Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink and Blue-Tailed Mole Skink; Polk County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 56468-56469 [2019-23016]

Download as PDF 56468 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2019 / Notices approved by OMB under this information collection (OMB Control No. 1018–0093) into OMB Control No. 1018–0092, ‘‘Federal Fish and Wildlife Applications and Reports—Law Enforcement; 50 CFR 13 and 14’’: • FWS Form 3–200–44, ‘‘Permit Application Form: Registration of an Agent/Tannery under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA),’’ and • FWS Form 3–200–44a, ‘‘Registered Agent/Tannery Bi-Annual Inventory Report.’’ The Service’s Office of Law Enforcement in the Alaska Region uses the information collected on FWS Form 3–200–44 to register qualified agents and tanneries for polar bear (Ursus maritimus), walrus (Odobenus rosmarus), and northern sea otter (Enhydra lutris kenyoni) under the MMPA. This registration facilitates the transfer of marine mammal specimens taken by Alaska Natives for the purposes of subsistence or creation of authentic Native handicraft articles and clothing. As such, it is more appropriate that these forms be transferred to, and approved by OMB under, OMB Control No. 1018–0092, ‘‘Federal Fish and Wildlife Applications and Reports— Law Enforcement; 50 CFR 13 and 14.’’ Biannually (twice a year) on or before the 10th day of January and July, we require that the permittee submit to us FWS Form 3–200–44a, containing detailed activities of each registered agent or registered tannery for each transaction related to Polar bear, walrus, and northern sea otter. If no transactions occurred, the permittee must submit a negative report. The associated estimated annual burden of Forms 3– 200–44/44a is 45 responses and 42 burden hours. If OMB approves this revision request, we will revise OMB Control No. 1018–0092 to add those two forms to avoid duplication of burden. International Reporting Requirements Additionally, with this submission, we will submit to OMB for approval the information collection requirements associated with international reporting requirements specified in 50 CFR 13.21(5), 50 CFR 17.22(b)(v), 50 CFR 17.31(b)(v), 50 CFR 18.30(c)(2), 50 CFR 23.6, and 50 CFR 23.33(b). These reporting requirements are associated with the findings we must make under the various laws, treaties, and regulations administered by the Service. This may include consultation on sustainable use, population data, management practices, and verification of information received from other sources. The Service does not provide a form for this collection; rather, we request specific information based on VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Oct 21, 2019 Jkt 250001 the most current data we hold, in order to enable us to update or clarify that data. We estimate the annual burden associated with the international reporting requirements to be 24 responses and 192 burden hours. There is no nonhour burden cost associated with the international reporting requirements. ePermits Initiative The Service’s new ‘‘ePermits’’ initiative is an automated permit application system that will allow the agency to move towards a streamlined permitting process to reduce public burden. Public burden reduction is a priority for the Service; the Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; and senior leadership at the Department of the Interior. The intent of the ePermits initiative is to fully automate the permitting process to improve the customer experience and to reduce time burden on respondents. This new system will enhance the user experience by allowing users to enter data from any device that has internet access, including PCs, tablets, and smartphones. It will also link the permit applicant to the Pay.gov system for payment of the associated permit application fee. We anticipate including the following Service forms in the ePermits initiative: 3–200–19 through 3–200–37, 3–200–39 through 3–200–43, 3–200–46 through 3– 200–53, 3–200–58, 3–200–61, 3–200–64 through 3–200–66, 3–200–69, 3–200–70, 3–200–73 through 3–200–76, 3–200–80, and 3–200–85 through 3–200–88. Title of Collection: Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit Applications and Reports—Management Authority; 50 CFR 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23. OMB Control Number: 1018–0093. Form Numbers: FWS Forms 3–200–19 through 3–200–37, 3–200–39 through 3– 200–43, 3–200–46 through 3–200–53, 3– 200–58, 3–200–61, 3–200–64 through 3– 200–66, 3–200–69, 3–200–70, 3–200–73 through 3–200–76, 3–200–80, and 3– 200–85 through 3–200–88. Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection. Description of Respondents/Affected Public: Individuals; biomedical companies; circuses; zoological parks; botanical gardens; nurseries; museums; universities; antique dealers; exotic pet industry; hunters; taxidermists; commercial importers/exporters of wildlife and plants; freight forwarders/ brokers; and State, tribal, local, and Federal governments. Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 6,315. Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 8,224. PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 15 minutes to 43.5 hours, depending on activity. Estimated Annual Burden Hours: 6,833. Respondent’s Obligation: Required to obtain or retain a benefit. Frequency of Collection: On occasion or annually, depending on activity. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: $552,336 for costs associated with application processing fees, which range from $0 to $250. There is no fee for reports. Federal, tribal, State, and local government agencies and those acting on their behalf are exempt from processing fees. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The authority for this action is the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Dated: October 17, 2019. Madonna L. Baucum, Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2019–22964 Filed 10–21–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2019–N145; FXES11140400000–178–FF04EF2000] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink and Blue-Tailed Mole Skink; Polk County, FL; Categorical Exclusion Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments and information. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Sunbeam Properties, Inc. (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to construction in Polk 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 SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2019 / Notices low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before November 21, 2019. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents by any of the following methods: • Telephone: Alfredo Begazo, 772– 469–4234. • Email: alfredo_begazo@fws.gov. • U.S. mail: Alfredo Begazo, South Florida Ecological Services Office, Attn. Sunbeam Properties, Inc. Permit TE48273D–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 regular business hours at the above address. Please call to make an appointment. • Fax: Alfredo Begazo, 772–562– 4288, Attn: Permit number TE48273D– 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: Alfredo Begazo, by U.S. mail (see ADDRESSES) or via phone at 772–469– 4234. 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 Sunbeam Properties, Inc. (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 egregious) (skinks) incidental to the construction of a residential development project in Polk 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 Sunbeam Properties, Inc. requests a 5year ITP to take skinks incidental to the VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:02 Oct 21, 2019 Jkt 250001 conversion of approximately 6.78 acres of occupied skink foraging and sheltering habitat for the construction of a residential development located on a 150-acre parcel in Section 13, Township 25 South, Range 26 East, Polk County, Florida. The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits equivalent to 13.56 acres of skink-occupied habitat from a Service-approved mitigation bank in Polk County. 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 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 residential development, and the proposed mitigation measure, would individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the skinks 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 TE48273D–0 to PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56469 Sunbeam Properties, Inc. for incidental take of skinks. 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, Southeast Region. [FR Doc. 2019–23016 Filed 10–21–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R2–ES–2019–N137; FXES11140200000–201–FF02ENEH00] Draft Environmental Assessment for an Application for an Incidental Take Permit; Diamond Spring Wind Project Habitat Conservation Plan for the Endangered American Burying Beetle in Pontotoc and Johnston Counties, Oklahoma Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an application from Diamond Spring Wind, LLC for an ITP pursuant to the Endangered Species Act. The application includes habitat conservation plan (HCP) for the American burying beetle (ABB) in Pontotoc and Johnston Counties, Oklahoma. The HCP and associated incidental take permit (ITP) would authorize incidental take resulting from activities covered by the HCP (e.g., construction, infrastructure, maintenance and habitat restoration). We also announce the availability of a draft environmental assessment (dEA) that has been prepared to evaluate the ITP application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We are making the permit application package, including the HCP and dEA, available for public review and comment. DATES: Submission of Comments: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before November 21, 2019. ADDRESSES: Obtaining documents: The documents this notice announces, as well as any comments and other materials that we receive, are available for public inspection by any of the following means. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22OCN1.SGM 22OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56468-56469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23016]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2019-N145; FXES11140400000-178-FF04EF2000]


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt 
of an application from Sunbeam Properties, Inc. (applicant) for an 
incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The 
applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink and 
blue-tailed mole skink incidental to construction in Polk 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

[[Page 56469]]

low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public 
review.

DATES: We must receive your written comments on or before November 21, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents 
by any of the following methods:
     Telephone: Alfredo Begazo, 772-469-4234.
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. mail: Alfredo Begazo, South Florida Ecological 
Services Office, Attn. Sunbeam Properties, Inc. Permit TE48273D-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 regular business hours at the above address. Please call to make 
an appointment.
     Fax: Alfredo Begazo, 772-562-4288, Attn: Permit number 
TE48273D-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: Alfredo Begazo, by U.S. mail (see 
ADDRESSES) or via phone at 772-469-4234. 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 Sunbeam Properties, Inc. (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 egregious) (skinks) incidental to the 
construction of a residential development project in Polk 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

    Sunbeam Properties, Inc. requests a 5-year ITP to take skinks 
incidental to the conversion of approximately 6.78 acres of occupied 
skink foraging and sheltering habitat for the construction of a 
residential development located on a 150-acre parcel in Section 13, 
Township 25 South, Range 26 East, Polk County, Florida. The applicant 
proposes to mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits 
equivalent to 13.56 acres of skink-occupied habitat from a Service-
approved mitigation bank in Polk County. 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 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 
residential development, and the proposed mitigation measure, would 
individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the 
skinks 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 TE48273D-0 to Sunbeam Properties, Inc. for 
incidental take of skinks.

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, Southeast 
Region.
[FR Doc. 2019-23016 Filed 10-21-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.