 700 acres of indigo snake and gopher tortoise suitable habitat incidental to project construction. mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES Habitat Conservation Plan The minimization and mitigation measures proposed in the HCP include an extensive network of wildlife fencing and crossings to improve habitat connectivity and minimize wildlife mortality associated with the roadway; multiple safety features to support implementation of the Florida Forest Service (FFS) Resource Management Plan; various avoidance and minimization measures to reduce direct and indirect impacts to the covered species; a monetary contribution to the Friends of the Florida State Forests, Inc. for land management activities; and the purchase of high-quality, regionally significant mitigation parcels approved by the FFS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) prior to the completion of the project. Upon acquisition, each mitigation parcel would be transferred to the State of Florida for management by FFS or FWC. In accordance with FWC permitting guidelines, gopher tortoises within the approximately 1,300-acre proposed project area will be relocated prior to construction activities, and therefore are not expected to be subject to take via injury, mortality, or harassment during project construction. Public Comments We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the public on our proposed Federal action, including but not limited to identification of any other aspects of the human environment not already identified in the EA pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR 1506.6. Further, we specifically solicit information regarding the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:14 Apr 14, 2017 Jkt 241001 adequacy of the HCP per 50 CFR parts 13 and 17. 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—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Covered Area We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for eight animal species. A 5-year status review is based on the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review; therefore, we are requesting submission of any such information that has become available since the last review for the species. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written information by June 16, 2017. However, we will continue to accept new information about any listed species at any time. ADDRESSES: For instructions on how to submit information for each species, see the table in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request information, contact the appropriate person in the table in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are initiating 5-year status reviews under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), for eight animal species listed as endangered: Iowa Pleistocene snail (Discus macclintocki), Karner blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis), Kirtland’s warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii [=Dendroica kirtlandii]), Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishop), rayed bean (Villosa fabalis), sheepnose (Plethobasus cyphyus), snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra), and spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta). [FWS–R3–ES–2017–N030; FX3ES11130300000–178–FF03E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Initiation of 5-Year Status Reviews of Eight Endangered Animal Species Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Indigo snakes and gopher tortoises historically occurred in longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) sandhill habitats found throughout the proposed project area. The area encompassed by the HCP and ITP application consists of public, private, and applicant-owned lands currently occupied by the species or suitable for occupancy by restoration as indigo snake and gopher tortoise habitat. Next Steps We will evaluate the ITP application, including the HCP, and any comments we receive to determine whether the application meets the requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will also conduct an intra-Service section 7 consultation to evaluate whether to issue the requested section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP. We will use the results of this consultation, in combination with the above findings, in our final analysis to determine whether or not to issue the ITP. If we determine that the requirements are met, we will issue the ITP for the incidental take of the eastern indigo snake and gopher tortoise. Authority We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: February 15, 2017. Mike Oetker, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 2017–07676 Filed 4–14–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P PO 00000 Fish and Wildlife Service Why do we conduct 5-year reviews? Under the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), we maintain Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants (which we collectively refer to as the List) in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.11 (for animals) and 17.12 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM 17APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 72 (Monday, April 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18155-18156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07676]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2017-N019; FXES11140400000-178-FF04E00000]


Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit Application and 
Environmental Assessment for Road Construction Activities; Hernando and 
Citrus Counties, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), 
we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and 
availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and 
accompanying documents for activities associated with the construction 
of the Suncoast Parkway 2, a four-lane limited-access toll facility 
(project) in Citrus and Hernando Counties, Florida. If issued, the 
permit would authorize take of the federally threatened eastern indigo 
snake (indigo snake) and the Federal candidate gopher tortoise 
incidental to project construction. We invite the public to comment on 
these documents.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
May 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: Documents are available for public 
inspection by appointment during regular business hours at either of 
the following locations:
     Atlanta Regional Office, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.
     North Florida Ecological Services Office, Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 
32256-7517.
    Submitting Comments: Submit comments by one of the following 
methods. Please reference TE97201B-0 in all comments. For additional 
guidance, please see Public Comments under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    U.S. mail: You may mail comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service's 
Atlanta Regional Office.
    Hand-delivery: You may hand-deliver comments to the Atlanta or the 
Jacksonville Office.
    Email: You may email comments to david_dell@fws.gov. Please include 
your name and return address in your email message. If you do not 
receive a confirmation from us that we have received your email 
message, contact us directly at either telephone number in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Dell, Regional HCP 
Coordinator, (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 404-679-7313; or Jay 
Herrington, Field Supervisor, at the North Florida Ecological Services 
Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 904-731-3191. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal 
Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
receipt and availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), 
accompanying incidental take permit (ITP) application, and 
environmental assessment (EA) related to an application from Florida's 
Turnpike Enterprise (applicant), a unit of the Florida Department of 
Transportation (FDOT), for a permit associated with construction of the 
Suncoast Parkway 2, a limited-access toll facility (project) in 
Hernando and Citrus Counties, Florida. We invite the public to comment 
on these documents.
    The applicant's proposed HCP describes the mitigation and 
minimization measures proposed to address the impacts resulting from 
take of the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon courais cooperi) and 
gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), the covered species, incidental 
to the project. Per the

[[Page 18156]]

National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), the 
EA analyzes the take of the covered species and the environment. The 
applicant requests a 10-year ITP under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Environmental Assessment

    The EA assesses the likely environmental impacts associated with 
the project, including the environmental consequences of the no-action 
alternative and the proposed action alternative. The proposed action 
alternative is issuance of the ITP and implementation of the HCP as 
submitted by the applicant. The applicant anticipates direct impacts to 
approximately 700 acres of indigo snake and gopher tortoise suitable 
habitat incidental to project construction.

Habitat Conservation Plan

    The minimization and mitigation measures proposed in the HCP 
include an extensive network of wildlife fencing and crossings to 
improve habitat connectivity and minimize wildlife mortality associated 
with the roadway; multiple safety features to support implementation of 
the Florida Forest Service (FFS) Resource Management Plan; various 
avoidance and minimization measures to reduce direct and indirect 
impacts to the covered species; a monetary contribution to the Friends 
of the Florida State Forests, Inc. for land management activities; and 
the purchase of high-quality, regionally significant mitigation parcels 
approved by the FFS and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
Commission (FWC) prior to the completion of the project. Upon 
acquisition, each mitigation parcel would be transferred to the State 
of Florida for management by FFS or FWC. In accordance with FWC 
permitting guidelines, gopher tortoises within the approximately 1,300-
acre proposed project area will be relocated prior to construction 
activities, and therefore are not expected to be subject to take via 
injury, mortality, or harassment during project construction.

Public Comments

    We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the 
public on our proposed Federal action, including but not limited to 
identification of any other aspects of the human environment not 
already identified in the EA pursuant to the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
at 40 CFR 1506.6. Further, we specifically solicit information 
regarding the adequacy of the HCP per 50 CFR parts 13 and 17.
    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--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Covered Area

    Indigo snakes and gopher tortoises historically occurred in 
longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) sandhill habitats found throughout the 
proposed project area. The area encompassed by the HCP and ITP 
application consists of public, private, and applicant-owned lands 
currently occupied by the species or suitable for occupancy by 
restoration as indigo snake and gopher tortoise habitat.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the ITP application, including the HCP, and any 
comments we receive to determine whether the application meets the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will also conduct an 
intra-Service section 7 consultation to evaluate whether to issue the 
requested section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP. We will use the results of this 
consultation, in combination with the above findings, in our final 
analysis to determine whether or not to issue the ITP. If we determine 
that the requirements are met, we will issue the ITP for the incidental 
take of the eastern indigo snake and gopher tortoise.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

    Dated: February 15, 2017.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2017-07676 Filed 4-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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