Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Blue-Tailed Mole Skink, and Florida Scrub-Jay, Highlands County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 56471-56472 [2019-23015]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2019 / Notices Next Steps DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR We will evaluate the permit application, associated documents, and comments we receive to determine whether the permit application meets the requirements of the ESA, NEPA, and implementing regulations. If we determine all requirements are met, we will approve the HCP and issue the ITP under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA to Diamond Spring Wind, LLC for take of ABB in accordance with the terms of the HCP and specific terms and conditions of the authorizing permit. We will not make our final decision until after the end of the 30-day public comment period, and we will fully consider all comments we receive during the public comment period. Fish and Wildlife Service Public Availability of Comments Written comments we receive become part of the public record associated with this action. Requests for copies of comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Department of the Interior policies and procedures. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that the 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. 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 authority of section 10(c) of the ESA and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA (42 U.S.C 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Dated: October 10, 2019. Amy Lueders, Regional Director, Southwest Region. [FR Doc. 2019–23022 Filed 10–21–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Oct 21, 2019 Jkt 250001 [FWS–R4–ES–2019–N146; FXES11140400000–190–FF04EF2000] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Blue-Tailed Mole Skink, and Florida Scrub-Jay, Highlands County, FL; Categorical Exclusion Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment and information. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests an ITP to take the federally listed sand skink, blue-tailed mole skink, and Florida scrub-jay incidental to construction in Highlands County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the Service’s preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ‘‘low-effect,’’ categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. DATES: We must receive your written comments by November 21, 2019. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents by any of the following methods: • Telephone: Heather Hitt, 772–469– 4267. • Email: heather_hitt@fws.gov. • U.S. mail: Heather Hitt, South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, Attn: Permit number TE50012D–0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960–3559. • In person: The documents may be reviewed by appointment during normal business hours at the above address. Please call to make an appointment. • Fax: Heather Hitt, 772–562–4288, Attn.: Permit number TE50012D–0. Submitting Comments: If you wish to submit comments on any of the documents, you may do so in writing via the above email address, U.S. mail address, or fax number, or you may hand-deliver comments to the above address during regular business hours. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Hitt, by U.S. mail (see SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56471 ADDRESSES) or via phone at 772–469– 4267. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 8339 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce receipt of an application from Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and bluetailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus) (skinks) and Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) (scrub-jays) incidental to the construction of a commercial development (project) in Highlands County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP) and the Service’s preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ‘‘low-effect,’’ categorically excluded under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. Project Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC requests a 5-year ITP to take skinks and scrub-jays incidental to the conversion of approximately 1.51 acres of occupied skink and scrub-jay foraging and sheltering habitat for the construction of a commercial development located on a 151-acre parcel in Sections 10 and 15, Township 37 South, Range 29 East, Highlands County, Florida. The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skinks and scrub-jays by purchasing credits equivalent to 3.02 acres of skinkoccupied habitat from the Backbone Conservation Bank and to 3.02 acres of scrub-jay occupied habitat from the Tippen Bay Scrub-Jay Conservation Bank. The Service would require the applicant to purchase the credits prior to engaging in land clearing activities on the parcel. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made available to the public. While you may request that we withhold your personal E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1 56472 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2019 / Notices identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Our Preliminary Determination The Service has made a preliminary determination that the applicant’s project, including land clearing, construction of the commercial development, and the proposed mitigation measure, would individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on skinks, scrub-jays, and the environment. Therefore, we have preliminarily concluded that the ITP for this project would qualify for categorical exclusion and the HCP is low effect under our NEPA regulations at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A loweffect HCP is one that would result in (1) minor or negligible effects on federally listed, proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; (2) minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources; and (3) impacts that, when considered together with the impacts of other past, present, and reasonable foreseeable similarly situated projects, would not over time result in significant cumulative effects to environmental values or resources. Next Steps The Service will evaluate the application and the comments received to determine whether to issue the requested permit. We will also conduct an intra-Service consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA to evaluate the effects of the proposed take. After considering the above findings, we will determine whether the permit issuance criteria of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA have been met. If met, the Service will issue ITP number TE50012D–0 to Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC. Authority The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)) of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6. Roxanna Hinzman, Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office. [FR Doc. 2019–23015 Filed 10–21–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Oct 21, 2019 Jkt 250001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [201A2100DD/AAKC001030/ A0A501010.999900 253G; OMB Control Number 1076–0157] Agency Information Collection Activities; Grazing Permits Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) are proposing to renew an information collection. SUMMARY: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before December 23, 2019. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request (ICR) by mail to Mr. Jarvis Gust, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Mountain Region, 2021 4th Avenue North, Billings, Montana 59101; or by email jarvis.gust@ bia.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1076–0157 in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Mr. Jarvis Gust by email at jarvis.gust@bia.gov, or by telephone at 406–247–7946. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on new, proposed, revised, and continuing collections of information. This helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public’s reporting burden. It also helps the public understand our information collection requirements and provide the requested data in the desired format. We are soliciting comments on the proposed ICR that is described below. We are especially interested in public comment addressing the following issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to the proper functions of the BIA; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the BIA enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the BIA minimize the burden of this collection on the respondents, including through the use of information technology. Comments that you submit in response to this notice are a matter of DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 public record. We will include or summarize each comment in our request to OMB to approve this ICR. 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. Abstract: The ‘‘American Indian Agricultural Resource Management Act,’’ (AIARMA), 25 U.S.C. 3701 et seq., authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in participation with the beneficial owner of the land, to manage Indian agricultural lands in a manner consistent with identified Tribal goals and priorities for conservation, multiple use, sustained yield, and consistent with trust responsibilities. The regulations at 25 CFR 166, Grazing Permits; implement the AIARMA and include the specific information collection requirements. Submission of this information allows individuals or organizations to acquire or modify a grazing permit on Tribal land, individually-owned Indian land, or government land and to meet bonding requirements. Title of Collection: Grazing Permits. OMB Control Number: 1076–0157. Form Number: Form 5–5423— Performance Bond, Form 5–5514—Bid for Grazing Privileges, 5–5515 Grazing Permit, Form 5–5516— Grazing Permit for Organized Tribes, Form 5–5517— Free Grazing Permit, Form 5–5519— Cash Penal Bond, Form 5–5520—Power of Attorney, Form 5–5521—Certificate and Application for On-and-Off Grazing Permit, Form 5522—Modification of Grazing Permit, Form 5–5523— Assignment of Grazing Permit, Form 5– 5524—Application for Allocation of Grazing Privileges, 5–5525 Authority to Grant Grazing Privileges on Allotted Lands, Form 5–5528—Livestock Crossing Permit, and Form 5–5529— Removable Range Improvement Records. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. Respondents/Affected Public: Tribes, Tribal organizations, individual Indians, and non-Indian individuals and associations. Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 800. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 7,810. Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 20 minutes to E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56471-56472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23015]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2019-N146; FXES11140400000-190-FF04EF2000]


Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Blue-Tailed Mole Skink, 
and Florida Scrub-Jay, Highlands County, FL; Categorical Exclusion

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt 
of an application from Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC 
(applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered 
Species Act. The applicant requests an ITP to take the federally listed 
sand skink, blue-tailed mole skink, and Florida scrub-jay incidental to 
construction in Highlands County, Florida. We request public comment on 
the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat 
conservation plan (HCP), and the Service's preliminary determination 
that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded, 
under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this 
determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-
effect screening form, both of which are also available for public 
review.

DATES: We must receive your written comments by November 21, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents 
by any of the following methods:
     Telephone: Heather Hitt, 772-469-4267.
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. mail: Heather Hitt, South Florida Ecological Services 
Field Office, Attn: Permit number TE50012D-0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960-3559.
     In person: The documents may be reviewed by appointment 
during normal business hours at the above address. Please call to make 
an appointment.
     Fax: Heather Hitt, 772-562-4288, Attn.: Permit number 
TE50012D-0.
    Submitting Comments: If you wish to submit comments on any of the 
documents, you may do so in writing via the above email address, U.S. 
mail address, or fax number, or you may hand-deliver comments to the 
above address during regular business hours.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Hitt, by U.S. mail (see 
ADDRESSES) or via phone at 772-469-4267. Individuals who are hearing 
impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-
877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service, announce 
receipt of an application from Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC 
(applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The 
applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink 
(Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius 
lividus) (skinks) and Florida scrub-jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) 
(scrub-jays) incidental to the construction of a commercial development 
(project) in Highlands County, Florida. We request public comment on 
the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat 
conservation plan (HCP) and the Service's preliminary determination 
that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 
To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement 
and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for 
public review.

Project

    Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., LLC requests a 5-year ITP to take 
skinks and scrub-jays incidental to the conversion of approximately 
1.51 acres of occupied skink and scrub-jay foraging and sheltering 
habitat for the construction of a commercial development located on a 
151-acre parcel in Sections 10 and 15, Township 37 South, Range 29 
East, Highlands County, Florida. The applicant proposes to mitigate for 
take of the skinks and scrub-jays by purchasing credits equivalent to 
3.02 acres of skink-occupied habitat from the Backbone Conservation 
Bank and to 3.02 acres of scrub-jay occupied habitat from the Tippen 
Bay Scrub-Jay Conservation Bank. The Service would require the 
applicant to purchase the credits prior to engaging in land clearing 
activities on the parcel.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that 
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made available to the public. While you may request that we 
withhold your personal

[[Page 56472]]

identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do 
so.

Our Preliminary Determination

    The Service has made a preliminary determination that the 
applicant's project, including land clearing, construction of the 
commercial development, and the proposed mitigation measure, would 
individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on 
skinks, scrub-jays, and the environment. Therefore, we have 
preliminarily concluded that the ITP for this project would qualify for 
categorical exclusion and the HCP is low effect under our NEPA 
regulations at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A low-effect HCP is one that 
would result in (1) minor or negligible effects on federally listed, 
proposed, and candidate species and their habitats; (2) minor or 
negligible effects on other environmental values or resources; and (3) 
impacts that, when considered together with the impacts of other past, 
present, and reasonable foreseeable similarly situated projects, would 
not over time result in significant cumulative effects to environmental 
values or resources.

Next Steps

    The Service will evaluate the application and the comments received 
to determine whether to issue the requested permit. We will also 
conduct an intra-Service consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA 
to evaluate the effects of the proposed take. After considering the 
above findings, we will determine whether the permit issuance criteria 
of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA have been met. If met, the Service 
will issue ITP number TE50012D-0 to Palmetto Lake Placid-Lakes Blvd., 
LLC.

Authority

    The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 
1539(c)) of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6.

Roxanna Hinzman,
Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office.
[FR Doc. 2019-23015 Filed 10-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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