Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, Palmas Home Owners Association, Palmas Del Mar, Humacao, Puerto Rico, 15735-15736 [2016-06652]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Notices OMB Approval Number: 2577–0246. Type of Request: Extension of currently approved collection. Form Number: None. Description of the need for the information and proposed use: Under the operating fund rule, PHAs that elect to file an appeal of their subsidy amounts are required to meet the appeal requirements set forth in subpart G of the rule. There are four grounds of appeal in 24 CFR 990.245 under which PHAs may appeal the amount of their subsidy: (1) A streamlined appeal; (2) an appeal for specific local conditions; (3) an appeal for changing market conditions; (4) and an appeal to substitute actual project cost data. To appeal the amount of subsidy on any one of these permitted bases of appeal, PHAs submit a written appeal request to HUD. Respondents (i.e. affected public): State, Local or Tribal Government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 105. Estimated Number of Responses: 105. Frequency of Response: 1. Average Hours per Response: 20. Total Estimated Burdens: 2049. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES B. Solicitation of Public Comment This notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected parties concerning the collection of information described in Section A on the following: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including through the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. HUD encourages interested parties to submit comment in response to these questions. Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. Dated: March 16, 2016. Colette Pollard, Department Reports Management Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2016–06703 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210–67–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 23, 2016 Jkt 238001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2016–N038]; [FXES11120400000–167–FF04EC1000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, Palmas Home Owners Association, Palmas Del Mar, Humacao, Puerto Rico Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment/information. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Palmas del Mar Home Owners Association requests a 10-year ITP. We request public comment on the permit application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as low-effect under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for review. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by April 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the application and HCP, you may request documents by email, U.S. mail, or phone (see below). These documents are also available for public inspection by appointment during normal business hours at the office below. Send your comments or requests by any one of the following methods. • Email: marelisa_rivera@fws.gov. Use ‘‘Attn: Permit number TE85455B– 0’’ as the subject line of your email. • Fax: Deputy Field Supervisor, (787) 851–7440, Attn: Permit number TE85455B–0. • Phone: 787–851–7297, x 206. • U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office; Attn: Permit Number TE85455B– 0; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; P.O. ´ Box 491; Boqueron, PR 00622. • In-person drop-off: You may drop off information or comments during regular business hours at the following office address: Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office; Road 301; Km. ´ 5.1; Boqueron, Puerto Rico. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marelisa Rivera,via telephone at (787) 851–7297, x 206, or via email at marelisa_rivera@fws.gov. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 15735 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and our implementing Federal regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17 prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Take of listed fish or wildlife is defined under the Act 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. 1532). However, under limited circumstances, we issue permits to authorize incidental take—i.e., take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental take permits for threatened and endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. The Act’s take prohibitions do not apply to federally listed plants on private lands unless such take would violate State law. In addition to meeting other criteria, an incidental take permit’s proposed actions must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed fish, wildlife, or plants. Applicant’s Proposal The Palmas Home Owners Association is proposing to renew and amend its existing HCP. They will be adding the following five new residential development areas to the HCP: Marbella Club, Solera, the Beach Club, Palmas Dorada, and Plaza del Mar. For the past 10 years, Palmas del Mar has had an ongoing sea turtle monitoring and conservation program, implemented sea turtle–friendly lighting in the existing developments, planted vegetation screens, and implemented avoidance and minimization measures during beach cleaning activities. These activities will continue and will be extended to the five new areas. Our Preliminary Determination The Service has made a preliminary determination that the applicant’s project, including the mitigation measures, will individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, our proposed issuance of the requested incidental take permit qualifies as a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act, as provided by Department of the Interior implementing regulations in part 46 of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR 46.205, 46.210, and 46.215). We base our preliminary determination that issuance of the ITP qualifies as a low-effect action on the following three criteria: (1) This E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1 15736 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2016 / Notices is a renewal of an existing project, and implementation of the project would result in minor or negligible effects on federally listed, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; (2) Implementation of the project would result in minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources; and (3) Impacts of the project, 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. This preliminary determination may be revised based on our review of public comments that we receive in response to this notice. Next Steps We will evaluate the HCP and comments we receive to determine whether the ITP application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If we determine that the application meets these requirements, we will issue ITP # TE85455B–0. We will also evaluate whether issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP complies with section 7 of the Act by conducting an intraService 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 issue the ITP. If the requirements are met, we will issue the permit to the applicant. Public Comments If you wish to comment on the permit application, HCP, and associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods in ADDRESSES. asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, 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 of the Act and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). ˜ Edwin E. Muniz, Field Supervisor, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2016–06652 Filed 3–23–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R6–ES–2016–N034; FXES11130600000–167–FF06E00000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Recovery Permit Applications Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, invite the public to comment on the following applications to conduct activities intended to enhance the survival of endangered or threatened species. DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by April 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or requests for copies or more information by any of the following methods. Alternatively, you may use one of the following methods to request hard copies or a CD–ROM of the documents. Please specify the permit you are interested in by number (e.g., Permit No. TE–XXXXXX). • Email: permitsR6ES@fws.gov. Please refer to the respective permit number (e.g., Permit No. TE–XXXXXX) in the subject line of the message. • U.S. Mail: Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486–DFC, Denver, CO 80225. • In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (719) 628–2670 to make an appointment during regular business hours at 134 Union Blvd., Suite 645, Lakewood, CO 80228. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits Coordinator, Ecological Services, (719) 628–2670 (phone); permitsR6ES@ fws.gov (email). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Background The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits certain activities with endangered and threatened species VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Mar 23, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 unless authorized by a Federal permit. Along with our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 17, the Act provides for permits and requires that we invite public comment before issuing these permits for endangered species. A permit granted by us under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act authorizes the permittees to conduct activities with U.S. endangered or threatened species for scientific purposes, enhancement of propagation or survival, or interstate commerce (the latter only in the event that it facilitates scientific purposes or enhancement of propagation or survival). Our regulations implementing section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.62 for endangered plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant species. Applications Available for Review and Comment We invite local, State, and Federal agencies and the public to comment on the following applications. Documents and other information the applicants have submitted with their applications are 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). Permit Application Number TE047381 Applicant: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southern Ute, Ignacio, CO. The applicant requests a permit to conduct presence/absence surveys for southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in Colorado for the purpose of enhancing the species’ survival. Permit Application Number TE13024B Applicant: Bureau of Land Management, Lakewood, CO. The applicant requests an amendment to an existing permit to continue presence/absence surveys for southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) in Colorado for the purpose of enhancing the species’ survival. National Environmental Policy Act In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), we have made an initial determination that the proposed activities in these permits are categorically excluded from the requirement to prepare an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement (516 DM 6 Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)). E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM 24MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 57 (Thursday, March 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15735-15736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06652]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2016-N038]; [FXES11120400000-167-FF04EC1000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of 
Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, Palmas Home Owners 
Association, Palmas Del Mar, Humacao, Puerto Rico

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment/information.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an 
application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Palmas del Mar Home Owners 
Association requests a 10-year ITP. We request public comment on the 
permit application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan 
(HCP), as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan 
qualifies as low-effect under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA). To make this determination, we used our environmental action 
statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for 
review.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
April 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the application and HCP, you may 
request documents by email, U.S. mail, or phone (see below). These 
documents are also available for public inspection by appointment 
during normal business hours at the office below. Send your comments or 
requests by any one of the following methods.
     Email: marelisa_rivera@fws.gov. Use ``Attn: Permit number 
TE85455B-0'' as the subject line of your email.
     Fax: Deputy Field Supervisor, (787) 851-7440, Attn: Permit 
number TE85455B-0.
     Phone: 787-851-7297, x 206.
     U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Caribbean Ecological Services 
Field Office; Attn: Permit Number TE85455B-0; U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service; P.O. Box 491; Boquer[oacute]n, PR 00622.
     In-person drop-off: You may drop off information or 
comments during regular business hours at the following office address: 
Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office; Road 301; Km. 5.1; 
Boquer[oacute]n, Puerto Rico.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marelisa Rivera,via telephone at (787) 
851-7297, x 206, or via email at marelisa_rivera@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and our implementing 
Federal regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 
17 prohibit the ``take'' of fish or wildlife species listed as 
endangered or threatened. Take of listed fish or wildlife is defined 
under the Act 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. 1532). However, under limited circumstances, we 
issue permits to authorize incidental take--i.e., take that is 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise 
lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental take permits for 
threatened and endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, 
respectively. The Act's take prohibitions do not apply to federally 
listed plants on private lands unless such take would violate State 
law. In addition to meeting other criteria, an incidental take permit's 
proposed actions must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed 
fish, wildlife, or plants.

Applicant's Proposal

    The Palmas Home Owners Association is proposing to renew and amend 
its existing HCP. They will be adding the following five new 
residential development areas to the HCP: Marbella Club, Solera, the 
Beach Club, Palmas Dorada, and Plaza del Mar. For the past 10 years, 
Palmas del Mar has had an ongoing sea turtle monitoring and 
conservation program, implemented sea turtle-friendly lighting in the 
existing developments, planted vegetation screens, and implemented 
avoidance and minimization measures during beach cleaning activities. 
These activities will continue and will be extended to the five new 
areas.

Our Preliminary Determination

    The Service has made a preliminary determination that the 
applicant's project, including the mitigation measures, will 
individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the 
species covered in the HCP. Therefore, our proposed issuance of the 
requested incidental take permit qualifies as a categorical exclusion 
under the National Environmental Policy Act, as provided by Department 
of the Interior implementing regulations in part 46 of title 43 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR 46.205, 46.210, and 46.215). We 
base our preliminary determination that issuance of the ITP qualifies 
as a low-effect action on the following three criteria: (1) This

[[Page 15736]]

is a renewal of an existing project, and implementation of the project 
would result in minor or negligible effects on federally listed, 
proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; (2) Implementation 
of the project would result in minor or negligible effects on other 
environmental values or resources; and (3) Impacts of the project, 
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. This preliminary determination 
may be revised based on our review of public comments that we receive 
in response to this notice.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the HCP and comments we receive to determine 
whether the ITP application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of 
the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If we determine that the application 
meets these requirements, we will issue ITP # TE85455B-0. We will also 
evaluate whether issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP complies 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 issue the ITP. If the requirements are met, we will 
issue the permit to the applicant.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, HCP, and 
associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods 
in ADDRESSES.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, 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 of the Act and NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Edwin E. Mu[ntilde]iz,
Field Supervisor, Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office, Southeast 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-06652 Filed 3-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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