Application From Marys River Ranch, Elko County, NV, for an Enhancement of Survival Permit; Safe Harbor Agreement, 59414-59415 [2012-23783]
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 188 / Thursday, September 27, 2012 / Notices
England cottontails, and forest bats. We
would also manage estuarine and
aquatic species of concern, including
shellfish and migratory fish. We would
also remove the Lower Peverly Pond
Dam to restore approximately 1,100 feet
of stream habitat, while maintaining the
dams at Upper Peverly Pond and Stubbs
Pond to benefit a range of fish and
wildlife species of conservation
concern. We would also expand our
conservation, research, and management
partnerships to help restore and
conserve the Great Bay estuarine
ecosystem.
This alternative would enhance our
visitor services programs. We would
improve our trails, create new
interpretive materials, expand on the
existing volunteer program, and offer
visitors more opportunities to learn
about the refuge’s history, its resources,
and its surrounding area. We would also
evaluate an expansion of hunting
opportunities to include wild turkey
and a fall bow season for deer. These
expanded programs would be possible
through increased staffing and a new
refuge headquarters/visitor contact
facility.
On the Karner blue butterfly
easement, we would enhance our
partnership with NHFG to help manage
habitat on the easement to support this
species’ recovery. We would also
expand the easement’s visitor services
program by installing new interpretive
signs and trails, offering guided walks,
and updating our Web site.
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with
Alternative C (Emphasis on Natural
Processes)
Alternative C primarily relies on
ecosystem processes, such as natural
disturbances, to affect the diversity and
integrity of refuge habitats. In particular,
we would no longer maintain much of
the grasslands and shrublands on the
refuge, allowing them to naturally
transition to forest. We would remove
all three of the refuge’s impoundments
on Peverly Brook and restore these areas
to native stream habitat. We would also
expand our visitor services program by
creating new trails and opening up more
of the refuge to public use. Under this
alternative, management of the Karner
blue butterfly easement would be
similar to alternative B.
Comments
We solicited comments on the draft
CCP/EA for Great Bay NWR from
February 10 to March 19, 2012 (77 FR
7176). During the comment period, we
received 25 written responses. We
evaluated all of the substantive
comments we received, and include a
summary of those comments and our
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Sep 26, 2012
Jkt 226001
responses to them, as appendix K in the
final CCP.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments we
received on our draft CCP/EA, we have
made several minor changes to
alternative B, including adding or
revising several management strategies.
These changes are described in the
FONSI (appendix L in the final CCP)
and in our response to public comments
(appendix K in the final CCP).
We have selected alternative B to
implement for Great Bay NWR, with
these minor changes, for several
reasons. Alternative B comprises a mix
of actions that, in our professional
judgment, work best towards achieving
the refuge’s purposes, vision, and goals,
NWRS policies, and the goals of other
State and regional conservation plans.
We also believe that alternative B most
effectively addresses key issues raised
during the planning process. The basis
of our decision is detailed in the FONSI
(appendix L in the final CCP).
Public Availability of Documents
You can view or obtain the final CCP,
including the FONSI, as indicated under
ADDRESSES.
Dated: August 29, 2012.
Deborah Rocque,
Acting Regional Director, Northeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2012–23799 Filed 9–26–12; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2012–N177; FF08E00000–
FXES11120800000F2–123–F2]
Application From Marys River Ranch,
Elko County, NV, for an Enhancement
of Survival Permit; Safe Harbor
Agreement
AGENCY:
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
Notice of availability and
receipt of application.
ACTION:
In response to an application
from Marys River Ranch (applicant), the
Fish and Wildlife Service (we, the
Service) is considering issuance of an
enhancement of survival permit
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA). The enhancement of
survival permit application includes a
proposed safe harbor agreement (SHA)
between the applicant and the Service.
The proposed SHA provides for
voluntary habitat restoration,
maintenance, or enhancement activities
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
to facilitate the repatriation and
recovery of Lahontan cutthroat within
the enrolled property. The proposed
duration of both the SHA and permit is
50 years. The Service has made a
preliminary determination that the
proposed SHA and permit application
are eligible for categorical exclusion
under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The basis for
this determination is contained in an
environmental action statement, which
also is available for public review.
DATES: Written comments must be
received by 5 p.m. on October 29, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be sent to Edward D. Koch, State
Supervisor, by U.S. mail; or hand
delivered to the Nevada Fish and
Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 1340 Financial Boulevard,
Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502; or faxed to
775–861–6301 (for further information
and instructions on the reviewing and
commenting process, see Availability of
Documents section below).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chad Mellison, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the address shown above or
by telephone at 775–861–6300. If you
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf, please call the Federal Information
Relay Service at 800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Documents
Individuals wishing copies of the
permit application, the environmental
action statement, or the full text of the
proposed SHA, including a map of the
proposed permit area, references, and
description of the proposed permit area,
should contact the office and personnel
listed in the ADDRESSES section.
Documents also will be available for
public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at this
office (see ADDRESSES).
Background Information
Under a safe harbor agreement,
participating landowners voluntarily
undertake management activities on
their property to enhance, restore, or
maintain habitat benefiting species
listed under the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.). Safe harbor agreements, and the
subsequent enhancement of survival
permits that are issued pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA,
encourage private and other non-Federal
property owners to implement
conservation efforts for listed species by
assuring property owners that they will
not be subjected to increased property
use restrictions as a result of their efforts
to attract listed species to their property,
or to increase the numbers or
E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM
27SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 188 / Thursday, September 27, 2012 / Notices
erowe on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with
distribution of listed species already on
their property. Application
requirements and issuance criteria for
enhancement of survival permits
through safe harbor agreements are
found in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.22(c)
and 17.32(c). An enhancement of
survival permit allows any necessary
future incidental take of species above
the mutually agreed upon baseline
conditions for the species, as long as the
take is in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the permit and
accompanying agreement.
Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for
Lahontan cutthroat trout
The primary objective of this
proposed SHA is to encourage voluntary
habitat restoration, maintenance, or
enhancement activities to benefit
Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus
clarkii henshawi). The SHA would
cover conservation activities to create,
maintain, restore, or enhance habitat for
Lahontan cutthroat trout and achieve
species’ recovery goals. These actions,
where appropriate, could include (but
are not limited to): (1) Restoration of
riparian habitat and stream form and
function; (2) variation of stocking rates
for livestock (number/density of animals
per unit area); (3) repair or installation
of fences to protect existing or created
habitat from livestock disturbance; (4)
control of nonnative fish species; and
(5) installation of screens on irrigation
diversions as well as facilitation of the
implementation of other objectives
recommended by the Lahontan
Cutthroat Trout Recovery Plan (Service
1995). The overall goal of the SHA is to
produce conservation measures that are
mutually beneficial to the applicant and
the long-term existence of Lahontan
cutthroat trout. Based upon the probable
species’ response time for Lahontan
cutthroat trout, the Service estimates it
will take 5–10 years of implementing
the planned conservation measures to
fully reach a net conservation benefit;
some level of benefit would likely occur
within a shorter time period. After
maintenance of the restored/created/
enhanced Lahontan cutthroat trout
habitat on the property for the agreedupon term, the applicant may then
conduct otherwise lawful activities on
the property that result in the partial or
total elimination of the habitat
improvements and the taking of
Lahontan cutthroat trout. However, the
restrictions on returning a property to
its original baseline condition include:
(1) The applicant must demonstrate that
baseline conditions were maintained
during the term of the SHA and the
conservation measures necessary for
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:00 Sep 26, 2012
Jkt 226001
achieving a net conservation benefit
were carried out; and (2) the Service
will be notified a minimum of 60 days
prior to the activity and given the
opportunity to capture, rescue, and/or
relocate any Lahontan cutthroat trout.
The Service has made a preliminary
determination that approval of the
proposed SHA qualifies for a categorical
exclusion under NEPA (23 CFR
771.117), as provided by the Department
of Interior Manual (516 DM 2, Appendix
1 and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1). We
explain the basis for this determination
in an environmental action statement
that is available for public review. Based
upon this preliminary determination,
we do not intend to prepare further
NEPA documentation. The Service will
consider public comments in making its
final determination on whether to
prepare such additional documentation.
Public Review and Comments
We specifically request information,
views, and opinions from the public on
the proposed Federal action of issuing a
permit, including the identification of
any aspects of the human environment
not already analyzed in our
environmental action statement.
Further, we specifically solicit
information regarding the adequacy of
the SHA as measured against our permit
issuance criteria found in 50 CFR
17.22(c).
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 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.
The Service provides this notice
pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA and
pursuant to implementing regulations
for NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6). We will
evaluate the permit application, the
proposed SHA, and comments
submitted thereon to determine whether
the application meets the requirements
of section 10(a) of the ESA and NEPA
regulations. If the requirements are met,
the Service will sign the proposed SHA
and issue an enhancement of survival
permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
ESA to the applicant for take of the
Lahontan cutthroat trout incidental to
otherwise lawful activities of the
project. The Service will not make a
final decision until after the end of the
30-day comment period and will fully
consider all comments received during
the comment period.
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
59415
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited
in this document is available from the
Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office (see
ADDRESSES).
Dated: September 4, 2012,
Edward D. Koch,
State Supervisor, Nevada Fish and Wildlife
Office, Reno, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2012–23783 Filed 9–26–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLWO320000 L13300000.PP0000 12X]
Renewal of Approved Information
Collection
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: 60-day notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, the Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) is announcing
its intention to request approval to
continue the collection of information
regarding leases of solid minerals other
than coal and oil shale. The Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) has
assigned control number 1004–0121 to
this information collection.
DATES: Please submit comments on the
proposed information collection by
November 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted by mail, fax, or electronic
mail.
Mail: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C
Street NW., Room 2134LM, Attention:
Jean Sonneman, Washington, DC 20240.
Fax: to Jean Sonneman at 202–245–
0050.
Electronic Mail:
Jean_Sonneman@blm.gov.
Please indicate ‘‘Attn: 1004–0121’’
regardless of the form of your
comments.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Vince Vogt, at 202–912–7125. Persons
who use a telecommunication device for
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339, to leave a message for
Mr. Vogt.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB
regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, which
implement provisions of the Paperwork
Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501–3521,
require that interested members of the
public and affected agencies be given an
opportunity to comment on information
E:\FR\FM\27SEN1.SGM
27SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 188 (Thursday, September 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59414-59415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23783]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2012-N177; FF08E00000-FXES11120800000F2-123-F2]
Application From Marys River Ranch, Elko County, NV, for an
Enhancement of Survival Permit; Safe Harbor Agreement
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability and receipt of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In response to an application from Marys River Ranch
(applicant), the Fish and Wildlife Service (we, the Service) is
considering issuance of an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(ESA). The enhancement of survival permit application includes a
proposed safe harbor agreement (SHA) between the applicant and the
Service. The proposed SHA provides for voluntary habitat restoration,
maintenance, or enhancement activities to facilitate the repatriation
and recovery of Lahontan cutthroat within the enrolled property. The
proposed duration of both the SHA and permit is 50 years. The Service
has made a preliminary determination that the proposed SHA and permit
application are eligible for categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The basis for this
determination is contained in an environmental action statement, which
also is available for public review.
DATES: Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. on October 29, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Edward D. Koch, State
Supervisor, by U.S. mail; or hand delivered to the Nevada Fish and
Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1340 Financial
Boulevard, Suite 234, Reno, NV 89502; or faxed to 775-861-6301 (for
further information and instructions on the reviewing and commenting
process, see Availability of Documents section below).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Mellison, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, at the address shown above or by telephone at 775-861-6300.
If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call the
Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Availability of Documents
Individuals wishing copies of the permit application, the
environmental action statement, or the full text of the proposed SHA,
including a map of the proposed permit area, references, and
description of the proposed permit area, should contact the office and
personnel listed in the ADDRESSES section. Documents also will be
available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business
hours at this office (see ADDRESSES).
Background Information
Under a safe harbor agreement, participating landowners voluntarily
undertake management activities on their property to enhance, restore,
or maintain habitat benefiting species listed under the ESA (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.). Safe harbor agreements, and the subsequent enhancement
of survival permits that are issued pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of
the ESA, encourage private and other non-Federal property owners to
implement conservation efforts for listed species by assuring property
owners that they will not be subjected to increased property use
restrictions as a result of their efforts to attract listed species to
their property, or to increase the numbers or
[[Page 59415]]
distribution of listed species already on their property. Application
requirements and issuance criteria for enhancement of survival permits
through safe harbor agreements are found in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.22(c) and 17.32(c). An enhancement of
survival permit allows any necessary future incidental take of species
above the mutually agreed upon baseline conditions for the species, as
long as the take is in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
permit and accompanying agreement.
Proposed Safe Harbor Agreement for Lahontan cutthroat trout
The primary objective of this proposed SHA is to encourage
voluntary habitat restoration, maintenance, or enhancement activities
to benefit Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi).
The SHA would cover conservation activities to create, maintain,
restore, or enhance habitat for Lahontan cutthroat trout and achieve
species' recovery goals. These actions, where appropriate, could
include (but are not limited to): (1) Restoration of riparian habitat
and stream form and function; (2) variation of stocking rates for
livestock (number/density of animals per unit area); (3) repair or
installation of fences to protect existing or created habitat from
livestock disturbance; (4) control of nonnative fish species; and (5)
installation of screens on irrigation diversions as well as
facilitation of the implementation of other objectives recommended by
the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Recovery Plan (Service 1995). The overall
goal of the SHA is to produce conservation measures that are mutually
beneficial to the applicant and the long-term existence of Lahontan
cutthroat trout. Based upon the probable species' response time for
Lahontan cutthroat trout, the Service estimates it will take 5-10 years
of implementing the planned conservation measures to fully reach a net
conservation benefit; some level of benefit would likely occur within a
shorter time period. After maintenance of the restored/created/enhanced
Lahontan cutthroat trout habitat on the property for the agreed-upon
term, the applicant may then conduct otherwise lawful activities on the
property that result in the partial or total elimination of the habitat
improvements and the taking of Lahontan cutthroat trout. However, the
restrictions on returning a property to its original baseline condition
include: (1) The applicant must demonstrate that baseline conditions
were maintained during the term of the SHA and the conservation
measures necessary for achieving a net conservation benefit were
carried out; and (2) the Service will be notified a minimum of 60 days
prior to the activity and given the opportunity to capture, rescue,
and/or relocate any Lahontan cutthroat trout.
The Service has made a preliminary determination that approval of
the proposed SHA qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NEPA (23
CFR 771.117), as provided by the Department of Interior Manual (516 DM
2, Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1). We explain the basis for this
determination in an environmental action statement that is available
for public review. Based upon this preliminary determination, we do not
intend to prepare further NEPA documentation. The Service will consider
public comments in making its final determination on whether to prepare
such additional documentation.
Public Review and Comments
We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the
public on the proposed Federal action of issuing a permit, including
the identification of any aspects of the human environment not already
analyzed in our environmental action statement. Further, we
specifically solicit information regarding the adequacy of the SHA as
measured against our permit issuance criteria found in 50 CFR 17.22(c).
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 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.
The Service provides this notice pursuant to section 10(c) of the
ESA and pursuant to implementing regulations for NEPA (40 CFR 1506.6).
We will evaluate the permit application, the proposed SHA, and comments
submitted thereon to determine whether the application meets the
requirements of section 10(a) of the ESA and NEPA regulations. If the
requirements are met, the Service will sign the proposed SHA and issue
an enhancement of survival permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA
to the applicant for take of the Lahontan cutthroat trout incidental to
otherwise lawful activities of the project. The Service will not make a
final decision until after the end of the 30-day comment period and
will fully consider all comments received during the comment period.
References Cited
A complete list of all references cited in this document is
available from the Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).
Dated: September 4, 2012,
Edward D. Koch,
State Supervisor, Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, Reno, Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2012-23783 Filed 9-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
