Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Construction and Operations at Kauai Lagoons Resort and Golf Course on Kauai, HI, 40927-40929 [2011-17452]

Download as PDF emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 133 / Tuesday, July 12, 2011 / Notices species within Barren, Edmonson and Hart Counties, Kentucky. Applicant: Christopher Hintz, PhD., Savannah State University, Savannah, Georgia, TE–40005A. Applicant requests authorization to take by the use of ground penetrating radar, nests of loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) for the purpose of studying nesting success. This work will be conducted throughout the Atlantic coastline of Georgia. Applicant: Dr. David Nelson, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, TE–40523A. Applicant requests authorization to take (trap, take tissue samples) the Alabama red-bellied turtle (Pseudemys alabamensis). This study will be conducted in the Blakeley River drainage in Alabama. Applicant: Dr. Thomas Risch, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro Arkansas, TE–75913. Applicant requests renewal of authorization to take (capture and release) Indiana bats, Ozark big-eared bats (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens), and gray bats for the purpose of conducting presence/absence surveys, population monitoring, and ecological studies. This work will be conducted throughout Arkansas. Applicant: Stuart McGregor, Geologic Survey of Alabama, Tuscaloosa Alabama, TE–41252A. Applicant requests authorization to conduct presence/absence surveys throughout Alabama for 39 listed mussel species. Applicant: Eglin Air Force Base, Niceville Florida, TE–42183A. The applicant requests authorization for trapping, banding, translocating and installing artificial nesting cavities for red-cockaded woodpeckers on Eglin Air Force Base, Niceville Florida. Applicant: David Saugey, Jessieville, Arkansas, TE–43704A. Applicant requests authorization for non-lethal take of Indiana bats, gray bats, Virginia big-eared bats (Corynorihinus townsendii virginianus) and Ozark big-eared bats for the purpose of conducting presence/absence surveys and collecting scientific data on roost sites. This work will be conducted throughout the range of these species. Applicant: Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, Cupey, Puerto Rico, TE–125521. Applicant requests a permit amendment to house Puerto Rican parrots (Amazona vittata) at the Puerto Rico Zoo in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:14 Jul 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 Dated: June 16, 2011. Mark J. Musaus, Acting Regional Director. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R1–ES–2011–N027; 10120–1112– 0000–F2] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Construction and Operations at Kauai Lagoons Resort and Golf Course on Kauai, HI Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of permit application. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Kauai Lagoons LLC (KL) (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The applicant is requesting a 30-year ITP to authorize take of eight bird species—six endangered, one threatened, and one candidate for listing. The ITP application includes a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) that describes the actions and measures the applicant will implement to minimize, mitigate, and monitor incidental take of the covered species. The ITP application also includes a draft implementing agreement (IA). The Service also announces the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that has been prepared in response to the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Service is making the permit application materials and draft EA available for public review and comment. DATES: All comments from interested parties must be received on or before August 26, 2011. ADDRESSES: Please address written comments to Loyal Mehrhoff, Project Leader, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3–122, Honolulu, HI 96850. You may also send comments by facsimile to (808) 792– 9581. SUMMARY: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Bogardus, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES above); telephone (808) 792–9400. Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The applicant is requesting a 30-year ITP to authorize take of six bird species that are federally listed as endangered: the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis), Hawaiian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai), Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana), Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni), and the Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis). The requested ITP would also cover Newell’s shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newelli), which is federally listed as threatened, and the bandrumped storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro), a candidate for listing under the ESA. KL is also applying for an incidental take license (ITL) from the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to comply with State endangered species laws. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: [FR Doc. 2011–17422 Filed 7–11–11; 8:45 am] PO 00000 40927 Availability of Documents You may request copies of the draft HCP, IA, and EA by contacting the Service’s Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT above). These documents are also available electronically for review on the Service’s Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office Web site at https:// www.fws.gov/pacificislands. Comments the Service receives, as well as supporting documentation used in preparing the final NEPA document, will become part of the public record and will be available for public inspection by appointment during regular business hours. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, this cannot be guaranteed. The Service specifically requests information from the public on whether the application meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for issuing a permit, and identification of any aspects of the human environment that should be analyzed in the EA. The Service is soliciting information regarding the adequacy of the HCP to minimize, mitigate, and monitor the proposed incidental take of the covered species and to provide for adaptive management, as evaluated against our permit issuance criteria found in section 10(a) of the ESA, 16 U.S.C. 1539(a), and 50 CFR 13.21, 17.22, and 17.32. In E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM 12JYN1 40928 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 133 / Tuesday, July 12, 2011 / Notices emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES compliance with section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)), the Service is making the permit application materials available for public review and comment for 45 days (see DATES section above). Background Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1538) and Federal regulations prohibit the take of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. The term ‘‘take’’ means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532 (19)). However, under section 10(a) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)), the Service may issue permits to authorize incidental take of federally listed fish and wildlife species. Incidental take is defined as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental take permits for threatened and endangered species are found at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22. If issued, the permittee would receive assurances under the Service’s ‘‘No Surprises’’ regulations at 50 CFR 17.32(b)(5) and 50 CFR 17.22(b)(5). KL owns and operates Kauai Lagoons Resort on the island of Kauai. The resort was built in the 1980s, encompasses approximately 600 acres, and was originally developed with two 18-hole championship golf courses, a golf and racquet club facility, a network of manmade navigable lagoons, a restaurant, commercial development, and associated parking areas. KL is developing additional facilities at the resort to include construction of 707 condominium units, 65 single family residential lots, a central operations building, a new golf clubhouse, other additional infrastructure, and conversion of the two existing 18-hole golf courses into a 27-hole golf course. New construction will result in additional artificial lights within the KL property. A portion of these construction activities have already been completed. New construction activities will occur on approximately 230 acres of the 600-acre KL property. Despite its artificial nature, the KL resort’s water features, as well as grounds maintenance and continued predator management, have attracted the Hawaiian goose, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian stilt, and Hawaiian coot to the KL property. These five waterbird species are known to nest on the KL property. Currently, the nesting Hawaiian goose population at the KL resort property is one of the largest and most productive in the State. The Hawaiian goose and the other VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:14 Jul 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 waterbirds are at risk of injury and mortality due to golfing activities (collisions with golf carts and golf balls) and course operations, and the future construction activities at KL. Hawaiian geese and Hawaiian coots have been documented to be hurt or killed from golf course operations. Construction activities, such as site clearing, mass grading, or building construction, also pose a threat to the Hawaiian goose and the other waterbirds. The KL property is adjacent to Lihue International Airport on the island of Kauai. Hawaiian geese have been onsite residents of KL since the late 1990s. In the ensuing 10 years since the geese became established, the nesting activity on the property has increased from 5 nests in 1999 to 66 nests in 2009, predominantly due to predator management and the presence of created water features. The close proximity of nesting and roosting Hawaiian geese and waterbirds to the Lihue International Airport poses a threat to human safety because of the risk of bird strikes to aircraft. In order to address the potential safety issue, the Service and Hawaii’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) have participated in a multi-agency effort to safely translocate some Hawaiian geese to other suitable locations on Kauai. Further efforts to reduce the population growth of Hawaiian geese in the vicinity of the Airport are ongoing, and the Service is working with FAA to address airport maintenance and operations pursuant to section 7 of the ESA. On April 14, 2011, Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie signed a Proclamation requiring the translocation of Hawaiian geese from KL over the next five years. The Proclamation suspends State laws as necessary to expedite DOFAW’s effort to move birds to suitable locations on other islands. The Hawaiian petrel, Newell’s shearwater, and the band-rumped storm petrel are seabird species that spend a large part of the year at sea, forage in the open ocean, and breed on Kauai. Beginning in March and April, adults initiate breeding at colonial nesting grounds in the interior mountains of Kauai. Fledglings (i.e., young birds learning how to fly) travel from the nesting colony to the sea in the fall (mid-September to mid-December). They are known to be attracted to artificially lighted areas, which can result in disorientation and subsequent fallout (ceasing to be able to fly and involuntarily descending) due to exhaustion. Adult seabirds can collide with towers, power lines, and other tall structures while flying at night between their nesting colonies and at-sea PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 foraging areas. To date, one Newell’s shearwater has been found on KL property. Proposed Plan The draft HCP describes the impacts of take associated with KL’s activities, and includes measures to minimize, mitigate, and monitor the impacts of incidental take on each of the covered species. KL is proposing the following mitigation measures: (1) On-site cooperation with plans to translocate Hawaiian geese to reduce the risk of bird strikes by aircraft; (2) funding for the development of a plan to address translocation of geese off of KL; and (3) continuation of ongoing monitoring efforts and predator control. To reduce the potential of collisions between airplanes and birds, KL will not purposely enhance the suitability of the resort as a breeding habitat for the Hawaiian goose. For unavoidable take of listed seabirds, KL proposes to pay into the Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan (currently being developed by DOFAW) so that funds can be used to assist in the enhancement of known seabird colonies through predator management, habitat restoration and monitoring. The HCP also includes numerous avoidance and minimization measures that will significantly limit the take of the covered species due to resort operations and construction. The draft EA contains an analysis of two alternatives: (1) Proposed Action (issuance of a permit to KL on the basis of the activities described in the proposed HCP); and (2) No Action (no permit issuance and no measures by the applicant to reduce or eliminate the take of covered species). The draft EA considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of the alternatives, including any measures under the Proposed Action alternative intended to minimize and mitigate such impacts. The draft EA also identifies additional alternatives that were considered but not fully analyzed, as they did not meet the purpose and need of the Proposed Action. The Service invites comments and suggestions from all interested parties on the draft documents associated with the permit application, and requests that comments be as specific as possible. In particular, information and comments regarding the following topics are requested: (1) Whether the proposed HCP sufficiently minimizes and mitigates the impacts of take to the covered species to the maximum extent practicable over its 30-year term; (2) additional adaptive management or monitoring provisions that may be incorporated into the Proposed Action E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM 12JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 133 / Tuesday, July 12, 2011 / Notices alternative, and their benefits to listed species; (3) the direct, indirect, or cumulative effects that implementation of either alternative could have on the human environment; (4) other plans or projects that might be relevant to this action; and (5) any other information pertinent to evaluating the effects of the proposed action on the human environment. Authority This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)) of the ESA and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). The public process for the proposed Federal permit action will be completed after the public comment period, at which time we will evaluate the permit application, the HCP and associated documents (including the EA), and comments submitted thereon to determine whether or not the proposed action meets the requirements of section 10(a) (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)) of the ESA and has been adequately evaluated under NEPA. Dated: June 23, 2011. Richard Hannan, Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon. [FR Doc. 2011–17452 Filed 7–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Advisory Board for Exceptional Children Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. AGENCY: The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is announcing that the Advisory Board for Exceptional Children (Advisory Board) will hold its next meeting in Tampa, Florida. The BIE Advisory Board will hold its meeting in conjunction with the BIE Special Education Academy. The purpose of the meeting is to meet the mandates of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) for Indian children with disabilities. SUMMARY: The Advisory Board will meet on Sunday, September 11, 2011, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday, September 12, 2011, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tampa, 211 North Tampa Street, Tampa, Florida 33602; telephone number (813) 225–1234. The emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:14 Jul 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 Advisory Board will meet in the Garrison Suite. Sue Bement, Designated Federal Official, Bureau of Indian Education, Albuquerque Service Center, Division of Performance and Accountability, 1011 Indian School Road NW., Suite 332, Albuquerque, NM 87104; telephone number (505) 563–5274. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the BIE is announcing that the Advisory Board will hold its next meeting in Tampa, Florida. The Advisory Board was established under the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2004 (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) to advise the Secretary of the Interior, through the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, on the needs of Indian children with disabilities. The meetings are open to the public. The following items will be on the agenda: • Report from Gloria Yepa, Supervisory Education Specialist, BIE, Division of Performance and Accountability. • Report from BIE Director’s Office. • Report from Dr. Jeffrey Hamley, Associate Deputy Director, BIE. • Priority Groups. • Annual Report. • Public Comment (via conference call, September 12, 2011, meeting only*). • BIE Advisory Board-Advice and Recommendations: *During the September 12, 2011, meeting, time has been set aside for public comment via conference call from 11:30–12 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The call-in information is: Conference Number 1–888–417–0376, Passcode 1509140. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dated: July 6, 2011. Larry Echo Hawk, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2011–17392 Filed 7–11–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–6W–P 40929 the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will issue an appealable decision to the Nunakauiak Yupik Corporation. The decision approves the surface estate in the lands described below for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. These lands lie entirely within the Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Refuge established on December 6, 1960, and January 20, 1969. The subsurface estate will be reserved to the United States in the conveyance to the Nunakauiak Yupik Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Toksook Bay, Alaska, and are described as: Seward Meridian, Alaska T. 4 N., R. 89 W., Sec. 18. Containing approximately 80 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published four times in the Tundra Drums. Any party claiming a property interest in the lands affected by the decision may appeal the decision within the following time limits: 1. Unknown parties, parties unable to be located after reasonable efforts have been expended to locate, parties who fail or refuse to sign their return receipt, and parties who receive a copy of the decision by regular mail which is not certified, return receipt requested, shall have until August 10, 2011 to file an appeal. 2. Parties receiving service of the decision by certified mail shall have 30 days from the date of receipt to file an appeal. 3. Notices of appeal transmitted by electronic means, such as facsimile or email, will not be accepted as timely filed. Parties who do not file an appeal in accordance with the requirements of 43 CFR part 4, subpart E, shall be deemed to have waived their rights. DATES: A copy of the decision may be obtained from: Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, 222 West Seventh Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7504. ADDRESSES: DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [F–14948–A; LLAK965000–L14100000– KC0000–P] Alaska Native Claims Selection Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Decision Approving Lands for Conveyance. AGENCY: As required by 43 CFR 2650.7(d), notice is hereby given that SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The BLM by phone at 907–271–5960 or by e-mail at ak.blm.conveyance@blm.gov. Persons who use a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the BLM during normal business hours. In addition, the FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the BLM. The BLM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: E:\FR\FM\12JYN1.SGM 12JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40927-40929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17452]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2011-N027; 10120-1112-0000-F2]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Draft Habitat 
Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Construction and 
Operations at Kauai Lagoons Resort and Golf Course on Kauai, HI

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of permit application.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received an application from Kauai Lagoons LLC (KL) (applicant) for an 
incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (ESA). The applicant is requesting a 30-year ITP to 
authorize take of eight bird species--six endangered, one threatened, 
and one candidate for listing. The ITP application includes a draft 
habitat conservation plan (HCP) that describes the actions and measures 
the applicant will implement to minimize, mitigate, and monitor 
incidental take of the covered species. The ITP application also 
includes a draft implementing agreement (IA). The Service also 
announces the availability of a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) 
that has been prepared in response to the permit application in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA). The Service is making the permit application materials and 
draft EA available for public review and comment.

DATES: All comments from interested parties must be received on or 
before August 26, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Please address written comments to Loyal Mehrhoff, Project 
Leader, Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 300 Ala Moana Boulevard, Room 3-122, Honolulu, HI 
96850. You may also send comments by facsimile to (808) 792-9581.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Bogardus, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES above); 
telephone (808) 792-9400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant is requesting a 30-year ITP to 
authorize take of six bird species that are federally listed as 
endangered: the Hawaiian goose (Branta sandvicensis), Hawaiian moorhen 
(Gallinula chloropus sandvicensis), Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai), 
Hawaiian duck (Anas wyvilliana), Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus 
knudseni), and the Hawaiian petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis). The 
requested ITP would also cover Newell's shearwater (Puffinus 
auricularis newelli), which is federally listed as threatened, and the 
band-rumped storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro), a candidate for listing 
under the ESA.
    KL is also applying for an incidental take license (ITL) from the 
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to comply with 
State endangered species laws.

Availability of Documents

    You may request copies of the draft HCP, IA, and EA by contacting 
the Service's Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT above). These documents are also available 
electronically for review on the Service's Pacific Islands Fish and 
Wildlife Office Web site at https://www.fws.gov/pacificislands. Comments 
the Service receives, as well as supporting documentation used in 
preparing the final NEPA document, will become part of the public 
record and will be available for public inspection by appointment 
during regular business hours. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including 
your personal information--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, this cannot be guaranteed.
    The Service specifically requests information from the public on 
whether the application meets the statutory and regulatory requirements 
for issuing a permit, and identification of any aspects of the human 
environment that should be analyzed in the EA. The Service is 
soliciting information regarding the adequacy of the HCP to minimize, 
mitigate, and monitor the proposed incidental take of the covered 
species and to provide for adaptive management, as evaluated against 
our permit issuance criteria found in section 10(a) of the ESA, 16 
U.S.C. 1539(a), and 50 CFR 13.21, 17.22, and 17.32. In

[[Page 40928]]

compliance with section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)), the 
Service is making the permit application materials available for public 
review and comment for 45 days (see DATES section above).

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1538) and Federal regulations 
prohibit the take of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or 
threatened. The term ``take'' means to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage 
in any such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532 (19)). However, under section 10(a) 
of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)), the Service may issue permits to 
authorize incidental take of federally listed fish and wildlife 
species. Incidental take is defined as take that is incidental to, and 
not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. 
Regulations governing incidental take permits for threatened and 
endangered species are found at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22. If issued, the 
permittee would receive assurances under the Service's ``No Surprises'' 
regulations at 50 CFR 17.32(b)(5) and 50 CFR 17.22(b)(5).
    KL owns and operates Kauai Lagoons Resort on the island of Kauai. 
The resort was built in the 1980s, encompasses approximately 600 acres, 
and was originally developed with two 18-hole championship golf 
courses, a golf and racquet club facility, a network of man-made 
navigable lagoons, a restaurant, commercial development, and associated 
parking areas. KL is developing additional facilities at the resort to 
include construction of 707 condominium units, 65 single family 
residential lots, a central operations building, a new golf clubhouse, 
other additional infrastructure, and conversion of the two existing 18-
hole golf courses into a 27-hole golf course. New construction will 
result in additional artificial lights within the KL property. A 
portion of these construction activities have already been completed. 
New construction activities will occur on approximately 230 acres of 
the 600-acre KL property.
    Despite its artificial nature, the KL resort's water features, as 
well as grounds maintenance and continued predator management, have 
attracted the Hawaiian goose, Hawaiian moorhen, Hawaiian duck, Hawaiian 
stilt, and Hawaiian coot to the KL property. These five waterbird 
species are known to nest on the KL property. Currently, the nesting 
Hawaiian goose population at the KL resort property is one of the 
largest and most productive in the State. The Hawaiian goose and the 
other waterbirds are at risk of injury and mortality due to golfing 
activities (collisions with golf carts and golf balls) and course 
operations, and the future construction activities at KL. Hawaiian 
geese and Hawaiian coots have been documented to be hurt or killed from 
golf course operations. Construction activities, such as site clearing, 
mass grading, or building construction, also pose a threat to the 
Hawaiian goose and the other waterbirds.
    The KL property is adjacent to Lihue International Airport on the 
island of Kauai. Hawaiian geese have been onsite residents of KL since 
the late 1990s. In the ensuing 10 years since the geese became 
established, the nesting activity on the property has increased from 5 
nests in 1999 to 66 nests in 2009, predominantly due to predator 
management and the presence of created water features. The close 
proximity of nesting and roosting Hawaiian geese and waterbirds to the 
Lihue International Airport poses a threat to human safety because of 
the risk of bird strikes to aircraft. In order to address the potential 
safety issue, the Service and Hawaii's Division of Forestry and 
Wildlife (DOFAW) have participated in a multi-agency effort to safely 
translocate some Hawaiian geese to other suitable locations on Kauai. 
Further efforts to reduce the population growth of Hawaiian geese in 
the vicinity of the Airport are ongoing, and the Service is working 
with FAA to address airport maintenance and operations pursuant to 
section 7 of the ESA. On April 14, 2011, Hawaii Governor Neil 
Abercrombie signed a Proclamation requiring the translocation of 
Hawaiian geese from KL over the next five years. The Proclamation 
suspends State laws as necessary to expedite DOFAW's effort to move 
birds to suitable locations on other islands.
    The Hawaiian petrel, Newell's shearwater, and the band-rumped storm 
petrel are seabird species that spend a large part of the year at sea, 
forage in the open ocean, and breed on Kauai. Beginning in March and 
April, adults initiate breeding at colonial nesting grounds in the 
interior mountains of Kauai. Fledglings (i.e., young birds learning how 
to fly) travel from the nesting colony to the sea in the fall (mid-
September to mid-December). They are known to be attracted to 
artificially lighted areas, which can result in disorientation and 
subsequent fallout (ceasing to be able to fly and involuntarily 
descending) due to exhaustion. Adult seabirds can collide with towers, 
power lines, and other tall structures while flying at night between 
their nesting colonies and at-sea foraging areas. To date, one Newell's 
shearwater has been found on KL property.

Proposed Plan

    The draft HCP describes the impacts of take associated with KL's 
activities, and includes measures to minimize, mitigate, and monitor 
the impacts of incidental take on each of the covered species. KL is 
proposing the following mitigation measures: (1) On-site cooperation 
with plans to translocate Hawaiian geese to reduce the risk of bird 
strikes by aircraft; (2) funding for the development of a plan to 
address translocation of geese off of KL; and (3) continuation of 
ongoing monitoring efforts and predator control. To reduce the 
potential of collisions between airplanes and birds, KL will not 
purposely enhance the suitability of the resort as a breeding habitat 
for the Hawaiian goose. For unavoidable take of listed seabirds, KL 
proposes to pay into the Kauai Seabird Habitat Conservation Plan 
(currently being developed by DOFAW) so that funds can be used to 
assist in the enhancement of known seabird colonies through predator 
management, habitat restoration and monitoring. The HCP also includes 
numerous avoidance and minimization measures that will significantly 
limit the take of the covered species due to resort operations and 
construction.
    The draft EA contains an analysis of two alternatives: (1) Proposed 
Action (issuance of a permit to KL on the basis of the activities 
described in the proposed HCP); and (2) No Action (no permit issuance 
and no measures by the applicant to reduce or eliminate the take of 
covered species). The draft EA considers the direct, indirect, and 
cumulative effects of the alternatives, including any measures under 
the Proposed Action alternative intended to minimize and mitigate such 
impacts. The draft EA also identifies additional alternatives that were 
considered but not fully analyzed, as they did not meet the purpose and 
need of the Proposed Action.
    The Service invites comments and suggestions from all interested 
parties on the draft documents associated with the permit application, 
and requests that comments be as specific as possible. In particular, 
information and comments regarding the following topics are requested: 
(1) Whether the proposed HCP sufficiently minimizes and mitigates the 
impacts of take to the covered species to the maximum extent 
practicable over its 30-year term; (2) additional adaptive management 
or monitoring provisions that may be incorporated into the Proposed 
Action

[[Page 40929]]

alternative, and their benefits to listed species; (3) the direct, 
indirect, or cumulative effects that implementation of either 
alternative could have on the human environment; (4) other plans or 
projects that might be relevant to this action; and (5) any other 
information pertinent to evaluating the effects of the proposed action 
on the human environment.

Authority

    This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 
1539(c)) of the ESA and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). The public 
process for the proposed Federal permit action will be completed after 
the public comment period, at which time we will evaluate the permit 
application, the HCP and associated documents (including the EA), and 
comments submitted thereon to determine whether or not the proposed 
action meets the requirements of section 10(a) (16 U.S.C. 1539(a)) of 
the ESA and has been adequately evaluated under NEPA.

    Dated: June 23, 2011.
Richard Hannan,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-17452 Filed 7-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
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