Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit Application; Greater Sage-Grouse; Washington, Adams, Gem, and Payette Counties, Idaho, 36502-36503 [E9-17523]

Download as PDF 36502 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 140 / Thursday, July 23, 2009 / Notices erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES monitor our forests and wetlands for invasive plants and disease, and treat them to the extent our funding allows. Protecting and enhancing riparian and wetlands habitat would be a priority. We would also continue our monitoring and inventory program, but regularly evaluate the results to help us better understand the implications of our management actions and identify ways to improve their effectiveness. We would expand opportunities for all six priority public uses. We would seek partnerships to help us achieve any new or expanded programs, including interpretive trails construction, adding a self-guided canoe trail, and leading environmental education programs using the refuge as a living laboratory. We plan to further evaluate opportunities for waterfowl and turkey hunting. We would also improve and expand access for freshwater fishing. If we can secure permanent funding, we would fill up to four new staff positions to provide depth to our programs and achieve our goals and objectives. We also propose to construct a new, Service-standard small refuge headquarters and visitor contact facility on the Hutchinson tract to increase our visibility and improve public access to refuge land. Alternative C (Forest Management Emphasis) This alternative resembles Alternative B in its refuge administration, facilities, and visitor services programs, but differs in its habitat management. Under Alternative C, we would allow grasslands, old fields, and croplands to revert to shrub and forest, supplementing that process with such activities as plantings, applying herbicides, and cutting or brush-hogging (mowing) as necessary to achieve the desired results. As in Alternative B, we would protect and enhance riparian and wetlands habitats as a priority. We also propose to manage our existing planted pine stands as in Alternative B, and continue to monitor our forests and wetlands for invasive plants and disease and treat them to the extent funding allows. Protecting and enhancing riparian and wetland habitats would also be a priority. Compared to Alternative B, we would conduct a more intensive, focused monitoring and inventory program designed to address more specific questions about habitat quality and the response of wildlife populations. In the near term, monitoring would be aimed specifically at documenting the transition from grasslands, old fields, and croplands to shrub and young forest. Under Alternative C, our public use programs VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:01 Jul 22, 2009 Jkt 217001 would be similar to those proposed under Alternative B, including our plans to pursue a new headquarters and visitor contact facility. Public Meetings We will give the public opportunities to provide input at two public meetings in Warsaw and Richmond, Virginia. You can obtain the schedule from the project leader or natural resource planner (see ADDRESSES or FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above). You may also submit comments at any time during the planning process by any means shown in the ADDRESSES section. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, 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: May 8, 2009. Wendi Weber, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035. [FR Doc. E9–17546 Filed 7–22–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R1–ES–2009–N123; 14420–1115– 1SGR–A2] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit Application; Greater Sage-Grouse; Washington, Adams, Gem, and Payette Counties, Idaho AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Receipt of application for enhancement of survival permit; notice of availability of programmatic candidate conservation agreement with assurances and draft environmental assessment. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application for an enhancement of survival permit (permit) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permit application includes a proposed programmatic candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for the Greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 hereafter, sage-grouse) between us and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG). The term of the proposed CCAA is 30 years, and the requested term of the permit is 30 years. Consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), we have prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) of the impacts of the proposed CCAA and permit application. We are accepting comments on the application, the proposed CCAA, and the draft EA. DATES: We will consider comments we receive on or before August 24, 2009. ADDRESSES: Address any written comments concerning this notice to Kendra Womack, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1387 S Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, ID 83709. Alternatively, fax written comments to 208–378–5262, or e-mail comments to fw1srbocomment@fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kendra Womack, 208–378–5243. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Document Availability Copies of the permit application, the draft CCAA, and the draft EA are available for public inspection, by appointment, at the Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES), or you may view them on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/idaho. We furnish this notice to provide the public, other State and Federal agencies, and interested Tribes an opportunity to review and comment on the draft CCAA, permit application, and draft EA. 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. Background Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances encourage non-Federal property owners to implement conservation efforts for candidate or atrisk species by assuring property owners they will not be subjected to increased property use restrictions if the covered E:\FR\FM\23JYN1.SGM 23JYN1 erowe on DSK5CLS3C1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 140 / Thursday, July 23, 2009 / Notices species becomes listed in the future. Application requirements and issuance criteria for enhancement of survival permits through CCAAs are in the Code of Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d), respectively. See also our joint policy on CCAAs, which we published in the Federal Register with the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (64 FR 32726; June 17, 1999). The proposed CCAA is programmatic in nature, and, under it, individual property owners who wish to participate would enroll their properties under the IDFG’s section 10(a)(1)(A) permit through the issuance of a Certificate of Inclusion. The individual property owner would work with IDFG and us to develop a mutually agreeable site-specific management plan for the enrolled property. The site-specific plan will address known threats to sagegrouse through the implementation of identified conservation measures that are consistent with the participating landowner’s land use activities and the CCAA. If a Certificate of Inclusion is signed and issued to a participating property owner, they would then be authorized to incidentally take sagegrouse if the species becomes listed under the ESA in the future, as long as the terms and conditions of the permit and the existing site-specific plan are followed. The area to be covered under this proposed CCAA (Covered Area) is approximately 930,000 acres (ac) located in the West Central Planning Area (WCPA) in Washington, Adams, Gem, and Payette Counties, Idaho. Within the Covered Area, approximately 590,707 ac is non-Federally owned and would potentially be eligible for enrollment under the proposed CCAA. Sage grouse use habitats throughout the WCPA, including lekking (breeding display) areas, and nesting, brood rearing, and wintering habitats. Accurate estimates of the number of sage-grouse in the WCPA are not available. The proposed CCAA identifies important sage-grouse use areas using a combination of known lek locations, and yearlong telemetry data identifying nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering habitats. The proposed CCAA also assumes that there are some areas where land uses or historic events have reduced habitat values so that they are no longer used by sage-grouse. However, the inherent physical factors and proximity to currently used habitat may make these areas candidates for restoration efforts. VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:01 Jul 22, 2009 Jkt 217001 The proposed CCAA is intended to result in benefits to sage-grouse by reducing or eliminating threats to the species on enrolled properties, and creating or maintaining habitat conditions that are suitable for all lifehistory stages of the species through the implementation of conservation measures. The proposed CCAA describes all of the threats to sagegrouse that have been identified in the WCPA, and a suite of potential conservation actions that could be implemented to address those threats. The conservation measures that would be implemented on any enrolled property would be identified in a sitespecific conservation plan for that property. Activities that are covered under the CCAA and may be included in a site-specific plan as applicable include range and livestock management, farming operations, recreational activities, and general ranch operation and maintenance. These activities are described in more detail in the proposed CCAA. Consistent with our CCAA Policy (64 FR 32726), the conservation goal of the proposed CCAA is to encourage enhancement and protection of suitable sage-grouse habitat on non-Federal lands by either maintaining or modifying existing land uses so that they are consistent with the conservation needs of sage-grouse. We can meet this conservation goal with the use of a CCAA by giving non-Federal landowners incentives to implement conservation measures, primarily through regulatory certainty concerning land-use restrictions that might otherwise apply should sage-grouse become listed under the ESA. We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the implementing regulations for NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6). We will evaluate the permit application, associated documents, and comments we receive to determine whether the permit application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the ESA and NEPA and its implementing regulations. If we determine that all requirements are met, we will sign the proposed CCAA and issue a permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA to the IDFG for take of sagegrouse. We will not make our final decision until after the end of the 30day public comment period, and we will fully consider all comments we receive during the public comment period. PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 36503 Dated: July 15, 2009. David J. Wesley, Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. E9–17523 Filed 7–22–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CACA 49561, LLCAD08000L5101 ER0000LVRWB09B3220] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement and Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan for the Lucerne Valley Solar Project; San Bernardino County, CA AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Barstow Field Office, Barstow, California intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and identify issues. The EIS will analyze the impacts of the Lucerne Valley Solar Plant on public lands in San Bernardino County, California. The project is being proposed by Chevron Energy Solutions (the Applicant). The applicant has requested a right-of-way (ROW) authorization to construct and operate a 45 megawatt solar photovoltaic project and connect it to the existing Southern California Edison 33 kV distribution system. Within the 516-acre solar facility, the project would include a new switchyard, control/maintenance building, and parking area. The EIS will analyze the site-specific impacts to the environment from the proposed grant of the ROW. DATES: This notice initiates a public participation and scoping period for the EIS of at least 30 days. This scoping period will also be announced through the local news media, newspapers, and BLM’s Web page (https://www.blm.gov/ ca/st/en/fo/barstow.html). During the public scoping period the BLM will solicit public comment on issues, concerns and opportunities that should be considered in the analysis of the proposed action. The BLM expects to hold two public meetings, one in Lucerne Valley and another in the city E:\FR\FM\23JYN1.SGM 23JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 140 (Thursday, July 23, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36502-36503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-17523]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2009-N123; 14420-1115-1SGR-A2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permit 
Application; Greater Sage-Grouse; Washington, Adams, Gem, and Payette 
Counties, Idaho

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Receipt of application for enhancement of survival permit; 
notice of availability of programmatic candidate conservation agreement 
with assurances and draft environmental assessment.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 
receipt of an application for an enhancement of survival permit 
(permit) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (ESA). The permit application includes a proposed 
programmatic candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) 
for the Greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, 
sage-grouse) between us and the Idaho Department of Fish and Game 
(IDFG). The term of the proposed CCAA is 30 years, and the requested 
term of the permit is 30 years. Consistent with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), we have prepared a 
draft environmental assessment (EA) of the impacts of the proposed CCAA 
and permit application. We are accepting comments on the application, 
the proposed CCAA, and the draft EA.

DATES: We will consider comments we receive on or before August 24, 
2009.

ADDRESSES: Address any written comments concerning this notice to 
Kendra Womack, Idaho Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1387 S Vinnell Way, Room 368, Boise, ID 83709. Alternatively, 
fax written comments to 208-378-5262, or e-mail comments to 
fw1srbocomment@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kendra Womack, 208-378-5243. If you 
use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Document Availability

    Copies of the permit application, the draft CCAA, and the draft EA 
are available for public inspection, by appointment, at the Idaho Fish 
and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES), or you may view them on the 
Internet at https://www.fws.gov/idaho. We furnish this notice to provide 
the public, other State and Federal agencies, and interested Tribes an 
opportunity to review and comment on the draft CCAA, permit 
application, and draft EA.

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.

Background

    Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances encourage non-
Federal property owners to implement conservation efforts for candidate 
or at-risk species by assuring property owners they will not be 
subjected to increased property use restrictions if the covered

[[Page 36503]]

species becomes listed in the future. Application requirements and 
issuance criteria for enhancement of survival permits through CCAAs are 
in the Code of Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d), 
respectively. See also our joint policy on CCAAs, which we published in 
the Federal Register with the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (64 
FR 32726; June 17, 1999).
    The proposed CCAA is programmatic in nature, and, under it, 
individual property owners who wish to participate would enroll their 
properties under the IDFG's section 10(a)(1)(A) permit through the 
issuance of a Certificate of Inclusion. The individual property owner 
would work with IDFG and us to develop a mutually agreeable site-
specific management plan for the enrolled property. The site-specific 
plan will address known threats to sage-grouse through the 
implementation of identified conservation measures that are consistent 
with the participating landowner's land use activities and the CCAA. If 
a Certificate of Inclusion is signed and issued to a participating 
property owner, they would then be authorized to incidentally take 
sage-grouse if the species becomes listed under the ESA in the future, 
as long as the terms and conditions of the permit and the existing 
site-specific plan are followed.
    The area to be covered under this proposed CCAA (Covered Area) is 
approximately 930,000 acres (ac) located in the West Central Planning 
Area (WCPA) in Washington, Adams, Gem, and Payette Counties, Idaho. 
Within the Covered Area, approximately 590,707 ac is non-Federally 
owned and would potentially be eligible for enrollment under the 
proposed CCAA. Sage grouse use habitats throughout the WCPA, including 
lekking (breeding display) areas, and nesting, brood rearing, and 
wintering habitats. Accurate estimates of the number of sage-grouse in 
the WCPA are not available.
    The proposed CCAA identifies important sage-grouse use areas using 
a combination of known lek locations, and yearlong telemetry data 
identifying nesting, brood-rearing, and wintering habitats. The 
proposed CCAA also assumes that there are some areas where land uses or 
historic events have reduced habitat values so that they are no longer 
used by sage-grouse. However, the inherent physical factors and 
proximity to currently used habitat may make these areas candidates for 
restoration efforts.
    The proposed CCAA is intended to result in benefits to sage-grouse 
by reducing or eliminating threats to the species on enrolled 
properties, and creating or maintaining habitat conditions that are 
suitable for all life-history stages of the species through the 
implementation of conservation measures. The proposed CCAA describes 
all of the threats to sage-grouse that have been identified in the 
WCPA, and a suite of potential conservation actions that could be 
implemented to address those threats. The conservation measures that 
would be implemented on any enrolled property would be identified in a 
site-specific conservation plan for that property. Activities that are 
covered under the CCAA and may be included in a site-specific plan as 
applicable include range and livestock management, farming operations, 
recreational activities, and general ranch operation and maintenance. 
These activities are described in more detail in the proposed CCAA.
    Consistent with our CCAA Policy (64 FR 32726), the conservation 
goal of the proposed CCAA is to encourage enhancement and protection of 
suitable sage-grouse habitat on non-Federal lands by either maintaining 
or modifying existing land uses so that they are consistent with the 
conservation needs of sage-grouse. We can meet this conservation goal 
with the use of a CCAA by giving non-Federal landowners incentives to 
implement conservation measures, primarily through regulatory certainty 
concerning land-use restrictions that might otherwise apply should 
sage-grouse become listed under the ESA.
    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) and the implementing regulations for NEPA (40 CFR 
1506.6). We will evaluate the permit application, associated documents, 
and comments we receive to determine whether the permit application 
meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the ESA and NEPA and its 
implementing regulations. If we determine that all requirements are 
met, we will sign the proposed CCAA and issue a permit under section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA to the IDFG for take of sage-grouse. We will not 
make our final decision until after the end of the 30-day public 
comment period, and we will fully consider all comments we receive 
during the public comment period.

    Dated: July 15, 2009.
David J. Wesley,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. E9-17523 Filed 7-22-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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