Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits, Town of Apple Valley, San Bernardino County, CA; Notice of Intent, 16440-16442 [2011-6820]
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16440
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 23, 2011 / Notices
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
estimate time and cost for implementing
recovery measures.
The Act requires the development of
recovery plans for listed species, unless
such a plan would not promote the
conservation of a particular species.
Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to
provide a public notice and an
opportunity for public review and
comment during recovery plan
development. We will consider all
information presented during a public
comment period prior to approval of
each new or revised recovery plan. We
and other Federal agencies will take
these comments into account in the
course of implementing approved
recovery plans.
Recovery Plan Components
The objective of this plan is to
provide a framework for the recovery of
gentian pinkroot, so that protection
under the Act is no longer necessary.
Defining reasonable delisting criteria is
not possible at this time given the
current low number of populations and
individuals, the lack of information
about the species’ biology, and the
magnitude of current threats from
development. Therefore, this recovery
plan establishes downlisting criteria for
S. gentianoides so that it may be
reclassified to threatened status.
The recovery of S. gentianoides is
challenging because our knowledge
about the species’ biology is limited.
Therefore, surveying; monitoring;
demographic studies; improving
management protocols, including the
establishment of fire management
regimes; and securing extant
populations are the most immediate
priorities.
Downlisting of S. gentianoides from
endangered to threatened status will be
considered when: (1) Extant populations
and newly discovered sites are
identified and mapped; (2) inventories
on the total number of individuals,
number of flowering vs. non-flowering
plants, presence of pollinators, and
whether seedling recruitment is
occurring have been conducted across
the species’ historic sites and/or on new
locations; (3) monitoring programs and
management protocols on selected
populations (e.g., populations with
largest number of individuals) are
established for at least 15 years to track
threats to the species and habitat (e.g.,
control exotic species, minimize site
disturbance and urban development);
(4) the extant populations (including
subpopulations at the Ketona Glades,
Bibb County, Alabama) located on
public land are stable (where fertility
and mortality are constant) for at least
15 years; (5) the minimum viable
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population has been determined for
each variety using population viability
analyses (PVA); (6) research on key
aspects related to demography (e.g.,
density, effect of fire on seedling
establishment), reproductive biology,
and seed ecology is accomplished; and
(7) viable germplasm representing > 50
percent of the populations for each
variety is maintained in ex situ. In
addition, the following specific actions
must be completed for each variety:
Var. gentianoides: (1) Sizes of the four
largest extant populations are increased
via prescribed burns until plant
numbers are stabilized over a period of
15 years; (2) at least one new population
is found; and (3) at least one population
is re-established within the historic
range, specifically in the sites where the
plants are currently known to be
extirpated.
Var. alabamensis: Fifty percent of the
Bibb County glades known to support
the variety on private land are protected
through conservation agreements,
easements, or land acquisition.
Downlisting criteria will be
reevaluated and delisting criteria will be
created as new scientific data and
information become available and
recovery actions are implemented.
Request for Public Comments
We request written comments on the
recovery plan. We will consider all
comments we receive by the date
specified in DATES prior to final
approval of the plan.
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.
Authority
The authority for this action is section
4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 16
U.S.C. 1533(f).
Dated: January 4, 2011.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2011–6638 Filed 3–22–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2011–N005; 1112–0000–
81440–F2]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Permits, Town of Apple
Valley, San Bernardino County, CA;
Notice of Intent
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement
of a public scoping meeting; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare either an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) or an Environmental
Assessment (EA) under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
regarding an expected application from
the Town of Apple Valley, CA, for an
incidental take permit (ITP) under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act),
as amended. The decision to prepare an
EIS or EA will be, in part, contingent
upon the complexity of issues identified
during and following the scoping phase
of the NEPA process. We are furnishing
this notice to announce the initiation of
a public scoping period, during which
we invite other agencies, Tribes, and the
public to submit written comments
providing suggestions and information
on the scope of issues and alternatives
to be addressed in the EIS or EA.
DATES: Please send written comments
on or before April 22, 2011. We will
hold a public scoping meeting
Thursday, April 7, from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. For the public meeting
address, see ‘‘Meeting,’’ below.
ADDRESSES: Comments: Send your
comments to Diane Noda, Field
Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA
93003. You may alternatively send
comments by facsimile to (805) 644–
3958.
Meeting: We will hold a public
meeting in the Town Hall Council
Chambers, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway,
Apple Valley, CA 92307.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jen
Lechuga, HCP Coordinator (see
ADDRESSES), telephone: (805) 644–1766,
extension 224.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Reasonable Accommodations
Persons needing reasonable
accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public meeting should
contact the Service at the address above
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16441
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 23, 2011 / Notices
no later than 1 week before the public
meeting. Information regarding this
proposed action is available in
alternative formats upon request.
Background
In accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A)
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973,
as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), the Town of Apple Valley, CA
(Town) is preparing a MSHCP in
support of an application for a permit
from the Service to incidentally take
listed species. Section 9 of the Act (16
U.S.C. 1538) and the implementing
regulations prohibit the take of animal
species listed as endangered or
threatened. The term ‘‘take’’ is defined
under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1532) as to
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect or
attempt to engage in such conduct.
‘‘Harm’’ is defined by Service regulation
(50 CFR 17.3) to include significant
habitat modification or degradation
where it actually kills or injures wildlife
by significantly impairing essential
behavior patterns, including breeding,
feeding, or sheltering. For certain
circumstances, under Section 10(a)(1)(B)
of the ESA we may issue permits to
authorize ‘‘incidental take’’ of listed
species. ‘‘Incidental take’’ is defined by
the ESA as take that is incidental to, and
not the purpose of, carry out an
otherwise lawful activity. Regulations
governing permits for threatened and
endangered species are found in the
Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR
17.32 and 50 CFR 17. 22, respectively.
If the permit is issued, the Town would
receive assurances for all species
included on the incidental take permit
under the Service’s ‘‘No Surprises’’
regulations (50 CFR 17.22 (b)(5) and
17.32 (b)(5)).
Section 10 of the ESA specifies the
requirements for the issuance of
incidental take permits to non-Federal
entities. Any proposed take must be
incidental to otherwise lawful activities
and cannot appreciably reduce the
likelihood of the survival and recovery
of the species in the wild. The impacts
of such take must also be minimized
and mitigated to the maximum extent
practicable. To obtain an incidental take
permit, an applicant must prepare a
habitat conservation plan describing the
impact that would likely result from the
proposed taking, the measures for
minimizing and mitigating the take, the
funding available to implement such
measures, alternatives to the taking, and
the reason why such alternatives are not
be implemented.
The Applicant is requesting a
renewable 30-year permit to
incidentally take listed species as a
potential result of urban and rural
development on approximately 60,500
to 65,300 acres within the Town and its
sphere of influence (SOI) (i.e., the
probable extent of the physical
boundaries and service area of a local
governmental agency), which totals
approximately 170,000 acres. Of the
areas affected, approximately 23,000 to
27,800 acres of development would
occur within the Town under the
Applicant’s General Plan, and
approximately 37,500 acres of
development would occur within the
Town’s SOI under San Bernardino
County’s General Plan. The General
Plans are State-mandated plans; each
provides a statement of development
policies, including diagrams and text
that set forth objectives, standards, and
plan proposals.
Proposed covered activities would
include low-density development (one
home per 5 or more acres); mixed-use
development (integrating residential,
retail, and commercial uses); and
industrial development; as well as
development of public facilities,
mineral resources, street rights of way,
and open spaces. The proposed land
uses provide for the development of
approximately 60,900 housing units
within the Town and approximately
21,500 housing units within the SOI, for
a total of approximately 82,000 housing
units. Potential development also
includes: approximately 51.7 and 5.5
million square feet of commercial space
in the Town and SOI, respectively; and
approximately 58.6 and 53.9 million
square feet of industrial space in the
Town and SOI, respectively. Covered
activities would also include the
operation and maintenance of all
existing public facilities (approximately
3,200 acres of the ground-disturbance
total); all capital improvements of
existing and future facilities and roads;
construction of new public facilities
(approximately 1,400 acres of the
ground-disturbance total); and
construction, operation, and
maintenance of renewable energy
projects, including solar energy projects
covering up to 5,000 acres, and smallscale wind energy projects.
At present, the applicant is proposing
to address seven State and/or Federally
listed species and one sensitive species
in the MSHCP for coverage under the
ITP (See Table 1, below). The list of
species proposed to be covered in the
MSHCP may be modified to include
additional threatened or endangered
species, and species that may become
listed as endangered or threatened
during the life of the permit that occur
within the project area and may be
affected by the covered activities.
The proposed MSHCP will identify
actions necessary to conserve the
covered species. The proposed
minimization measures include
incentives for infill development in
previously developed/disturbed areas,
and measures to control predators of
covered species that include reducing
access to residential and commercial
waste. Proposed mitigation would
conserve approximately 75,000 acres of
public and private lands through
various mechanisms, including
purchase of land in fee title and
establishment of permanent
conservation easements. The Applicant
also is considering establishing a nonwasting endowment (where the
conservation actions are funded by the
interest earned, not the principal) to
fund conservation actions on conserved
lands in the Desert Wildlife
Management Areas.
TABLE 1—SPECIES PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE TOWN OF APPLE VALLEY’S MSHCP
Common name
Scientific name
Federal status
State status
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Birds
Burrowing owl ............................................
Least Bell’s vireo .......................................
Southwestern willow flycatcher .................
Swainson’s hawk .......................................
Western yellow-billed cuckoo ....................
Athene cunicularia ..................................
Vireo bellii pusillus ..................................
Empidonax traillii extimus .......................
Buteo swainsoni ......................................
Coccyzus americanus occidentalis .........
None .......................
Endangered ............
Endangered ............
None .......................
Candidate ...............
State Species of Concern (SSC).
Endangered.
Endangered.
Threatened.
Endangered.
Under Review .........
Threatened.
Mammals
Mohave ground squirrel ............................
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Xerospermophilus mohavensis ...............
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 56 / Wednesday, March 23, 2011 / Notices
TABLE 1—SPECIES PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE TOWN OF APPLE VALLEY’S MSHCP—Continued
Common name
Scientific name
Federal status
State status
Reptiles
Desert tortoise ...........................................
Gopherus agassizii .................................
Threatened .............
Threatened.
Endangered ............
Endangered.
Fish
Mohave tui chub ........................................
Siphatales bicolor mohavensis ...............
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES
The Applicant, in cooperation with
the California Department of Fish and
Game (CDFG) and the Service, will
develop the MSHCP such that it also
meets the State’s requirements for a
Natural Community Conservation Plan
(NCCP). The Applicant will likewise
serve as the lead agency for the
Environmental Impact Report (EIR),
pursuant to Section 15168 of the
California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines. Compliance with
NEPA and CEQA may be done
concurrently in a joint EIS/EIR or EA/
Negative Declaration.
Environmental Impact Statement or
Environmental Assessment
The EIS or EA will consider the
proposed action (issuance of an ITP
based on the MSHCP), a no-action
alternative (a scenario where there
would be no issuance of an ITP and no
take of listed species), and a reasonable
range of alternatives that fit within the
purpose and need of the Service. The
general purpose and need of the Service
for the proposed action is to respond to
an ITP application and to protect,
conserve, and enhance fish and wildlife
and their habitats for the continuing
benefit of the people of California and
the United States. A detailed
description of the proposed action and
alternatives will be included in the EIS
or EA. The alternatives for analysis in
the document may include, but not be
limited to, variations in the covered
activities and the footprint of
development within the 170,000-acre
planning area. It will also identify
potentially significant impacts on
biological resources, land use, air
quality, cultural resources, water
resources, socioeconomics, and other
resources in the human environment
that may occur directly, indirectly, and/
or cumulatively 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
also will be considered.
The Service is furnishing this notice
in accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 and
1508.22 to obtain suggestions and
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information from other agencies and the
public on the scope of issues and
alternatives they believe need to be
addressed in the EIS or EA. 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 requested to ensure that the
full range of issues related to the
proposed action is identified. Comments
will only be accepted in written form.
Dated: March 17, 2011.
Alexandra Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
Region,Sacramento, CA.
Request for Public Comments
We seek comments concerning (i) The
eight species proposed for inclusion in
the applicant’s proposed multispecies
habitat conservation plan (MSHCP),
including information regarding their
ranges, distribution areas, population
sizes and population trends; (ii) relevant
data concerning the impacts of the
proposed development on these species;
(iii) any other environmental issues that
should be considered with regard to the
proposed development and permit
action; and (iv) the range of alternatives
to be included in the EIS or EA.
[FWS–R9–IA–2011–N063; 96300–1671–
0000–P5]
Public Comments
Please direct any comments to the
Service contact listed above in the
ADDRESSES section, and any questions to
the Service contact listed in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
All comments and materials we receive,
including names and addresses, will
become part of the administrative record
and may be released to the public.
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.
Authority
We provide this notice under section
10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
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[FR Doc. 2011–6820 Filed 3–22–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered Species; Marine
Mammals; Issuance of Permits
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of issuance of permits.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), have issued
the following permits to conduct certain
activities with endangered species,
marine mammals, or both. We issue
these permits under the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA).
ADDRESSES: Brenda Tapia, Division of
Management Authority, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax
Drive, Room 212, Arlington, VA 22203;
fax (703) 358–2280; or e-mail
DMAFR@fws.gov.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brenda Tapia, (703) 358–2104
(telephone); (703) 358–2280 (fax);
DMAFR@fws.gov (e-mail).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On the
dates below, as authorized by the
provisions of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.), as amended, and/or the MMPA,
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), we
issued requested permits subject to
certain conditions set forth therein. For
each permit for an endangered species,
we found that (1) The application was
filed in good faith, (2) The granted
permit would not operate to the
disadvantage of the endangered species,
and (3) The granted permit would be
consistent with the purposes and policy
set forth in section 2 of the ESA.
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16440-16442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6820]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2011-N005; 1112-0000-81440-F2]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits, Town of
Apple Valley, San Bernardino County, CA; Notice of Intent
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; announcement of a public scoping meeting;
request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare either an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or an
Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) regarding an expected application from the Town of Apple
Valley, CA, for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The decision to prepare an EIS
or EA will be, in part, contingent upon the complexity of issues
identified during and following the scoping phase of the NEPA process.
We are furnishing this notice to announce the initiation of a public
scoping period, during which we invite other agencies, Tribes, and the
public to submit written comments providing suggestions and information
on the scope of issues and alternatives to be addressed in the EIS or
EA.
DATES: Please send written comments on or before April 22, 2011. We
will hold a public scoping meeting Thursday, April 7, from 5:30 p.m. to
7:30 p.m. For the public meeting address, see ``Meeting,'' below.
ADDRESSES: Comments: Send your comments to Diane Noda, Field
Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. You may
alternatively send comments by facsimile to (805) 644-3958.
Meeting: We will hold a public meeting in the Town Hall Council
Chambers, 14955 Dale Evans Parkway, Apple Valley, CA 92307.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jen Lechuga, HCP Coordinator (see
ADDRESSES), telephone: (805) 644-1766, extension 224.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Reasonable Accommodations
Persons needing reasonable accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public meeting should contact the Service at the
address above
[[Page 16441]]
no later than 1 week before the public meeting. Information regarding
this proposed action is available in alternative formats upon request.
Background
In accordance with section 10(a)(2)(A) of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Town of
Apple Valley, CA (Town) is preparing a MSHCP in support of an
application for a permit from the Service to incidentally take listed
species. Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1538) and the implementing
regulations prohibit the take of animal species listed as endangered or
threatened. The term ``take'' is defined under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1532)
as to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
collect or attempt to engage in such conduct. ``Harm'' is defined by
Service regulation (50 CFR 17.3) to include significant habitat
modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife
by significantly impairing essential behavior patterns, including
breeding, feeding, or sheltering. For certain circumstances, under
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA we may issue permits to authorize
``incidental take'' of listed species. ``Incidental take'' is defined
by the ESA as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carry
out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing permits for
threatened and endangered species are found in the Code of Federal
Regulations at 50 CFR 17.32 and 50 CFR 17. 22, respectively. If the
permit is issued, the Town would receive assurances for all species
included on the incidental take permit under the Service's ``No
Surprises'' regulations (50 CFR 17.22 (b)(5) and 17.32 (b)(5)).
Section 10 of the ESA specifies the requirements for the issuance
of incidental take permits to non-Federal entities. Any proposed take
must be incidental to otherwise lawful activities and cannot
appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the
species in the wild. The impacts of such take must also be minimized
and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable. To obtain an
incidental take permit, an applicant must prepare a habitat
conservation plan describing the impact that would likely result from
the proposed taking, the measures for minimizing and mitigating the
take, the funding available to implement such measures, alternatives to
the taking, and the reason why such alternatives are not be
implemented.
The Applicant is requesting a renewable 30-year permit to
incidentally take listed species as a potential result of urban and
rural development on approximately 60,500 to 65,300 acres within the
Town and its sphere of influence (SOI) (i.e., the probable extent of
the physical boundaries and service area of a local governmental
agency), which totals approximately 170,000 acres. Of the areas
affected, approximately 23,000 to 27,800 acres of development would
occur within the Town under the Applicant's General Plan, and
approximately 37,500 acres of development would occur within the Town's
SOI under San Bernardino County's General Plan. The General Plans are
State-mandated plans; each provides a statement of development
policies, including diagrams and text that set forth objectives,
standards, and plan proposals.
Proposed covered activities would include low-density development
(one home per 5 or more acres); mixed-use development (integrating
residential, retail, and commercial uses); and industrial development;
as well as development of public facilities, mineral resources, street
rights of way, and open spaces. The proposed land uses provide for the
development of approximately 60,900 housing units within the Town and
approximately 21,500 housing units within the SOI, for a total of
approximately 82,000 housing units. Potential development also
includes: approximately 51.7 and 5.5 million square feet of commercial
space in the Town and SOI, respectively; and approximately 58.6 and
53.9 million square feet of industrial space in the Town and SOI,
respectively. Covered activities would also include the operation and
maintenance of all existing public facilities (approximately 3,200
acres of the ground-disturbance total); all capital improvements of
existing and future facilities and roads; construction of new public
facilities (approximately 1,400 acres of the ground-disturbance total);
and construction, operation, and maintenance of renewable energy
projects, including solar energy projects covering up to 5,000 acres,
and small-scale wind energy projects.
At present, the applicant is proposing to address seven State and/
or Federally listed species and one sensitive species in the MSHCP for
coverage under the ITP (See Table 1, below). The list of species
proposed to be covered in the MSHCP may be modified to include
additional threatened or endangered species, and species that may
become listed as endangered or threatened during the life of the permit
that occur within the project area and may be affected by the covered
activities.
The proposed MSHCP will identify actions necessary to conserve the
covered species. The proposed minimization measures include incentives
for infill development in previously developed/disturbed areas, and
measures to control predators of covered species that include reducing
access to residential and commercial waste. Proposed mitigation would
conserve approximately 75,000 acres of public and private lands through
various mechanisms, including purchase of land in fee title and
establishment of permanent conservation easements. The Applicant also
is considering establishing a non-wasting endowment (where the
conservation actions are funded by the interest earned, not the
principal) to fund conservation actions on conserved lands in the
Desert Wildlife Management Areas.
Table 1--Species Proposed for Inclusion in the Town of Apple Valley's MSHCP
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common name Scientific name Federal status State status
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Birds
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Burrowing owl................ Athene cunicularia... None........... State Species of Concern (SSC).
Least Bell's vireo........... Vireo bellii pusillus Endangered..... Endangered.
Southwestern willow Empidonax traillii Endangered..... Endangered.
flycatcher. extimus.
Swainson's hawk.............. Buteo swainsoni...... None........... Threatened.
Western yellow-billed cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus Candidate...... Endangered.
occidentalis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mammals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohave ground squirrel....... Xerospermophilus Under Review... Threatened.
mohavensis.
[[Page 16442]]
Reptiles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Desert tortoise.............. Gopherus agassizii... Threatened..... Threatened.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fish
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohave tui chub.............. Siphatales bicolor Endangered..... Endangered.
mohavensis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Applicant, in cooperation with the California Department of
Fish and Game (CDFG) and the Service, will develop the MSHCP such that
it also meets the State's requirements for a Natural Community
Conservation Plan (NCCP). The Applicant will likewise serve as the lead
agency for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), pursuant to Section
15168 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Compliance with NEPA and CEQA may be done concurrently in a joint EIS/
EIR or EA/Negative Declaration.
Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment
The EIS or EA will consider the proposed action (issuance of an ITP
based on the MSHCP), a no-action alternative (a scenario where there
would be no issuance of an ITP and no take of listed species), and a
reasonable range of alternatives that fit within the purpose and need
of the Service. The general purpose and need of the Service for the
proposed action is to respond to an ITP application and to protect,
conserve, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the
continuing benefit of the people of California and the United States. A
detailed description of the proposed action and alternatives will be
included in the EIS or EA. The alternatives for analysis in the
document may include, but not be limited to, variations in the covered
activities and the footprint of development within the 170,000-acre
planning area. It will also identify potentially significant impacts on
biological resources, land use, air quality, cultural resources, water
resources, socioeconomics, and other resources in the human environment
that may occur directly, indirectly, and/or cumulatively 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 also will be considered.
The Service is furnishing 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 or EA. 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 requested to ensure that the full range of issues related
to the proposed action is identified. Comments will only be accepted in
written form.
Request for Public Comments
We seek comments concerning (i) The eight species proposed for
inclusion in the applicant's proposed multispecies habitat conservation
plan (MSHCP), including information regarding their ranges,
distribution areas, population sizes and population trends; (ii)
relevant data concerning the impacts of the proposed development on
these species; (iii) any other environmental issues that should be
considered with regard to the proposed development and permit action;
and (iv) the range of alternatives to be included in the EIS or EA.
Public Comments
Please direct any comments to the Service contact listed above in
the ADDRESSES section, and any questions to the Service contact listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. All comments and
materials we receive, including names and addresses, will become part
of the administrative record and may be released to the public. 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.
Authority
We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: March 17, 2011.
Alexandra Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region,Sacramento, CA.
[FR Doc. 2011-6820 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
