Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision on the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District Habitat Conservation Plan for Two Salamander Species in Travis and Hays Counties, Texas, 33249-33250 [2018-15222]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Notices information collection Form I–600A Supplement 2 is 1,260 and the estimated hour burden per response is 0.25 hours; the estimated total number of respondents for the Home Study information collection is 2,500 and the estimated hour burden per response is 25 hours; the estimated total number of respondents for the Biometrics information collection is 2,520 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.17 hours; the estimated total number of respondents for the Biometrics—DNA information collection is 2 and the estimated hour burden per response is 6 hours. (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection is 35,451 hours. (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 $110,871,772. Dated: July 3, 2018. Samantha L. Deshommes, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2018–15214 Filed 7–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9111–97–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2016–0141; FXES11140200000–189–FF02ENEH00] Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision on the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District Habitat Conservation Plan for Two Salamander Species in Travis and Hays Counties, Texas Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the National Environmental Policy Act, make available the final environmental impact statement and draft record of decision analyzing the impacts of issuance of an incidental take permit for implementation of the Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Our decision is to issue a 20-year incidental take permit for implementation of the BSEACD HCP, daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Jul 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 which authorizes incidental take of two listed salamanders under the Endangered Species Act. DATES: We will finalize the record of decision and issue a permit no sooner than August 13, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the documents in the following formats: • Electronic: Æ https://www.regulations.gov, in Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2016–0141. Æ https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ AustinTexas. Æ CD–ROM: Contact Mr. Adam Zerrenner (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Æ Telephone: 512–490–0057. • Hard copy: You may review the documents at the following locations (by appointment only): Æ Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. Call (202) 208– 5815. Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Call (505) 248–6920. Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758. Call (512) 490–0057. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, by phone at 512–490–0057, via fax at 512– 490–0974, or by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of several documents related to an incidental take permit (ITP) application under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The final environmental impact statement (EIS) and draft record of decision (ROD) were developed in compliance with the agency decisionmaking requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and are based on the habitat conservation plan (HCP) as submitted by the Barton Springs/ Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD, or applicants). We described all four alternatives in detail, which were fully evaluated and analyzed in our 2018 final EIS. The draft ROD documents the rationale for our decision. Our proposed action is to issue an ITP to the applicants under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA that authorizes incidental take of the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and Austin blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis) during management of the Barton Springs segment of the PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 33249 Edwards Aquifer. The aquifer is the primary water supply for more than 70,000 people in the region and the source water for the Barton Springs complex. The applicants requested a term of 20 years from the date of issuance. The applicants will fully implement minimization and mitigation measures to offset impacts to the covered species according to their HCP. The minimization measures include: Providing the most efficient use of groundwater, controlling and preventing waste of groundwater, addressing conjunctive surface water management issues, addressing natural resource management issues, addressing drought conditions, addressing demand reduction through conservation, addressing supply through structural enhancement, and quantitatively addressing established desired future conditions. The mitigation measures include a commitment to: • Support the operations of an existing refugium through in-kind, contracted support, cash provision, or other appropriate means; • conduct a feasibility study of dissolved oxygen augmentation and, if warranted, implement a pilot project at Main Spring at Barton Springs; • maintain and operate the Antioch Recharge Enhancement Facility for the permit term; • establish a new reserve fund for closing abandoned wells to eliminate high-risk abandoned wells as potential conduits for contaminants from the surface or adjacent formations into the aquifer, with priority given to problematic wells close to the Barton Springs outlets or those associated with water chemistry concerns under severe drought conditions; and • provide leadership and technical assistance to other government entities, organizations, and individuals when prospective land-use and groundwater management activities in those entities’ purview will, in the District’s assessment, significantly affect the quantity or quality of groundwater in the Aquifer. In addition to this notice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice announcing the EIS on July 13, 2018, as required under the Clean Air Act, section 309 (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; see EPA’s Role in the EIS Process below). Background The applicants have applied for an ITP (TE10607C–0) under the ESA that would authorize incidental take of two covered species and would be in effect for a period of 20 years. The proposed E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1 daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES 33250 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 137 / Tuesday, July 17, 2018 / Notices incidental take of the covered species would occur from lawful, non-Federal activities from groundwater withdrawals from registered wells (nonexempt) in the Edwards Aquifer that are authorized and regulated under the BSEACD’s permitting program and activities necessary to manage potential habitat for the covered species within the permit area (covered activities). The BSEACD HCP Plan Area includes Hays and Travis Counties, Texas. The final EIS considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of implementing the HCP, including the measures that will be implemented to minimize and mitigate such impacts to the maximum extent practicable. Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations in title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit ‘‘take’’ of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. The ESA defines ‘‘take’’ as ‘‘to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect listed animal species, or attempt to engage in such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1533). The term ‘‘harm’’ is defined in the regulations as significant habitat modification or degradation that results in death or injury to listed species by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). However, we may, under specified circumstances, issue permits that allow the take of federally listed species, provided that the take is incidental to, but not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing ITPs for endangered and threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. On July 18, 2017, we issued a draft EIS and requested public comment on our evaluation of the potential impacts associated with issuance of an ITP for implementation of the BSEACD HCP and to evaluate alternatives (82 FR 32861). We held a public meeting in Austin, Texas, August 22, 2017. The public comment period closed on September 18, 2017. We identified key issues and relevant factors through public scoping and meetings, working with other agencies and groups, and reviewing comments from the public. We received responses from one local government agency and two nongovernmental agencies. We believe these comments are addressed and reasonably accommodated in the final documents, and we have included the public’s comments and our responses in Appendix A5–1 of the final EIS. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Jul 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 Decision We intend to issue an ITP allowing the applicants to implement the BSEACD HCP. Our decision is based on a thorough review of the alternatives and their environmental consequences. Implementing this decision entails issuing an ITP to BSEACD and full implementation of the HCP by the applicants, including minimization and mitigation measures, monitoring and adaptive management, and complying with all terms and conditions in the ITP. A final ITP decision will be made no sooner than 30 days after the publication of this notice of availability and completion of the record of decision. EPA’s Role in the EIS Process In addition, EPA published a notice on July 13, 2018, in the Federal Register announcing the EIS for the April 2018 Habitat Conservation Plan for Managed Groundwater Withdrawals from the Barton Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer, as required under the Clean Air Act, section 309. The EPA’s publication date of the notice of availability is the official beginning of the public review period. The EPA is charged with reviewing all Federal agencies’ EISs and commenting on the adequacy and acceptability of the environmental impacts of proposed actions in EISs. The EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs, which Federal agencies prepare. All EISs must be filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal Register. For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/nepa. You may search for EPA comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https:// cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/ action/eis/search. Authority: We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Amy L. Lueders Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2018–15222 Filed 7–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 731–TA–739 (Fourth Review)] Clad Steel Plate From Japan; Scheduling of a Full Five-Year Review United States International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of a full review pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the Act’’) to determine whether revocation of the antidumping duty order on clad steel plate from Japan would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. The Commission has determined to exercise its authority to extend the review period by up to 90 days. SUMMARY: DATES: July 10, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew Dushkes ((202) 205–3229), Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202–205–1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202–205–2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server (https:// www.usitc.gov). The public record for this review may be viewed on the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background.—On Monday April 9, 2018, the Commission determined that circumstances related to the subject five-year review were such that a full review should proceed (83 FR 17446, April 19, 2018); accordingly, a full review is being scheduled pursuant to section 751(c)(5) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)(5)). A record of the Commissioners’ votes, the Commission’s statement on adequacy, and any individual Commissioner’s statements are available from the Office of the Secretary and at the Commission’s website. Participation in the review and public service list.—Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer organizations, wishing to participate in this review as parties E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1

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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33249-33250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15222]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2016-0141; FXES11140200000-189-FF02ENEH00]


Final Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Record of Decision 
on the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District Habitat 
Conservation Plan for Two Salamander Species in Travis and Hays 
Counties, Texas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under the National 
Environmental Policy Act, make available the final environmental impact 
statement and draft record of decision analyzing the impacts of 
issuance of an incidental take permit for implementation of the Barton 
Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) Habitat 
Conservation Plan (HCP). Our decision is to issue a 20-year incidental 
take permit for implementation of the BSEACD HCP, which authorizes 
incidental take of two listed salamanders under the Endangered Species 
Act.

DATES: We will finalize the record of decision and issue a permit no 
sooner than August 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the documents in the following 
formats:
     Electronic:
    [cir] https://www.regulations.gov, in Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2016-
0141.
    [cir] https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas.
    [cir] CD-ROM: Contact Mr. Adam Zerrenner (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT).
    [cir] Telephone: 512-490-0057.
     Hard copy: You may review the documents at the following 
locations (by appointment only):
    [cir] Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. Call (202) 208-5815.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW, Room 
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Call (505) 248-6920.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road Suite 200, 
Austin, TX 78758. Call (512) 490-0057.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, 
by phone at 512-490-0057, via fax at 512-490-0974, or by U.S. mail at 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, 
TX 78758.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announce the availability of several documents related to an 
incidental take permit (ITP) application under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The final 
environmental impact statement (EIS) and draft record of decision (ROD) 
were developed in compliance with the agency decision-making 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), and are based on the habitat conservation plan (HCP) as 
submitted by the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District 
(BSEACD, or applicants). We described all four alternatives in detail, 
which were fully evaluated and analyzed in our 2018 final EIS. The 
draft ROD documents the rationale for our decision.
    Our proposed action is to issue an ITP to the applicants under 
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA that authorizes incidental take of the 
Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and Austin blind salamander 
(Eurycea waterlooensis) during management of the Barton Springs segment 
of the Edwards Aquifer. The aquifer is the primary water supply for 
more than 70,000 people in the region and the source water for the 
Barton Springs complex. The applicants requested a term of 20 years 
from the date of issuance. The applicants will fully implement 
minimization and mitigation measures to offset impacts to the covered 
species according to their HCP.
    The minimization measures include: Providing the most efficient use 
of groundwater, controlling and preventing waste of groundwater, 
addressing conjunctive surface water management issues, addressing 
natural resource management issues, addressing drought conditions, 
addressing demand reduction through conservation, addressing supply 
through structural enhancement, and quantitatively addressing 
established desired future conditions.
    The mitigation measures include a commitment to:
     Support the operations of an existing refugium through in-
kind, contracted support, cash provision, or other appropriate means;
     conduct a feasibility study of dissolved oxygen 
augmentation and, if warranted, implement a pilot project at Main 
Spring at Barton Springs;
     maintain and operate the Antioch Recharge Enhancement 
Facility for the permit term;
     establish a new reserve fund for closing abandoned wells 
to eliminate high-risk abandoned wells as potential conduits for 
contaminants from the surface or adjacent formations into the aquifer, 
with priority given to problematic wells close to the Barton Springs 
outlets or those associated with water chemistry concerns under severe 
drought conditions; and
     provide leadership and technical assistance to other 
government entities, organizations, and individuals when prospective 
land-use and groundwater management activities in those entities' 
purview will, in the District's assessment, significantly affect the 
quantity or quality of groundwater in the Aquifer.
    In addition to this notice, the Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) published a notice announcing the EIS on July 13, 2018, as 
required under the Clean Air Act, section 309 (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; 
see EPA's Role in the EIS Process below).

Background

    The applicants have applied for an ITP (TE10607C-0) under the ESA 
that would authorize incidental take of two covered species and would 
be in effect for a period of 20 years. The proposed

[[Page 33250]]

incidental take of the covered species would occur from lawful, non-
Federal activities from groundwater withdrawals from registered wells 
(non-exempt) in the Edwards Aquifer that are authorized and regulated 
under the BSEACD's permitting program and activities necessary to 
manage potential habitat for the covered species within the permit area 
(covered activities). The BSEACD HCP Plan Area includes Hays and Travis 
Counties, Texas. The final EIS considers the direct, indirect, and 
cumulative effects of implementing the HCP, including the measures that 
will be implemented to minimize and mitigate such impacts to the 
maximum extent practicable.
    Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations in title 50 
of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit ``take'' of fish and 
wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. The 
ESA defines ``take'' as ``to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, 
kill, trap, capture, or collect listed animal species, or attempt to 
engage in such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1533). The term ``harm'' is defined 
in the regulations as significant habitat modification or degradation 
that results in death or injury to listed species by significantly 
impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding, 
or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). However, we may, under specified 
circumstances, issue permits that allow the take of federally listed 
species, provided that the take is incidental to, but not the purpose 
of, otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing ITPs for 
endangered and threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, 
respectively.
    On July 18, 2017, we issued a draft EIS and requested public 
comment on our evaluation of the potential impacts associated with 
issuance of an ITP for implementation of the BSEACD HCP and to evaluate 
alternatives (82 FR 32861). We held a public meeting in Austin, Texas, 
August 22, 2017. The public comment period closed on September 18, 
2017.
    We identified key issues and relevant factors through public 
scoping and meetings, working with other agencies and groups, and 
reviewing comments from the public. We received responses from one 
local government agency and two nongovernmental agencies. We believe 
these comments are addressed and reasonably accommodated in the final 
documents, and we have included the public's comments and our responses 
in Appendix A5-1 of the final EIS.

Decision

    We intend to issue an ITP allowing the applicants to implement the 
BSEACD HCP. Our decision is based on a thorough review of the 
alternatives and their environmental consequences. Implementing this 
decision entails issuing an ITP to BSEACD and full implementation of 
the HCP by the applicants, including minimization and mitigation 
measures, monitoring and adaptive management, and complying with all 
terms and conditions in the ITP.
    A final ITP decision will be made no sooner than 30 days after the 
publication of this notice of availability and completion of the record 
of decision.

EPA's Role in the EIS Process

    In addition, EPA published a notice on July 13, 2018, in the 
Federal Register announcing the EIS for the April 2018 Habitat 
Conservation Plan for Managed Groundwater Withdrawals from the Barton 
Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer, as required under the Clean Air 
Act, section 309. The EPA's publication date of the notice of 
availability is the official beginning of the public review period. The 
EPA is charged with reviewing all Federal agencies' EISs and commenting 
on the adequacy and acceptability of the environmental impacts of 
proposed actions in EISs.
    The EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs, 
which Federal agencies prepare. All EISs must be filed with EPA, which 
publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal Register. 
For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/nepa. You may search for 
EPA comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search.
    Authority: We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA 
(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 
and 17.32) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Amy L. Lueders
Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2018-15222 Filed 7-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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