San Rafael Cattle Company; Habitat Conservation Plan; Santa Cruz County, AZ, 35504-35505 [2010-15057]

Download as PDF 35504 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 22, 2010 / Notices (Plethobasus cicatricosus), fanshell (Cyprogenia stegaria), and winged mapleleaf (Quadrula fragosa) mussels in the States of Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. Proposed activities are for the recovery and enhancement of survival of the species in the wild. Permit Application Number: TE15061A. Applicant: CDM Michigan, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI. The applicant requests a permit to take (capture and release) Northern riffleshell mussels (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) within the State of Michigan. Proposed activities are to document presence/absence of the species for the enhancement of survival of the species in the wild. Permit Application Number: TE15075A Applicant: Fowler Ridge Wind Farm, LLC, Houston, TX. The applicant requests a permit to take (migrating) Indiana bats within Benton County, Indiana, at the Fowler Ridge wind facility. The salvage study is designed to inform the applicant as to the operating parameters that avoid take of bats and, where impacts occur, the level of impacts at various wind speeds and operating parameters. Information to be gathered will assist with development of methods to enhance the survival of the species in the wild. srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES Public Comments We seek public review and comments on these permit applications. Please refer to the permit number when you submit comments. Comments and materials we receive are available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section. 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. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) In compliance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), we have made an initial determination that the proposed activities in these permits are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Jun 21, 2010 Jkt 220001 environmental impact statement (516 DM 6 Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)). Dated: June 16, 2010. Lynn M. Lewis, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Region 3. [FR Doc. 2010–15051 Filed 6–21–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–ES–2010–N097; 20124–1112– 0000–F2] San Rafael Cattle Company; Habitat Conservation Plan; Santa Cruz County, AZ AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan in support of incidental take permit application. SUMMARY: San Rafael Cattle Company (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The Applicant has been assigned a permit number TE–12133A– 0. If approved, the ITP would be in force for a period of 30 years, and would authorize incidental take of two species currently listed under the Endangered Species Act (Act), and two species that may become listed under the Act in the future (‘‘covered species’’). The proposed incidental take would occur in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, as a result of impacts on covered species and occupied habitat from specified actions conducted under the authority of the San Rafael Cattle Company. We invite public comment on the permit application and the associated documents. DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive any comments on or before July 22, 2010. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application and/or the draft HCP may obtain a copy by written or telephone request to Steve Spangle, Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021–4951; telephone: 602–242–0210; fax: 602–242–2513. Electronic copies are also available on the Arizona Ecological Service Field Office Web site: https://www.fws.gov/arizonaes. All documents will be available for public inspection, by written request or by appointment only, during normal PO 00000 Frm 00068 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the above address. Data or comments concerning the application and draft HCP should be submitted in writing to the above address or by e-mail at: Cat_Crawford@fws.gov. Please refer to permit number TE–12133A–0 when submitting comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cat Crawford, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office—Tucson Suboffice, 201 N. Bonita Avenue, Suite 141, Tucson, AZ 85745; telephone (520/670–6150; extension 232); or by e-mail (Cat_Crawford@fws.gov). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under NEPA, we announce that we have gathered the information necessary to: (1) Determine the impacts related to the potential issuance of an ITP to the Applicant; and (2) approve the HCP, which provides measures to minimize and mitigate the effects of the proposed incidental take of federally listed species to the maximum extent practicable, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) If approved, the 30-year ITP would authorize the proposed incidental take of four covered species, including species currently listed under the Act, as well as species that may become listed under the Act in the future: Sonoran tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium stebbinsi), Gila chub (Gila intermedia); northern Mexican garter snake (Thamnophis eques megalops) and Huachuca springsnail (Pyrgulopsis thompsoni). The requested ITP also includes two listed plant species: Spiranthes delitescens (Canelo Hills ladies’-tresses) and Lileopsis schaffneriana ssp. recurva (Huachuca water umbel). Although take of listed plant species is not prohibited under the Act, and therefore cannot be authorized under an ITP, plant species may be included on an ITP in recognition of the conservation benefits provided to them under an HCP. The proposed incidental take would occur as a result of ranch management activities occurring under the authority of the Applicant on non-Federal lands within 18,440 acres of the San Rafael Ranch in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The Applicant has completed a draft HCP as part of the application package, as required by the Act. The application and associated documents provide measures to minimize and mitigate to the maximum extent practicable the effects of the proposed incidental take of covered species and effects to the habitats upon which they depend. Approval of the proposed HCP and issuance of the ITP may be eligible for E:\FR\FM\22JNN1.SGM 22JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 119 / Tuesday, June 22, 2010 / Notices srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES a categorical exclusion under NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as provided by Federal regulations (40 CFR 1500, 5(k), 1507.3(b)(2), 1508.4) and the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2 and 516 DM 8). A categorical exclusion for a HCP is based on the following three criteria: (1) Implementation of the proposed plan would result in minor or negligible effects on federally-listed, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; (2) implementation of the proposed HCP would result in minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources; and (3) impacts of the HCP, 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. Based upon the preliminary determination made in our draft NEPA screening document, we believe this action is covered by a categorical exclusion. We will consider public comments when making the final determination on whether to prepare an additional NEPA document on the proposed action. Background Since purchasing the San Rafael Ranch in 2000, the San Rafael Cattle Company has been implementing grazing practices that have improved range and habitat conditions on private lands within the San Rafael Valley of Santa Cruz County, Arizona. These improved habitat conditions provide opportunities for conservation actions that may enhance the status and distribution of covered species on the San Rafael Ranch. The San Rafael Cattle Company would like to continue ranch management activities while working with agencies to conduct conservation actions on the San Rafael Ranch such as introduction of covered species or other species and removal of aquatic invasive species. The covered area would encompass 18,440 acres of primarily open rangeland owned by the applicant. The covered ranch management activities would consist of watering and grazing by cattle in stock tanks and riparian habitats, including herding of cattle within pastures and between pastures; maintenance of stock ponds, wells, waterlines, fences, roads, and utility lines supporting these facilities; and brush and invasive plant management to reduce shrub invasion of upland grasslands. All of these activities have short-term impacts on species and their habitats, and incidental take of some covered species may occur. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:17 Jun 21, 2010 Jkt 220001 However, a long-term benefit is anticipated for the watershed and habitats of the covered species. In addition, San Rafael Cattle Company proposes actions to minimize the impacts of the activities and assist in recovery of covered species. These actions are also proposed to be covered by the associated section 10(a)(1)(B) permit. To meet the requirements of a section 10(a)(1)(B) permit, San Rafael Cattle Company has developed and will implement the San Rafael Ranch HCP, which provides measures to minimize and mitigate for incidental take of the four proposed covered animal species to the maximum extent practicable. The biological goal of the HCP is to provide long-term protection for multiple species of concern and key natural communities through maintenance or improvement of the habitat conditions and ecosystem functions necessary for their survival, and to ensure that any incidental take of listed species will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of those species in the wild. Public Availability of Comments Written comments we receive become part of the public record associated with this action. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that the 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. Authority We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Benjamin N. Tuggle, Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2010–15057 Filed 6–21–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P PO 00000 35505 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAN00000.L18200000.XZ0000] Notice of Public Meeting; Northeast California Resource Advisory Council and Subcommittee AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Northeast California Resource Advisory Council and its wild horse and burro management subcommittee will meet as indicated below. DATES: The subcommittee will meet Wednesday, June 30, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 2950 Riverside Drive, Susanville, CA. The full RAC will meet Friday, July 9, 2010, at 10 a.m. at the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office in Susanville, CA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy Haug, BLM Northern California District manager, (530) 221–1743; or Joseph J. Fontana, BLM public affairs officer, (530) 252–5332. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15member council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with public land management in northeast California and the northwest corner of Nevada. At the subcommittee meeting members will discuss management of the Wild Horse and Burro program and the BLM’s management strategy. The full RAC will consider subcommittee recommendations and develop recommendations to the BLM on the BLM’s proposed management strategy. Time for public comments will be set aside at 1 p.m. Depending on the number of persons wishing to speak, and the time available, the time for individual comments may be limited. Members of the public are welcome on field tours, but they must provide their own transportation and lunch. Individuals who plan to attend and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation and other reasonable accommodations, should contact the BLM as provided above. Dated: June 14, 2010. Joseph J. Fontana, Public Affairs Officer. [FR Doc. 2010–15052 Filed 6–21–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\22JNN1.SGM 22JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35504-35505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-15057]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2010-N097; 20124-1112-0000-F2]


San Rafael Cattle Company; Habitat Conservation Plan; Santa Cruz 
County, AZ

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation 
Plan in support of incidental take permit application.

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

SUMMARY: San Rafael Cattle Company (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (ITP) 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The 
Applicant has been assigned a permit number TE-12133A-0. If approved, 
the ITP would be in force for a period of 30 years, and would authorize 
incidental take of two species currently listed under the Endangered 
Species Act (Act), and two species that may become listed under the Act 
in the future (``covered species''). The proposed incidental take would 
occur in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, as a result of impacts on covered 
species and occupied habitat from specified actions conducted under the 
authority of the San Rafael Cattle Company. We invite public comment on 
the permit application and the associated documents.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive any comments on or 
before July 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application and/or the draft 
HCP may obtain a copy by written or telephone request to Steve Spangle, 
Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West 
Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-
0210; fax: 602-242-2513. Electronic copies are also available on the 
Arizona Ecological Service Field Office Web site: https://www.fws.gov/arizonaes. All documents will be available for public inspection, by 
written request or by appointment only, during normal business hours (8 
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the above address. Data or comments concerning 
the application and draft HCP should be submitted in writing to the 
above address or by e-mail at: Cat_Crawford@fws.gov. Please refer to 
permit number TE-12133A-0 when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cat Crawford, Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office--Tucson Suboffice, 201 N. Bonita Avenue, Suite 
141, Tucson, AZ 85745; telephone (520/670-6150; extension 232); or by 
e-mail (Cat_Crawford@fws.gov).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under NEPA, we announce that we have 
gathered the information necessary to: (1) Determine the impacts 
related to the potential issuance of an ITP to the Applicant; and (2) 
approve the HCP, which provides measures to minimize and mitigate the 
effects of the proposed incidental take of federally listed species to 
the maximum extent practicable, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
    If approved, the 30-year ITP would authorize the proposed 
incidental take of four covered species, including species currently 
listed under the Act, as well as species that may become listed under 
the Act in the future: Sonoran tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium 
stebbinsi), Gila chub (Gila intermedia); northern Mexican garter snake 
(Thamnophis eques megalops) and Huachuca springsnail (Pyrgulopsis 
thompsoni). The requested ITP also includes two listed plant species: 
Spiranthes delitescens (Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses) and Lileopsis 
schaffneriana ssp. recurva (Huachuca water umbel). Although take of 
listed plant species is not prohibited under the Act, and therefore 
cannot be authorized under an ITP, plant species may be included on an 
ITP in recognition of the conservation benefits provided to them under 
an HCP.
    The proposed incidental take would occur as a result of ranch 
management activities occurring under the authority of the Applicant on 
non-Federal lands within 18,440 acres of the San Rafael Ranch in Santa 
Cruz County, Arizona. The Applicant has completed a draft HCP as part 
of the application package, as required by the Act. The application and 
associated documents provide measures to minimize and mitigate to the 
maximum extent practicable the effects of the proposed incidental take 
of covered species and effects to the habitats upon which they depend.
    Approval of the proposed HCP and issuance of the ITP may be 
eligible for

[[Page 35505]]

a categorical exclusion under NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as 
provided by Federal regulations (40 CFR 1500, 5(k), 1507.3(b)(2), 
1508.4) and the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2 and 516 DM 
8). A categorical exclusion for a HCP is based on the following three 
criteria: (1) Implementation of the proposed plan would result in minor 
or negligible effects on federally-listed, proposed, and candidate 
species and their habitats; (2) implementation of the proposed HCP 
would result in minor or negligible effects on other environmental 
values or resources; and (3) impacts of the HCP, 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. Based upon the preliminary determination made in our draft 
NEPA screening document, we believe this action is covered by a 
categorical exclusion. We will consider public comments when making the 
final determination on whether to prepare an additional NEPA document 
on the proposed action.

Background

    Since purchasing the San Rafael Ranch in 2000, the San Rafael 
Cattle Company has been implementing grazing practices that have 
improved range and habitat conditions on private lands within the San 
Rafael Valley of Santa Cruz County, Arizona. These improved habitat 
conditions provide opportunities for conservation actions that may 
enhance the status and distribution of covered species on the San 
Rafael Ranch. The San Rafael Cattle Company would like to continue 
ranch management activities while working with agencies to conduct 
conservation actions on the San Rafael Ranch such as introduction of 
covered species or other species and removal of aquatic invasive 
species. The covered area would encompass 18,440 acres of primarily 
open rangeland owned by the applicant. The covered ranch management 
activities would consist of watering and grazing by cattle in stock 
tanks and riparian habitats, including herding of cattle within 
pastures and between pastures; maintenance of stock ponds, wells, 
waterlines, fences, roads, and utility lines supporting these 
facilities; and brush and invasive plant management to reduce shrub 
invasion of upland grasslands. All of these activities have short-term 
impacts on species and their habitats, and incidental take of some 
covered species may occur. However, a long-term benefit is anticipated 
for the watershed and habitats of the covered species. In addition, San 
Rafael Cattle Company proposes actions to minimize the impacts of the 
activities and assist in recovery of covered species. These actions are 
also proposed to be covered by the associated section 10(a)(1)(B) 
permit.
    To meet the requirements of a section 10(a)(1)(B) permit, San 
Rafael Cattle Company has developed and will implement the San Rafael 
Ranch HCP, which provides measures to minimize and mitigate for 
incidental take of the four proposed covered animal species to the 
maximum extent practicable. The biological goal of the HCP is to 
provide long-term protection for multiple species of concern and key 
natural communities through maintenance or improvement of the habitat 
conditions and ecosystem functions necessary for their survival, and to 
ensure that any incidental take of listed species will not appreciably 
reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of those species in 
the wild.

Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the public record 
associated with this action. Before including your address, phone 
number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that the 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.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22) and NEPA 
(42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 
1506.6).

Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2010-15057 Filed 6-21-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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