Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Blue-Tailed Mole Skink, Eastern Indigo Snake, and Gopher Tortoise; Polk County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 60105-60106 [2019-24341]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 216 / Thursday, November 7, 2019 / Notices stakeholder feels strongly that DHS make a change, but that does not contain specific information on how the proposed change would streamline the process or reduce burdens, is much less useful to DHS. DHS is looking for new information or new economic (i.e., cost) data to support any proposed changes. DHS will review all submissions to determine the viability of specific proposals to meet the objective of streamlining the application process in accordance with the REAL ID Act and implementing regulations. DHS may contact individual submitters for more information. DHS reserves the right to use and share the information submitted with other federal agencies for purposes related to administering the REAL ID Act and implementing regulations. III. Lists of Questions for Commenters We provide the below list of nonexhaustive questions to assist in the formulation of comments. However, we do not intend for the list to restrict the issues that commenters may address. 1. What capabilities or technologies are available to allow applicants for REAL ID-compliant credentials to submit digitally, or have digitally submitted on their behalf by a trusted third party, the required documents and information to state driver’s licensing agencies? 2. How would states use such capabilities or technologies to authenticate the validity of submitted documents and information? 3. How would states use such capabilities or technologies to verify an applicant’s identity from the documents and information submitted? 4. What would be the cost to a stakeholder to purchase, install, or implement these capabilities or technologies? 5. What is the technical readiness level of the potential capabilities or technologies, where have they already been deployed, for what purposes, and what are the performance results? 6. How would states use such capabilities or technologies to ensure that the information is submitted by the genuine applicant? 7. How would the capabilities or technologies protect against fraud or identity theft? 8. How would such capabilities or technologies protect the privacy of any submitted personally identifiable information? 9. What, if any, new risks may result from the use of these new capabilities or technologies and how can they be effectively be managed? VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Nov 06, 2019 Jkt 250001 10. What security standards should the described capabilities or technologies meet? 11. How would the capabilities or technologies be integrated into existing state application processes and systems? 12. How quickly could the capabilities or technologies be developed and deployed by the states? 13. How will the new capabilities or technologies increase the adoption rate of individuals obtaining REAL IDcompliant identification? The Department issues this notice solely for information and program planning purposes. Responses to this notice do not bind DHS to any further actions related to the response. Dated: November 1, 2019. Chad Wolf, Senior Official Performing the Duties of Under Secretary, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2019–24330 Filed 11–6–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–9M–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R4–ES–2019–N158; FXES11140400000–190–FF04EF2000] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Blue-Tailed Mole Skink, Eastern Indigo Snake, and Gopher Tortoise; Polk 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 Vulcan Industries, Florida Rock Division, doing business as Florida Rock Industries, 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, blue-tailed mole skink, and eastern indigo snake and also the gopher tortoise, which is a candidate for Federal listing, incidental to land clearing and excavation of sand 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, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 60105 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 December 9, 2019. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents by any of the following methods: • Telephone: Elizabeth Landrum, 772–469–4304. • Email: Elizabeth_landrum@fws.gov. • U.S. mail: Elizabeth Landrum, South Florida Ecological Services Field Office, Attn. Vulcan Industries Permit TE16399D–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: Elizabeth Landrum, 772–562– 4288, Attn.: Permit number ‘‘TE16399D–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: Elizabeth Landrum, by U.S. mail (see ADDRESSES) or via phone at 772–469– 4304. 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 Vulcan Industries, Florida Rock Division, doing business as Florida Rock Industries, 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), blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus), and eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), and also one candidate for Federal listing, the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) (covered species), incidental to land clearing and sand mining (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 E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM 07NON1 60106 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 216 / Thursday, November 7, 2019 / Notices environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review. Project The applicant requests a 20-year ITP to take the covered species incidental to the clearing of vegetation, grading, construction of berms and access roads, and the excavation and removal of sand within a 314.56-acre (ac) parcel in Sections 29, 30, and 32, Township 29S, Range 28E, Polk County, Florida. The applicant will take approximately 246.14 ac of occupied skink habitat, 250 ac of occupied indigo snake habitat, and 249.2 ac of occupied gopher tortoise habitat within the parcel. The project will be implemented in phases. Prior to each phase, skink and gopher tortoise surveys will be conducted along with permitting and relocation, when necessary, in accordance with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission guidelines. Gopher tortoise guidelines also will be implemented as applicable prior to each phase. The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits in a Service-approved conservation bank in the amounts specified by the Service. The applicant will mitigate for take of the Eastern indigo snake by contributing $180.00 to the Eastern Indigo Snake Fund (Fund) for each ac of habitat unoccupied by skinks as determined through surveys for the species. The snake also is expected to benefit from the applicant’s purchase of conservation bank credits for take of the skinks. The applicant would be required to purchase the required skink credits, contribute to the Fund, and implement gopher tortoise guidelines, as applicable, prior to engaging in any phase of the project. 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 berms and access roads, excavation and removal of sand, and the proposed mitigation measures, would individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the covered species and the environment. Therefore, we have preliminarily concluded that VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:55 Nov 06, 2019 Jkt 250001 the ITP for this project would qualify for categorical exclusion and the HCP would be 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 reasonably 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 TE16399D–0 to the applicant. 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. 2019–24341 Filed 11–6–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–HQ–MB–2019–N124; FF09M21200– 190–FXMB1231099BPP0; OMB Control Number 1018–0167] Agency Information Collection Activities; Eagle Take Permits and Fees Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we), are proposing to reinstate a previously approved information collection with revisions. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before January 6, 2020. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the information collection request by mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: JAO/1N PRB/ PERMA, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803 (mail); or by email to Info_Coll@fws.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1018– 0167 in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information about this ICR, contact Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_ Coll@fws.gov, or by telephone at (703) 358–2503. 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 information collection request (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 Service; (2) will this information be processed and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate; (4) how might the Service enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (5) how might the Service 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 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. DATES: E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM 07NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 216 (Thursday, November 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60105-60106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24341]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2019-N158; FXES11140400000-190-FF04EF2000]


Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Blue-Tailed Mole Skink, 
Eastern Indigo Snake, and Gopher Tortoise; Polk 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 Vulcan Industries, Florida Rock Division, doing 
business as Florida Rock Industries, 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, blue-tailed 
mole skink, and eastern indigo snake and also the gopher tortoise, 
which is a candidate for Federal listing, incidental to land clearing 
and excavation of sand 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 low-
effect screening form, both of which are also available for public 
review.

DATES: We must receive your written comments by December 9, 2019.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents by any 
of the following methods:
     Telephone: Elizabeth Landrum, 772-469-4304.
     Email: [email protected].
     U.S. mail: Elizabeth Landrum, South Florida Ecological 
Services Field Office, Attn. Vulcan Industries Permit TE16399D-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: Elizabeth Landrum, 772-562-4288, Attn.: Permit number 
``TE16399D-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: Elizabeth Landrum, by U.S. mail (see 
ADDRESSES) or via phone at 772-469-4304. 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 Vulcan Industries, Florida Rock 
Division, doing business as Florida Rock Industries, 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), 
blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus), and eastern indigo 
snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), and also one candidate for Federal 
listing, the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) (covered species), 
incidental to land clearing and sand mining (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

[[Page 60106]]

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

Project

    The applicant requests a 20-year ITP to take the covered species 
incidental to the clearing of vegetation, grading, construction of 
berms and access roads, and the excavation and removal of sand within a 
314.56-acre (ac) parcel in Sections 29, 30, and 32, Township 29S, Range 
28E, Polk County, Florida. The applicant will take approximately 246.14 
ac of occupied skink habitat, 250 ac of occupied indigo snake habitat, 
and 249.2 ac of occupied gopher tortoise habitat within the parcel. The 
project will be implemented in phases.
    Prior to each phase, skink and gopher tortoise surveys will be 
conducted along with permitting and relocation, when necessary, in 
accordance with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 
guidelines. Gopher tortoise guidelines also will be implemented as 
applicable prior to each phase. The applicant proposes to mitigate for 
take of the skinks by purchasing credits in a Service-approved 
conservation bank in the amounts specified by the Service. The 
applicant will mitigate for take of the Eastern indigo snake by 
contributing $180.00 to the Eastern Indigo Snake Fund (Fund) for each 
ac of habitat unoccupied by skinks as determined through surveys for 
the species. The snake also is expected to benefit from the applicant's 
purchase of conservation bank credits for take of the skinks. The 
applicant would be required to purchase the required skink credits, 
contribute to the Fund, and implement gopher tortoise guidelines, as 
applicable, prior to engaging in any phase of the project.

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 berms and 
access roads, excavation and removal of sand, and the proposed 
mitigation measures, would individually and cumulatively have a minor 
or negligible effect on the covered species and the environment. 
Therefore, we have preliminarily concluded that the ITP for this 
project would qualify for categorical exclusion and the HCP would be 
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 reasonably 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 TE16399D-0 to the applicant.

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. 2019-24341 Filed 11-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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