Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for Endangered Sandhills Species at the Clements Property, Santa Cruz County, California, 19091-19093 [2018-09190]
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19091
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices
HUD is seeking approval from
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for the information collection
described below. In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is
requesting comment from all interested
parties on the proposed collection of
information. The purpose of this notice
is to allow for 30 days of public
comment.
DATES: Comments Due Date: May 31,
2018.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit comments regarding
this proposal. Comments should refer to
the proposal by name and/or OMB
Control Number and should be sent to:
HUD Desk Officer, Office of
Management and Budget, New
Executive Office Building, Washington,
DC 20503; fax: 202–395–5806, Email:
OIRA Submission@omb.eop.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anna P. Guido, Reports Management
Officer, QMAC, Department of Housing
and Urban Development, 451 7th Street
SUMMARY:
Information collection
HUD
HUD
HUD
HUD
HUD
HUD
HUD
HUD
40054
40055
40056
40030
40057
40058
40072
40061
Number of
respondents
SW, Washington, DC 20410; email Anna
P. Guido at Anna.P.Guido@hud.gov or
telephone 202–402–5535. This is not a
toll-free number. Person with hearing or
speech impairments may access this
number through TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–
8339. Copies of available documents
submitted to OMB may be obtained
from Ms. Guido.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
notice informs the public that HUD is
seeking approval from OMB for the
information collection described in
Section A.
The Federal Register notice that
solicited public comment on the
information collection for a period of 60
days was published on February 28,
2018 at 83 FR 8695.
A. Overview of Information Collection
Title of Information Collection:
Application for displacement/
relocation/temporary relocation
assistance for persons.
OMB Approval Number: 2506–0016.
Frequency
of response
Responses
per annum
Burden hour
per response
Type of Request: Revision of currently
approved collection.
Form Number: HUD–40030, HUD–
40054, HUD–40055, HUD–40056, HUD–
40057, HUD–40058, HUD–40061, and
HUD–40072 in the following languages
(English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Arabic,
Russian, Mandarin Korean).
Description of the Need for the
Information and Proposed Use:
Application for displacement/relocation
assistance for persons (families,
individuals, businesses, nonprofit
organizations and farms) displaced by,
or temporarily relocated for, certain
HUD programs. No changes are being
made for Forms HUD–40030, HUD–
40054, 40055, HUD–40056, HUD–
40057, HUD–40058, HUD–40061, and
HUD–40072.
Respondents: Individuals,
households, businesses, farms, nonprofits, state, local and tribal
governments.
Estimated Number of Respondents/
Estimated Number of Responses:
Annual burden
hours
Hourly cost
per response
Annual cost
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
..................
12,000.00
400.00
400.00
25,000.00
1,250.00
8,750.00
2,000.00
12,000.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
12,000.00
400.00
400.00
25,000.00
1,250.00
8,750.00
2,000.00
12,000.00
0.50
1.50
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.00
6,000.00
600.00
400.00
25,000.00
1,250.00
8,750.00
2,000.00
12,000.00
$24.39
24.39
24.39
24.39
24.39
24.39
24.39
24.39
$146,340.00
14,634.00
9,756.00
609,750.00
30,487.50
213,412.50
48,780.00
292,680.00
Total ......................
61,800.00
8.00
61,800.00
8.00
56,000.00
24.39
1,365,840.00
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD 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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:12 Apr 30, 2018
Jkt 244001
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: April 25, 2018.
Anna P. Guido,
Department Reports Management Officer,
Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2018–09219 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
PO 00000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2018–N023;
FXES11130800000–189–FF08EVEN00]
Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan
for Endangered Sandhills Species at
the Clements Property, Santa Cruz
County, California
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have received an
application from Ron Clements for a
3-year incidental take permit under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended. The application addresses the
potential for ‘‘take’’ of the federally
endangered Mount Hermon June beetle
and Zayante band-winged grasshopper
that is likely to occur incidental to the
construction of outdoor recreational
SUMMARY:
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01MYN1
19092
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices
amozie on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES
facilities at a property near the
unincorporated town of Ben Lomond,
Santa Cruz County, California. We
invite comments from the public on the
application package, which includes a
low-effect habitat conservation plan.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by May 31,
2018.
ADDRESSES: You may download a copy
of the habitat conservation plan, draft
environmental action statement and
low-effect screening form, and related
documents on the internet at https://
www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you may
request copies of the documents by U.S.
mail to our Ventura office or by phone
(see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
Please address written comments to
Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor,
Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola
Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. You
may alternatively send comments by
facsimile to (805) 644–3958.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chad Mitcham, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, by U.S. mail to the Ventura
office, or by telephone at (805) 677–
3328.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have
received an application from Ron
Clements for a 3-year incidental take
permit under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.). The application addresses
the potential for ‘‘take’’ of the federally
endangered Mount Hermon June beetle
(Polyphylla barbata) and Zayante bandwinged grasshopper (Trimerotropis
infantilis) likely to occur incidental to
the construction of outdoor recreational
facilities at 8225 Ridgeview Drive (APN:
072–441–01), near the unincorporated
town of Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz
County, California. We invite comments
from the public on the application
package, which includes a low-effect
habitat conservation plan. This
proposed action has been determined to
be eligible for a categorical exclusion
under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.), as amended.
Background
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) listed the Mount Hermon June
beetle and Zayante band-winged
grasshopper as endangered on January
24, 1997 (62 FR 3616). Section 9 of the
Act and its implementing regulations
prohibit the take of fish or wildlife
species listed as endangered or
threatened. ‘‘Take’’ is defined under the
Act to include the following activities:
‘‘to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:12 Apr 30, 2018
Jkt 244001
to attempt to engage in any such
conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532); however,
under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, we
may issue permits to authorize
incidental take of listed species.
‘‘Incidental Take’’ is defined as take that
is incidental to, and not the purpose of,
the carrying out of an otherwise lawful
activity (50 CFR 17.3). Regulations
governing incidental take permits for
threatened and endangered species are
provided at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22,
respectively. Issuance of an incidental
take permit must not jeopardize the
existence of federally listed fish,
wildlife, or plant species.
Take of listed plants is not prohibited
under the Act unless such take would
violate State law. As such, take of plants
cannot be authorized under an
incidental take permit. Plant species
may be included on a permit in
recognition of the conservation benefits
provided them under a habitat
conservation plan. All species,
including plants, covered by the
incidental take permit receive
assurances under our ‘‘No Surprises’’
regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and
17.32(b)(5)). In addition to meeting
other specific criteria, actions
undertaken through implementation of
the habitat conservation plan (HCP)
must not jeopardize the continued
existence of federally listed animal or
plant species.
Applicant’s Proposal
Ron Clements (hereafter, the
applicant) has submitted a low-effect
HCP in support of his application for an
incidental take permit (ITP) to address
take of the Mount Hermon June beetle
and Zayante band-winged grasshopper
that is likely to occur as the result of
direct impacts on up to 0.214-acre (ac)
(9,319 square feet (sf)) of sandhills
habitat occupied by the species. Take
would be associated with the
construction of outdoor recreational
facilities and infrastructure on an
existing parcel legally described as
Assessor Parcel Number: 072–441–01.
The current site address is 8225
Ridgeview Drive, near the
unincorporated town of Ben Lomond,
Santa Cruz County, California. The
applicant is requesting a permit for take
of Mount Hermon June beetle and
Zayante band-winged grasshopper that
would result from ‘‘covered activities’’
that are related to the construction of
outdoor recreational facilities.
The HCP’s conservation strategy also
addresses potential impacts to the
federally endangered Ben Lomond
spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var.
pungens), which may occur at the
proposed project site. A 3-year
PO 00000
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incidental take permit is requested to
authorize take that would occur
incidental to the proposed project.
The applicant proposes to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate impacts to the
Mount Hermon June beetle, Zayante
band-winged grasshopper, and Ben
Lomond spineflower associated with the
covered activities by fully implementing
the HCP. The following measures will
be implemented: (1) A qualified
biologist will collect seed of all Ben
Lomond spineflower from within the
project footprint for use in restoration of
the site following construction
activities; (2) if construction occurs
during the flight season of the Mount
Hermon June beetle (considered to be
between May and August, annually),
exposed soils will be covered with
impervious materials to prevent any
dispersing Mount Hermon June beetles
from burrowing into exposed soil at the
construction site; (3) a qualified
biologist will conduct a preconstruction training that will be
attended by all on-site construction
personnel and those personnel will be
directed to cease work and immediately
contact a biologist permitted to capture
and relocate the subject species if
observed in an area to be impacted; (4)
new outdoor lighting will feature LED
bulbs that emit wavelengths of light that
are less attractive for nocturnal insects;
(5) following completion of the project,
temporarily disturbed areas will be
seeded with native sandhills plants to
facilitate recolonization by the subject
species; and (6) the applicant will
permanently protect habitat for the
Mount Hermon June beetle, Zayante
band-winged grasshopper, and Ben
Lomond spineflower through the
purchase of 0.531-ac of conservation
credits at the Zayante Sandhills
Conservation Bank, or from another
Service-approved conservation bank.
The applicant will fund up to $157,452
to ensure implementation of all
minimization measures, monitoring,
and reporting requirements identified in
the HCP.
In the proposed HCP, the applicant
considers two alternatives to the
proposed action: ‘‘No Action’’ and
‘‘Redesign Project.’’ Under the ‘‘No
Action’’ alternative, an ITP for the
proposed project would not be issued.
The proposed conservation strategy and
the purchase of conservation credits
would not be provided to effect recovery
actions for the impacted species. The
‘‘No Action’’ alternative would not
result in desired improvements to the
residence and would not result in
benefits for the covered species;
therefore, the ‘‘No Action’’ alternative
has been rejected. Under the ‘‘Redesign
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 84 / Tuesday, May 1, 2018 / Notices
Project’’ alternative, the applicant
would reduce the area of proposed
improvements by approximately 50
percent, through elimination of
components of the planned outdoor
recreational facilities. Under this
alternative, the applicant would not
achieve his desired goals and fewer
conservation credits would be
purchased to effect recovery; therefore,
the ‘‘Redesign Project’’ alternative has
also been rejected.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made a preliminary
determination that issuance of the
incidental take permit is neither a major
Federal action that will significantly
affect the quality of the human
environment within the meaning of
section 102(2)(C) of NEPA (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.,) nor that it will,
individually or cumulatively, have more
than a negligible effect on the Mount
Hermon June beetle, Zayante bandwinged grasshopper, and Ben Lomond
spineflower. Therefore, the permit
qualifies for a categorical exclusion
under NEPA.
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Next Steps
We will evaluate the permit
application, including the plan and
comments we receive, to determine
whether the application meets the
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of
the Act. We will also evaluate whether
issuance of the ITP would comply with
section 7(a)(2) of the Act by conducting
an intra-Service Section 7 consultation.
Public Review
We provide this notice under section
10(c) of the Act and the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA), and NEPA’s public
involvement regulations (40 CFR
1500.1(b), 1500.2(d), and 1506.6). We
are requesting comments on our
determination that the applicant’s
proposal will have a minor or negligible
effect on the Mount Hermon June beetle,
Zayante band-winged grasshopper, and
Ben Lomond spineflower, and that the
plan qualifies as a low-effect HCP as
defined by our Habitat Conservation
Planning Handbook. We will evaluate
the permit application, including the
plan and comments we receive, to
determine whether the application
meets the requirements of section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will use the
results of our internal Service
consultation, in combination with the
above findings, in our final analysis to
determine whether to issue the permit.
If the requirements are met, we will
issue an ITP to the applicant for the
incidental take of Mount Hermon June
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18:12 Apr 30, 2018
Jkt 244001
beetle and Zayante band-winged
grasshopper. We will make the final
permit decision no sooner than 30 days
after the date of this notice.
Public Comments
If you wish to comment on the permit
applications, plans, 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
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 view, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
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: April 24, 2018.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, Ventura, California.
[FR Doc. 2018–09190 Filed 4–30–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLCO–923000.L1440000.ET0000; COC
028643 & COC 28623]
Public Land Order No. 7866; Partial
Withdrawal Revocation, Power Site
Classification Nos. 56 and 351;
Colorado
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Public land order.
AGENCY:
This Order partially revokes a
withdrawal created by Secretarial
Orders dated June 30, 1923 and March
14, 1944, which established Power Site
Classification Nos. 56 and 351, insofar
as they affect 49.18 acres of National
Forest System lands. This Order opens
the lands to such uses as may be made
of National Forest System lands subject
to valid existing rights, the provisions of
existing withdrawals, other segregations
of record, and the requirements of
applicable law.
DATES: This Public Land Order is
effective on May 1, 2018.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4703
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19093
John
D. Beck, Bureau of Land Management,
Colorado State Office, (303) 239–3882,
or write: Branch of Lands and Realty,
BLM Colorado State Office, 2850
Youngfield Street, Lakewood, Colorado
80215–7093. 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. The FRS
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. You will receive a reply during
normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
United States Forest Service requested
partial revocation affecting portions of
withdrawn lands classified for potential
power site development. The Bureau of
Land Management, in consultation with
the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC), determined that
the interests of the United States would
not be injured by conveyance of the
land out of Federal ownership. This
Order opens the lands within PSC No.
56 to such uses as may be made of
National Forest System lands subject to
a Section 24 Federal Power Act
reservation, and opens the lands within
PSC No. 351 to such uses as may be
made of National Forest System lands.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Order
By virtue of the authority vested in
the Secretary of the Interior by Section
204 of the Federal Land Policy and
Management Act of 1976, 43 U.S.C.
1714, and pursuant to the determination
by the FERC, it is ordered as follows:
1. The withdrawal created by
Secretarial Order dated June 30, 1923,
which established Power Site
Classification No. 56, is hereby revoked
in part subject to the provisions of
Section 24 of the Federal Power Act, as
to the following described land:
6th Principal Meridian, Colorado
T. 9 S., R. 70 W.,
Sec. 10, Parcel A.
The area described contains 5.39 acres in
the Pike National Forest, Douglas County.
2. The withdrawal created by
Secretarial Order dated March 14, 1944,
which established Power Site
Classification No. 351, is hereby
revoked in-part as to the following
described land:
6th Principal Meridian, Colorado
T. 7 S., R. 73 W.,
Sec. 7, lots 5 and 7.
The area described contains 43.79 acres in
the Pike National Forest, Park County.
3. At 9 a.m. on May 1, 2018 the lands
described in Paragraph 1 and 2 are
opened to such forms of disposition as
may be made of National Forest System
E:\FR\FM\01MYN1.SGM
01MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19091-19093]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09190]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2018-N023; FXES11130800000-189-FF08EVEN00]
Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for Endangered Sandhills
Species at the Clements Property, Santa Cruz County, California
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an
application from Ron Clements for a 3-year incidental take permit under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The application
addresses the potential for ``take'' of the federally endangered Mount
Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper that is likely
to occur incidental to the construction of outdoor recreational
[[Page 19092]]
facilities at a property near the unincorporated town of Ben Lomond,
Santa Cruz County, California. We invite comments from the public on
the application package, which includes a low-effect habitat
conservation plan.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
May 31, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may download a copy of the habitat conservation plan,
draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, and
related documents on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or
you may request copies of the documents by U.S. mail to our Ventura
office or by phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Please
address written comments to Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, Ventura
Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola
Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. You may alternatively send comments
by facsimile to (805) 644-3958.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chad Mitcham, Fish and Wildlife
Biologist, by U.S. mail to the Ventura office, or by telephone at (805)
677-3328.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have received an application from Ron
Clements for a 3-year incidental take permit under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The
application addresses the potential for ``take'' of the federally
endangered Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) and Zayante
band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis infantilis) likely to occur
incidental to the construction of outdoor recreational facilities at
8225 Ridgeview Drive (APN: 072-441-01), near the unincorporated town of
Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County, California. We invite comments from the
public on the application package, which includes a low-effect habitat
conservation plan. This proposed action has been determined to be
eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as amended.
Background
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) listed the Mount
Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper as endangered on
January 24, 1997 (62 FR 3616). Section 9 of the Act and its
implementing regulations prohibit the take of fish or wildlife species
listed as endangered or threatened. ``Take'' is defined under the Act
to include the following activities: ``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 section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, we may issue permits to authorize incidental
take of listed species. ``Incidental Take'' is defined as take that is
incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise
lawful activity (50 CFR 17.3). Regulations governing incidental take
permits for threatened and endangered species are provided at 50 CFR
17.32 and 17.22, respectively. Issuance of an incidental take permit
must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed fish, wildlife,
or plant species.
Take of listed plants is not prohibited under the Act unless such
take would violate State law. As such, take of plants cannot be
authorized under an incidental take permit. Plant species may be
included on a permit in recognition of the conservation benefits
provided them under a habitat conservation plan. All species, including
plants, covered by the incidental take permit receive assurances under
our ``No Surprises'' regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)).
In addition to meeting other specific criteria, actions undertaken
through implementation of the habitat conservation plan (HCP) must not
jeopardize the continued existence of federally listed animal or plant
species.
Applicant's Proposal
Ron Clements (hereafter, the applicant) has submitted a low-effect
HCP in support of his application for an incidental take permit (ITP)
to address take of the Mount Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged
grasshopper that is likely to occur as the result of direct impacts on
up to 0.214-acre (ac) (9,319 square feet (sf)) of sandhills habitat
occupied by the species. Take would be associated with the construction
of outdoor recreational facilities and infrastructure on an existing
parcel legally described as Assessor Parcel Number: 072-441-01. The
current site address is 8225 Ridgeview Drive, near the unincorporated
town of Ben Lomond, Santa Cruz County, California. The applicant is
requesting a permit for take of Mount Hermon June beetle and Zayante
band-winged grasshopper that would result from ``covered activities''
that are related to the construction of outdoor recreational
facilities.
The HCP's conservation strategy also addresses potential impacts to
the federally endangered Ben Lomond spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens
var. pungens), which may occur at the proposed project site. A 3-year
incidental take permit is requested to authorize take that would occur
incidental to the proposed project.
The applicant proposes to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to
the Mount Hermon June beetle, Zayante band-winged grasshopper, and Ben
Lomond spineflower associated with the covered activities by fully
implementing the HCP. The following measures will be implemented: (1) A
qualified biologist will collect seed of all Ben Lomond spineflower
from within the project footprint for use in restoration of the site
following construction activities; (2) if construction occurs during
the flight season of the Mount Hermon June beetle (considered to be
between May and August, annually), exposed soils will be covered with
impervious materials to prevent any dispersing Mount Hermon June
beetles from burrowing into exposed soil at the construction site; (3)
a qualified biologist will conduct a pre-construction training that
will be attended by all on-site construction personnel and those
personnel will be directed to cease work and immediately contact a
biologist permitted to capture and relocate the subject species if
observed in an area to be impacted; (4) new outdoor lighting will
feature LED bulbs that emit wavelengths of light that are less
attractive for nocturnal insects; (5) following completion of the
project, temporarily disturbed areas will be seeded with native
sandhills plants to facilitate recolonization by the subject species;
and (6) the applicant will permanently protect habitat for the Mount
Hermon June beetle, Zayante band-winged grasshopper, and Ben Lomond
spineflower through the purchase of 0.531-ac of conservation credits at
the Zayante Sandhills Conservation Bank, or from another Service-
approved conservation bank. The applicant will fund up to $157,452 to
ensure implementation of all minimization measures, monitoring, and
reporting requirements identified in the HCP.
In the proposed HCP, the applicant considers two alternatives to
the proposed action: ``No Action'' and ``Redesign Project.'' Under the
``No Action'' alternative, an ITP for the proposed project would not be
issued. The proposed conservation strategy and the purchase of
conservation credits would not be provided to effect recovery actions
for the impacted species. The ``No Action'' alternative would not
result in desired improvements to the residence and would not result in
benefits for the covered species; therefore, the ``No Action''
alternative has been rejected. Under the ``Redesign
[[Page 19093]]
Project'' alternative, the applicant would reduce the area of proposed
improvements by approximately 50 percent, through elimination of
components of the planned outdoor recreational facilities. Under this
alternative, the applicant would not achieve his desired goals and
fewer conservation credits would be purchased to effect recovery;
therefore, the ``Redesign Project'' alternative has also been rejected.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made a preliminary determination that issuance of
the incidental take permit is neither a major Federal action that will
significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the
meaning of section 102(2)(C) of NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.,) nor that
it will, individually or cumulatively, have more than a negligible
effect on the Mount Hermon June beetle, Zayante band-winged
grasshopper, and Ben Lomond spineflower. Therefore, the permit
qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NEPA.
Next Steps
We will evaluate the permit application, including the plan and
comments we receive, to determine whether the application meets the
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will also evaluate
whether issuance of the ITP would comply with section 7(a)(2) of the
Act by conducting an intra-Service Section 7 consultation.
Public Review
We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and
NEPA's public involvement regulations (40 CFR 1500.1(b), 1500.2(d), and
1506.6). We are requesting comments on our determination that the
applicant's proposal will have a minor or negligible effect on the
Mount Hermon June beetle, Zayante band-winged grasshopper, and Ben
Lomond spineflower, and that the plan qualifies as a low-effect HCP as
defined by our Habitat Conservation Planning Handbook. We will evaluate
the permit application, including the plan and comments we receive, to
determine whether the application meets the requirements of section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will use the results of our internal Service
consultation, in combination with the above findings, in our final
analysis to determine whether to issue the permit. If the requirements
are met, we will issue an ITP to the applicant for the incidental take
of Mount Hermon June beetle and Zayante band-winged grasshopper. We
will make the final permit decision no sooner than 30 days after the
date of this notice.
Public Comments
If you wish to comment on the permit applications, plans, 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 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 view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able
to do so.
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: April 24, 2018.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura,
California.
[FR Doc. 2018-09190 Filed 4-30-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
