Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of Survival Permit Applications; Greater Sage-Grouse Umbrella Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Wyoming Ranch Management, 52743-52744 [2014-21023]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 171 / Thursday, September 4, 2014 / Notices managed in at least 75 percent of all core areas, representing 75 percent or more of bull trout local populations within each of these four recovery units. For the Klamath and St. Mary Recovery Units, the draft plan provides that all primary threats must be effectively managed in all existing core areas, representing all existing local populations. In addition, because 9 of the 17 known local populations in the Klamath Recovery Unit have been extirpated and others are significantly imperiled and require active management, we believe that the geographic distribution of bull trout within this recovery unit needs to be substantially expanded before it can be considered to have met recovery goals. To achieve recovery, we seek to add seven additional local populations distributed among the three core areas (two in the Upper Klamath Lake core area, three in the Sycan core area, and two in the Upper Sprague core area). In recovery units where shared foraging/ migratory/overwintering (FMO) habitat outside core areas has been identified, connectivity and habitat in these shared FMO areas should be maintained in a condition sufficient for regular bull trout use and successful dispersal among the connecting core areas for those core areas to meet the criterion. If threats are effectively managed at these thresholds, we expect that bull trout populations will respond accordingly and reflect the biodiversity principles of resiliency, redundancy, and representation. Specifically, achieving the proposed recovery criteria in each recovery unit would result in geographically widespread and demographically stable local bull trout populations within the range of natural variation, with their essential cold water habitats connected to allow their diverse life history forms to persist into the foreseeable future; therefore, the species would be brought to the point where the protections of the Act are no longer necessary. We anticipate that the final bull trout recovery plan will describe the principal actions needed to advance the recovery of bull trout in the six recovery units within the coterminous United States; and will include individual Recovery Unit Implementation Plans (RUIPs) for each recovery unit that will provide site-specific detail at the core area scale. The RUIPs for each recovery unit will be developed through an interagency collaboration of interested and knowledgeable Federal, Tribal, State, private, and other parties prior to completion of the final recovery plan. In many parts of the range of bull trout, local interagency bull trout working VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:14 Sep 03, 2014 Jkt 232001 groups have previously identified recovery actions necessary for local bull trout core area conservation, and are already implementing conservation actions. Therefore, we anticipate that in many areas, developing a RUIP will build upon existing efforts and information. RUIPs incorporated in the final recovery plan will also include implementation schedule that outline core area specific recovery actions and estimated costs for bull trout recovery. To allow public review and comment on the draft RUIPs for each recovery unit, including the draft Implementation Schedule and total estimated recovery costs, we will publish in the Federal Register a notice of their availability for review at least 90 days prior to completing the final bull trout recovery plan. Request for Public Comments Section 4(f) of the Act requires us to provide public notice and an opportunity for public review and comment during recovery plan development. It is also our policy to request peer review of recovery plans (59 FR 34270; July 1, 1994). In an appendix to the approved final recovery plan, we will summarize and respond to the issues raised by the public and peer reviewers. Substantive comments may or may not result in changes to the recovery plan; comments regarding recovery plan implementation will be forwarded as appropriate to Federal or other entities so that they can be taken into account during the course of implementing recovery actions. We request written comments on the revised draft recovery plan. We will consider all comments we receive by the date specified in DATES prior to final approval of the plan. 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. Authority The authority for this action is section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). PO 00000 Frm 00119 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 52743 Dated: July 23, 2014. Robyn Thorson, Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2014–21026 Filed 9–3–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R6–ES–2014–N145; FXRS1261XPSAGEG–145–FF06E13000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of Survival Permit Applications; Greater SageGrouse Umbrella Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Wyoming Ranch Management Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received applications for enhancement of survival permits (EOS permits) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), pursuant to the Greater Sage-grouse Umbrella Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Wyoming Ranch Management (Umbrella CCAA). The permit applications, if approved, would authorize incidental take associated with implementation of specified individual Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (individual CCAAs) developed in accordance with the Umbrella CCAA. We invite the public to comment on the EOS permit applications set out below. The Act requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by October 6, 2014. ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: Send written comments by one of the following methods. Please specify the permit(s) you are commenting on by relevant number(s) (e.g., Permit No. TE– XXXXXX). • U.S. mail: Tyler Abbott, Wyoming Ecological Services Field Office (ESFO), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Suite 308A, Cheyenne, WY 82009. • Email: tyler_abbott@fws.gov. • Fax: Tyler Abbott, (307) 772–2358. Reviewing Documents: You may review copies of the enhancement of survival permit applications during regular business hours at the Wyoming SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM 04SEN1 52744 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 171 / Thursday, September 4, 2014 / Notices ESFO (see address above). You may also request hard copies by telephone at (307) 772–2374, ext. 231, or by letter to the Wyoming ESFO. Please specify the permit(s) you are interested in by relevant number(s) (e.g., Permit No. TE– XXXXXX). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyler Abbott, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (307) 772–2374, ext. 231 (phone); tyler_abbott@fws.gov (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Background A Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances is an agreement with the Service in which private and other non-Federal landowners voluntarily agree to undertake management activities and conservation efforts on their properties to enhance, restore, or maintain habitat to benefit species that are proposed for listing under the Act, that are candidates for listing, or that may become candidates. The Service and several State, Federal, and local partners developed the Umbrella CCAA (available at https://www.fws.gov/ wyominges) to provide Wyoming ranchers with the opportunity to voluntarily conserve greater sage-grouse and its habitat while carrying out their ranching activities. The Umbrella CCAA was made available for public review and comment on February 7, 2013 (see 78 FR 9066), and was executed by the Service on November 8, 2013. Pursuant to the Umbrella CCAA, ranchers in Wyoming may apply for an EOS permit under the Act by agreeing to implement certain conservation measures for the greater sage-grouse on their properties. These conservation measures are specified in individual CCAAs for their properties, which are developed in accordance with the Umbrella CCAA and are subject to the terms and conditions stated in that agreement. Landowners consult with the Service and other participating agencies to develop an individual CCAA for their property, and submit it to the Service for approval with their EOS permit application. If we approve the individual CCAA and EOS permit application, we will issue an EOS permit, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), that authorizes incidental take of greater sage-grouse that results from activities covered by the individual CCAA, should the species become listed. Through the Umbrella CCAA and the individual CCAA and EOS permit, we also provide assurances to participating landowners that, if the greater sagegrouse is listed, and so long as they are properly implementing their individual VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:14 Sep 03, 2014 Jkt 232001 CCAA, we will not require any conservation measures with respect to greater sage-grouse in addition to those provided in the individual CCAA or impose additional land, water, or financial commitments or restrictions on land, water, or resource use in connection with the species. The EOS permit would become effective on the effective date of listing of the greater sage-grouse as endangered or threatened and would continue through the end of the individual CCAA’s 20-year term. Regulatory requirements and issuance criteria for EOS permits through a CCAA are found in 50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d), as well as 50 CFR part 13. Applications Available for Review and Comment We invite local, State, and Federal agencies and the public to comment on the following EOS permit applications. The Umbrella CCAA, as well as the individual CCAAs submitted with the permit applications, are also available for review, subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). The following applicants request approval of EOS permits for the greater sage-grouse, pursuant to the Umbrella CCAA, for the purpose of enhancing the species’ survival. Permit Application Number TE42567B Applicant: Longreach Buffalo Company LLC, Campbell County, Wyoming. Public Availability of Comments All comments and materials we receive in response to these requests will become part of the public record, and will be available for public inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. 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. Authority We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)). Dated: August 15, 2014. Michael G. Thabault, Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region. Permit Application Number TE32286B [FR Doc. 2014–21023 Filed 9–3–14; 8:45 am] Applicant: Bousman Livestock, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P Permit Application Number TE32288B DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Applicant: G&E Livestock, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming. Fish and Wildlife Service Permit Application Number TE40466B [FWS–R6–R–2014–N183; FXRS12610600000–145–FF06R06000] Applicant: Blaha Ranch, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming. National Bison Range Complex, Moiese, MT; Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Annual Funding Agreement with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes; Extension of Public Comment Period Permit Application Number TE40464B Applicant: Boroff Land and Livestock, Sublette County, Wyoming. Permit Application Number TE40467B Applicant: Pape Ranches, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming. Permit Application Number TE40478B Applicant: Donald W. Rogers, Jr., Sublette County, Wyoming. Permit Application Number TE40463B Applicant: HIP Investments LLC, Johnson County, Wyoming. Permit Application Number TE40602B Applicant: Merlin Ranch, Johnson County, Wyoming. PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; extension of public comment period. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the public that we are extending the public review and comment period for the draft environmental assessment for a draft annual funding agreement at the National Bison Range Complex. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by September 18, 2014. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM 04SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52743-52744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21023]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R6-ES-2014-N145; FXRS1261XPSAGEG-145-FF06E13000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of 
Survival Permit Applications; Greater Sage-Grouse Umbrella Candidate 
Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Wyoming Ranch Management

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received applications for enhancement of survival permits (EOS permits) 
under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (Act), pursuant to the Greater Sage-grouse Umbrella Candidate 
Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Wyoming Ranch Management 
(Umbrella CCAA). The permit applications, if approved, would authorize 
incidental take associated with implementation of specified individual 
Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (individual CCAAs) 
developed in accordance with the Umbrella CCAA. We invite the public to 
comment on the EOS permit applications set out below. The Act requires 
that we invite public comment before issuing these permits.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
October 6, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submitting Comments: Send written comments by one of the 
following methods. Please specify the permit(s) you are commenting on 
by relevant number(s) (e.g., Permit No. TE-XXXXXX).
     U.S. mail: Tyler Abbott, Wyoming Ecological Services Field 
Office (ESFO), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5353 Yellowstone Road, 
Suite 308A, Cheyenne, WY 82009.
     Email: tylerabbott@fws.gov.
     Fax: Tyler Abbott, (307) 772-2358.
    Reviewing Documents: You may review copies of the enhancement of 
survival permit applications during regular business hours at the 
Wyoming

[[Page 52744]]

ESFO (see address above). You may also request hard copies by telephone 
at (307) 772-2374, ext. 231, or by letter to the Wyoming ESFO. Please 
specify the permit(s) you are interested in by relevant number(s) 
(e.g., Permit No. TE-XXXXXX).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyler Abbott, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, (307) 772-2374, ext. 231 (phone); tylerabbott@fws.gov 
(email).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    A Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances is an agreement 
with the Service in which private and other non-Federal landowners 
voluntarily agree to undertake management activities and conservation 
efforts on their properties to enhance, restore, or maintain habitat to 
benefit species that are proposed for listing under the Act, that are 
candidates for listing, or that may become candidates. The Service and 
several State, Federal, and local partners developed the Umbrella CCAA 
(available at https://www.fws.gov/wyominges) to provide Wyoming ranchers 
with the opportunity to voluntarily conserve greater sage-grouse and 
its habitat while carrying out their ranching activities. The Umbrella 
CCAA was made available for public review and comment on February 7, 
2013 (see 78 FR 9066), and was executed by the Service on November 8, 
2013.
    Pursuant to the Umbrella CCAA, ranchers in Wyoming may apply for an 
EOS permit under the Act by agreeing to implement certain conservation 
measures for the greater sage-grouse on their properties. These 
conservation measures are specified in individual CCAAs for their 
properties, which are developed in accordance with the Umbrella CCAA 
and are subject to the terms and conditions stated in that agreement. 
Landowners consult with the Service and other participating agencies to 
develop an individual CCAA for their property, and submit it to the 
Service for approval with their EOS permit application. If we approve 
the individual CCAA and EOS permit application, we will issue an EOS 
permit, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), 
that authorizes incidental take of greater sage-grouse that results 
from activities covered by the individual CCAA, should the species 
become listed. Through the Umbrella CCAA and the individual CCAA and 
EOS permit, we also provide assurances to participating landowners 
that, if the greater sage-grouse is listed, and so long as they are 
properly implementing their individual CCAA, we will not require any 
conservation measures with respect to greater sage-grouse in addition 
to those provided in the individual CCAA or impose additional land, 
water, or financial commitments or restrictions on land, water, or 
resource use in connection with the species. The EOS permit would 
become effective on the effective date of listing of the greater sage-
grouse as endangered or threatened and would continue through the end 
of the individual CCAA's 20-year term. Regulatory requirements and 
issuance criteria for EOS permits through a CCAA are found in 50 CFR 
17.22(d) and 17.32(d), as well as 50 CFR part 13.

Applications Available for Review and Comment

    We invite local, State, and Federal agencies and the public to 
comment on the following EOS permit applications. The Umbrella CCAA, as 
well as the individual CCAAs submitted with the permit applications, 
are also available for review, subject to the requirements of the 
Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 
552). The following applicants request approval of EOS permits for the 
greater sage-grouse, pursuant to the Umbrella CCAA, for the purpose of 
enhancing the species' survival.

Permit Application Number TE32286B

    Applicant: Bousman Livestock, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE32288B

    Applicant: G&E Livestock, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE40466B

    Applicant: Blaha Ranch, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE40464B

    Applicant: Boroff Land and Livestock, Sublette County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE40467B

    Applicant: Pape Ranches, Inc., Sublette County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE40478B

    Applicant: Donald W. Rogers, Jr., Sublette County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE40463B

    Applicant: HIP Investments LLC, Johnson County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE40602B

    Applicant: Merlin Ranch, Johnson County, Wyoming.

Permit Application Number TE42567B

    Applicant: Longreach Buffalo Company LLC, Campbell County, Wyoming.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments and materials we receive in response to these requests 
will become part of the public record, and will be available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the address 
listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    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.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 
1539(c)).

    Dated: August 15, 2014.
Michael G. Thabault,
Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-21023 Filed 9-3-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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