NiSource Inc. Application for an Incidental Take Permit, 57953-57956 [E7-20039]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 196 / Thursday, October 11, 2007 / Notices
period. These persons will be allocated
time as it permits.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anyone requiring information regarding
the ACCV should contact Michelle
Herzog, DVIC, HSB, HRSA, Room 11C–
26, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD
20857; telephone (301) 443–6593 or email: mherzog@hrsa.gov.
Dated: October 4, 2007.
Alexandra Huttinger,
Acting Director, Division of Policy Review
and Coordination.
[FR Doc. E7–20073 Filed 10–10–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice; 30-day notice and
request for comments; revision of a
currently approved collection OMB No.
1660–0047, FEMA Form 90–129,
Mission Assignment, and FEMA Form
90–136, Action Request.
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), as part of
its continuing effort to reduce
paperwork and respondent burden,
invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to take this
opportunity to comment on a
continuing information collection. In
accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks
comments concerning the Mission
Assignment (MA) form that is used to
record requests for Federal assistance by
State and Federal entities to FEMA, and
the Action Request (AR) form which is
used to request Federal assistance.
Title: Request for Federal Assistance
Form—How to Process Mission
Assignments in Federal Disaster
Operations.
OMB Number: 1660–0047.
Abstract: The MA form is used to
record a request for Federal assistance
by States and Federal entities to FEMA,
and may become the official FEMA
obligating document if a mission
assignment to another Federal agency
results from the request. Mission
assignments are directives provided by
FEMA to another agency to perform
specific work in disaster operations, on
a reimbursable basis and are defined in
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the 44 CFR 206.2(a)(18) and to record
Federal approving signatures.
Affected Public: State, local or tribal
governments and Federal Government.
Number of Respondents: 56.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 8
hours and 23 minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 1,739.
Estimated Cost: Cost to respondent is
estimated to be approximately
$61,195.41 annually.
Comments: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments on
the proposed information collection to
the Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Nathan Lesser, Desk
Officer, Department of Homeland
Security/FEMA, and sent via electronic
mail to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov
or faxed to (202) 395–6974. Comments
must be submitted on or before
November 13, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
should be made to Director, Records
Management, FEMA, 500 C Street, SW.,
Room 609, Washington, DC 20472,
facsimile number (202) 646–3347, or
e-mail address FEMA–InformationCollections@dhs.gov.
Dated: October 3, 2007.
John A. Sharetts-Sullivan,
Director, Records Management and Privacy,
Office of Management Directorate, Federal
Emergency Management Agency, Department
of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E7–19994 Filed 10–10–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management
Agency
[FEMA–3277–EM]
Texas; Amendment No. 1 to Notice of
an Emergency Declaration
Federal Emergency
Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice amends the notice
of an emergency for the State of Texas
(FEMA–3277–EM), dated August 18,
2007, and related determinations.
DATES: Effective Date: September 5,
2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Peggy Miller, Disaster Assistance
Directorate, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, Washington, DC
20472, (202) 646–2705.
PO 00000
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57953
Notice is
hereby given that the incident period for
this emergency is closed effective
September 5, 2007.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
(The following Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance Numbers (CFDA) are to be used
for reporting and drawing funds: 97.030,
Community Disaster Loans; 97.031, Cora
Brown Fund Program; 97.032, Crisis
Counseling; 97.033, Disaster Legal Services
Program; 97.034, Disaster Unemployment
Assistance (DUA); 97.046, Fire Management
Assistance; 97.048, Individuals and
Households Housing; 97.049, Individuals and
Households Disaster Housing Operations;
97.050, Individuals and Households
Program—Other Needs; 97.036, Public
Assistance Grants; 97.039, Hazard Mitigation
Grant Program.)
R. David Paulison,
Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. E7–19987 Filed 10–10–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–10–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
NiSource Inc. Application for an
Incidental Take Permit
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement,
announcement of public scoping
meetings, and request for comments.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of
1969, as amended, we, the Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), as lead
agency, are advising the public that we
intend to prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposed
application from NiSource Inc.
(Applicant) for an Incidental Take
Permit (ITP) issued under Section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The ITP
would potentially include multiple
federally listed species across 17 States
and cover NiSource operations,
maintenance, construction, and
emergency response activities
associated with the company’s interstate
natural gas transmission and storage
business.
We provide this notice to (1) describe
the proposed action and possible
alternatives; (2) advise other Federal
and State agencies, potentially affected
tribal interests, and the public of our
intent to prepare an EIS; (3) announce
the initiation of a public scoping period;
and (4) obtain suggestions and
information on the scope of issues to be
included in the EIS.
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57954
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 196 / Thursday, October 11, 2007 / Notices
To ensure consideration, we
must receive your written comments on
or before November 30, 2007. For
approximate public meeting dates, see
‘‘Public Meetings.’’
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or
request for information by any one of
the following methods:
• U.S. Mail: Regional Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of
Ecological Services, 1 Federal Drive,
Fort Snelling, MN 55111–4056.
• Facsimile: 612–713–5292.
• E-Mail: https://infoman.amec.com/
SIMS_PublicComment/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Thomas Magnuson, at 612–713–5467 or
tom_magnuson@fws.gov, or Mr. Forest
Clark, at 812–334–4261 ext. 206 or
forest_clark@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Public Meetings
To facilitate information transfer, we
will hold public meetings in the
following cities between November 5,
2007, and November 16, 2007: Lafayette,
LA; Jackson, MS; Nashville TN;
Lexington, KY; Philadelphia, PA;
Pittsburgh, PA; Columbus, OH;
Cleveland, OH; Charleston, WV;
Richmond, VA; Washington, D.C.;
Binghamton, NY; and Portsmouth, NH.
Specific locations, dates, and times of
public meetings can be found at the
following Web site: https://www.fws.gov/
midwest/Endangered/permits/hcp/
hcp_nisource.html.
Reasonable Accommodations
Persons needing reasonable
accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public meetings
should contact the Service at the
address above no later than 1 week
before the public meeting. Information
regarding this proposed action is
available in alternative formats upon
request.
Background
The operations conducted by the
Applicant’s subject subsidiaries—
Columbia Gas Transmission
Corporation, Columbia Gulf
Transmission Corporation, Granite State
Gas Transmission Corporation and
Crossroads Pipeline Corporation—are
specific only to the interstate natural gas
transmission and storage business. The
Applicant’s primary operations are
subject to the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C.
717, et seq.) (NGA), and fall under the
direct jurisdiction of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the
U.S. Department of Transportation
(USDOT). The proposed ITP would be
granted for those activities undertaken
by the four Applicant subsidiaries noted
above.
The Applicant currently maintains
and operates approximately 17,000
miles of onshore and offshore interstate
natural gas transmission pipelines and
appurtenant facilities in Louisiana,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky,
Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina,
Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York,
New Jersey, Delaware, New Hampshire,
Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts. In
addition, the Applicant operates and
maintains underground natural gas
storage fields (36) in conjunction with
its pipeline system which are comprised
of approximately 3,600 individual
storage wells in West Virginia, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and New York.
The Applicant currently addresses
listed species-related concerns pursuant
to Section 7 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531,
et seq.), as well as associated NGA
regulations which are under the
purview of the FERC and/or associated
with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’
(USACE) permitting requirements.
Section 9 of the Act and its
implementing regulations prohibit the
take of animal species listed as
endangered or threatened. The
definition of take under the Act
includes the following activities: To
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect
listed animal species, or attempt to
engage in such conduct (16 U.S.C.
1538). We have certain responsibilities
for the conservation and protection of
threatened and endangered species
under the Act. Section 10 of the Act, 16
U.S.C. 1539, establishes a program
whereby persons seeking to pursue
activities that otherwise could give rise
to liability for unlawful ‘‘take’’ of
federally protected species may receive
an ITP, which protects them from such
liability. To obtain an ITP, an applicant
must submit a Habitat Conservation
Plan (HCP) containing appropriate
minimization and mitigation measures
and ensure that the taking is incidental
to, and not the purpose of, an otherwise
lawful activity (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)(B)
and 1539(a)(2)(A). Once we have
determined that the applicant has
satisfied these and other statutory
criteria, we may issue the ITP.
The Applicant has entered into
discussions with us to explore ways to
more efficiently address their Act
obligations, while also maximizing the
conservation and mitigation that they
undertake on a yearly basis through the
traditional Section 7 process. The
Applicant has also initiated discussions
with FERC and USACE, and other
stakeholders (States, non-governmental
organizations, etc.). Accordingly, both
FERC and USACE will be cooperating
agencies for the environmental review
process.
If successful, the Applicant’s HCP and
subsequent ITP would allow take
authorization for otherwise lawful
activities, such as the Applicant’s
facility construction, maintenance,
operation, and emergency response
activities inherent to its interstate
natural gas transmission and storage
business. The HCP will contain a
multifaceted approach, including but
not limited to take avoidance,
minimization (e.g., through proven and
defined best management practices),
and mitigation through potential
preservation, restoration, and
enhancement measures. The Applicant
must also ensure that adequate funding
for implementation and compliance
monitoring be provided.
Species the Applicant has proposed
for inclusion in the HCP are species that
are currently listed as federally
threatened or endangered or have the
potential to become listed during the
life of this HCP, and have some
likelihood of occurring within the
project area (as defined in Table 1
below). Only those species under the
purview of the Service will be assessed
in the EIS and included in the ITP.
The project area (i.e., proposed
‘‘covered lands’’) is hereby defined as a
1-mile wide corridor centered upon the
Applicant’s existing facilities (i.e., 1⁄2
mile on each side of the right-of-way
center line).
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
TABLE 1.—SPECIES PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE NISOURCE HCP
Common name
Scientific name
Federal
status
Where listed
Gray Bat .........................................
Myotis grisescens ..........................
E ..................
AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY,
MO, OK, TN, VA, WV.
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Final listing rule
41 FR 17736.
57955
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 196 / Thursday, October 11, 2007 / Notices
TABLE 1.—SPECIES PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE NISOURCE HCP—Continued
Scientific name
Federal
status
Where listed
Indiana bat .....................................
Myotis sodalist ...............................
E ..................
Louisiana black bear ......................
Virginia big-eared bat .....................
Virginia northern flying squirrel ......
New England Cottontail .................
Bald eagle ......................................
Brown pelican ................................
Interior least tern ............................
Ursus americanus luteolus ............
Plecotus townsendii virginianus ....
Glaucomys sabrinus fuscus ..........
Sylvilagus transitionalis .................
Haliaeetus leucocephalus .............
Pelecanus occidentalis Linnaeus ..
Sterna antillarum ...........................
T ..................
E ..................
E ..................
C.
T ..................
E ..................
E ..................
AL, AR, CT, GA, IL, IN, IA, KY,
MD, MI, MS, MO, NJ, NC, OH,
OK, PA, TN, VT, VA, WV.
LA, MS, TX ....................................
KY, NC, VA, WV ...........................
VA, WV ..........................................
Piping plover ..................................
Charadrius melodus ......................
E/T/CH ........
Red cockaded woodpecker ...........
Picoides borealis ...........................
E ..................
Bog turtle ........................................
Glyptemys muhlenbergii ................
T ..................
Copperbelly watersnake ................
Eastern Massasauga .....................
Louisiana pine snake .....................
Cheat mountain salamander ..........
Shenandoah salamander ...............
Maryland darter ..............................
Pallid sturgeon ...............................
Nerodia erthrogaster neglecta .......
Sistrurus catenatus catenatus .......
Pituophis ruthveni ..........................
Plethodon nettingi ..........................
Plethodon Shenandoah .................
Etheostoma sellare ........................
Scapnirhynchus albus ...................
T ..................
C.
C.
T ..................
E ..................
E ..................
E ..................
Roanoke logperch ..........................
Spotfin chub ...................................
Madison cave isopod .....................
Nashville crayfish ...........................
Clubshell ........................................
Birdwing pearlymussel ...................
Cracking pearlymussel ...................
Cumberland
monkeyface
pearlymussel.
Dwarf wedgemussel .......................
Percina rex ....................................
Erimonax monachus ......................
Antrolana lira .................................
Orconectes shoupi ........................
Pleurobema clava ..........................
Lemiox rimosus .............................
Hemistena lata ..............................
Quadrula Rafinesque ....................
E
T
T
E
E
E
E
E
Alasmidonta heterodon .................
E ..................
Fanshell ..........................................
Fat pocketbook ..............................
James spinymussel ........................
Louisiana pearlshell .......................
Northern riffleshell ..........................
Orangefoot
pimpleback
pearlymussel.
Oyster mussel ................................
Pink mucket pearlymussel .............
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Common name
Cyprogenia stegaria ......................
Potamilus capax ............................
Pleurobema collina ........................
Margaritifera hembeli .....................
Epioblasma torulosa rangiana .......
Plethobasus cooperianus ..............
E
E
E
T
E
E
Epioblasma capsaeformis .............
Lampsilis orbiculata .......................
E/CH ............
E ..................
Purple catspaw pearlymussel ........
Rayed bean ....................................
Ring pink mussel ...........................
Rough pigtoe ..................................
Sheepnose .....................................
Slabside pearlymussel ...................
Spectaclecase ................................
Tan riffleshell ..................................
White cat’s paw pearlymussel .......
White wartyback pearlymussel ......
American burying beetle ................
Karner blue butterfly ......................
American chaffseed .......................
Eastern prairie fringed orchid ........
Epioblasma obliquata ....................
Villosa fabalis ................................
Obovaria retusa .............................
Pleurobema plenum ......................
Plethobasus cyphyus ....................
Lexingtonia dolabelloides ..............
Cumberlandia monodonta .............
Epioblasma florentina walkeri .......
Epioblasma obliquata perobliqua ..
Plethobasus cicatriocosus .............
Nicrophorus americanus ...............
Lycaeides melissa Samuelis .........
Schwalbea americana L ................
Platanthera leucophaea ................
E ..................
C.
E ..................
E ..................
C.
C.
C.
E ..................
E ..................
E ..................
E ..................
E ..................
E ..................
T ..................
Globe
bladderpod
(previously
Short’s bladderpod).
Harperella .......................................
Lesquerella globosa ......................
C.
Ptilimnium nodosum ......................
E ..................
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Delisted ..........................................
CA, LA, MS, OR, PR, TX, VI, WA
AR, CO, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MS,
MO, MT, NE, NM, ND, OK, SD,
TN, TX.
Great Lakes E—IL, IN, MI, MN,
NY, OH, PA, WI; Remaining T—
AL, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IN, IA,
KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MN,
MS, MO, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY,
NC, ND, OH, OK, PR, RI, SC,
TX, VA, WV.
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK,
SC, TX, VA.
GA, NC, SC, VA, CT, DE, MD,
MA, NJ.
IN, MI, OH .....................................
WV .................................................
VA ..................................................
MD .................................................
AR, IL, IA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO,
MT, NE, ND, SD, TN.
VA ..................................................
TN ..................................................
VA, WV ..........................................
TN ..................................................
IN, KY, MI, OH, PA, WV ...............
TN, VA.
AL, IN, KY, PA, TN, VA ................
AL, TN, VA ....................................
Final listing rule
32 FR 4001.
57 FR 588.
44 FR 69206.
50 FR 26999.
72 FR 37346.
35 FR 16047.
50 FR 21784.
50 FR 50726,
Critical Habitat—66 FR
57637 Northern Great
Plains, 66 FR
22938 Great
Lakes.
35 FR 16047.
62 FR 59605.
62 FR 4183.
54
54
32
55
FR
FR
FR
FR
34464.
34464.
4001.
36641.
54
42
47
51
58
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
34464.
45526.
43699.
34410.
5638.
54 FR 39850.
41 FR 24062.
CT, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NC, PA, VT,
VA.
AL, IL, IN, KY, OH, TN, VA, WV ...
AR, IL, IN, KY, MS, MO ................
NC, VA, WV ..................................
LA ..................................................
IN, KY, MI, OH, PA, WV ...............
AL, IL, IN, KY, PA, TN ..................
55 FR 9447.
AL, KY, TN, VA .............................
AL, AR, IL, IN, KY, LA, MO, OH,
PA, TN, VA, WV.
AL, KY, OH, TN .............................
62 FR 1647.
41 FR 24026.
AL, IN, KY, PA, TN .......................
AL, IN, KY, PA, TN, VA ................
54 FR 40109.
42 FR 24062.
KY, TN, VA ....................................
IN, OH ...........................................
AL, IN, KY, TN ..............................
AR, MA, MI, NE, OH, OK, RI, SD
IL, IN, MI, MN, NH, NY, OH, WI ...
AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NJ, NC, SC
AR, IL, IA, ME, MI, OH, OK, VA,
WI.
42
41
41
54
57
57
54
AL, AR, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV
53 FR 37978.
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55
41
53
58
58
41
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
25591.
24062.
27693.
49935.
5638.
24062.
55 FR 28209.
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
42351.
24062.
24062.
29652.
59236.
44703.
39857.
57956
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 196 / Thursday, October 11, 2007 / Notices
TABLE 1.—SPECIES PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE NISOURCE HCP—Continued
Federal
status
Common name
Scientific name
Lakeside daisy ...............................
Leafy prairie clover ........................
Leedy’s roseroot ............................
Mead’s milkweed ...........................
Michaux’s sumac ...........................
Northeastern bulrush .....................
Northern Monkshood .....................
Pondberry .......................................
Price’s potato bean ........................
Running buffalo clover ...................
Sandplain gerardia .........................
Sensitive joint-vetch .......................
Shale barren rockcress ..................
Short’s goldenrod ...........................
Small whorled pogonia ..................
Tetraneuris herbacea ....................
Dalea foliosa ..................................
Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. Leedyi ...
Asclepias meadii ...........................
Rhus michauxii ..............................
Scirpus ancistrochaetus ................
Aconitum noveboracense ..............
Lindera melissifolia ........................
Apios priceana ...............................
Trifolium stoloniferum ....................
Agalinis acuta ................................
Aeschynomene sensitive ...............
Arabis serotina ..............................
Solidago shortii ..............................
Isotria medeoloides .......................
E
E
T
T
T
E
E
E
T
E
E
T
E
E
T
Smooth coneflower ........................
Spring Creek bladderpod ...............
Swamp pink ...................................
Tennessee purple coneflower ........
Tennessee yellow-eyed grass .......
Virginia sneezeweed ......................
Virginia spiraea ..............................
White Fringeless Orchid ................
White-haired goldenrod ..................
Echinacea laevigata ......................
Lesquerella perforate ....................
Helonias bullata L ..........................
Echinacea tennesseensis ..............
Xyris tennesseensis kral ...............
Helenium virginicum ......................
Spiraea virginiana ..........................
Platanthera integrilabia ..................
Solidago albopilosa .......................
E ..................
E ..................
T ..................
E ..................
E ..................
T ..................
T ..................
C.
T ..................
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with NOTICES
Environmental Impact Statement
We will be the lead Federal agency in
the preparation of an EIS that will
satisfy the requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; (42
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.). USACE and FERC
will serve as cooperating agencies
during the preparation of the EIS. With
this NOI, we ask other Federal, State,
and local agencies with jurisdiction
and/or special expertise with respect to
environmental issues, in addition to
those agencies that have already agreed
to serve as cooperating agencies (as
noted above), to formally cooperate with
us in the preparation of the EIS.
Agencies that would like to request
cooperating agency status on the EIS
should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided under the
Addresses section of this NOI.
The EIS will consider the proposed
action (i.e., the issuance of a Section
10(a)(1)(B) permit under the Act, as
supported by an HCP), no action (no
HCP/no Section 10 permit), and a
reasonable range of alternatives that
accomplish the purpose and need of the
proposal. A detailed description of the
proposed action and alternatives will be
included in the EIS. The alternatives to
be considered for analysis in the EIS
may include, but not be limited to,
modified lists of covered species, land
coverage areas, and activities coverage.
The EIS will also identify potentially
significant impacts on biological
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Where listed
IL, MI, OH ......................................
AL, IL, TN ......................................
MN, NY ..........................................
IL, IN, IA, KS, MO .........................
GA, NC, SC, VA ............................
MD, MA, NH, PA, VT, VA, WV .....
IA, NY, OH, WI ..............................
AR, GA, MS, MO, NC, SC ............
AL, IL, KY, MS, TN .......................
AR, IN, KY, MO, OH, WV .............
CT, MD, MA, NY, RI .....................
MD, NJ, NC, VA ............................
VA, WV ..........................................
IN, KY ............................................
CT, DE, GA, IL, ME, MA, MI, NH,
NJ, NC, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN,
VA, WV.
GA, NC, SC, VA ............................
TN ..................................................
DE, GA, MD, NJ, NC, SC, VA ......
TN ..................................................
53
56
57
53
54
56
43
51
55
52
53
57
54
50
59
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
23742.
19953.
14649.
33992.
39850.
21091.
17910.
27495.
429.
21478.
34701.
21569.
29655.
36085.
50852.
MD, VA ..........................................
GA, KY, NC, OH, PA, TN, VA, WV
57
61
53
44
56
63
55
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
FR
46340.
67493.
35076.
32604.
34151.
59239.
24241.
KY ..................................................
53 FR 11612.
resources, land use, air quality, water
quality, water resources, economics, and
other environmental/historical
resources that may occur directly or
indirectly as a result of implementing
the proposed action or any of the
alternatives. Various strategies for
avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating
the impacts of incidental take may also
be considered.
Environmental review of the EIS will
be conducted in accordance with the
requirements of NEPA, its implementing
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500–1508),
other applicable regulations, and our
procedures for compliance with those
regulations. We furnish this notice in
accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 and
1508.22 to obtain suggestions and
information from other agencies and the
public on the scope of issues and
alternatives they believe need to be
addressed in the EIS. The primary
purpose of the scoping process is to
identify important issues raised by the
public related to the proposed action.
Written comments from interested
parties are invited to ensure that the full
range of issues related to the proposed
permit application is identified.
Comments will only be accepted in
written form.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, you should be aware that
PO 00000
Frm 00048
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Final listing rule
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.
Dated: September 19, 2007.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Great Lakes-Big
Rivers Region.
[FR Doc. E7–20039 Filed 10–10–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[F–14830–A and F–14830–A2, AK–962–
1410–KC–P]
Alaska Native Claims Selection
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of decision approving
lands for conveyance.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: As required by 43 CFR
2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that an
appealable decision approving lands for
conveyance pursuant to the Alaska
Native Claims Settlement Act will be
issued to Nerklikmute Native
Corporation, for lands in the vicinity of
the Native village of Andreafski, Alaska,
and are located in:
E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM
11OCN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 196 (Thursday, October 11, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57953-57956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20039]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
NiSource Inc. Application for an Incidental Take Permit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement,
announcement of public scoping meetings, and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969,
as amended, we, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), as lead
agency, are advising the public that we intend to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on a proposed application from
NiSource Inc. (Applicant) for an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) issued
under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act). The ITP would potentially include multiple federally
listed species across 17 States and cover NiSource operations,
maintenance, construction, and emergency response activities associated
with the company's interstate natural gas transmission and storage
business.
We provide this notice to (1) describe the proposed action and
possible alternatives; (2) advise other Federal and State agencies,
potentially affected tribal interests, and the public of our intent to
prepare an EIS; (3) announce the initiation of a public scoping period;
and (4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to be
included in the EIS.
[[Page 57954]]
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
on or before November 30, 2007. For approximate public meeting dates,
see ``Public Meetings.''
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or request for information by any one of
the following methods:
U.S. Mail: Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Ecological Services, 1 Federal Drive, Fort
Snelling, MN 55111-4056.
Facsimile: 612-713-5292.
E-Mail: https://infoman.amec.com/SIMS_PublicComment/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Magnuson, at 612-713-5467
or tom_magnuson@fws.gov, or Mr. Forest Clark, at 812-334-4261 ext. 206
or forest_clark@fws.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Meetings
To facilitate information transfer, we will hold public meetings in
the following cities between November 5, 2007, and November 16, 2007:
Lafayette, LA; Jackson, MS; Nashville TN; Lexington, KY; Philadelphia,
PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Columbus, OH; Cleveland, OH; Charleston, WV;
Richmond, VA; Washington, D.C.; Binghamton, NY; and Portsmouth, NH.
Specific locations, dates, and times of public meetings can be found at
the following Web site: https://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/permits/
hcp/hcp_nisource.html.
Reasonable Accommodations
Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public meetings should contact the Service at the
address above no later than 1 week before the public meeting.
Information regarding this proposed action is available in alternative
formats upon request.
Background
The operations conducted by the Applicant's subject subsidiaries--
Columbia Gas Transmission Corporation, Columbia Gulf Transmission
Corporation, Granite State Gas Transmission Corporation and Crossroads
Pipeline Corporation--are specific only to the interstate natural gas
transmission and storage business. The Applicant's primary operations
are subject to the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717, et seq.) (NGA), and
fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT).
The proposed ITP would be granted for those activities undertaken by
the four Applicant subsidiaries noted above.
The Applicant currently maintains and operates approximately 17,000
miles of onshore and offshore interstate natural gas transmission
pipelines and appurtenant facilities in Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, New Hampshire,
Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts. In addition, the Applicant operates
and maintains underground natural gas storage fields (36) in
conjunction with its pipeline system which are comprised of
approximately 3,600 individual storage wells in West Virginia, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, and New York.
The Applicant currently addresses listed species-related concerns
pursuant to Section 7 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.), as well as
associated NGA regulations which are under the purview of the FERC and/
or associated with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) permitting
requirements.
Section 9 of the Act and its implementing regulations prohibit the
take of animal species listed as endangered or threatened. The
definition of take under the Act includes the following activities: To
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
collect listed animal species, or attempt to engage in such conduct (16
U.S.C. 1538). We have certain responsibilities for the conservation and
protection of threatened and endangered species under the Act. Section
10 of the Act, 16 U.S.C. 1539, establishes a program whereby persons
seeking to pursue activities that otherwise could give rise to
liability for unlawful ``take'' of federally protected species may
receive an ITP, which protects them from such liability. To obtain an
ITP, an applicant must submit a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
containing appropriate minimization and mitigation measures and ensure
that the taking is incidental to, and not the purpose of, an otherwise
lawful activity (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)(1)(B) and 1539(a)(2)(A). Once we
have determined that the applicant has satisfied these and other
statutory criteria, we may issue the ITP.
The Applicant has entered into discussions with us to explore ways
to more efficiently address their Act obligations, while also
maximizing the conservation and mitigation that they undertake on a
yearly basis through the traditional Section 7 process. The Applicant
has also initiated discussions with FERC and USACE, and other
stakeholders (States, non-governmental organizations, etc.).
Accordingly, both FERC and USACE will be cooperating agencies for the
environmental review process.
If successful, the Applicant's HCP and subsequent ITP would allow
take authorization for otherwise lawful activities, such as the
Applicant's facility construction, maintenance, operation, and
emergency response activities inherent to its interstate natural gas
transmission and storage business. The HCP will contain a multifaceted
approach, including but not limited to take avoidance, minimization
(e.g., through proven and defined best management practices), and
mitigation through potential preservation, restoration, and enhancement
measures. The Applicant must also ensure that adequate funding for
implementation and compliance monitoring be provided.
Species the Applicant has proposed for inclusion in the HCP are
species that are currently listed as federally threatened or endangered
or have the potential to become listed during the life of this HCP, and
have some likelihood of occurring within the project area (as defined
in Table 1 below). Only those species under the purview of the Service
will be assessed in the EIS and included in the ITP.
The project area (i.e., proposed ``covered lands'') is hereby
defined as a 1-mile wide corridor centered upon the Applicant's
existing facilities (i.e., \1/2\ mile on each side of the right-of-way
center line).
Table 1.--Species Proposed for Inclusion in the NiSource HCP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Scientific name Federal status Where listed Final listing rule
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gray Bat....................... Myotis grisescens. E.................. AL, AR, FL, GA, 41 FR 17736.
IL, IN, KS, KY,
MO, OK, TN, VA,
WV.
[[Page 57955]]
Indiana bat.................... Myotis sodalist... E.................. AL, AR, CT, GA, 32 FR 4001.
IL, IN, IA, KY,
MD, MI, MS, MO,
NJ, NC, OH, OK,
PA, TN, VT, VA,
WV.
Louisiana black bear........... Ursus americanus T.................. LA, MS, TX........ 57 FR 588.
luteolus.
Virginia big-eared bat......... Plecotus E.................. KY, NC, VA, WV.... 44 FR 69206.
townsendii
virginianus.
Virginia northern flying Glaucomys sabrinus E.................. VA, WV............ 50 FR 26999.
squirrel. fuscus.
New England Cottontail......... Sylvilagus C..................
transitionalis.
Bald eagle..................... Haliaeetus T.................. Delisted.......... 72 FR 37346.
leucocephalus.
Brown pelican.................. Pelecanus E.................. CA, LA, MS, OR, 35 FR 16047.
occidentalis PR, TX, VI, WA.
Linnaeus.
Interior least tern............ Sterna antillarum. E.................. AR, CO, IL, IA, 50 FR 21784.
KS, KY, LA, MS,
MO, MT, NE, NM,
ND, OK, SD, TN,
TX.
Piping plover.................. Charadrius melodus E/T/CH............. Great Lakes E--IL, 50 FR 50726,
IN, MI, MN, NY, Critical Habitat--
OH, PA, WI; 66 FR 57637
Remaining T--AL, Northern Great
CO, CT, DE, FL, Plains, 66 FR
GA, IN, IA, KS, 22938 Great
KY, LA, ME, MD, Lakes.
MA, MN, MS, MO,
MT, NE, NH, NJ,
NY, NC, ND, OH,
OK, PR, RI, SC,
TX, VA, WV.
Red cockaded woodpecker........ Picoides borealis. E.................. AL, AR, FL, GA, 35 FR 16047.
LA, MS, NC, OK,
SC, TX, VA.
Bog turtle..................... Glyptemys T.................. GA, NC, SC, VA, 62 FR 59605.
muhlenbergii. CT, DE, MD, MA,
NJ.
Copperbelly watersnake......... Nerodia T.................. IN, MI, OH........ 62 FR 4183.
erthrogaster
neglecta.
Eastern Massasauga............. Sistrurus C..................
catenatus
catenatus.
Louisiana pine snake........... Pituophis ruthveni C..................
Cheat mountain salamander...... Plethodon nettingi T.................. WV................ 54 FR 34464.
Shenandoah salamander.......... Plethodon E.................. VA................ 54 FR 34464.
Shenandoah.
Maryland darter................ Etheostoma sellare E.................. MD................ 32 FR 4001.
Pallid sturgeon................ Scapnirhynchus E.................. AR, IL, IA, KS, 55 FR 36641.
albus. KY, LA, MS, MO,
MT, NE, ND, SD,
TN.
Roanoke logperch............... Percina rex....... E.................. VA................ 54 FR 34464.
Spotfin chub................... Erimonax monachus. T.................. TN................ 42 FR 45526.
Madison cave isopod............ Antrolana lira.... T.................. VA, WV............ 47 FR 43699.
Nashville crayfish............. Orconectes shoupi. E.................. TN................ 51 FR 34410.
Clubshell...................... Pleurobema clava.. E.................. IN, KY, MI, OH, 58 FR 5638.
PA, WV.
Birdwing pearlymussel.......... Lemiox rimosus.... E.................. TN, VA. ..................
Cracking pearlymussel.......... Hemistena lata.... E.................. AL, IN, KY, PA, 54 FR 39850.
TN, VA.
Cumberland monkeyface Quadrula E.................. AL, TN, VA........ 41 FR 24062.
pearlymussel. Rafinesque.
Dwarf wedgemussel.............. Alasmidonta E.................. CT, MD, MA, NH, 55 FR 9447.
heterodon. NJ, NC, PA, VT,
VA.
Fanshell....................... Cyprogenia E.................. AL, IL, IN, KY, 55 FR 25591.
stegaria. OH, TN, VA, WV.
Fat pocketbook................. Potamilus capax... E.................. AR, IL, IN, KY, 41 FR 24062.
MS, MO.
James spinymussel.............. Pleurobema collina E.................. NC, VA, WV........ 53 FR 27693.
Louisiana pearlshell........... Margaritifera T.................. LA................ 58 FR 49935.
hembeli.
Northern riffleshell........... Epioblasma E.................. IN, KY, MI, OH, 58 FR 5638.
torulosa rangiana. PA, WV.
Orangefoot pimpleback Plethobasus E.................. AL, IL, IN, KY, 41 FR 24062.
pearlymussel. cooperianus. PA, TN.
Oyster mussel.................. Epioblasma E/CH............... AL, KY, TN, VA.... 62 FR 1647.
capsaeformis.
Pink mucket pearlymussel....... Lampsilis E.................. AL, AR, IL, IN, 41 FR 24026.
orbiculata. KY, LA, MO, OH,
PA, TN, VA, WV.
Purple catspaw pearlymussel.... Epioblasma E.................. AL, KY, OH, TN.... 55 FR 28209.
obliquata.
Rayed bean..................... Villosa fabalis... C..................
Ring pink mussel............... Obovaria retusa... E.................. AL, IN, KY, PA, TN 54 FR 40109.
Rough pigtoe................... Pleurobema plenum. E.................. AL, IN, KY, PA, 42 FR 24062.
TN, VA.
Sheepnose...................... Plethobasus C..................
cyphyus.
Slabside pearlymussel.......... Lexingtonia C..................
dolabelloides.
Spectaclecase.................. Cumberlandia C..................
monodonta.
Tan riffleshell................ Epioblasma E.................. KY, TN, VA........ 42 FR 42351.
florentina
walkeri.
White cat's paw pearlymussel... Epioblasma E.................. IN, OH............ 41 FR 24062.
obliquata
perobliqua.
White wartyback pearlymussel... Plethobasus E.................. AL, IN, KY, TN.... 41 FR 24062.
cicatriocosus.
American burying beetle........ Nicrophorus E.................. AR, MA, MI, NE, 54 FR 29652.
americanus. OH, OK, RI, SD.
Karner blue butterfly.......... Lycaeides melissa E.................. IL, IN, MI, MN, 57 FR 59236.
Samuelis. NH, NY, OH, WI.
American chaffseed............. Schwalbea E.................. AL, FL, GA, LA, 57 FR 44703.
americana L. MS, NJ, NC, SC.
Eastern prairie fringed orchid. Platanthera T.................. AR, IL, IA, ME, 54 FR 39857.
leucophaea. MI, OH, OK, VA,
WI.
Globe bladderpod (previously Lesquerella C..................
Short's bladderpod). globosa.
Harperella..................... Ptilimnium nodosum E.................. AL, AR, GA, MD, 53 FR 37978.
NC, SC, VA, WV.
[[Page 57956]]
Lakeside daisy................. Tetraneuris E.................. IL, MI, OH........ 53 FR 23742.
herbacea.
Leafy prairie clover........... Dalea foliosa..... E.................. AL, IL, TN........ 56 FR 19953.
Leedy's roseroot............... Rhodiola T.................. MN, NY............ 57 FR 14649.
integrifolia ssp.
Leedyi.
Mead's milkweed................ Asclepias meadii.. T.................. IL, IN, IA, KS, MO 53 FR 33992.
Michaux's sumac................ Rhus michauxii.... T.................. GA, NC, SC, VA.... 54 FR 39850.
Northeastern bulrush........... Scirpus E.................. MD, MA, NH, PA, 56 FR 21091.
ancistrochaetus. VT, VA, WV.
Northern Monkshood............. Aconitum E.................. IA, NY, OH, WI.... 43 FR 17910.
noveboracense.
Pondberry...................... Lindera E.................. AR, GA, MS, MO, 51 FR 27495.
melissifolia. NC, SC.
Price's potato bean............ Apios priceana.... T.................. AL, IL, KY, MS, TN 55 FR 429.
Running buffalo clover......... Trifolium E.................. AR, IN, KY, MO, 52 FR 21478.
stoloniferum. OH, WV.
Sandplain gerardia............. Agalinis acuta.... E.................. CT, MD, MA, NY, RI 53 FR 34701.
Sensitive joint-vetch.......... Aeschynomene T.................. MD, NJ, NC, VA.... 57 FR 21569.
sensitive.
Shale barren rockcress......... Arabis serotina... E.................. VA, WV............ 54 FR 29655.
Short's goldenrod.............. Solidago shortii.. E.................. IN, KY............ 50 FR 36085.
Small whorled pogonia.......... Isotria T.................. CT, DE, GA, IL, 59 FR 50852.
medeoloides. ME, MA, MI, NH,
NJ, NC, OH, PA,
RI, SC, TN, VA,
WV.
Smooth coneflower.............. Echinacea E.................. GA, NC, SC, VA.... 57 FR 46340.
laevigata.
Spring Creek bladderpod........ Lesquerella E.................. TN................ 61 FR 67493.
perforate.
Swamp pink..................... Helonias bullata L T.................. DE, GA, MD, NJ, 53 FR 35076.
NC, SC, VA.
Tennessee purple coneflower.... Echinacea E.................. TN................ 44 FR 32604.
tennesseensis.
Tennessee yellow-eyed grass.... Xyris E.................. 56 FR 34151.
tennesseensis
kral.
Virginia sneezeweed............ Helenium T.................. MD, VA............ 63 FR 59239.
virginicum.
Virginia spiraea............... Spiraea virginiana T.................. GA, KY, NC, OH, 55 FR 24241.
PA, TN, VA, WV.
White Fringeless Orchid........ Platanthera C..................
integrilabia.
White-haired goldenrod......... Solidago T.................. KY................ 53 FR 11612.
albopilosa.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Environmental Impact Statement
We will be the lead Federal agency in the preparation of an EIS
that will satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA; (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.). USACE and FERC will serve as
cooperating agencies during the preparation of the EIS. With this NOI,
we ask other Federal, State, and local agencies with jurisdiction and/
or special expertise with respect to environmental issues, in addition
to those agencies that have already agreed to serve as cooperating
agencies (as noted above), to formally cooperate with us in the
preparation of the EIS. Agencies that would like to request cooperating
agency status on the EIS should follow the instructions for filing
comments provided under the Addresses section of this NOI.
The EIS will consider the proposed action (i.e., the issuance of a
Section 10(a)(1)(B) permit under the Act, as supported by an HCP), no
action (no HCP/no Section 10 permit), and a reasonable range of
alternatives that accomplish the purpose and need of the proposal. A
detailed description of the proposed action and alternatives will be
included in the EIS. The alternatives to be considered for analysis in
the EIS may include, but not be limited to, modified lists of covered
species, land coverage areas, and activities coverage. The EIS will
also identify potentially significant impacts on biological resources,
land use, air quality, water quality, water resources, economics, and
other environmental/historical resources that may occur directly or
indirectly as a result of implementing the proposed action or any of
the alternatives. Various strategies for avoiding, minimizing, and
mitigating the impacts of incidental take may also be considered.
Environmental review of the EIS will be conducted in accordance
with the requirements of NEPA, its implementing regulations (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508), other applicable regulations, and our procedures for
compliance with those regulations. We furnish this notice in accordance
with 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22 to obtain suggestions and information
from other agencies and the public on the scope of issues and
alternatives they believe need to be addressed in the EIS. The primary
purpose of the scoping process is to identify important issues raised
by the public related to the proposed action. Written comments from
interested parties are invited to ensure that the full range of issues
related to the proposed permit application is identified. Comments will
only be accepted in written form.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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.
Dated: September 19, 2007.
Wendi Weber,
Assistant Regional Director, Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region.
[FR Doc. E7-20039 Filed 10-10-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
