Amendment of a Joint Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances and Safe Harbor Agreement, Upper Little Red River Watershed, Arkansas, 68692-68693 [2014-27232]

Download as PDF 68692 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 222 / Tuesday, November 18, 2014 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES climatic extremes. Furthermore, with respect to Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats, the additive mortality from wind facilities is expected to exacerbate population declines that have resulted from WNS. The Federal action that will be analyzed through NEPA will be the potential issuance of an ITP to allow incidental take of Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats from wind turbines that will be described in the HCP. The HCP will incorporate avoidance, minimization, mitigation, monitoring, and reporting measures aimed at addressing the impact of the covered activities to Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats. A description of the covered lands is currently under development for the HCP, but will likely include the 35 turbines, turbine pads, electric lines, and access roads. The covered activities in the HCP are anticipated to include turbine operation, maintenance activities, decommissioning, and mitigation actions that have the potential to result in incidental take of Indiana bats and northern long-eared bats. Because curtailment of operating turbines is the only method presently known to effectively reduce bat fatalities due to wind turbine operation, this will likely be the primary minimization measure employed. The permit term is under development but is likely to be coextensive with the predicted operating life of the turbines, generally between 20–30 years. The NEPA analysis will assess the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the proposed Federal action on the human environment, comprehensively interpreted to include the natural and physical environment and the relationship of people with that environment. It will also analyze several alternatives to the proposed Federal action, to include no action, and other reasonable courses of action. Relevant information provided in response to this notice will aid in developing the draft HCP and NEPA analysis. Next Steps In this phase of the project, we are seeking information to assist development of the NEPA analysis and the draft HCP. We will then develop a draft NEPA document based on the ITP application, Applicant’s draft HCP, any associated documents, and public comments received through this early scoping effort. We will then publish a notice of availability for the draft NEPA document and draft HCP and seek additional public comment before completing our final analysis to determine whether to issue an ITP. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Nov 17, 2014 Jkt 235001 Public Comments The Service invites the public to provide comments that will assist our NEPA analysis during this 30-day public comment period (see DATES). You may submit comments by one of the methods shown under ADDRESSES. Public Availability of Comments We will post all public comments and information received electronically or via hardcopy at https://regulations.gov. All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and will be available to the public. Before including your address, phone number, electronic mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—will be publicly available. 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. Authority This notice is provided pursuant to NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22). Dated: October 27, 2014. Paul Phifer, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Northeast Region. [FR Doc. 2014–27255 Filed 11–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2014–N182; 40120–1112– 0000–F2] Amendment of a Joint Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances and Safe Harbor Agreement, Upper Little Red River Watershed, Arkansas Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Under the Endangered Species Act, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and availability of a revised joint Safe Harbor Agreement and Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (revised agreement) and accompanying documents for establishing a programmatic enrollment of willing landowners by the parties to SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the revised agreement: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the Fish and Wildlife Service, Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office (parties). The revised agreement analyzes effects of conservation measures and certain land uses on two endangered species—the yellowcheek darter (Etheostoma moorei), a fish, and rabbitsfoot (Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica), a mussel—in the Upper Little Red River Watershed, northcentral Arkansas, so that these listed species, as well as 19 candidate and other unlisted species, might be added to those already covered by the existing enhancement of survival permits. We invite public comments on these documents. DATES: We must receive any written comments at our Regional Office (see ADDRESSES) on or before December 18, 2014. ADDRESSES: Documents are available for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30345; or at the Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1500 Museum Road, Suite 105, Conway, AR 72032. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Harris, At-Risk Species Coordinator, at the Regional Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 404–679–7066; or Mr. Chris Davidson, Endangered Species Coordinator, at the Arkansas Field Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 501–513–4481. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of the revised Agreement, which incorporates the yellowcheek darter, rabbitsfoot, and 19 State species of concern. The yellowcheek darter and rabbitsfoot became federally listed after the original enhancement of survival permits were issued in February 2007. The yellowcheek darter was originally covered by the Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances, but would now be transferred under the Safe Harbor Agreement. The Service previously advertised (71 FR 53129), and issued enhancement of survival permits, TE138910 (Safe Harbor) and TE138911 (Candidate Conservation) as 30-year enhancement of survival permits covering the speckled pocketbook (Lampsilis streckeri) and yellowcheek darter, respectively. The parties request amendment of the enhancement of survival permits, for their remaining terms, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 222 / Tuesday, November 18, 2014 / Notices tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES seq.), as amended. The parties’ revised agreement describes conservation practices designed to protect and enhance streambed and bankside habitats for the benefit of the yellowcheek darter, rabbitsfoot, and the 19 State species of concern on private or non-Federal public lands enrolled under the revised agreement. We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the public via this notice on our proposed Federal action, including our determination that the revised agreement, including its proposed conservation measures, would have minor or negligible effects on the species covered by the revised agreement. Therefore, we determined that the revised agreement is a ‘‘loweffect’’ project and qualifies for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) as provided by the Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2 Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6 Appendix 1). A low-effect project involves (1) minor or negligible effects on federally listed or candidates or their habitats, and (2) minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources. Further, we specifically solicit information regarding the adequacy of the revised agreement per 50 CFR parts 13 and 17. The revised agreement describes land use practices and monitoring to ensure the continued survival of the covered species. Enrolled landowners who implement these measures would receive assurances against take liability for federally listed species, or for those species that might become federally listed in the future. Conservation land use practices will vary according to the needs of a particular enrolled landowner. Typical measures include controlling livestock access to streams; protection, enhancement, or restoration of streamside or in-stream habitats; species reintroduction to unoccupied suitable habitat; and other conservation measures that may be developed in the future. Public 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. If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by any one of several VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Nov 17, 2014 Jkt 235001 methods. Please reference TE138910 or TE138911 in such comments. You may mail comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). You may also comment via the internet to david_dell@fws.gov. Please include your name and return address in your email message. If you do not receive a confirmation from us that we have received your email message, contact us directly at either telephone number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to either of our offices listed under ADDRESSES. Covered Area The revised agreement covers approximately 558,615 acres of potentially eligible lands in the Upper Little Red River watershed in northcentral Arkansas. Lands eligible to enroll in the revised agreement include any non-Federal properties within the watershed of the Upper Little Red River, Archey Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, and Devils Fork upstream from Greers Ferry Reservoir. Next Steps We will evaluate the enhancement of survival permit amendment applications, including the revised agreement, and any comments we receive, to determine whether the amendment applications meet the requirements of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act. We will also evaluate whether amendment of the section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival permits would comply with section 7 of the Act by conducting an intra-Service section 7 consultation. We will use the results of this consultation, in combination with the above findings, in our final analysis to determine whether or not to amend the enhancement of survival permits. If we determine that the requirements are met, we will amend the enhancement of survival permits to add yellowcheek darter and rabbitsfoot to the Safe Harbor, and amend the Candidate Conservation Agreement to remove yellowcheek darter and to add the 19 species of State concern. Authority We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: October 23, 2014. Mike Oetker, Acting Regional Director. [FR Doc. 2014–27232 Filed 11–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 68693 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLWY920000–L14300000–EU0000; WYW– 167526] Notice of Realty Action: Modified Competitive Sealed Bid Sale of Public Land in Sweetwater County, WY Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Realty Action. AGENCY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) proposes to offer by modified competitive, sealed-bid sale, two parcels totaling 650 acres in Sweetwater County at no less than the fair market value (FMV) of $290,000 for parcel 1 and $210,000 for parcel 2 as determined by the October 29, 2013, appraisal. The sale will be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 203 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA), 43 U.S.C. 1713, and the BLM land sale regulations at 43 CFR 2710. DATES: Interested parties may submit written comments to the BLM at the address below. The BLM must receive your comments on or before January 2, 2015. The BLM will accept sealed bids for the offered lands until January 20, 2015, 3 p.m. Mountain Time (MT). If the BLM determines to conduct the sale, the sealed bids will be opened on January 20, 2015, at the Rock Springs Field Office at 9 a.m. MT. ADDRESSES: Send written comments concerning this notice to the Field Manager, BLM, Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, WY 82901–3447. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia Hamilton, Realty Specialist, at email phamilto@blm.gov or by telephone at 307–352–0334. Public comments concerning this proposed sale may be mailed or emailed to BLM_ WY_Sweetwater_County_Land_Sale@ blm.gov by January 2, 2015. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– 800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The two parcels of public land will be sold individually. The parcels proposed for a modified competitive sale are approximately 6 miles northwest of Green River, Wyoming. The parcels are SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18NON1.SGM 18NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 222 (Tuesday, November 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68692-68693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27232]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2014-N182; 40120-1112-0000-F2]


Amendment of a Joint Programmatic Candidate Conservation 
Agreement With Assurances and Safe Harbor Agreement, Upper Little Red 
River Watershed, Arkansas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: Under the Endangered Species Act, we, the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, announce the receipt and availability of a revised 
joint Safe Harbor Agreement and Candidate Conservation Agreement with 
Assurances (revised agreement) and accompanying documents for 
establishing a programmatic enrollment of willing landowners by the 
parties to the revised agreement: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 
Natural Resources Conservation Service, The Nature Conservancy, and the 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office 
(parties). The revised agreement analyzes effects of conservation 
measures and certain land uses on two endangered species--the 
yellowcheek darter (Etheostoma moorei), a fish, and rabbitsfoot 
(Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica), a mussel--in the Upper Little Red 
River Watershed, northcentral Arkansas, so that these listed species, 
as well as 19 candidate and other unlisted species, might be added to 
those already covered by the existing enhancement of survival permits. 
We invite public comments on these documents.

DATES: We must receive any written comments at our Regional Office (see 
ADDRESSES) on or before December 18, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Documents are available for public inspection by appointment 
during normal business hours at the Fish and Wildlife Service's 
Regional Office, 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30345; 
or at the Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1500 Museum Road, Suite 105, Conway, AR 72032.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Harris, At-Risk Species 
Coordinator, at the Regional Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 404-
679-7066; or Mr. Chris Davidson, Endangered Species Coordinator, at the 
Arkansas Field Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 501-513-4481.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce the availability of the revised 
Agreement, which incorporates the yellowcheek darter, rabbitsfoot, and 
19 State species of concern. The yellowcheek darter and rabbitsfoot 
became federally listed after the original enhancement of survival 
permits were issued in February 2007. The yellowcheek darter was 
originally covered by the Candidate Conservation Agreement with 
Assurances, but would now be transferred under the Safe Harbor 
Agreement. The Service previously advertised (71 FR 53129), and issued 
enhancement of survival permits, TE138910 (Safe Harbor) and TE138911 
(Candidate Conservation) as 30-year enhancement of survival permits 
covering the speckled pocketbook (Lampsilis streckeri) and yellowcheek 
darter, respectively.
    The parties request amendment of the enhancement of survival 
permits, for their remaining terms, under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et

[[Page 68693]]

seq.), as amended. The parties' revised agreement describes 
conservation practices designed to protect and enhance streambed and 
bankside habitats for the benefit of the yellowcheek darter, 
rabbitsfoot, and the 19 State species of concern on private or non-
Federal public lands enrolled under the revised agreement.
    We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the 
public via this notice on our proposed Federal action, including our 
determination that the revised agreement, including its proposed 
conservation measures, would have minor or negligible effects on the 
species covered by the revised agreement. Therefore, we determined that 
the revised agreement is a ``low-effect'' project and qualifies for 
categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) as provided by the Department of the 
Interior Manual (516 DM 2 Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6 Appendix 1). A low-
effect project involves (1) minor or negligible effects on federally 
listed or candidates or their habitats, and (2) minor or negligible 
effects on other environmental values or resources. Further, we 
specifically solicit information regarding the adequacy of the revised 
agreement per 50 CFR parts 13 and 17.
    The revised agreement describes land use practices and monitoring 
to ensure the continued survival of the covered species. Enrolled 
landowners who implement these measures would receive assurances 
against take liability for federally listed species, or for those 
species that might become federally listed in the future. Conservation 
land use practices will vary according to the needs of a particular 
enrolled landowner. Typical measures include controlling livestock 
access to streams; protection, enhancement, or restoration of 
streamside or in-stream habitats; species reintroduction to unoccupied 
suitable habitat; and other conservation measures that may be developed 
in the future.

Public 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.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit comments by any one of 
several methods. Please reference TE138910 or TE138911 in such 
comments. You may mail comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service's 
Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). You may also comment via the internet 
to david_dell@fws.gov. Please include your name and return address in 
your email message. If you do not receive a confirmation from us that 
we have received your email message, contact us directly at either 
telephone number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
    Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to either of our offices 
listed under ADDRESSES.

Covered Area

    The revised agreement covers approximately 558,615 acres of 
potentially eligible lands in the Upper Little Red River watershed in 
northcentral Arkansas. Lands eligible to enroll in the revised 
agreement include any non-Federal properties within the watershed of 
the Upper Little Red River, Archey Fork, Middle Fork, South Fork, and 
Devils Fork upstream from Greers Ferry Reservoir.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the enhancement of survival permit amendment 
applications, including the revised agreement, and any comments we 
receive, to determine whether the amendment applications meet the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act. We will also evaluate 
whether amendment of the section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival 
permits would comply with section 7 of the Act by conducting an intra-
Service section 7 consultation. We will use the results of this 
consultation, in combination with the above findings, in our final 
analysis to determine whether or not to amend the enhancement of 
survival permits. If we determine that the requirements are met, we 
will amend the enhancement of survival permits to add yellowcheek 
darter and rabbitsfoot to the Safe Harbor, and amend the Candidate 
Conservation Agreement to remove yellowcheek darter and to add the 19 
species of State concern.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

    Dated: October 23, 2014.
Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-27232 Filed 11-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

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