Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits; Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Utah Prairie Dog in Garfield County, Utah, 62646-62647 [2013-24602]

Download as PDF 62646 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices Avenue NW., Suite 1500N, Washington, DC 20229, tel. 202–344–1060. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given pursuant to 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13, that Camin Cargo Control, Inc., 31 Fulton Street—Unit A, New Haven, CT 06513, has been approved to gauge and accredited to test petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 19 CFR 151.13. Anyone wishing to employ this entity to conduct laboratory analyses and gauger services should request and receive written assurances from the entity that it is accredited or approved by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to conduct the specific test or gauger service requested. Alternatively, inquiries regarding the specific test or gauger service this entity is accredited or approved to perform may be directed to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling (202) 344– 1060. The inquiry may also be sent to cbp.labhq@dhs.gov. Please reference the Web site listed below for a complete listing of CBP approved gaugers and accredited laboratories. https://cbp.gov/ linkhandler/cgov/trade/basic_trade/ labs_scientific_svcs/commercial_ gaugers/gaulist.ctt/gaulist.pdf. Dated: September 30, 2013. Ira S. Reese, Executive Director, Laboratories and Scientific Services. [FR Doc. 2013–24324 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R6–ES–2013–N226; FF06E23000– 145–FXES11110600000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits; Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Utah Prairie Dog in Garfield County, Utah Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with FRONT MATTER AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), received a permit application from the Garfield County Commission and are announcing the availability of a Draft Low-effect Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) for the Utah prairie dog in Garfield County, Utah, for review and comment by the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments. We SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 21:08 Oct 21, 2013 Jkt 232001 request comment on the draft low-effect HCP. DATES: Written comments must be submitted by November 21, 2013. ADDRESSES: Send written comments by U.S. mail to Laura Romin, Deputy Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2369 W. Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 84119, or via email to utahfieldoffice_esa@fws.gov. You also may send comments by facsimile to 801–975–3331. The draft low-effect HCP is available on our Mountain-Prairie Region Ecological Services Web site at https:// www.fws.gov/utahfieldoffice/ LatestNews.html. You also may review a copy of this document during regular business hours at the Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see address above). If you do not have access to the Web site or cannot visit our office, you may request copies by telephone at 801– 975–3330 ext. 142 or by letter to the Utah Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Romin, 801–975–3330, ext. 142; laura_romin@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce availability for review and comment of the Draft Low-effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Utah prairie dog in Garfield County, Utah. The Garfield County Commission has prepared a draft low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the translocation of Utah prairie dogs away from human developed areas or where construction is occurring in and adjacent to Panguitch, Utah, and that may result in incidental take of the federally threatened Utah prairie dog. The intent of this low-effect HCP is to serve as an interim mechanism to authorize incidental take in the short term while a more comprehensive longterm or range-wide habitat conservation plan is prepared for the species. We request public comment on the draft low-effect HCP. Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1538) and its implementing regulations prohibit take of species listed as endangered or threatened. The definition of take under the ESA includes to ‘‘harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect listed species or to attempt to engage in such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). Section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539) establishes a program whereby persons seeking to pursue activities that are otherwise legal, but could result in take of federally protected species, may receive an incidental take permit (ITP). Applicants for ITPs must submit a HCP that meets PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the section 10 permit issuance criteria. ‘‘Low-effect’’ incidental take permits are those permits that, despite their authorization of some small level of incidental take, individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Background The USFWS and Iron County began work on a Rangewide HCP (to include Iron, Garfield, and Wayne Counties) in 2006; however, efforts to complete the Rangewide HCP have stalled, due largely to concerns regarding funding mechanisms. Garfield County has committed to proceed with completing a new long-term Garfield County HCP. However, it is likely that completion of a new HCP will require 2–3 years. Therefore, this low-effect HCP will provide a bridge, authorizing incidental take of the Utah prairie dog until a new long-term HCP can be completed. As a bridge to cover additional take anticipated before a range-wide or longterm plan can be completed, Garfield County has submitted a draft low-effect HCP that would authorize the take of no more than 220 acres (89 hectares) of occupied Utah prairie dog habitat over a maximum 3-year period. Incidental take could occur as a result of (1) translocations of prairie dogs away from the town of Panguitch, Utah, to Federal or other protected lands in Garfield County or (2) ongoing and future residential and commercial development in occupied Utah prairie dog habitat in Panguitch, Utah. Minimization and mitigation measures will include the translocations of Utah prairie dogs to Federal or other protected habitat in Garfield County or the payment of a mitigation fee to a conservation fund for Utah prairie dogs. Under this low-effect HCP, developers would apply to the County for their individual take permits or letters of authorization. Our Preliminary Determination We have made a preliminary determination that the HCP qualifies as a ‘‘low-effect’’ habitat conservation plan as defined by our Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook (November 1996). We base our determination on the following information: (1) The size and scope of the incidental take of Utah prairie dogs is relatively small, and limited to maximum of 220 ac (89 ha) of Utah prairie dog occupied habitats over three years; (2) The total amount of take amounts to only 1.4 percent of the total mapped E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices Utah prairie dog habitat in the Paunsaugunt Recovery Unit; and (3) Most of the take is limited to already developed areas or those areas projected for development in the near future. These areas do not serve to support current or future metapopulations and objectives for recovery of the species in the wild. Overall we conclude that implementation of the plan would result in overall minor or negligible effects on the Utah prairie dog and its habitats. We may revise this preliminary determination based on public comments submitted in response to this notice. Public Availability of Comments 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. Dated: September 30, 2013. Larry Crist, Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office. [FR Doc. 2013–24602 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–HQ–IA–2013–N230; FXIA16710900000P5–123–FF09A30000] Endangered Species; 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. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) prohibits 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 November 21, 2013. ADDRESSES: Brenda Tapia, Division of Management Authority, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 North Fairfax sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with FRONT MATTER SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 21:08 Oct 21, 2013 Jkt 232001 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: 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 comments. Include sufficient information with your comments to allow us to authenticate any scientific or commercial data you include. The comments and recommendations that will be most useful and likely to influence agency decisions are: (1) Those supported by quantitative information or studies; and (2) Those that include citations to, and analyses of, the applicable laws and regulations. We will not consider or include in our administrative record comments we receive after the close of the comment period (see DATES) or comments delivered to an address other than those listed above (see ADDRESSES). B. May I review comments submitted by others? Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the street address listed under ADDRESSES. The public may review documents and other information applicants have sent in support of the application unless our allowing viewing would violate the Privacy Act or Freedom of Information Act. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 62647 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. II. Background To help us carry out our conservation responsibilities for affected species, and in consideration of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), along with Executive Order 13576, ‘‘Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and Accountable Government,’’ and the President’s Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies of January 21, 2009—Transparency and Open Government (74 FR 4685; January 26, 2009), which call on all Federal agencies to promote openness and transparency in Government by disclosing information to the public, we invite public comment on these permit applications before final action is taken. III. Permit Applications A. Endangered Species Multiple Applicants The following applicants each request a permit to import the sport-hunted trophy of one male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled from a captive herd maintained under the management program of the Republic of South Africa, for the purpose of enhancement of the survival of the species. Applicant: Lynn Bourdon, Houston, TX; PRT–16832B Applicant: Johnathan Johnson, Brandon, MS; PRT–16849B Applicant: Daniel Saab Salem, Miami, FL; PRT–16912B Applicant: Robert Perrenot, Dallas, TX; PRT–16830B Applicant: Michael Stec, Rapid City, SD; PRT–16871B Applicant: John Basto, Richmond VA; PRT–12866B Applicant: Hal Johnson, Richmond VA; PRT–15464B Brenda Tapia, Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch of Permits, Division of Management Authority. [FR Doc. 2013–24540 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62646-62647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24602]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2013-N226; FF06E23000-145-FXES11110600000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Permits; Low-
Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Utah Prairie Dog in Garfield 
County, Utah

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), received a 
permit application from the Garfield County Commission and are 
announcing the availability of a Draft Low-effect Habitat Conservation 
Plan (HCP) for the Utah prairie dog in Garfield County, Utah, for 
review and comment by the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local 
governments. We request comment on the draft low-effect HCP.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by November 21, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments by U.S. mail to Laura Romin, Deputy 
Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 2369 W. Orton Circle, Suite 50, West Valley City, UT 
84119, or via email to utahfieldoffice_esa@fws.gov. You also may send 
comments by facsimile to 801-975-3331. The draft low-effect HCP is 
available on our Mountain-Prairie Region Ecological Services Web site 
at https://www.fws.gov/utahfieldoffice/LatestNews.html. You also may 
review a copy of this document during regular business hours at the 
Utah Ecological Services Field Office (see address above). If you do 
not have access to the Web site or cannot visit our office, you may 
request copies by telephone at 801-975-3330 ext. 142 or by letter to 
the Utah Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Romin, 801-975-3330, ext. 142; 
laura_romin@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce availability for review and 
comment of the Draft Low-effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Utah 
prairie dog in Garfield County, Utah. The Garfield County Commission 
has prepared a draft low-effect habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the 
translocation of Utah prairie dogs away from human developed areas or 
where construction is occurring in and adjacent to Panguitch, Utah, and 
that may result in incidental take of the federally threatened Utah 
prairie dog. The intent of this low-effect HCP is to serve as an 
interim mechanism to authorize incidental take in the short term while 
a more comprehensive long-term or range-wide habitat conservation plan 
is prepared for the species. We request public comment on the draft 
low-effect HCP.
    Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1538) and 
its implementing regulations prohibit take of species listed as 
endangered or threatened. The definition of take under the ESA includes 
to ``harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or 
collect listed species or to attempt to engage in such conduct'' (16 
U.S.C. 1532(19)). Section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1539) establishes a 
program whereby persons seeking to pursue activities that are otherwise 
legal, but could result in take of federally protected species, may 
receive an incidental take permit (ITP). Applicants for ITPs must 
submit a HCP that meets the section 10 permit issuance criteria. ``Low-
effect'' incidental take permits are those permits that, despite their 
authorization of some small level of incidental take, individually and 
cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the species covered 
in the HCP.

Background

    The USFWS and Iron County began work on a Rangewide HCP (to include 
Iron, Garfield, and Wayne Counties) in 2006; however, efforts to 
complete the Rangewide HCP have stalled, due largely to concerns 
regarding funding mechanisms. Garfield County has committed to proceed 
with completing a new long-term Garfield County HCP. However, it is 
likely that completion of a new HCP will require 2-3 years. Therefore, 
this low-effect HCP will provide a bridge, authorizing incidental take 
of the Utah prairie dog until a new long-term HCP can be completed.
    As a bridge to cover additional take anticipated before a range-
wide or long-term plan can be completed, Garfield County has submitted 
a draft low-effect HCP that would authorize the take of no more than 
220 acres (89 hectares) of occupied Utah prairie dog habitat over a 
maximum 3-year period. Incidental take could occur as a result of (1) 
translocations of prairie dogs away from the town of Panguitch, Utah, 
to Federal or other protected lands in Garfield County or (2) ongoing 
and future residential and commercial development in occupied Utah 
prairie dog habitat in Panguitch, Utah. Minimization and mitigation 
measures will include the translocations of Utah prairie dogs to 
Federal or other protected habitat in Garfield County or the payment of 
a mitigation fee to a conservation fund for Utah prairie dogs. Under 
this low-effect HCP, developers would apply to the County for their 
individual take permits or letters of authorization.

Our Preliminary Determination

    We have made a preliminary determination that the HCP qualifies as 
a ``low-effect'' habitat conservation plan as defined by our Habitat 
Conservation Planning Handbook (November 1996).
    We base our determination on the following information:
    (1) The size and scope of the incidental take of Utah prairie dogs 
is relatively small, and limited to maximum of 220 ac (89 ha) of Utah 
prairie dog occupied habitats over three years;
    (2) The total amount of take amounts to only 1.4 percent of the 
total mapped

[[Page 62647]]

Utah prairie dog habitat in the Paunsaugunt Recovery Unit; and
    (3) Most of the take is limited to already developed areas or those 
areas projected for development in the near future. These areas do not 
serve to support current or future metapopulations and objectives for 
recovery of the species in the wild.
    Overall we conclude that implementation of the plan would result in 
overall minor or negligible effects on the Utah prairie dog and its 
habitats. We may revise this preliminary determination based on public 
comments submitted in response to this notice.

Public Availability of Comments

    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.

    Dated: September 30, 2013.
Larry Crist,
Field Supervisor, Utah Ecological Services Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2013-24602 Filed 10-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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