Draft Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances and Draft Environmental Assessment; Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, New Mexico and Colorado, 5480-5481 [2013-01573]

Download as PDF 5480 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2013 / Notices and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street SW., Room 7262, Washington, DC 20410; telephone (202) 402–3970; TTY number for the hearing- and speechimpaired (202) 708–2565, (these telephone numbers are not toll-free), or call the toll-free Title V information line at 800–927–7588. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the December 12, 1988 court order in National Coalition for the Homeless v. Veterans Administration, No. 88–2503–OG (D.D.C.), HUD publishes a Notice, on a weekly basis, identifying unutilized, underutilized, excess and surplus Federal buildings and real property that HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. Today’s Notice is for the purpose of announcing that no additional properties have been determined suitable or unsuitable this week. Dated: January 17, 2013. Mark Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs. [FR Doc. 2013–01308 Filed 1–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–ES–2012–N240; FXES11150200000–134–FF02ENEH00] Draft Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances and Draft Environmental Assessment; Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, New Mexico and Colorado Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment. AGENCY: Vermejo Park, LLC, d/b/a Vermejo Park Ranch (Applicant), has applied for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit application includes a draft Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Vermejo Park Ranch for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout in Taos County, New Mexico, and Costilla County, Colorado. If the Rio Grande cutthroat trout becomes listed in the future, the enhancement of survival permit will become effective, authorizing incidental take of Rio Grande cutthroat trout resulting from ongoing, otherwise lawful activities on enrolled lands. The draft CCAA and the draft environmental assessment are mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:39 Jan 24, 2013 Jkt 229001 available for public review, and we seek public comment on the potential issuance of the above permit. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by March 26, 2013. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application, the draft CCAA, the draft EA, or other related documents may obtain copies by written or telephone request to Field Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 505–346–2525 (U.S. mail address below). Electronic copies of these documents are available for review on the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office Web site: https:// www.fws.gov/southwest/es/NewMexico/. The application and related documents will be available for public inspection, by appointment only, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office at the address below. Comments concerning the application, the draft CCAA, the draft EA, or other related documents should be submitted in writing to the Field Supervisor, by U.S. mail at the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113; by telephone at 505–346–2525; or by facsimile at 505–346–2542. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800–877–8339. Please refer to Permit number TE72923A–0 when submitting comments. Please specify if comments are in reference to the draft CCAA, draft EA, or both. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wally ‘‘J’’ Murphy, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, at the address above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the assistance of the Service, the Applicant proposes to implement conservation measures for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout by removing threats to its survival and reintroducing it to historically occupied streams. The proposed CCAA would be in effect for 25 years on Vermejo Park Ranch in Taos County, New Mexico, and Costilla County, Colorado. This area constitutes the CCAA’s Covered Area. The CCAA has been developed in support of a section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (Act) enhancement of survival permit. If approved, Vermejo Park Ranch will be provided assurances that, should the Rio Grande cutthroat trout be listed, the Service will not require them to provide PO 00000 Frm 00074 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 additional land, water, or financial resources, nor will there be any further restrictions to their land, water, or financial resources than they committed to under the CCAA provisions (50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d)). Furthermore, if the Rio Grande cutthroat trout is listed, participants would be provided incidental take authorization under the enhancement of survival permit for the level of incidental take on the enrolled lands consistent with the activities under the CCAA provisions. Background The Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) is native to the Rio Grande, Pecos River, and Canadian River basins in New Mexico and Colorado. It is the southernmost subspecies of cutthroat trout. Because of nonnative species introductions, Rio Grande cutthroat trout are now restricted to streams that are narrow and small compared to the larger streams they once occupied; these populations occupy approximately 10 percent of historical habitat. Rio Grande cutthroat trout face a variety of imminent threats, including fragmentation and isolation, small population size, presence of nonnative trout, whirling disease, poor habitat conditions, fire, drought, and the effects of climate change. Because of the range contraction and the imminent threats, we made the Rio Grande cutthroat trout a candidate species on May 14, 2008 (73 FR 27900), indicating that listing of the Rio Grande cutthroat trout was warranted but precluded by higher priority actions. The species was given a listing priority number of 9, indicating a subspecies facing imminent threats of moderate to low magnitude. Currently, cooperative efforts are in place to restore this subspecies to the Rio Costilla watershed, where much of the habitat for Rio Grande cutthroat trout exists on private land. The CCAA was initiated in order to facilitate conservation and restoration of the Rio Grande cutthroat trout on private lands in New Mexico. Expected conservation benefits for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout from implementation of the conservation measures in this CCAA will be recognized through additional connected populations being maintained over time. Furthermore, Rio Grande cutthroat trout conservation will be enhanced by providing regulatory assurances under the Act for the participating property owner. There will be a measure of security for the participating landowner in the knowledge that they will not incur additional land use restrictions if the species is listed under the Act. The E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 17 / Friday, January 25, 2013 / Notices Applicant has committed to implementation of the CCAA and requests issuance of the enhancement of survival permit in order to address the take prohibitions of section 9 of the Act should the species become listed in the future. The draft CCAA and application for the enhancement of survival permit are not eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. A draft environmental assessment has been prepared to further analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the CCAA on the quality of the human environment and other natural resources. Public Availability of Comments All comments we receive become part of the public record. Requests for copies of comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Department of the Interior policies and procedures. 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 to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee 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 17.32), and the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR part 1506.6). Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2013–01573 Filed 1–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P planning an FY13 strategy to minimize the spread of quagga mussels from the Colorado River and a framework for working beyond FY13. Priorities for minimizing the spread of these mussels will be discussed. The meeting is open to the public. DATES: The meeting is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 20, 2013. ADDRESSES: The meeting will take place at the Utah Division of Wildlife, 1594 W North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84114. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Britton, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, by telephone at 817–272– 3714, or by email to David_Britton@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background In FY12, Congress directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to spend approximately $1,000,000 for implementation of mandatory operational inspection and decontamination stations at Federally managed or interjurisdictional water bodies considered to be of highest risk, as called for in the February 2010 Quagga—Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as is the rest of the Federal government, is currently operating under the Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2013 (Pub. L 112–175), which provides funding through March 27, 2013. We would like input from partners in order to maximize benefit from actions funded in FY13. Agenda (Tentative) 9 a.m. Introductions 9:15 a.m. Overview and Background Presentation 9:45 a.m. Group Discussion Noon Lunch 1 p.m. Group Discussion 4 p.m. Public Comment Period 4:30 p.m. Closeout and Adjourn [FWS–HQ–FHC–2013–N008; 94140–1341– 0000–N5] Accessibility Information The meeting location is accessible to wheelchair users. If you require additional accommodations, please notify us at least 1 week in advance of the meeting. Quagga Mussel Strategic Planning Meeting Authority: We publish this notice under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with Fish and Wildlife Service AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. Notice of meeting. ACTION: This notice announces a meeting to gather information for SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:39 Jan 24, 2013 Jkt 229001 Dated: January 17, 2013. Mike Oetker, Assistant Regional Director, Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2013–01468 Filed 1–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P PO 00000 Frm 00075 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5481 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–HQ–IA–2013–N013; FXIA16710900000P5–123–FF09A30000] Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Applications for Permit Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications for permit. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct certain activities with endangered species, marine mammals, or both. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is acquired that allows such activities. DATES: We must receive comments or requests for documents on or before February 25, 2013. We must receive requests for marine mammal permit public hearings, in writing, at the address shown in the ADDRESSES section by February 25, 2013. 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 email DMAFR@fws.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brenda Tapia, (703) 358–2104 (telephone); (703) 358–2280 (fax); DMAFR@fws.gov (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: I. Public Comment Procedures A. How do I request copies of applications or comment on submitted applications? Send your request for copies of applications or comments and materials concerning any of the applications to the contact listed under ADDRESSES. Please include the Federal Register notice publication date, the PRTnumber, and the name of the applicant in your request or submission. We will not consider requests or comments sent to an email or address not listed under ADDRESSES. If you provide an email address in your request for copies of applications, we will attempt to respond to your request electronically. Please make your requests or comments as specific as possible. Please confine your comments to issues for which we seek comments in this notice, and explain the basis for your E:\FR\FM\25JAN1.SGM 25JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 17 (Friday, January 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5480-5481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01573]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2012-N240; FXES11150200000-134-FF02ENEH00]


Draft Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances and Draft 
Environmental Assessment; Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, New Mexico and 
Colorado

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.

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

SUMMARY: Vermejo Park, LLC, d/b/a Vermejo Park Ranch (Applicant), has 
applied for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to Section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The 
permit application includes a draft Candidate Conservation Agreement 
with Assurances (CCAA) between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service) and Vermejo Park Ranch for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout in 
Taos County, New Mexico, and Costilla County, Colorado. If the Rio 
Grande cutthroat trout becomes listed in the future, the enhancement of 
survival permit will become effective, authorizing incidental take of 
Rio Grande cutthroat trout resulting from ongoing, otherwise lawful 
activities on enrolled lands. The draft CCAA and the draft 
environmental assessment are available for public review, and we seek 
public comment on the potential issuance of the above permit.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
March 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application, the draft CCAA, 
the draft EA, or other related documents may obtain copies by written 
or telephone request to Field Supervisor, New Mexico Ecological 
Services Field Office, 505-346-2525 (U.S. mail address below). 
Electronic copies of these documents are available for review on the 
New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office Web site: https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/NewMexico/. The application and related 
documents will be available for public inspection, by appointment only, 
during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the New Mexico 
Ecological Services Field Office at the address below.
    Comments concerning the application, the draft CCAA, the draft EA, 
or other related documents should be submitted in writing to the Field 
Supervisor, by U.S. mail at the New Mexico Ecological Services Field 
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM 
87113; by telephone at 505-346-2525; or by facsimile at 505-346-2542. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
    Please refer to Permit number TE72923A-0 when submitting comments. 
Please specify if comments are in reference to the draft CCAA, draft 
EA, or both.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wally ``J'' Murphy, Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services Field 
Office, at the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the assistance of the Service, the 
Applicant proposes to implement conservation measures for the Rio 
Grande cutthroat trout by removing threats to its survival and 
reintroducing it to historically occupied streams. The proposed CCAA 
would be in effect for 25 years on Vermejo Park Ranch in Taos County, 
New Mexico, and Costilla County, Colorado. This area constitutes the 
CCAA's Covered Area. The CCAA has been developed in support of a 
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.) (Act) enhancement of survival permit.
    If approved, Vermejo Park Ranch will be provided assurances that, 
should the Rio Grande cutthroat trout be listed, the Service will not 
require them to provide additional land, water, or financial resources, 
nor will there be any further restrictions to their land, water, or 
financial resources than they committed to under the CCAA provisions 
(50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d)). Furthermore, if the Rio Grande 
cutthroat trout is listed, participants would be provided incidental 
take authorization under the enhancement of survival permit for the 
level of incidental take on the enrolled lands consistent with the 
activities under the CCAA provisions.

Background

    The Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) is 
native to the Rio Grande, Pecos River, and Canadian River basins in New 
Mexico and Colorado. It is the southernmost subspecies of cutthroat 
trout. Because of nonnative species introductions, Rio Grande cutthroat 
trout are now restricted to streams that are narrow and small compared 
to the larger streams they once occupied; these populations occupy 
approximately 10 percent of historical habitat. Rio Grande cutthroat 
trout face a variety of imminent threats, including fragmentation and 
isolation, small population size, presence of nonnative trout, whirling 
disease, poor habitat conditions, fire, drought, and the effects of 
climate change. Because of the range contraction and the imminent 
threats, we made the Rio Grande cutthroat trout a candidate species on 
May 14, 2008 (73 FR 27900), indicating that listing of the Rio Grande 
cutthroat trout was warranted but precluded by higher priority actions. 
The species was given a listing priority number of 9, indicating a 
subspecies facing imminent threats of moderate to low magnitude.
    Currently, cooperative efforts are in place to restore this 
subspecies to the Rio Costilla watershed, where much of the habitat for 
Rio Grande cutthroat trout exists on private land. The CCAA was 
initiated in order to facilitate conservation and restoration of the 
Rio Grande cutthroat trout on private lands in New Mexico. Expected 
conservation benefits for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout from 
implementation of the conservation measures in this CCAA will be 
recognized through additional connected populations being maintained 
over time.
    Furthermore, Rio Grande cutthroat trout conservation will be 
enhanced by providing regulatory assurances under the Act for the 
participating property owner. There will be a measure of security for 
the participating landowner in the knowledge that they will not incur 
additional land use restrictions if the species is listed under the 
Act. The

[[Page 5481]]

Applicant has committed to implementation of the CCAA and requests 
issuance of the enhancement of survival permit in order to address the 
take prohibitions of section 9 of the Act should the species become 
listed in the future.
    The draft CCAA and application for the enhancement of survival 
permit are not eligible for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. A draft environmental 
assessment has been prepared to further analyze the direct, indirect, 
and cumulative impacts of the CCAA on the quality of the human 
environment and other natural resources.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments we receive become part of the public record. Requests 
for copies of comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom 
of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Department of the Interior 
policies and procedures. 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 to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee 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 
17.32), and the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et 
seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR part 1506.6).

Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2013-01573 Filed 1-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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