Two Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plans and Categorical Exclusions for Pacific Gas and Electric Company Gas Pipeline Vegetation Management, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, California, 26303-26304 [2018-12133]
Download as PDF
26303
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2018 / Notices
Permit application No.
Applicant
Species/numbers
TE 84861C–0 ....
Power South Energy
Cooperative, Andalusia, AL.
TE 61981B–3 ....
The Peregrine Fund,
Boise, ID.
Location
Activity
Type of take
Choctaw bean (Villosa
choctawensis), fuzzy
pigtoe (Pleurobema
strodeanum), narrow
pigtoe (Fusconaia
escambia), southern
kidneyshell
(Ptychobranchus
jonesi), and southern
sandshell (Hamiota
australis).
Puerto Rican sharpshinned hawk
(Accipiter striatus
venator).
Alabama ......................
Presence/absence surveys.
Remove from the substrate, handle, identify, return to substrate, and salvage
relic shells.
New.
Puerto Rico ..................
Captive propagation
and reintroduction.
Collect eggs and
nestlings for captive
propagation.
Amendment.
Authority: We provide this notice under
the authority of section 10(c) of the ESA.
Aaron Valenta,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological
Services, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2018–12134 Filed 6–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2018–N047;
FXES11130800000–189–FF08EVEN00]
Two Low-Effect Habitat Conservation
Plans and Categorical Exclusions for
Pacific Gas and Electric Company Gas
Pipeline Vegetation Management,
Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties,
California
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, have received two
applications from Pacific Gas and
Electric Company for two 20-year
incidental take permits under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA). The applications
address the potential for ‘‘take’’ of the
federally endangered Mount Hermon
June beetle and Santa Cruz long-toed
salamander, as well as the federally
threatened California red-legged frog,
that is likely to occur incidental to the
removal of vegetation along two natural
gas pipelines that traverse Santa Cruz
and Monterey Counties, California. We
invite comments from the public on the
application packages, which include
two low-effect habitat conservation
plans.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by July 6,
2018.
ADDRESSES:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:35 Jun 05, 2018
Jkt 244001
We have
received two applications from Pacific
Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for
two 20-year incidental take permits
(ITPs) under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applications
address the potential for ‘‘take’’ of the
federally endangered Mount Hermon
June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) and
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
(Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum),
and the federally threatened California
red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) likely
to occur incidental to the initial removal
and ongoing periodic management of
vegetation that occurs over and along
two separate natural gas pipelines. The
first proposed habitat conservation plan
(HCP), referred to in this document as
the Sandhills HCP, concerns the natural
gas pipeline located along Graham Hill
Road, Santa Cruz County, California,
and occurs within habitat for the Mount
Hermon June beetle. The second HCP,
referred to as the North Coast HCP,
concerns a natural gas pipeline that
traverses portions of Santa Cruz and
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
DATES:
Obtaining Documents: You may
download copies of the habitat
conservation plans, draft environmental
action statements, low-effect screening
forms, and related documents on the
internet at https://www.fws.gov/ventura/,
or you may request copies by U.S. mail
to our Ventura office (below) or by
phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
Submitting Comments: 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 alternatively
may 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.
PO 00000
Frm 00052
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Permit action
Monterey Counties and occurs within
habitat of the Santa Cruz long-toed
salamander and California red-legged
frog. We invite comments from the
public on the application packages,
which include two proposed low-effect
HCPs. The proposed actions have been
determined to be eligible for categorical
exclusions under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as
amended.
Background
Section 9 of the ESA and its
implementing regulations prohibit the
take of fish or wildlife species listed as
endangered or threatened. ‘‘Take’’ is
defined under the ESA 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 ESA, 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.
Applicant’s Proposal
PG&E (hereafter, the applicant) has
submitted two low-effect HCPs in
support of their applications for
incidental take permits (ITPs) to address
take of the Mount Hermon June beetle,
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, and
the California red-legged frog. The
Sandhills HCP addresses take of the
Mount Hermon June beetle that is likely
to occur as the result of direct impacts
on up to 2.9 acres (ac) of habitat that is
occupied by the species. The North
E:\FR\FM\06JNN1.SGM
06JNN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
26304
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 109 / Wednesday, June 6, 2018 / Notices
Coast HCP addresses take that is likely
to occur as the result of direct impacts
on up to 4.472 ac of Santa Cruz longtoed salamander habitat and up to 6.997
ac of California red-legged frog habitat,
occupied by the species. Take for both
HCPs would be associated with the
initial removal of vegetation and twenty
years of periodic vegetation
management along two natural gas
pipelines. The Sandhills HCP is located
in Santa Cruz County, while the North
Coast HCP is located in both Santa Cruz
and Monterey Counties. The applicant
is requesting permits for take of the
Mount Hermon June beetle (Sandhills
HCP), and the Santa Cruz long-toed
salamander, and California red-legged
frog (North Coast HCP) that would result
from ‘‘covered activities’’ that are
related to the removal of vegetation.
The applicant proposes to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate impacts to the
Mount Hermon June beetle associated
with the covered activities by fully
implementing the Sandhills HCP. The
following measures will be
implemented: (1) Vegetation
management will take place outside of
the flight season (May 1 through August
31) of the Mount Hermon June beetle;
(2) a biological monitor will be present
during all work activities to identify
appropriate access and work areas to
minimize impacts to sandhills habitat;
(3) if any life stage of the Mount Hermon
June beetle is encountered during work
activities, work will cease and a Serviceapproved biologist will be notified and
the individual(s) will be relocated to
suitable habitat not affected by work
activities; (4) all cut stumps will be left
intact to reduce ground disturbance; (5)
all workers will participate in awareness
training to inform them about the Mount
Hermon June beetle and associated
conservation measures to be followed;
and (6) permanently protect habitat for
the Mount Hermon June beetle through
the purchase of 2.9 ac of conservation
credits at the Zayante Sandhills
Conservation Bank. The applicant will
fund up to $795,735 to ensure
implementation of all minimization
measures, monitoring, and reporting
requirements identified in the HCP.
The applicant proposes to avoid,
minimize, and mitigate impacts to the
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and
California red-legged frog associated
with the covered activities by fully
implementing the North Coast HCP. The
following measures will be
implemented: (1) All workers will
participate in awareness training to
inform them about the Santa Cruz longtoed salamander and California redlegged frog and associated conservation
measures to be followed; (2) vegetation
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:35 Jun 05, 2018
Jkt 244001
management activities will take place
between April 15 and September 15, to
minimize impacts to the species; (3)
impacts to small mammal burrows will
be avoided to the maximum extent
practicable; (4) a qualified biologist will
monitor all vegetation removal activities
to ensure compliance with required
avoidance and minimization measures;
(5) if a Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
or California red-legged frog is
encountered in an area to be impacted,
work in that area will cease until the
animal moves from the area or a
Service-approved biologist captures and
relocates the individual outside of the
work area; (6) permanently protect
habitat for the Santa Cruz long-toed
salamander through the dedication of a
7.2-ac conservation easement at the
Tucker Property in Santa Cruz County;
and (7) provide $342,432 to fund the
creation, management and monitoring of
1.75 ac of California red-legged frog
aquatic breeding habitat at Yellowbank
Creek, near the town of Davenport in
Santa Cruz County. The applicant will
fund up to $1,424,432 to ensure
implementation of all minimization
measures, monitoring, and reporting
requirements identified in the HCP.
In each of the two proposed HCPs, the
applicant considers two alternatives to
the proposed action: ‘‘No Action’’ and
‘‘Original Project.’’ Under the ‘‘No
Action’’ alternative, an ITP for the
proposed project would not be issued.
The proposed conservation strategies
would not be provided to effect recovery
actions for the impacted species. The
‘‘No Action’’ alternative would not
achieve vegetation management
guidelines for PG&E infrastructure and
would not result in benefits for the
covered species; therefore, for each of
the proposed HCPs, the applicant has
rejected the ‘‘No Action’’ alternative.
Under each of the two ‘‘Original
Project’’ alternatives, the applicant
would remove considerably more
habitat along the subject natural gas
pipeline, resulting in greater impacts to
the covered species. Through
coordination with the Service, PG&E
revised the projects in a way that could
still achieve desired vegetation
management goals, while reducing
impacts to the covered species.
Therefore, the applicant has also
rejected both of the ‘‘Original Project’’
alternatives.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made preliminary
determinations that issuance of both
incidental take permits is neither a
major Federal action that will
significantly affect the quality of the
human environment within the meaning
PO 00000
Frm 00053
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
of section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, nor that it
will, individually or cumulatively, have
more than a negligible effect on the
Mount Hermon June beetle, Santa Cruz
long-toed salamander, and California
red-legged frog. Therefore, in
accordance with these preliminary
determinations, both permits qualify for
a categorical exclusion under NEPA.
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 the
ESA, section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) and its implementing regulations
(50 CFR 17.22) and NEPA (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.) and its implementing
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: May 25, 2018.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, Ventura, California.
[FR Doc. 2018–12133 Filed 6–5–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[RR04073000/XXXR4081X3/
RX.05940913.7000000]
Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive
Management Work Group; Request for
Nominations
Office of the Secretary, Interior.
Notice and request for
nominations.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The U.S. Department of the
Interior proposes to appoint members to
the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive
Management Work Group (AMWG). The
Secretary of the Interior, acting as
administrative lead, is requesting
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\06JNN1.SGM
06JNN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26303-26304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12133]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2018-N047; FXES11130800000-189-FF08EVEN00]
Two Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plans and Categorical
Exclusions for Pacific Gas and Electric Company Gas Pipeline Vegetation
Management, Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties, 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 two
applications from Pacific Gas and Electric Company for two 20-year
incidental take permits under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA). The applications address the potential for ``take'' of
the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle and Santa Cruz long-
toed salamander, as well as the federally threatened California red-
legged frog, that is likely to occur incidental to the removal of
vegetation along two natural gas pipelines that traverse Santa Cruz and
Monterey Counties, California. We invite comments from the public on
the application packages, which include two low-effect habitat
conservation plans.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
July 6, 2018.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: You may download copies of the habitat
conservation plans, draft environmental action statements, low-effect
screening forms, and related documents on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you may request copies by U.S. mail to our
Ventura office (below) or by phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
Submitting Comments: 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 alternatively may 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 two applications from
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for two 20-year incidental take
permits (ITPs) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applications address the potential
for ``take'' of the federally endangered Mount Hermon June beetle
(Polyphylla barbata) and Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma
macrodactylum croceum), and the federally threatened California red-
legged frog (Rana draytonii) likely to occur incidental to the initial
removal and ongoing periodic management of vegetation that occurs over
and along two separate natural gas pipelines. The first proposed
habitat conservation plan (HCP), referred to in this document as the
Sandhills HCP, concerns the natural gas pipeline located along Graham
Hill Road, Santa Cruz County, California, and occurs within habitat for
the Mount Hermon June beetle. The second HCP, referred to as the North
Coast HCP, concerns a natural gas pipeline that traverses portions of
Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties and occurs within habitat of the Santa
Cruz long-toed salamander and California red-legged frog. We invite
comments from the public on the application packages, which include two
proposed low-effect HCPs. The proposed actions have been determined to
be eligible for categorical exclusions under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as amended.
Background
Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations prohibit the
take of fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened.
``Take'' is defined under the ESA 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 ESA, 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.
Applicant's Proposal
PG&E (hereafter, the applicant) has submitted two low-effect HCPs
in support of their applications for incidental take permits (ITPs) to
address take of the Mount Hermon June beetle, Santa Cruz long-toed
salamander, and the California red-legged frog. The Sandhills HCP
addresses take of the Mount Hermon June beetle that is likely to occur
as the result of direct impacts on up to 2.9 acres (ac) of habitat that
is occupied by the species. The North
[[Page 26304]]
Coast HCP addresses take that is likely to occur as the result of
direct impacts on up to 4.472 ac of Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
habitat and up to 6.997 ac of California red-legged frog habitat,
occupied by the species. Take for both HCPs would be associated with
the initial removal of vegetation and twenty years of periodic
vegetation management along two natural gas pipelines. The Sandhills
HCP is located in Santa Cruz County, while the North Coast HCP is
located in both Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. The applicant is
requesting permits for take of the Mount Hermon June beetle (Sandhills
HCP), and the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, and California red-
legged frog (North Coast HCP) that would result from ``covered
activities'' that are related to the removal of vegetation.
The applicant proposes to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to
the Mount Hermon June beetle associated with the covered activities by
fully implementing the Sandhills HCP. The following measures will be
implemented: (1) Vegetation management will take place outside of the
flight season (May 1 through August 31) of the Mount Hermon June
beetle; (2) a biological monitor will be present during all work
activities to identify appropriate access and work areas to minimize
impacts to sandhills habitat; (3) if any life stage of the Mount Hermon
June beetle is encountered during work activities, work will cease and
a Service-approved biologist will be notified and the individual(s)
will be relocated to suitable habitat not affected by work activities;
(4) all cut stumps will be left intact to reduce ground disturbance;
(5) all workers will participate in awareness training to inform them
about the Mount Hermon June beetle and associated conservation measures
to be followed; and (6) permanently protect habitat for the Mount
Hermon June beetle through the purchase of 2.9 ac of conservation
credits at the Zayante Sandhills Conservation Bank. The applicant will
fund up to $795,735 to ensure implementation of all minimization
measures, monitoring, and reporting requirements identified in the HCP.
The applicant proposes to avoid, minimize, and mitigate impacts to
the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander and California red-legged frog
associated with the covered activities by fully implementing the North
Coast HCP. The following measures will be implemented: (1) All workers
will participate in awareness training to inform them about the Santa
Cruz long-toed salamander and California red-legged frog and associated
conservation measures to be followed; (2) vegetation management
activities will take place between April 15 and September 15, to
minimize impacts to the species; (3) impacts to small mammal burrows
will be avoided to the maximum extent practicable; (4) a qualified
biologist will monitor all vegetation removal activities to ensure
compliance with required avoidance and minimization measures; (5) if a
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander or California red-legged frog is
encountered in an area to be impacted, work in that area will cease
until the animal moves from the area or a Service-approved biologist
captures and relocates the individual outside of the work area; (6)
permanently protect habitat for the Santa Cruz long-toed salamander
through the dedication of a 7.2-ac conservation easement at the Tucker
Property in Santa Cruz County; and (7) provide $342,432 to fund the
creation, management and monitoring of 1.75 ac of California red-legged
frog aquatic breeding habitat at Yellowbank Creek, near the town of
Davenport in Santa Cruz County. The applicant will fund up to
$1,424,432 to ensure implementation of all minimization measures,
monitoring, and reporting requirements identified in the HCP.
In each of the two proposed HCPs, the applicant considers two
alternatives to the proposed action: ``No Action'' and ``Original
Project.'' Under the ``No Action'' alternative, an ITP for the proposed
project would not be issued. The proposed conservation strategies would
not be provided to effect recovery actions for the impacted species.
The ``No Action'' alternative would not achieve vegetation management
guidelines for PG&E infrastructure and would not result in benefits for
the covered species; therefore, for each of the proposed HCPs, the
applicant has rejected the ``No Action'' alternative. Under each of the
two ``Original Project'' alternatives, the applicant would remove
considerably more habitat along the subject natural gas pipeline,
resulting in greater impacts to the covered species. Through
coordination with the Service, PG&E revised the projects in a way that
could still achieve desired vegetation management goals, while reducing
impacts to the covered species. Therefore, the applicant has also
rejected both of the ``Original Project'' alternatives.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made preliminary determinations that issuance of
both incidental take permits 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, nor that it will,
individually or cumulatively, have more than a negligible effect on the
Mount Hermon June beetle, Santa Cruz long-toed salamander, and
California red-legged frog. Therefore, in accordance with these
preliminary determinations, both permits qualify for a categorical
exclusion under NEPA.
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 the ESA, section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22) and NEPA (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Dated: May 25, 2018.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura,
California.
[FR Doc. 2018-12133 Filed 6-5-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P