Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Piping Plover, From the Town of Orleans, MA, and Availability of Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan, 75832-75834 [2014-29751]
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75832
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices
3. Single-County Alternative. The
Single-County Alternative would
essentially be limited to the extent of
the permittees’ jurisdictions. This
would include both incidental take
coverage and mitigation. It is assumed
that the plan area for the Single-County
Alternative would include Bexar County
and the area within 10 miles outside of
Bexar County (which would be
generally sufficient to accommodate the
City of San Antonio’s current extraterritorial jurisdiction and possible
future expansions). As habitat for the
covered species within Bexar County
only occurs in the northwest half of the
county, the plan area for this alternative
is still roughly equivalent to the
geographic area of a single central Texas
county.
Since all mitigation would occur in
the vicinity of San Antonio, the price of
land is substantially higher compared to
more rural parts of the plan area. This
alternative assumes that approximately
75 percent of the GCWA and BCVI
preserve lands would be acquired in
relatively ‘‘suburban’’ areas, and
approximately 25 percent of the land
would be acquired in relatively rural
areas. This distribution of preserve
lands would have a significant impact
on the method of acquisition (fee simple
vs. easement), the anticipated cost for
acquisition, and the costs to manage
suburban preserves compared to rural
preserves. This alternative could cost
nearly twice as much overall to
implement over 30 years compared to
the proposed alternative.
4. Increased Mitigation Alternative.
The Increased Mitigation Alternative
would implement recommendations
passed by the SEP HCP’s Biological
Advisory Team (BAT) pertaining to
mitigation for the GCWA and the karst
invertebrates (BCVI mitigation would be
the same as the Proposed Alternative).
These recommendations were also
strongly favored by many members of
the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).
The BAT passed a recommendation
calling for impacts to GCWA habitat
within Bexar County to be mitigated at
a 3:1 ratio (i.e., 3 acres of habitat
protected for each acre of direct habitat
loss) and that at least 60 percent of that
mitigation be placed within Bexar
County or within 5 miles outside of
Bexar County. The BAT also passed a
recommendation that the karst preserve
system be sized to achieve roughly
twice the level of conservation specified
by the Service’s downlisting criteria for
the karst invertebrates. For the purpose
of modeling this alternative, it is
assumed that all of the incidental take
of the GCWA requested by the
Permittees would be mitigated at a 3:1
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ratio and that 60 percent of the GCWA
preserve system would be acquired in
relatively suburban parts of the Plan
Area, with the remaining preserve lands
acquired in rural areas. This
recommendation is modeled as a
requirement to acquire approximately
2,000 acres of recovery-quality karst
preserves over 30 years, with at least
two high-quality (100 acres each) and
four medium-quality preserves (50 acres
each) created in each of the five regions
where the karst invertebrates occur.
Similar to the Single-County
Alternative, this Increased Mitigation
Alternative requires the acquisition of a
large portion of the preserve system in
relatively high-cost suburban or (for the
karst preserves) urban areas, which
would disproportionately increase the
expected preserve acquisition and
management costs. This alternative
would achieve a higher level of
conservation for the GCWA and karst
invertebrates, but at a financial cost that
would be approximately 275 percent
higher than the proposed SEP HCP.
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. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in
their entirety.
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. 2014–29525 Filed 12–18–14; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R5–ES–2014–0051;
FXES111205000000–156–FF05E00000]
Receipt of an Application for an
Incidental Take Permit for Piping
Plover, From the Town of Orleans, MA,
and Availability of Proposed Habitat
Conservation Plan
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service or ‘‘we’’),
announce the availability of an
application for an Incidental Take
Permit (ITP) and a proposed Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP) from the Town
of Orleans (Town) for public review and
comment. We received the permit
application from the Town for
incidental take of the threatened piping
plover (Charadrius melodus) resulting
from the Town’s authorization and
management of over-sand vehicle (OSV)
activities over the next 3 years. Our
preliminary determination is that the
proposed HCP qualifies as low-effect
under our final Handbook for Habitat
Conservation Planning and Incidental
Take Permitting Process. To make this
determination, we used our Low-Effect
HCP Screening Form/Environmental
Action Statement (EAS), the preliminary
version of which is also available for
review.
We provide this notice to (1) seek
public comments on the proposed HCP
and application; (2) seek public
comments on our preliminary
determination that the HCP qualifies as
low-effect and is therefore eligible for a
categorical exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and
(3) advise other Federal and State
agencies, affected Tribes, and the public
of our intent to issue an ITP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we
must receive your written comments by
January 20, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
submitted electronically by any one of
the following methods:
Electronically: www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting
comments on Docket No. FWS–R5–ES–
2014–0051.
U.S. mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS–R5–ES–2014–
0051; Division of Policy and Directives
Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike;
Falls Church, Virginia 22041–3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susi
vonOettingen, by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices
and Wildlife Service, New England
Field Office, 70 Commercial Street,
Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301; or via
phone at 603–223–2541.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We
received an application from the Town
of Orleans for an ITP for take of the
federally listed threatened piping plover
(Charadrius melodus) resulting from the
Town’s authorization and management
of OSV activities over the next 3 years.
To minimize and mitigate for the
incidental take, the Town will
implement a conservation program as
described in its proposed HCP.
We prepared a preliminary EAS to
comply with NEPA. The Service will
evaluate whether the proposed action,
issuance of an ITP to the Town of
Orleans, is adequate to support a
categorical exclusion.
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.).
We are requesting comments on the
proposed HCP and our preliminary
determination that the plan qualifies as
low effect under NEPA.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Availability of Documents
The proposed HCP and preliminary
EAS are available on the New England
Field Office’s Web site at https://
www.fws.gov/newengland/, or at https://
www.regulations.gov under Docket
Number FWS–R5–ES–2014–0051.
Copies of the proposed HCP,
subsequently filed addendum to the
HCP, and preliminary EAS will also be
available for public review during
regular business hours at the New
England Field Office (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). Those who do
not have access to the Web site or
cannot visit our office may request
copies by telephone at 603–223–2541,
or by letter to the New England Field
Office.
Background
Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) and its implementing
regulations prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of
animal species listed as endangered or
threatened. Take is defined under the
ESA as to ‘‘harass, harm, pursue, hunt,
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or
collect, or to attempt to engage in any
such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1538).
However, under section 10(a) of the
ESA, we may issue permits to authorize
incidental take of listed species.
‘‘Incidental take’’ is defined by the ESA
as take that is incidental to, and not the
purpose of, carrying out an otherwise
lawful activity. Regulations governing
ITPs for threatened and endangered
species, respectively, are found in the
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Code of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR
17.22 and 50 CFR 17.32.
The Town of Orleans is seeking a
permit for the incidental take of piping
plover for a term of 3 years. Incidental
take of this species may occur as a result
of the Town’s authorization and
management of OSV activities along
Nauset Beach South.
Proposed covered activities include
authorization and implementation of the
Town of Orleans OSV use program. The
Town’s proposed management of OSV
activities would in one limited respect
deviate from established State and
Federal guidelines for managing
recreational beaches to avoid the take of
piping plovers. The Town proposes to
add a late-breeding season OSV escort
program across limited areas where
OSVs would otherwise not be allowed
due to nesting plovers’ presence. The
HCP and addendum explain how the
escort program has been designed to
minimize the potential to take
unfledged plover chicks. It also contains
a variety of on-site and off-site predator
management measures developed to
mitigate for the impact of the
anticipated taking, and improve piping
plover productivity.
The proposed action consists of the
issuance of an ITP and implementation
of the proposed HCP. One alternative to
the proposed action was considered in
the HCP: No action (i.e., operation of the
project without an ITP and without
avoidance, minimization, or mitigation
of piping plover impacts). This
alternative was deemed not practicable
by the Town because the project would
not have the important protections of
the ITP and would not have the
conservation benefits proposed by the
Town.
National Environmental Policy Act
We have made a preliminary
determination that the Town of Orleans
proposed HCP, including the proposed
minimization and mitigation measures,
will have a minor or negligible effect on
the species covered in the plan, and that
the plan qualifies as a ‘‘low-effect’’ HCP
as described in the Service’s HCP
Handbook (61 FR 63854, December 2,
1996).
As further explained in the
preliminary EAS, included for public
review, our preliminary determination
that the plan qualifies as a low-effect
HCP is based on the following three
criteria:
(1) Implementation of the plan would
result in minor or negligible effects on
federally listed, proposed, and
candidate species and their habitats;
(2) Implementation of the plan would
result in minor or negligible effects on
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75833
other environmental values or resources
prior to implementation of the
mitigation measures; and
(3) Impacts of the plan, considered
together with the impacts of other past,
present, and reasonably foreseeable
similarly situated projects, would not
result, over time, in cumulative effects
to environmental values or resources
that would be considered significant.
Therefore, we initially conclude that
the proposed ITP would qualify for a
categorical exclusion under the NEPA,
as provided by the Department of the
Interior Manual (516 DM 2 Appendix 1
and 516 DM 8). Based on our review of
public comments that we receive in
response to this notice, we may revise
this preliminary determination.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the proposed HCP
and comments we receive to determine
whether the permit application meets
the requirements of section 10(a) of the
ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We will
also evaluate whether issuance of a
section 10(a)(1)(B) permit would comply
with section 7 of the ESA 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 to issue a permit. If
the requirements are met, we will issue
the permit to the applicant.
Public Comments
The Service invites the public to
comment on the proposed HCP and
preliminary EAS during a 30-day public
comment period (see DATES). You may
submit written comments by one of the
methods in the ADDRESSES section.
We will post all public comments and
information received electronically or
via hard copy on https://
www.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, email
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 hard copy 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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 244 / Friday, December 19, 2014 / Notices
project Web site address. A list of
locations where copies of the Draft EIS
are available for public inspection can
be found in the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section below.
Written comments may be submitted
Martin Miller,
by the following methods:
Acting Assistant Regional Director.
• email: comment@
boardmantohemingway.com
[FR Doc. 2014–29751 Filed 12–18–14; 8:45 am]
• mail: Boardman to Hemingway
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
Transmission Line Project, P.O. Box
655, Vale, OR 97918
• courier or hand delivery: Bureau of
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Land Management, Vale District Office,
Bureau of Land Management
100 Oregon Street, Vale, OR 97918
• no faxed or anonymous comments
[LLORV000.51010000.ER0000.
will be accepted
LVRWH09H0480; OROR065375; IDI036029
HAG 14–0196]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tamara Gertsch, BLM National Project
Notice of Availability of the Draft
Manager, Bureau of Land Management,
Environmental Impact Statement and
Vale District Office, 100 Oregon Street,
Land-use Plan Amendments for the
Vale, OR 97918, or by telephone at 307–
Boardman to Hemingway
775–6115. Any persons wishing to be
Transmission Line Project
added to the project mailing list of
interested parties may write or call Ms.
AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management,
Gertsch at the address and phone
Interior.
number above.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
Persons who use telecommunication
devices for the deaf may call the Federal
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land 307–775–6115 to contact Ms. Gertsch
during normal business hours. The FIRS
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
amended, the Bureau of Land
week, to leave a message or questions
Management (BLM) Vale District Office
with the above individual regarding the
announces the availability of the Draft
project. You will receive a reply during
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
normal business hours.
and Land-Use Plan Amendments
(LUPAs) for the Boardman to
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Idaho
Hemingway Transmission Line Project
Power Company submitted applications
(Project) and by this notice is
to the BLM for a right-of-way (ROW)
announcing the opening of the public
grant, the United States Forest Service
comment period.
(USFS) for a special use authorization,
DATES: The Draft EIS is now available
and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
for public review. To be considered in
(Reclamation) for an authorization/
the Final EIS, written comments on the
permit, to use federal lands for portions
Draft EIS must be received within 90
of a proposed 300 mile 500-kilovolt (kV)
days after the Environmental Protection single-circuit, alternating-current
Agency’s publication in the Federal
transmission line and ancillary facilities
Register of a Notice of Availability
between a new or existing substation
(NOA) of this Draft EIS.
near Boardman, Oregon, and the
All public meetings or other
Hemingway Substation, near Melba,
opportunities for public involvement
Idaho. Idaho Power Company filed its
related to the Project will be announced applications in December 2007 and then
to the public by the BLM at least 15 days filed revised applications in November
in advance through the public Web site
2011 and May 2012 to reflect changes to
at: https://www.boardmanto
the proposed action. Idaho Power
hemingway.com, project mailings, and
Company’s objective for the Project is to
local media news releases.
provide additional capacity to connect
transmission between the Pacific
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Draft EIS have
Northwest and Intermountain Regions
been sent to affected Federal agencies,
in order to alleviate existing
state and local governments and public
transmission constraints and to ensure
libraries in the Project area. The Draft
sufficient capacity that will enable
EIS and supporting documents will be
Idaho Power Company to meet present
available electronically on the project
and forecasted load requirements. The
Web site at: https://
Project description includes a rebuild of
www.boardmantohemingway.com.
two separate 138 and 69-kV lines into
Compact Disc copies of the document
double circuit monopole structures for
are available through request on this
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Authority
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR
1506.6).
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short distances. Electrical equipment to
connect the 500 kV transmission line
would be installed at the endpoint
substations. The proposed ROW width
is 250 feet for the 500 kV portion of the
line and 100 feet for two 138/69 kV
rebuild sections of the line. The BLM’s
purpose and need for action is to
respond to Idaho Power Company’s
ROW application.
The BLM published a Notice of Intent
(NOI) to Prepare an EIS on September
12, 2008 (73 FR 52944), and held public
scoping meetings in October 2008. On
July 27, 2010 (75 FR 44008), the BLM
published a revised NOI to Prepare an
EIS in response to substantive changes
in Idaho Power Company’s proposal as
submitted in the revised application,
and sought public input on the issues
associated with the project. The issues
brought forward from the scoping
comments for analysis in the Draft EIS
include:
• Use of Federal versus private
property;
• Potential impacts to private
agricultural operations and irrigated
lands and other existing land use;
• Potential impacts to Greater Sagegrouse;
• Proximity to other protected
wildlife and habitats (e.g., fish and
water resources, plants, Washington
ground squirrel);
• Potential impacts to Department of
Defense operations;
• Potential impacts to lands with
wilderness characteristics;
• Potential impacts to visual
resources, including visual impacts to
cultural resources;
• Potential impacts to historic
properties (e.g., Oregon Trail) and
paleontological resources;
• Native American concerns;
• Potential impacts to air quality;
• Potential impacts of noxious weeds
and invasive species;
• Potential Socio-economic impacts;
• Potential health effects from electromagnetic fields; and
• Noise and potential line
interference with electronic devices.
The scoping comments and
preliminary alternatives, some of which
were eliminated from further
consideration are documented and
discussed in the Boardman to
Hemingway Transmission Project Siting
Study Report available online at: https://
www.boardmantohemingway.com/
documents/B2H_Siting_Study_8–17–
10.pdf. The Draft EIS analyzes the
environmental consequences of granting
a ROW to Idaho Power Company to
construct, operate, and maintain, the
transmission project. The Draft EIS also
analyzes: (1) The consequences of the
E:\FR\FM\19DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75832-75834]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29751]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R5-ES-2014-0051; FXES111205000000-156-FF05E00000]
Receipt of an Application for an Incidental Take Permit for
Piping Plover, From the Town of Orleans, MA, and Availability of
Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or ``we''),
announce the availability of an application for an Incidental Take
Permit (ITP) and a proposed Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) from the
Town of Orleans (Town) for public review and comment. We received the
permit application from the Town for incidental take of the threatened
piping plover (Charadrius melodus) resulting from the Town's
authorization and management of over-sand vehicle (OSV) activities over
the next 3 years. Our preliminary determination is that the proposed
HCP qualifies as low-effect under our final Handbook for Habitat
Conservation Planning and Incidental Take Permitting Process. To make
this determination, we used our Low-Effect HCP Screening Form/
Environmental Action Statement (EAS), the preliminary version of which
is also available for review.
We provide this notice to (1) seek public comments on the proposed
HCP and application; (2) seek public comments on our preliminary
determination that the HCP qualifies as low-effect and is therefore
eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA); and (3) advise other Federal and State agencies,
affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to issue an ITP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by January 20, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted electronically by any one
of the following methods:
Electronically: www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2014-0051.
U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R5-ES-2014-0051;
Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service; MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, Virginia 22041-
3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susi vonOettingen, by U.S. mail at
U.S. Fish
[[Page 75833]]
and Wildlife Service, New England Field Office, 70 Commercial Street,
Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301; or via phone at 603-223-2541.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We received an application from the Town of
Orleans for an ITP for take of the federally listed threatened piping
plover (Charadrius melodus) resulting from the Town's authorization and
management of OSV activities over the next 3 years. To minimize and
mitigate for the incidental take, the Town will implement a
conservation program as described in its proposed HCP.
We prepared a preliminary EAS to comply with NEPA. The Service will
evaluate whether the proposed action, issuance of an ITP to the Town of
Orleans, is adequate to support a categorical exclusion.
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and NEPA (42
U.S.C. 4321, et seq.).
We are requesting comments on the proposed HCP and our preliminary
determination that the plan qualifies as low effect under NEPA.
Availability of Documents
The proposed HCP and preliminary EAS are available on the New
England Field Office's Web site at https://www.fws.gov/newengland/, or
at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket Number FWS-R5-ES-2014-0051.
Copies of the proposed HCP, subsequently filed addendum to the HCP, and
preliminary EAS will also be available for public review during regular
business hours at the New England Field Office (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT). Those who do not have access to the Web site or
cannot visit our office may request copies by telephone at 603-223-
2541, or by letter to the New England Field Office.
Background
Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations prohibit the ``take'' of animal species listed as
endangered or threatened. Take is defined under the ESA as to ``harass,
harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
to attempt to engage in any such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1538). However,
under section 10(a) of the ESA, we may issue permits to authorize
incidental take of listed species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by
the ESA as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying
out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing ITPs for
threatened and endangered species, respectively, are found in the Code
of Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.22 and 50 CFR 17.32.
The Town of Orleans is seeking a permit for the incidental take of
piping plover for a term of 3 years. Incidental take of this species
may occur as a result of the Town's authorization and management of OSV
activities along Nauset Beach South.
Proposed covered activities include authorization and
implementation of the Town of Orleans OSV use program. The Town's
proposed management of OSV activities would in one limited respect
deviate from established State and Federal guidelines for managing
recreational beaches to avoid the take of piping plovers. The Town
proposes to add a late-breeding season OSV escort program across
limited areas where OSVs would otherwise not be allowed due to nesting
plovers' presence. The HCP and addendum explain how the escort program
has been designed to minimize the potential to take unfledged plover
chicks. It also contains a variety of on-site and off-site predator
management measures developed to mitigate for the impact of the
anticipated taking, and improve piping plover productivity.
The proposed action consists of the issuance of an ITP and
implementation of the proposed HCP. One alternative to the proposed
action was considered in the HCP: No action (i.e., operation of the
project without an ITP and without avoidance, minimization, or
mitigation of piping plover impacts). This alternative was deemed not
practicable by the Town because the project would not have the
important protections of the ITP and would not have the conservation
benefits proposed by the Town.
National Environmental Policy Act
We have made a preliminary determination that the Town of Orleans
proposed HCP, including the proposed minimization and mitigation
measures, will have a minor or negligible effect on the species covered
in the plan, and that the plan qualifies as a ``low-effect'' HCP as
described in the Service's HCP Handbook (61 FR 63854, December 2,
1996).
As further explained in the preliminary EAS, included for public
review, our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as a low-
effect HCP is based on the following three criteria:
(1) Implementation of the plan would result in minor or negligible
effects on federally listed, proposed, and candidate species and their
habitats;
(2) Implementation of the plan would result in minor or negligible
effects on other environmental values or resources prior to
implementation of the mitigation measures; and
(3) Impacts of the plan, considered together with the impacts of
other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable similarly situated
projects, would not result, over time, in cumulative effects to
environmental values or resources that would be considered significant.
Therefore, we initially conclude that the proposed ITP would
qualify for a categorical exclusion under the NEPA, as provided by the
Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2 Appendix 1 and 516 DM 8).
Based on our review of public comments that we receive in response to
this notice, we may revise this preliminary determination.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the proposed HCP and comments we receive to
determine whether the permit application meets the requirements of
section 10(a) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). We will also
evaluate whether issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(B) permit would comply
with section 7 of the ESA 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 to issue a permit. If the requirements are met, we will issue
the permit to the applicant.
Public Comments
The Service invites the public to comment on the proposed HCP and
preliminary EAS during a 30-day public comment period (see DATES). You
may submit written comments by one of the methods in the ADDRESSES
section.
We will post all public comments and information received
electronically or via hard copy on https://www.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, email 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 hard copy 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.
[[Page 75834]]
Authority
This notice is provided pursuant to section 10(c) of the ESA (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Martin Miller,
Acting Assistant Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2014-29751 Filed 12-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
