Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Curletti Farm Employee Housing Project, Santa Barbara County, California, 29916 [2017-13770]

Download as PDF 29916 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 125 / Friday, June 30, 2017 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–ES–2017–N046; FXES11130800000–178–FF08EVEN00] Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Curletti Farm Employee Housing Project, Santa Barbara County, California AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. Notice of receipt of permit application; request for comments. ACTION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from Betteravia Farms, LLC, for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would authorize take of the federally endangered California tiger salamander (Santa Barbara distinct population segment) incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farm Employee Housing Project Habitat Conservation Plan. We invite public comment. SUMMARY: Written comments should be received on or before July 31, 2017. ADDRESSES: You may download a copy of the draft habitat conservation plan and draft low-effect screening form and environmental action statement on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you may request copies of the documents by U.S. mail to our Ventura office, or by phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Please address written comments to Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. You may alternatively send comments by facsimile to (805) 644–3958. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, at the above address or by calling (805) 644–1766. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Betteravia Farms, LLC (applicant), for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; Act). The applicant has agreed to follow all of the conditions in the habitat conservation plan for the project. The permit would authorize take of the Santa Barbara distinct population segment of the federally endangered California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) incidental to otherwise mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:32 Jun 29, 2017 Jkt 241001 lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farm Employee Housing Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). We invite public comment on the application, the draft habitat conservation plan, draft low-effect screening form, and environmental action statement. Background The Santa Barbara distinct population segment of the California tiger salamander was listed by the Service as endangered on January 19, 2000 (65 FR 3096). Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. ‘‘Take’’ is defined under the Act to include the following activities: ‘‘[T]o harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532); however, under 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 of an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental take permits for threatened and endangered species are in the Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. Under the Act, protections for federally listed plants differ from the protections afforded to federally listed animals. Issuance of an incidental take permit also must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed fish, wildlife, or plant species. All species included in the incidental take permit would receive assurances under our ‘‘No Surprises’’ regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)). The applicants have applied for a permit for incidental take of the California tiger salamander. The potential taking would occur as a result of activities associated with the construction of the farm labor camp in suitable habitat for the covered species. Our Preliminary Determination The Service has made a preliminary determination that issuance of the permit is neither a major Federal action that will significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), nor will it individually or cumulatively have more than a negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, the permit qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NEPA. PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Public Comments If you wish to comment on the permit application, plan, and associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods in ADDRESSES. Public Availability of Comments 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 view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 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: June 26, 2017. Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, California. [FR Doc. 2017–13770 Filed 6–29–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2017–N024; FXES11130900000C2–178–FF09E32000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Status Reviews of 23 Southeastern Species Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of initiation of reviews; request for information. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are initiating 5-year status reviews of 23 species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We conduct these reviews to ensure that the classification of species as threatened or endangered on the Lists of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants is accurate. A 5-year review is an assessment of the best scientific and commercial data available at the time of the review. Therefore, we are requesting submission of information that has become available since the last review of each of these species. DATES: To allow us adequate time to conduct these reviews, we must receive your comments or information on or before August 29, 2017. However, we SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30JNN1.SGM 30JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 29916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13770]



[[Page 29916]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2017-N046; FXES11130800000-178-FF08EVEN00]


Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Low-Effect 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Curletti Farm Employee Housing 
Project, Santa Barbara County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit application; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an 
application from Betteravia Farms, LLC, for an incidental take permit 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would 
authorize take of the federally endangered California tiger salamander 
(Santa Barbara distinct population segment) incidental to otherwise 
lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farm Employee Housing 
Project Habitat Conservation Plan. We invite public comment.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may download a copy of the draft habitat conservation 
plan and draft low-effect screening form and environmental action 
statement on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you may 
request copies of the documents by U.S. mail to our Ventura office, or 
by phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Please address written 
comments to Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and 
Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, 
Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. You may alternatively send comments by 
facsimile to (805) 644-3958.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above address or by calling (805) 644-1766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), have received an application from Betteravia Farms, LLC 
(applicant), for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; Act). The applicant 
has agreed to follow all of the conditions in the habitat conservation 
plan for the project. The permit would authorize take of the Santa 
Barbara distinct population segment of the federally endangered 
California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) incidental to 
otherwise lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farm Employee 
Housing Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). We invite public 
comment on the application, the draft habitat conservation plan, draft 
low-effect screening form, and environmental action statement.

Background

    The Santa Barbara distinct population segment of the California 
tiger salamander was listed by the Service as endangered on January 19, 
2000 (65 FR 3096). Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and 
its implementing regulations prohibit the ``take'' of fish or wildlife 
species listed as endangered or threatened. ``Take'' is defined under 
the Act to include the following activities: ``[T]o harass, harm, 
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to 
attempt to engage in any such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1532); however, 
under 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 of an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental 
take permits for threatened and endangered species are in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. Under the 
Act, protections for federally listed plants differ from the 
protections afforded to federally listed animals. Issuance of an 
incidental take permit also must not jeopardize the existence of 
federally listed fish, wildlife, or plant species. All species included 
in the incidental take permit would receive assurances under our ``No 
Surprises'' regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)).
    The applicants have applied for a permit for incidental take of the 
California tiger salamander. The potential taking would occur as a 
result of activities associated with the construction of the farm labor 
camp in suitable habitat for the covered species.

Our Preliminary Determination

    The Service has made a preliminary determination that issuance of 
the permit is neither a major Federal action that will significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of 
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.; NEPA), nor will it individually or cumulatively have more 
than a negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, 
the permit qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NEPA.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, plan, and 
associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods 
in ADDRESSES.

Public Availability of Comments

    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 view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

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: June 26, 2017.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2017-13770 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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