Policy Regarding Implementation of Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act, 36330-36331 [2014-14773]

Download as PDF 36330 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 123 / Thursday, June 26, 2014 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES early restoration planning and environmental review; defined the issues and alternatives that would be examined in detail; and saved time by ensuring that draft documents adequately addressed relevant issues. A scoping process reduces paperwork and delay by ensuring that important issues are considered early in the decision making process. To gather public input, the Trustees hosted six public meetings and accepted written comment electronically and via U.S. mail during the scoping period. Notice of availability of the Draft Programmatic and Phase III Early Restoration Plan and Draft Early Restoration Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Phase III ERP/PEIS) was published in the Federal Register on December 6, 2013 (78 FR 73555). The Draft Phase III ERP/PEIS considered programmatic alternatives for early restoration and proposed 44 early restoration projects in Phase III of early restoration consistent with the project types included in the proposed programmatic alternative. The Trustees provided the public with 75 days to review and comment on the Draft Phase III ERP/PEIS (including a 15-day extension of the original announced 60-day comment period). The Trustees also held public meetings in Mobile, Alabama; Long Beach, Mississippi; Belle Chasse, Thibodaux, and Lake Charles, Louisiana; Port Arthur, Galveston, and Corpus Christi, Texas; and Pensacola, Florida to facilitate public participation. The Participating Trustees considered the public comments received, which informed the Participating Trustees’ analyses of programmatic alternatives and specific early restoration projects in the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS. A summary of the public comments received and the Participating Trustees’ responses to those comments are addressed in Chapter 13 of the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS. and Marine Resources, and (2) Contribute to Providing and Enhancing Recreational Opportunities. These categories provide the basis for defining the list of four alternatives considered in the document: • Alternative 1: No Action (No Additional Early Restoration); • Alternative 2: Contribute to Restoring Habitats and Living Coastal and Marine Resources; • Alternative 3: Contribute to Providing and Enhancing Recreational Opportunities; and • Alternative 4 (Preferred Alternative): Contribute to Restoring Habitats, Living Coastal and Marine Resources, and Recreational Opportunities. The Participating Trustees propose to select 44 projects as described in the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS, totaling an estimated cost of approximately $627 million. The proposed restoration projects are intended to continue the process of using early restoration funding to restore natural resources, ecological services, and recreational use services injured or lost as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Participating Trustees considered both ecological and recreational use restoration projects to restore injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, addressing both the physical and biological environment, as well as the relationship people have with the environment. The projects proposed in Phase III are not intended to, and do not, fully address all injuries caused by the spill or provide the extent of restoration needed to make the public and the environment whole. The Participating Trustees anticipate that additional early restoration projects will be proposed in the future as the early restoration process continues. Overview of the Phase III ERP/PEIS The Final Phase III ERP/PEIS is being released in accordance with the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) regulations found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 15 CFR part 990, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The Final Phase III ERP/PEIS proposes early restoration programmatic alternatives and evaluates the potential environmental effects and cumulative effects of those alternatives. The Final Phase III ERP/PEIS groups 12 project types into two categories: (1) Contribute to Restoring Habitats and Living Coastal In accordance with NEPA, a Federal agency must prepare a concise public Record of Decision (ROD) at the time the agency makes a decision in cases involving an EIS (40 CFR 1505.2). The ROD for the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS would provide and explain the Trustees’ decisions regarding the selection of a programmatic early restoration alternative and specific early restoration projects. The Trustees will issue the ROD no earlier than 30 days after the Environmental Protection Agency publishes a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the Final Phase III ERP/PEIS (40 CFR § 1506.10). VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:51 Jun 25, 2014 Jkt 232001 Next Steps PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Administrative Record An Administrative Record has been established and can be viewed electronically at https://www.doi.gov/ deepwaterhorizon/adminrecord/ index.cfm. Authorities The authorities of this action are the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), the implementing Natural Resource Damage Assessment regulations found at 15 CFR 990, NEPA, and the Framework Agreement. Cynthia K. Dohner, DOI Authorized Official. [FR Doc. 2014–14952 Filed 6–25–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [Docket No. FWS–R9–ES–2011–0104; 120206102–4517–02; 4500030114] RIN 1018–AX87; 0648–BB82 Policy Regarding Implementation of Section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Commerce. ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period. AGENCIES: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the ‘‘Services’’ or ‘‘we’’), announce the extension of the public comment period on our May 12, 2014, draft policy regarding implementation of section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in preparation of the final policy. SUMMARY: We will accept comments from all interested parties until October 9, 2014. Please note that if you are using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below), the deadline for submitting an electronic comment is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods: DATES: E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 123 / Thursday, June 26, 2014 / Notices • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the docket number for the draft policy, which is FWS–R9–ES–2011– 0104. You may submit a comment by clicking on ‘‘Comment Now!’’ Please ensure that you have found the correct rulemaking before submitting your comment. • U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R9– ES–2011–0104; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042–PDM; Arlington, VA 22203. We will post all comments 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: Douglas Krofta, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation and Classification, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 420, Arlington, VA 22203; telephone 703/358–2171; facsimile 703/ 358–1735; or Marta Nammack, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910; telephone 301/713–8469; facsimile 301/ 713–0376. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800/877–8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Comments We will accept written comments and information during this extended comment period on our draft policy regarding implementation of section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), that was published in the Federal Register on May 12, 2014 (79 FR 27052). We will consider information we receive from all interested parties on or before the close of the comment period (see DATES). If you submitted comments or information during the public comment period that began May 12, 2014, please do not resubmit them. We have incorporated them into the public record, and we will fully consider them in the preparation of our final policy. You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the methods described in ADDRESSES. If you submit a comment via https:// www.regulations.gov, your entire comment—including any personal identifying information—will be posted on the Web site. We will post all VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:51 Jun 25, 2014 Jkt 232001 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. Background On May 12, 2014, we published three related documents concerning designation and implementation of critical habitat under the Act: Two proposed regulation amendments and one draft policy. This notice extends the comment period for the draft policy, and a separate document published elsewhere in today’s issue of the Federal Register extends the comment periods for the two proposed regulation amendments. The document for which we are extending the comment period in this notice announces a draft policy regarding implementation of section 4(b)(2) of the Act. Specifically, the draft policy on exclusions from critical habitat under the Act provides the Services’ position on how we consider partnerships and conservation plans, conservation plans permitted under section 10 of the Act, tribal lands, national security and homeland security impacts and military lands, Federal lands, and economic impacts in the exclusion process. The draft policy is meant to complement the amendments to our regulations regarding impact analyses of critical habitat designations and is intended to clarify expectations regarding critical habitat and provide for a credible, predictable, and simplified criticalhabitat-exclusion process. 36331 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [DR.5B814.IA001213] Renewal of Agency Information Collection for Application for Job Placement and Training Services Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB. AGENCY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs is submitting to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal of the approval for the collection of information in the Application for Job Placement and Training Services. The information collection is currently authorized by OMB Control Number 1076–0062, which expires June 30, 2014. SUMMARY: The primary authors of this notice are the staff members of the Endangered Species Program, Headquarters Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before July 28, 2014. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the information collection to the Desk Officer for the Department of the Interior at the Office of Management and Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395–5806 or by email to: OIRA_Submission@ omb.eop.gov. Please send a copy of your comments to Jack Stevens, Division Chief, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs, 1951 Constitution Avenue NW., MS–20 SIB, Washington, DC 20240; facsimile: (202) 208–4564; email: Jack.Stevens@bia.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jack Stevens, telephone: (202) 208–6764. You may review the information collection request online at https:// www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to review Department of the Interior information collections under review by OMB. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority I. Abstract The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) is seeking renewal of the approval for the information collection conducted under 25 CFR part 26 to administer the job placement and training program, which provides vocational/technical training, related counseling, guidance, job placement services, and limited financial assistance to Indian individuals who are not less than 18 years old and who reside within service areas approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). Information is collected through the form, BIA–8205, Authors Dated: June 17, 2014. Michael J. Bean, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. Dated: June 17, 2014. Samuel D. Rauch III, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–14773 Filed 6–25–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P; 3510–22–P PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DATES: E:\FR\FM\26JNN1.SGM 26JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 123 (Thursday, June 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36330-36331]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14773]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. FWS-R9-ES-2011-0104; 120206102-4517-02; 4500030114]
RIN 1018-AX87; 0648-BB82


Policy Regarding Implementation of Section 4(b)(2) of the 
Endangered Species Act

AGENCIES: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; National Marine 
Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; extension of comment period.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) (collectively referred to as the 
``Services'' or ``we''), announce the extension of the public comment 
period on our May 12, 2014, draft policy regarding implementation of 
section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act. Comments previously 
submitted need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in 
preparation of the final policy.

DATES: We will accept comments from all interested parties until 
October 9, 2014. Please note that if you are using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section, below), the deadline for 
submitting an electronic comment is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on this 
date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by one of the following methods:

[[Page 36331]]

     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In 
the Search box, enter the docket number for the draft policy, which is 
FWS-R9-ES-2011-0104. You may submit a comment by clicking on ``Comment 
Now!'' Please ensure that you have found the correct rulemaking before 
submitting your comment.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-R9-ES-2011-0104; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service; 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM; 
Arlington, VA 22203.

We will post all comments 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: Douglas Krofta, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Division of Conservation and Classification, 4401 N. Fairfax 
Drive, Suite 420, Arlington, VA 22203; telephone 703/358-2171; 
facsimile 703/358-1735; or Marta Nammack, National Marine Fisheries 
Service, Office of Protected Resources, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver 
Spring, MD 20910; telephone 301/713-8469; facsimile 301/713-0376. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call the 
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800/877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Comments

    We will accept written comments and information during this 
extended comment period on our draft policy regarding implementation of 
section 4(b)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), that was published in the Federal Register on 
May 12, 2014 (79 FR 27052). We will consider information we receive 
from all interested parties on or before the close of the comment 
period (see DATES).
    If you submitted comments or information during the public comment 
period that began May 12, 2014, please do not resubmit them. We have 
incorporated them into the public record, and we will fully consider 
them in the preparation of our final policy.
    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the 
methods described in ADDRESSES.
    If you submit a comment via https://www.regulations.gov, your entire 
comment--including any 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.

Background

    On May 12, 2014, we published three related documents concerning 
designation and implementation of critical habitat under the Act: Two 
proposed regulation amendments and one draft policy. This notice 
extends the comment period for the draft policy, and a separate 
document published elsewhere in today's issue of the Federal Register 
extends the comment periods for the two proposed regulation amendments. 
The document for which we are extending the comment period in this 
notice announces a draft policy regarding implementation of section 
4(b)(2) of the Act.
    Specifically, the draft policy on exclusions from critical habitat 
under the Act provides the Services' position on how we consider 
partnerships and conservation plans, conservation plans permitted under 
section 10 of the Act, tribal lands, national security and homeland 
security impacts and military lands, Federal lands, and economic 
impacts in the exclusion process. The draft policy is meant to 
complement the amendments to our regulations regarding impact analyses 
of critical habitat designations and is intended to clarify 
expectations regarding critical habitat and provide for a credible, 
predictable, and simplified critical-habitat-exclusion process.

Authors

    The primary authors of this notice are the staff members of the 
Endangered Species Program, Headquarters Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.

Authority

    The authority for this action is the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: June 17, 2014.
Michael J. Bean,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and 
Parks.

    Dated: June 17, 2014.
Samuel D. Rauch III,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-14773 Filed 6-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P; 3510-22-P
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