Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Indiana Bat; 30-Day Scoping Period for a National Environmental Policy Act Decision on a Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit, 4840-4842 [2010-1810]
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4840
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 19 / Friday, January 29, 2010 / Notices
Fax: Trish Adams, (772) 562–4288,
Attn: Permit number TE214678–0.
U.S. mail: Trish Adams, HCP
Coordinator, South Florida Ecological
Services Field Office, Attn: Permit
number TE214678–0, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero
Beach, FL 32960–3559.
In-person drop-off: You may drop off
information during regular business
hours at the above office address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Trish Adams, HCP Coordinator, South
Florida Ecological Services Office, Vero
Beach, Florida (see ADDRESSES),
telephone: 772–562–3909, extension
232.
If you
wish to submit comments or
information, you may do so by any one
of several methods. Please reference
permit number TE214678–0, in such
comments. You may mail comments to
the Service’s South Florida Ecological
Services Office (see ADDRESSES). You
may also comment via the Internet to
trish_adams@fws.gov. Please also
include your name and return address
in your Internet message. If you do not
receive a confirmation from us that we
have received your Internet message,
contact us directly at the telephone
number listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT. Finally, you may
hand deliver comments to the Service
office listed under ADDRESSES.
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.
Applicant’s Proposed Project: We
received an application from the
applicant for an incidental take permit,
along with a proposed habitat
conservation plan. The applicant
requests a 5-year permit under section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. If we approve the
permit, the applicant anticipates taking
approximately 1 acre (0.4 hectares (ha))
of Florida scrub-jay breeding, feeding
and sheltering habitat incidental to land
preparation for construction of a gas
station, convenience store, several light
industrial warehouse condominiums,
and supporting infrastructure in St.
Lucie County, Florida. In 1987, we
listed this species as threatened (June 3,
1987; 52 FR 20715). The listing became
effective July 6, 1987.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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16:49 Jan 28, 2010
Jkt 220001
Project construction would take place
at latitude 27.4833, longitude ¥80.3577,
St. Lucie County, Florida, at St. Lucie
Boulevard, Lots 1 through 18 and north
half of Hawthorn Road adjacent on
south side of Lot 18, Block 37, and Lot
1 and south half of Hawthorn Road
adjacent on north side of Lot 1, Block
15A, San Lucie Plaza Unit One, Florida.
Parts of these lots are within scrub-jayoccupied habitat.
The parcels encompass about 2.92
acres (1.18 ha), and the footprint of the
commercial buildings, paved areas,
infrastructure, and landscaping
precludes retention of viable scrub-jay
habitat on this lot. In order to minimize
take on site, the applicant proposes to
mitigate for the loss of 1.0 acres (0.4 ha)
of occupied scrub-jay habitat by
contributing $82,904.00 to a Serviceapproved scrub-jay conservation fund,
or purchase the equivalent amount of
credit in an appropriate Serviceapproved scrub-jay conservation bank
within 180 days of permit issuance or
before the commencement of clearing
and construction activities, whichever is
sooner.
Our Preliminary Determination: The
Service has made a preliminary
determination that the applicant’s
Project, including the proposed
mitigation and minimization measures,
will individually and cumulatively have
a minor or negligible effect on the
species covered in the HCP. Therefore,
the ITP is a ‘‘low-effect’’ project and
qualifies as a categorical exclusion
under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6), as
provided by the Department of the
Interior Manual (516 DM 2 Appendix 1
and 516 DM 6 Appendix 1), and as
defined in our Habitat Conservation
Planning Handbook (November 1996).
We base our determination that the plan
qualifies as a low-effect plan on the
following three criteria: (1)
Implementation of the plan would result
in minor or negligible effects on
federally listed, proposed, and
candidate species and their habitats; (2)
Implementation of the plan would result
in minor or negligible effects on other
environmental values or resources; and
(3) Impacts of the plan, considered
together with the impacts of other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable
similarly situated projects, would not
result, over time, in cumulative effects
to environmental values or resources
that would be considered significant. As
more fully explained in our
environmental action statement and
associated Low Effect Screening Form,
the applicant’s proposed plan qualifies
as a ‘‘low-effect’’ plan. This preliminary
determination may be revised based on
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
our review of public comments that we
receive in response to this notice.
Next Steps: The Service will evaluate
the HCP and comments submitted
thereon to determine whether the
applications meet the requirements of
section 10(a) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531
et. seq.). If it is determined that those
requirements are met, the ITP will be
issued for the incidental take of the
Florida scrub-jay. The Service will also
evaluate whether issuance of the section
10(a)(1)(B) ITP comply with section 7 of
the Act by conducting an intra-Service
section 7 consultation. The results of
this consultation, in combination with
the above findings, will be used in the
final analysis to determine whether or
not to issue the ITP.
Authority: This notice is provided
pursuant to Section 10 of the Endangered
Species Act and NEPA regulations (40 CFR
1506.6).
Dated: January 15, 2010.
Paul Souza,
Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological
Services Office.
[FR Doc. 2010–1808 Filed 1–28–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R3–ES–2009–N263; 30120–1113–
0000–F6]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Indiana Bat; 30-Day
Scoping Period for a National
Environmental Policy Act Decision on
a Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan
and Incidental Take Permit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct a 30day scoping period for a National
Environmental Policy Act decision on a
proposed habitat conservation plan and
incidental take permit; request for
comments.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) document for a
decision on a proposed habitat
conservation plan (HCP) and incidental
take permit (ITP) for the Indiana bat
(Myotis sodalis) at a wind power project
in Champaign County, Ohio. We
provide this notice to advise other
agencies, tribes, and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of the
NEPA review and issues to consider in
the planning process. We are also using
this opportunity to seek comments on
E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM
29JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 19 / Friday, January 29, 2010 / Notices
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
the appropriate level of NEPA review,
and whether an Environmental
Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) would be the
appropriate level.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by March
1, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
by one of the following methods:
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Ms.
Megan Seymour, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ohio Field Office, 4625 Morse
Rd., Suite 104, Columbus, OH 43230;
E-mail: EverPowerHCP@fws.gov; or
Fax: (614) 416–8994 (Attention:
Megan Seymour).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Megan Seymour at (614) 416–8993,
extension 16. Individuals who are
hearing-impaired or speech-impaired
may call the Federal Relay Service at
(800) 877–8337 for TTY assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comments
We request data, comments, new
information, or suggestions from the
public, other concerned governmental
agencies, the scientific community,
Tribes, industry, or any other interested
party on this notice. We will consider
all comments we receive in complying
with the requirements of NEPA and in
the development of an HCP and ITP. We
particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) Biological information concerning
the Indiana bat;
(2) Relevant data concerning wind
power and bat interactions;
(3) Additional information concerning
the range, distribution, population size,
and population trends of the Indiana
bat;
(4) Current or planned activities in the
subject area and their possible impacts
on the Indiana bat;
(5) The presence of facilities within
the project area which are eligible to be
listed on the National Register of
Historic Places or whether other
historical, archeological, or traditional
cultural properties may be present;
(6) The appropriate level of NEPA
review, specifically whether
development of an Environmental
Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) would be
appropriate; and
(7) Identification of any other
environmental issues that we should
consider with regard to the proposed
development and permit action.
You may submit your comments and
materials considering this notice by one
of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES
section.
Comments and materials we receive,
as well as supporting documentation we
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:49 Jan 28, 2010
Jkt 220001
use in preparing the NEPA document,
will be available for public inspection
by appointment, during normal business
hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Ohio Field Office (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). You
may obtain copies of this notice by mail
from the Ohio Field Office, or on the
Internet at: https://www.fws.gov/
midwest/Endangered/permits/hcp/
r3hcps.html.
Background
The Indiana bat was added to the list
of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants on March 11, 1967 (32 FR
4001). It is currently listed as an
endangered species under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA).
The population decline of this species is
attributed to habitat loss and
degradation of both winter hibernation
habitat and summer roosting habitat,
human disturbance during hibernation,
and possibly pesticides. An additional
and emerging threat to Indiana bats is
White-Nose Syndrome (Geomyces
destructans), a recently discovered
fungus that invades the skin of bats,
causing ulcers that may alter
hibernation arousal patterns, and which
can cause emaciation. The range of the
Indiana bat includes much of the
eastern United States, and Ohio is
located within the core maternity range
of the bat. Winter habitat for the Indiana
bat includes caves and mines that
support high humidity and cool but
stable temperatures. In the summer,
Indiana bats roost under the loose bark
of dead or dying trees. During summer,
males roost alone or in small groups,
while females and their offspring roost
in larger groups of 100 or more. Indiana
bats forage for insects in and along the
edges of forested areas and wooded
stream corridors. Maternity colonies of
Indiana bats have recently been detected
in Champaign County, Ohio, though no
Indiana bat hibernacula have been
documented in this county.
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. is
planning the development of a wind
power project in Champaign County,
Ohio. The project would be spread
across 80,370 acres within portions of
Union, Wayne, Urbana, Salem, Rush,
and Goshen Townships. Development of
the wind power project would include
installation of up to 100 wind turbines
and associated collection lines, access
roads, utility lines, substations,
operation and maintenance facility
buildings, and temporary staging areas
and concrete batch plants. The wind
turbine hub height would be
approximately 100 meters (m), and the
rotor diameter would be approximately
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4841
100 m, for an approximate total height
of 150 m at the rotor apex. Installation
of each individual turbine will
temporarily impact an area of
approximately 2.9 acres, while the final
footprint of each turbine will be
approximately 0.2 acres. Access roads to
the turbines will have a temporary
width of up to 55 feet during
construction, and a permanent width of
16–20 feet. Despite the relatively small
acreage of land to be affected by the
project, impacts to wildlife—
particularly birds and bats—are
anticipated.
The project is located in a rural
setting, with the landscape primarily
composed of agricultural properties.
Woodlots are scattered throughout the
project area. Several small towns
(Mutual and Cable) occur within the
project area, and individual homes and
low-density residential areas are also
scattered throughout.
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc., in
conjunction with the Service, has
determined that take of Indiana bats is
likely to occur from development of the
proposed wind power project. To
authorize take, EverPower Wind
Holdings, Inc. plans to develop an HCP
and request issuance of an ITP from the
Service. Relevant information provided
in response to this notice will aid in
developing the HCP and NEPA
document, and potentially the ITP,
should take be authorized.
At this point, the Service has not
developed any alternatives for the NEPA
document. Any preferred alternative
developed by the Service will contain
various measures to avoid and minimize
impacts to Indiana bats, including the
impact of lethal take. Various methods
that may be considered include, but are
not limited to: Protection of roost trees
and surrounding habitat, set-back
distances from known roost trees,
mapping and avoidance of foraging
areas, protection and enhancement of
Indiana bat habitat outside the project
area, removal of small woodlots near
turbines to preclude expansion of
Indiana bat usage near turbines, various
curtailment regimes for turbines during
prime activity or migration periods, and
post-construction monitoring for
fatalities.
Authority
We furnish this notice under NEPA
regulations (40 CFR 1501.7 and
1508.22). The intent of the notice is to
enable us to obtain suggestions and
additional information from other
agencies and the public on the scope of
issues to be considered.
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29JAN1
4842
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 19 / Friday, January 29, 2010 / Notices
Dated: December 21, 2009.
Lynn M. Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological
Services, Region 3, Fort Snelling, MN.
[FR Doc. 2010–1810 Filed 1–28–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAZC02000L16100000.DR0000.241A]
Notice of Availability of Record of
Decision for the Yuma Field Office
Resource Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement
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AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Record of Decision
(ROD)/Approved Resource Management
Plan (RMP) for the Yuma Field Office
(YFO) located in Arizona and California.
The Arizona State Director signed the
ROD on July 28, 2009, which constitutes
the final decision of the BLM and makes
the approved RMP effective
immediately.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the ROD/
Approved RMP are available upon
request from the Bureau of Land
Management, Yuma Field Office, 2555
Gila Ridge Road, Yuma, Arizona 85365,
or via the Internet at https://
www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/planning/
yuma_plan.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
James T. Shoaff, Field Manager, Bureau
of Land Management, Yuma Field
Office, 2555 Gila Ridge Road, Yuma,
Arizona 85365.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of
BLM’s objectives during the planning
process was to understand the views of
various public interest groups by
providing opportunities for meaningful
participation. Through communication
media such as meetings, newsletters,
and news releases, the public was
provided opportunities to identify
issues that needed to be addressed. The
public also provided comments during
the 90-day public comment period on
the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS), which were addressed
in the Final EIS. The Approved RMP/
Final EIS was developed with the
following cooperating agencies: the
Bureau of Reclamation; the Arizona
Game and Fish Department; the Arizona
Department of Transportation; the
Federal Highway Administration; the
Imperial, Cibola, and Kofa National
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16:49 Jan 28, 2010
Jkt 220001
Wildlife Refuges; the Fort Yuma
Quechan Tribe; the Marine Corps Air
Station, Yuma; Natural Resource
Conservation Service; the Yuma County
Department of Public Works; the city of
Yuma; the U.S. Army Yuma Proving
Ground; the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service; the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security,
Customs and Border Patrol; the Cocopah
Indian Tribe; the town of Quartzsite; the
Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation District; and
the Yavapai-Apache Nation. The BLM
also initiated consultation with tribes
that have oral traditions or cultural
concerns relating to the planning area or
that are documented as having occupied
or used portions of the planning area
during prehistoric or historic times.
The Approved RMP includes
strategies for protecting and preserving
the biological, cultural, recreational,
geological, educational, scientific, and
scenic values that balance multiple uses
of the BLM-administered lands
throughout the YFO planning area. The
planning area encompasses more than
1.2 million acres of BLM-administered
lands.
The ROD and Approved RMP include
one new Area of Critical Environmental
Concern (ACEC): Dripping Springs
Natural and Cultural ACEC (11,733
acres). One existing ACEC is expanded
under the new plan: Gila River Cultural
ACEC (from 3,668 to 28,504 acres). The
Gila River Cultural ACEC is renamed
the Sears Point Cultural ACEC. The
following types of resource use
limitations generally apply to these
ACECs:
(1) Allowable uses are limited to those
which are compatible with the natural
or cultural resources for which the area
is designated; (2) Recreation facilities
are limited to projects that protect ACEC
values; and (3) Travel is permitted only
on designated open and signed routes.
Detailed information is provided in the
Special Designations Management
section of the Approved RMP.
The Preferred Alternative in the Draft
Resource Management Plan/Draft EIS
(published December 15, 2006) was
revised to include comments received
during the 90-day public comment
period. The resulting alternative became
the Proposed Plan in the Proposed
Resource Management Plan/Final EIS
(PRMP/FEIS), published on April 11,
2008. Seven protests were received
during the Final EIS 30-day protest
period. The Proposed Plan was clarified
based on these protests. The Proposed
Plan is now called the ‘‘Approved RMP’’
and is attached to the ROD. As a result
of protests, only minor editorial
modifications were made in preparing
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the Approved RMP. These
modifications provided further
clarification of some of the decisions.
Minor clarifications and changes
between the Proposed Plan/Final EIS
and the ROD/Approved Plan include
the recalculation of Geographic
Information System acreage to ensure
consistency between lands available for
grazing and those unavailable for
grazing in the YFO, and minor text
changes to clarify certain decisions. The
BLM has determined that the Approved
RMP provides an optimal balance
between authorized resource use and
the protection and long-term
sustainability of sensitive resources
within the planning area.
Neither the Arizona Governor’s Office
nor the California Governor’s Office
identified any inconsistencies between
the Proposed RMP/Final EIS and state
or local plans, policies, and programs
following the 60-day Governors’
Consistency Reviews (initiated March 6,
2008), in accordance with planning
regulations at 43 CFR part 1610.3–2(e).
The Approved RMP does not contain
implementation decisions. Future
activity-level plans will address the
implementation of the approved RMP.
These implementation plans will
provide the required additional sitespecific planning and National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
analyses. At that time, such decisions
will become appealable. The appeal
process will be outlined in the future
individual implementation (activity or
project-level) plans.
Authority: H–1790–1 National
Environmental Policy Act Handbook, January
30, 2008.
James G. Kenna,
Arizona State Director.
[FR Doc. 2010–1726 Filed 1–28–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–32–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Winter Use Plan, Environmental Impact
Statement, Yellowstone National Park
AGENCY: National Park Service,
Department of the Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for a
Winter Use Plan, Yellowstone National
Park.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), the National Park
Service (NPS) is preparing an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for a Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone
E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM
29JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 19 (Friday, January 29, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4840-4842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-1810]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2009-N263; 30120-1113-0000-F6]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Indiana Bat; 30-
Day Scoping Period for a National Environmental Policy Act Decision on
a Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan and Incidental Take Permit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct a 30-day scoping period for a
National Environmental Policy Act decision on a proposed habitat
conservation plan and incidental take permit; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document for a
decision on a proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and incidental
take permit (ITP) for the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) at a wind power
project in Champaign County, Ohio. We provide this notice to advise
other agencies, tribes, and the public of our intentions, and to obtain
suggestions and information on the scope of the NEPA review and issues
to consider in the planning process. We are also using this opportunity
to seek comments on
[[Page 4841]]
the appropriate level of NEPA review, and whether an Environmental
Assessment (EA) or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be the
appropriate level.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
March 1, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Ms. Megan Seymour, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Ohio Field Office, 4625 Morse Rd., Suite 104,
Columbus, OH 43230;
E-mail: EverPowerHCP@fws.gov; or
Fax: (614) 416-8994 (Attention: Megan Seymour).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Megan Seymour at (614) 416-8993,
extension 16. Individuals who are hearing-impaired or speech-impaired
may call the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8337 for TTY
assistance.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comments
We request data, comments, new information, or suggestions from the
public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific
community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party on this
notice. We will consider all comments we receive in complying with the
requirements of NEPA and in the development of an HCP and ITP. We
particularly seek comments concerning:
(1) Biological information concerning the Indiana bat;
(2) Relevant data concerning wind power and bat interactions;
(3) Additional information concerning the range, distribution,
population size, and population trends of the Indiana bat;
(4) Current or planned activities in the subject area and their
possible impacts on the Indiana bat;
(5) The presence of facilities within the project area which are
eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or
whether other historical, archeological, or traditional cultural
properties may be present;
(6) The appropriate level of NEPA review, specifically whether
development of an Environmental Assessment (EA) or an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) would be appropriate; and
(7) Identification of any other environmental issues that we should
consider with regard to the proposed development and permit action.
You may submit your comments and materials considering this notice
by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we use in preparing the NEPA document, will be available
for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ohio Field Office (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). You may obtain copies of this notice by mail from
the Ohio Field Office, or on the Internet at: https://www.fws.gov/midwest/Endangered/permits/hcp/r3hcps.html.
Background
The Indiana bat was added to the list of Endangered and Threatened
Wildlife and Plants on March 11, 1967 (32 FR 4001). It is currently
listed as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA). The population decline
of this species is attributed to habitat loss and degradation of both
winter hibernation habitat and summer roosting habitat, human
disturbance during hibernation, and possibly pesticides. An additional
and emerging threat to Indiana bats is White-Nose Syndrome (Geomyces
destructans), a recently discovered fungus that invades the skin of
bats, causing ulcers that may alter hibernation arousal patterns, and
which can cause emaciation. The range of the Indiana bat includes much
of the eastern United States, and Ohio is located within the core
maternity range of the bat. Winter habitat for the Indiana bat includes
caves and mines that support high humidity and cool but stable
temperatures. In the summer, Indiana bats roost under the loose bark of
dead or dying trees. During summer, males roost alone or in small
groups, while females and their offspring roost in larger groups of 100
or more. Indiana bats forage for insects in and along the edges of
forested areas and wooded stream corridors. Maternity colonies of
Indiana bats have recently been detected in Champaign County, Ohio,
though no Indiana bat hibernacula have been documented in this county.
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. is planning the development of a wind
power project in Champaign County, Ohio. The project would be spread
across 80,370 acres within portions of Union, Wayne, Urbana, Salem,
Rush, and Goshen Townships. Development of the wind power project would
include installation of up to 100 wind turbines and associated
collection lines, access roads, utility lines, substations, operation
and maintenance facility buildings, and temporary staging areas and
concrete batch plants. The wind turbine hub height would be
approximately 100 meters (m), and the rotor diameter would be
approximately 100 m, for an approximate total height of 150 m at the
rotor apex. Installation of each individual turbine will temporarily
impact an area of approximately 2.9 acres, while the final footprint of
each turbine will be approximately 0.2 acres. Access roads to the
turbines will have a temporary width of up to 55 feet during
construction, and a permanent width of 16-20 feet. Despite the
relatively small acreage of land to be affected by the project, impacts
to wildlife--particularly birds and bats--are anticipated.
The project is located in a rural setting, with the landscape
primarily composed of agricultural properties. Woodlots are scattered
throughout the project area. Several small towns (Mutual and Cable)
occur within the project area, and individual homes and low-density
residential areas are also scattered throughout.
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc., in conjunction with the Service, has
determined that take of Indiana bats is likely to occur from
development of the proposed wind power project. To authorize take,
EverPower Wind Holdings, Inc. plans to develop an HCP and request
issuance of an ITP from the Service. Relevant information provided in
response to this notice will aid in developing the HCP and NEPA
document, and potentially the ITP, should take be authorized.
At this point, the Service has not developed any alternatives for
the NEPA document. Any preferred alternative developed by the Service
will contain various measures to avoid and minimize impacts to Indiana
bats, including the impact of lethal take. Various methods that may be
considered include, but are not limited to: Protection of roost trees
and surrounding habitat, set-back distances from known roost trees,
mapping and avoidance of foraging areas, protection and enhancement of
Indiana bat habitat outside the project area, removal of small woodlots
near turbines to preclude expansion of Indiana bat usage near turbines,
various curtailment regimes for turbines during prime activity or
migration periods, and post-construction monitoring for fatalities.
Authority
We furnish this notice under NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1501.7 and
1508.22). The intent of the notice is to enable us to obtain
suggestions and additional information from other agencies and the
public on the scope of issues to be considered.
[[Page 4842]]
Dated: December 21, 2009.
Lynn M. Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3, Fort
Snelling, MN.
[FR Doc. 2010-1810 Filed 1-28-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
