Finding of No Significant Impact for the Renewal and Amendment to the Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan, City of Austin, Travis County, Texas, 64001-64002 [2013-25167]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 207 / Friday, October 25, 2013 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2013–0061]; [FXES11120200000F2–145–FF02ENEH00] Finding of No Significant Impact for the Renewal and Amendment to the Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan, City of Austin, Travis County, Texas Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability and final decision. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make available the final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), and the final amendment to the Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan (BSP HCP) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The City of Austin (applicant) applied for a renewal of their existing Endangered Species Act incidental take permit, with a major amendment to add the Austin blind salamander as an additional covered species; to increase the amount of take for Barton Springs salamander; and to extend the permit term for an additional 20 years. DATES: We are issuing the Finding of No Significant Impact with this notice. ADDRESSES: Reviewing Documents: You may obtain copies of the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP at the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov (search for Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2013–0061), as well as on the Service’s Web site at https:// www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ AustinTexas. The BSP HCP is also available on the City of Austin’s ftp site at ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wre/BSHCP. Alternatively, you may obtain a CD– ROM with electronic copies of the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP by writing to Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; calling 512–490– 0057; or faxing 512–490–0974. A limited number of printed copies of the final documents are also available, by request, from Mr. Zerrenner. Copies of the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP are also available for public inspection and review at the following locations, by appointment and written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: • Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C. St. NW., Washington, DC 20240. emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:55 Oct 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102. • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758–4460; or by telephone at 512–490–0057. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), we advise the public that: 1. We gathered the information necessary to determine impacts and formulate alternatives for the EA related to potential issuance of a renewed incidental take permit (ITP) with a major amendment to the applicant; 2. The applicant developed an amended habitat conservation plan (BSP HCP) as part of the application for an ITP, which describes the measures the applicant has agreed to take to minimize and mitigate the effects of incidental take of covered species to the maximum extent practicable pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and, 3. We have a finding of no significant impact; therefore, 4. We issued the ITP to the applicant on September 12, 2013. The applicant applied for a renewed ITP (TE–839031), with a major amendment that will be in effect for an additional 20 years, and authorizes incidental take of two animal species (covered species), the endangered Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and the Austin Blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis). As described in the BSP HCP, the anticipated incidental take will occur in four spring sites within Zilker Park, Travis County, Texas (permit area), and will result from activities associated with otherwise lawful activities, including the operations and maintenance of Barton Springs Pool (covered activities). The final EA considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of implementation of the HCP, including the measures that will be implemented to minimize and mitigate such impacts to the maximum extent practicable. Background The applicant originally held an ITP (TE–839031) for the Barton Springs salamander that would have expired on PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 64001 October 2, 2013. Opportunity for public review of the original permit application, the environmental assessment, and the habitat conservation plan was provided in the Federal Register on March 16, 1998 (63 FR 12817), and July 15, 1998 (63 FR 38191). Activities included in the existing and 2013 BSP HCP include, but are not limited to, recreation, operations, maintenance, and restoration at Barton Springs Pool, Old Mill Spring, Eliza Spring, and Upper Barton Spring. The application for amendment to the ITP included adding Austin Blind salamander as a covered species, increasing the amount of take authorized for Barton Springs salamander, and an extension of the permit term for an additional 20 years to 2033. Other Alternatives Considered We considered one alternative to the proposed action. 1. No Action—No renewal of the ITP with a major amendment would be issued. Under this alternative, maintenance of the Barton Springs Pool would continue only until the current permit expires. When the current permit expires, the applicant would halt all maintenance activities that may cause take of listed species. As routine and post-flood cleaning is critical to maintaining Barton Springs Pool for recreational activities, use of the Pool would likely be restricted until a new incidental take permit could be issued. The applicant would continue to be subject to the take prohibitions of the Act. Where potential impacts could not be avoided, and where a Federal nexus exists, measures designed to minimize and mitigate for the impacts would be addressed through individual formal or informal consultation with the Service. Public Availability of Comments Written comments we receive become part of the public record associated with this action. 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 request in your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of E:\FR\FM\25OCN1.SGM 25OCN1 64002 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 207 / Friday, October 25, 2013 / Notices organizations or businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their entirety. Decision We issued an ITP to the City of Austin for implementation of the preferred alternative as it is described in the BSP HCP. Our decision is based on a thorough review of the alternatives and their environmental consequences. Implementation of this decision entails issuance of the ITP by the Service and full implementation of the BSP HCP by the City of Austin, including minimization and mitigation measures, monitoring and adaptive management, and complying with all terms and conditions in the ITP. Authority We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2013–25167 Filed 10–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036; FXRS12610800000–134–FF08RSFC00] South Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project; Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, California; Revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comment. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the public that we are issuing a revised Draft Environmental Impact Statement (revised DEIS) for the South Farallon Islands Invasive House Mouse Eradication Project on the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, CA. If you have previously submitted comments, please do not resubmit them, because we have already incorporated them in the public record and will fully consider them in our final EIS. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments on or before December 9, 2013. Comments submitted electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below) must be emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:55 Oct 24, 2013 Jkt 232001 received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. ADDRESSES: Document Availability: You may obtain copies of the documents in the following places: • Internet: https://www.regulations.gov (Docket Number FWS–R8–NWRS– 2013–0036). • In-Person: D San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters, 1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, CA 94555. D San Francisco Public Library, 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. Submitting Comments: You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: • Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036, which is the docket number for this notice. Then, click on the project link to access documents and submit a comment. To access the revised DEIS, click on Open Docket Folder. • By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS–R8–NWRS– 2013–0036; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. We request that you send comments only by the methods described above. We will post all information received on https://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section below for more information). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerry McChesney, Refuge Manager, 510–792–0222, ext. 222 (phone). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 16, 2013, we published a Federal Register notice (78 FR 50082) announcing the availability of the DEIS for a proposed project to eradicate nonnative invasive house mice from the South Farallon Islands, part of the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of California. We are now issuing a revised DEIS, to clarify language on the population status of the ashy storm-petrel (Oceanodroma homochroa) and revise the assessment of impacts to the ashy storm-petrel under the no action alternative. For more information on the proposed eradication of invasive house mice from the South Farallon Islands, see our August 16, 2013, notice (78 FR 50082). Public Comments We request that you send comments only by one of the methods described in ADDRESSES. If you submit a comment via PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 https://www.regulations.gov, your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. We will post all hardcopy comments on https:// www.regulations.gov as well. If you submit a hardcopy comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top of your document that we withhold this information from public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and materials we receive, as well as documents associated with the notice, will be available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS–R8–NWRS–2013–0036. Authority We provide this notice under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its’ implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Alexandra Pitts, Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2013–24954 Filed 10–24–13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [F–14860–A; LLAK940000–L14100000– HY0000–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 an appealable decision will be issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to The Kuskokwim Corporation. The decision approves the surface estate in the lands described below for conveyance pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601, et seq.). The subsurface estate in these lands will be conveyed to Calista Corporation when the surface estate is conveyed to The Kuskokwim Corporation. The lands are in the vicinity of Georgetown, Alaska, and are located in: SUMMARY: Seward Meridian, Alaska T. 22 N., R. 45 W., Secs. 29 and 32. Containing 1,280 acres. Notice of the decision will also be published once a week for four E:\FR\FM\25OCN1.SGM 25OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64001-64002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25167]



[[Page 64001]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2013-0061]; [FXES11120200000F2-145-FF02ENEH00]


Finding of No Significant Impact for the Renewal and Amendment to 
the Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan, City of Austin, 
Travis County, Texas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and final decision.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make 
available the final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), and the final amendment to the Barton 
Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan (BSP HCP) under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The City of Austin (applicant) 
applied for a renewal of their existing Endangered Species Act 
incidental take permit, with a major amendment to add the Austin blind 
salamander as an additional covered species; to increase the amount of 
take for Barton Springs salamander; and to extend the permit term for 
an additional 20 years.

DATES: We are issuing the Finding of No Significant Impact with this 
notice.

ADDRESSES: Reviewing Documents:
    You may obtain copies of the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP at 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov (search 
for Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2013-0061), as well as on the Service's Web 
site at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas. The BSP HCP is 
also available on the City of Austin's ftp site at ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wre/BSHCP.
    Alternatively, you may obtain a CD-ROM with electronic copies of 
the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP by writing to Mr. Adam 
Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; calling 512-490-0057; or 
faxing 512-490-0974. A limited number of printed copies of the final 
documents are also available, by request, from Mr. Zerrenner. Copies of 
the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP are also available for public 
inspection and review at the following locations, by appointment and 
written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
     Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 
1849 C. St. NW., Washington, DC 20240.
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room 
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 
200, Austin, TX 78758.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, 
by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological 
Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758-
4460; or by telephone at 512-490-0057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the requirements of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.), we advise the public that:
    1. We gathered the information necessary to determine impacts and 
formulate alternatives for the EA related to potential issuance of a 
renewed incidental take permit (ITP) with a major amendment to the 
applicant;
    2. The applicant developed an amended habitat conservation plan 
(BSP HCP) as part of the application for an ITP, which describes the 
measures the applicant has agreed to take to minimize and mitigate the 
effects of incidental take of covered species to the maximum extent 
practicable pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and,
    3. We have a finding of no significant impact; therefore,
    4. We issued the ITP to the applicant on September 12, 2013.
    The applicant applied for a renewed ITP (TE-839031), with a major 
amendment that will be in effect for an additional 20 years, and 
authorizes incidental take of two animal species (covered species), the 
endangered Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and the Austin 
Blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis). As described in the BSP HCP, 
the anticipated incidental take will occur in four spring sites within 
Zilker Park, Travis County, Texas (permit area), and will result from 
activities associated with otherwise lawful activities, including the 
operations and maintenance of Barton Springs Pool (covered activities). 
The final EA considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of 
implementation of the HCP, including the measures that will be 
implemented to minimize and mitigate such impacts to the maximum extent 
practicable.

Background

    The applicant originally held an ITP (TE-839031) for the Barton 
Springs salamander that would have expired on October 2, 2013. 
Opportunity for public review of the original permit application, the 
environmental assessment, and the habitat conservation plan was 
provided in the Federal Register on March 16, 1998 (63 FR 12817), and 
July 15, 1998 (63 FR 38191). Activities included in the existing and 
2013 BSP HCP include, but are not limited to, recreation, operations, 
maintenance, and restoration at Barton Springs Pool, Old Mill Spring, 
Eliza Spring, and Upper Barton Spring.
    The application for amendment to the ITP included adding Austin 
Blind salamander as a covered species, increasing the amount of take 
authorized for Barton Springs salamander, and an extension of the 
permit term for an additional 20 years to 2033.

Other Alternatives Considered

    We considered one alternative to the proposed action.
    1. No Action--No renewal of the ITP with a major amendment would be 
issued. Under this alternative, maintenance of the Barton Springs Pool 
would continue only until the current permit expires. When the current 
permit expires, the applicant would halt all maintenance activities 
that may cause take of listed species. As routine and post-flood 
cleaning is critical to maintaining Barton Springs Pool for 
recreational activities, use of the Pool would likely be restricted 
until a new incidental take permit could be issued. The applicant would 
continue to be subject to the take prohibitions of the Act. Where 
potential impacts could not be avoided, and where a Federal nexus 
exists, measures designed to minimize and mitigate for the impacts 
would be addressed through individual formal or informal consultation 
with the Service.

Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the public record 
associated with this action. 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 request in your comment that we withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous 
comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of

[[Page 64002]]

organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
disclosure in their entirety.

Decision

    We issued an ITP to the City of Austin for implementation of the 
preferred alternative as it is described in the BSP HCP. Our decision 
is based on a thorough review of the alternatives and their 
environmental consequences. Implementation of this decision entails 
issuance of the ITP by the Service and full implementation of the BSP 
HCP by the City of Austin, including minimization and mitigation 
measures, monitoring and adaptive management, and complying with all 
terms and conditions in the ITP.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and its 
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2013-25167 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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