Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of a Proposed Amendment to a Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Florida Scrub-Jay, Manatee and Hardee Counties, FL, 57784-57785 [2017-26360]

Download as PDF 57784 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 234 / Thursday, December 7, 2017 / Notices Dated: November 29, 2017. Samantha Deshommes, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2017–26311 Filed 12–6–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–97–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2017–N145; FXES11130400000EA–123–FF04EF1000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of a Proposed Amendment to a Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Florida Scrub-Jay, Manatee and Hardee Counties, FL Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC (Applicant) for amendment of incidental take permit (ITP) number TE236128–1 under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, in Manatee and Hardee Counties, Florida. We request public comments on the application and accompanying proposed amended 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 January 8, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments or request copies of the application, HCP, environmental action statement, or low-effect screening form, by any one of the following methods: Email: northflorida@fws.gov. Use ‘‘Attn: Permit number TE236128–2’’ as your subject line. Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731– 3191, Attn: Permit number TE236128–2. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Dec 06, 2017 Jkt 244001 U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field Office, Attn: Permit number TE236128– 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256. In-person: You may deliver comments during regular business hours at the office address listed above under U.S. Mail or inspect the application, HCP, environmental action statement, or loweffect screening form by appointment during normal business hours at the same address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731–3121; email: erin_gawera@fws.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 22–27, and 34, Township 34 South, Range 22 East, Manatee County, Florida. The requested amendment is to expand the area in which eastern indigo snakes may be incidentally taken to include an additional 900 acres located in sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, and 30 of Township 34 South, Range 23 East, in western Hardee County adjacent to the Manatee County parcel. No increase in the amount of take for the eastern indigo snake or the Florida scrub-jay has been requested. The HCP describes the measures the Applicant proposes to undertake to mitigate and minimize the effects of the project on the threatened Florida scrub-jay and threatened eastern indigo snake. Background (7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated with this collection of information is $0. Any cost burden associated with this collection of information is captured as a part of the forms that require this activity to take place. Our Preliminary Determination We have determined that the Applicant’s proposal, including the proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or negligible effects on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, we have determined that the ITP for this project would be ‘‘low effect’’ and qualify as a categorically excluded under NEPA, as provided by 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A low-effect HCP is one involving (1) minor or negligible effects on federally listed or candidate species and their habitats, and (2) minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources. Section 9 of the ESA and our implementing Federal regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17 prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Take of listed fish or wildlife 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. 1532(19)). 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 endangered and threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. The ESA’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 Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC, is requesting amendment to existing incidental take permit number TE236128–1, which was issued on May 18, 2012, and made available via the Federal Register on February 28, 2012 (77 FR 12074). Permit number TE236128–1 authorized the take of approximately 75 acres (ac) of occupied Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) habitat incidental to land clearing and phosphate mining and of no more than three eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon corais couperi) within each 5-year period throughout the 41year-long duration of the permit within the 4,345-ac project area located on parcel #45400059, within sections 13, PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 ESA. We will also evaluate whether issuance of the ITP complies with section 7 of the ESA by conducting an intra-Service 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 amended ITP. If the requirements are met, we will issue ITP number TE236128–2 to the applicant. Public Comments If you wish to comment on the permit application, HCP, or associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods listed above in ADDRESSES. 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 E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 234 / Thursday, December 7, 2017 / Notices 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 ESA and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6. Jay B. Herrington, Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2017–26360 Filed 12–6–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCOS09000–L16100000–DR0000–18X] Notice of Resource Advisory Council Meetings for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council, Colorado Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) DominguezEscalante National Conservation Area (NCA) Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below. DATES: The meetings will be held on December 20, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and January 8, 2018, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Any adjustments to these meetings will be advertised on the Dominguez-Escalante NCA Resource Management Plan (RMP) Web site: https://1.usa.gov/1qKkMVi. ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held on December 20, 2017, at the Mesa County Central Services Building, 200 S. Spruce St., Room 40, Grand Junction, CO 81501 and on January 8, 2018, at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 530 Gunnison River Drive, Delta, CO 81416. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Collin Ewing, Advisory Council Designated Federal Official, 2815 H Road, Grand Junction, CO 81506. Phone: (970) 244–3049. Email: cewing@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:50 Dec 06, 2017 Jkt 244001 The 10member Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM, on a variety of planning and management issues associated with the resource management plan (RMP) process for the Dominguez-Escalante NCA and Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. Topics of discussion during the meeting may include presentations from BLM staff on implementation of the approved RMP and travel management plan. These meetings are open to the public. At the December 20, 2017, meeting there will be public comment periods from 4:15 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. At the January 8, 2018, meeting there will be a public comment period from 4:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. The public may present written comments to the Council at the meeting. 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. Depending on the number of persons wishing to comment and time available, the time for individual oral comments may be limited at the discretion of the chair. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Gregory P. Shoop, Acting BLM Colorado State Director. [FR Doc. 2017–26396 Filed 12–6–17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLORV00000. L10200000. DF0000. LXSSH1050000.18X.HAG 18–0031] Notice of Public Meetings for the Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council’s Lands With Wilderness Characteristics Subcommittee Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Southeast Oregon Resource Advisory Council (RAC) Lands with Wilderness Characteristics (LWC) Subcommittee will meet as indicated below. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 57785 The Southeast Oregon RAC’s LWCSubcommittee will meet via teleconference Wednesday, December 20, 2017, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mountain Time. There will be a public comment period from 3:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. ADDRESSES: The LWC subcommittee meeting will be held via teleconference. The telephone conference line number for the meeting is 1–866–524–6456, Participant Code: 608605#. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Larisa Bogardus, Public Affairs Officer, 1301 S G Street, Lakeview, Oregon 97630; 541–947–6237; lbogardus@ blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS 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 15member Southeast Oregon RAC was chartered and appointed by the Secretary of the Interior. The RAC members’ diverse perspectives are represented in commodity, conservation, and general interests. They provide advice to BLM and Forest Service resource managers regarding management plans and proposed resource actions on public land in southeast Oregon. Agenda items include discussing possible management approaches for areas identified by BLM as LWC for a subsequent recommendation to the full Southeast Oregon RAC as part of the Vale and Lakeview Districts’ respective Resource Management Plan Amendment(s) process. A final agenda will be posted online at https://www.blm.gov/getinvolved/resource-advisory-council/ near-you/oregon-washington/southeastoregon-rac at least one week prior to each teleconference. All meetings are open to the public in their entirety. Information to be distributed to the LWC Subcommittee or the Southeast Oregon RAC is requested prior to the start of each meeting. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, please 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. DATES: E:\FR\FM\07DEN1.SGM 07DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 234 (Thursday, December 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57784-57785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26360]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2017-N145; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of a 
Proposed Amendment to a Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the 
Florida Scrub-Jay, Manatee and Hardee Counties, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an 
application from Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC (Applicant) for amendment of 
incidental take permit (ITP) number TE236128-1 under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended, in Manatee and Hardee Counties, 
Florida. We request public comments on the application and accompanying 
proposed amended 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 
January 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments or request copies of the 
application, HCP, environmental action statement, or low-effect 
screening form, by any one of the following methods:
    Email: northflorida@fws.gov. Use ``Attn: Permit number TE236128-2'' 
as your subject line.
    Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731-3191, Attn: Permit number 
TE236128-2.
    U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field 
Office, Attn: Permit number TE236128-2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
    In-person: You may deliver comments during regular business hours 
at the office address listed above under U.S. Mail or inspect the 
application, HCP, environmental action statement, or low-effect 
screening form by appointment during normal business hours at the same 
address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731-
3121; email: erin_gawera@fws.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and our implementing Federal regulations in 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17 prohibit the 
``take'' of fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or 
threatened. Take of listed fish or wildlife 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. 
1532(19)). 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 endangered and 
threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. The 
ESA'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

    Mosaic Fertilizer, LLC, is requesting amendment to existing 
incidental take permit number TE236128-1, which was issued on May 18, 
2012, and made available via the Federal Register on February 28, 2012 
(77 FR 12074). Permit number TE236128-1 authorized the take of 
approximately 75 acres (ac) of occupied Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma 
coerulescens) habitat incidental to land clearing and phosphate mining 
and of no more than three eastern indigo snakes (Drymarchon corais 
couperi) within each 5-year period throughout the 41-year-long duration 
of the permit within the 4,345-ac project area located on parcel 
#45400059, within sections 13, 22-27, and 34, Township 34 South, Range 
22 East, Manatee County, Florida. The requested amendment is to expand 
the area in which eastern indigo snakes may be incidentally taken to 
include an additional 900 acres located in sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 
and 30 of Township 34 South, Range 23 East, in western Hardee County 
adjacent to the Manatee County parcel. No increase in the amount of 
take for the eastern indigo snake or the Florida scrub-jay has been 
requested. The HCP describes the measures the Applicant proposes to 
undertake to mitigate and minimize the effects of the project on the 
threatened Florida scrub-jay and threatened eastern indigo snake.

Our Preliminary Determination

    We have determined that the Applicant's proposal, including the 
proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or 
negligible effects on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, we 
have determined that the ITP for this project would be ``low effect'' 
and qualify as a categorically excluded under NEPA, as provided by 43 
CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A low-effect HCP is one involving (1) minor or 
negligible effects on federally listed or candidate species and their 
habitats, and (2) minor or negligible effects on other environmental 
values or resources.

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 ESA. We will also evaluate whether issuance of the ITP complies 
with section 7 of the ESA by conducting an intra-Service 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 amended ITP. If the requirements are met, we will issue ITP 
number TE236128-2 to the applicant.

Public Comments

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

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

[[Page 57785]]

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 ESA 
and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6.

Jay B. Herrington,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-26360 Filed 12-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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