Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Habitat Conservation Plan; Availability of Environmental Assessment, 12319-12321 [2020-04224]
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 41 / Monday, March 2, 2020 / Notices
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) and EVerify. The IER Worker Hotline
provides language interpretation in
numerous languages.
To comply with the law, employers
must accept any document or
combination of documents from the
Lists of Acceptable Documents if the
documentation reasonably appears to be
genuine and to relate to the employee,
or an acceptable List A, List B, or List
C receipt as described in the Form I–9
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Employers may not terminate,
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Additional information about proper
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on the USCIS and E-Verify websites at
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Note Regarding Federal, State, and
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For Federal purposes, TPS
beneficiaries presenting an EAD
referenced in this Federal Register
Notice do not need to show any other
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Action, to prove that they qualify for
this extension. However, while Federal
Government agencies must follow the
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Government, state and local government
agencies establish their own rules and
guidelines when granting certain
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18:10 Feb 28, 2020
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benefits. Each state may have different
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have TPS or other immigration status.
Examples of such documents are:
• Your current EAD;
• A copy of your Form I–797C, Notice
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• A copy of your Form I–797C, Notice
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• Any other relevant DHS-issued
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have such status or authorization to
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Check with the government agency
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agencies use the USCIS Systematic
Alien Verification for Entitlements
(SAVE) program to confirm the current
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accept an unexpired EAD, I–797, or I–
94. You should:
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the relevant Federal Register notice
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documentation in addition to your
recent TPS-related document with your
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b. Explain that SAVE will be able to
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using this information; and
c. Ask the agency to initiate a SAVE
query with your information and follow
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You can also ask the agency to look
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they have any questions about your
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electronic response to benefit-granting
agencies within seconds, but,
occasionally, verification can be
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delayed. You can check the status of
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CaseCheck at save.uscis.gov/casecheck,
then by clicking the ‘‘Check Your Case’’
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Detailed information on how to make
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a written request to correct records
under the Freedom of Information Act
can be found on the SAVE website at
www.uscis.gov/save.
[FR Doc. 2020–04355 Filed 2–28–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2019–N162;
FRES48010811290 XXX]
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Receipt of Incidental Take Permit
Application and Habitat Conservation
Plan; Availability of Environmental
Assessment
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 the Pacific Gas and
Electric Company for a permit to
conduct activities with the potential to
take listed species that is incidental to,
and not the purpose of, carrying out
otherwise lawful activities. With some
exceptions, the Endangered Species Act
prohibits certain activities that may
impact listed species unless a Federal
permit allows such activity. We invite
comments on this application and the
accompanying Environmental
Assessment, which we will take into
consideration before issuing a permit.
DATES: We will accept comments
received or postmarked on or before
April 1, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: The
documents this notice announces, as
SUMMARY:
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 41 / Monday, March 2, 2020 / Notices
well as any comments and other
materials that we receive, will be
available for public inspection on the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Sacramento Field Office website at
https://www.fws.gov/sacramento. They
may also be viewed in person by
appointment at the Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office during regular business
hours by contacting the individuals in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Submitting Comments: Please submit
comments by one of the following
methods:
• Fax: (916) 414–6713.
• U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Eric
Tattersall, Assistant Field Supervisor;
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service;
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office;
2800 Cottage Way, W–2605;
Sacramento, CA 95825
We request that you submit comments
by only the methods described above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joshua Emery, Senior Biologist,
Conservation Planning Division; or Eric
Tattersall, Assistant Field Supervisor, at
the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office
address above or by telephone at (916)
414–6600. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf,
hard-of-hearing, or speech disabled,
please call the Federal Relay Service at
800–877–8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
have received an application for an
incidental take permit (ITP) under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
The application addresses the potential
for take of listed species that is likely to
occur incidental to the otherwise lawful
activities as described in the applicant’s
habitat conservation plan, titled the
Draft Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Multiple Region Operation and
Maintenance Habitat Conservation Plan
(draft HCP).
This notice also advises the public
that we have prepared a draft
environmental assessment (draft EA)
under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA;
42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and its
implementing regulations in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR
1506.6.
khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Background
Section 9 of the ESA prohibits take of
fish and wildlife species listed as
endangered (16 U.S.C. 1538). By
regulation, this take prohibition also
applies to certain species listed as
threatened. (50 CFR 17.31(a)). Under
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA (16 U.S.C.
1539(a)(1)(B)), we may issue permits to
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authorize take of listed fish and wildlife
species that is incidental to, and not the
purpose of, carrying out an otherwise
lawful activity. Regulations governing
permits for listed wildlife species are set
forth in 50 CFR parts 17.22 and 17.32.
NEPA requires Federal agencies to
analyze their proposed actions to
determine whether the actions may
significantly affect the human
environment. In these NEPA analyses,
the Federal agency will identify direct,
indirect, and cumulative effects, as well
as possible mitigation for effects on
environmental resources that could
occur with implementation of the
proposed action and alternatives.
Proposed Action
The Service would issue an ITP to
PG&E for a period of 30 years for certain
covered activities (described below) in
34 counties in California. Annual
species effects as a result of PG&E’s
activities are estimated to be
approximately 100 acres (ac) of
permanent habitat loss and 465 ac of
temporary habitat disturbance. PG&E
has requested inclusion of 36 species for
coverage (covered species)—24 animals
and 12 plants, 35 of which are currently
listed as threatened or endangered
under the Act, with one non-listed
species also proposed for inclusion in
the HCP. Of these covered species, the
Service would, through issuance of the
ITP, authorize incidental take of the 24
animal species proposed for coverage.
Draft HCP Area
The geographic scope of the draft HCP
includes Amador, Butte, Calaveras,
Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn,
Humboldt, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Madera,
Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc,
Monterey, Nevada, Placer, Plumas,
Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis
Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz,
Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama,
Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo and
Yuba counties. The geographic scope of
the draft HCP also includes, for
mitigation purposes, an area known as
the integrated plan area, which
encompasses the geographic boundaries
of the applicant’s two existing HCPs in
the San Joaquin Valley and California
Bay Area.
Covered Activities
The proposed section 10 ITP may
allow take of wildlife covered species
resulting from covered activities in the
proposed HCP plan area. PG&E is
requesting incidental take authorization
for covered species that could be
affected by activities identified in the
draft HCP. The draft HCP covers all
PG&E O&M, minor new construction,
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and pipeline safety enhancement
program activities related to PG&E’s
natural gas and electric transmission
and distribution systems that may result
in take of covered species and that are
located in the draft HCP area. O&M
activities occur throughout PG&E’s
existing network of facilities and would
occur at or near the existing facilities.
Minor new construction activities
include installing new or replacement
structures to upgrade facilities or to
extend service to new customers. Minor
new construction, when in natural
vegetation or agricultural land-cover
types that contain suitable habitat for
covered species, is limited to
approximately 2 miles or fewer of new
electric or gas line extensions from an
existing line, a total of 1.0 ac or less of
new gas pressure limiting stations
within the study area, and 3 ac or less
per electric substation expansion. The
size of a minor new construction project
would be estimated as the total
footprint, expressed in ac. Additionally,
PG&E’s community pipeline safety
initiative involves upgrading key
existing gas transmission pipelines
located in heavily populated and other
critical areas. Covered activities include
inspection, field testing, and potentially
replacing many pipeline segments to
ensure reliable and safe delivery of gas
to customers. Pipeline replacements are
estimated to average between 4 miles
and 8 miles and are primarily in urban
areas, although there would also be
replacement activities in areas of natural
vegetation. In such areas, pipeline
replacement projects will take place in
areas that have been previously
disturbed by the construction of the
original pipeline.
The draft HCP area consists of PG&E’s
gas and electric transmission and
distribution facilities, rights-of-way,
buffer lands, areas owned by PG&E and/
or subject to PG&E easements, access
routes, and those areas acquired as
mitigation to offset the impacts resulting
from covered activities. The total draft
HCP area is approximately 564,781 ac;
of this area, 303,287 ac (53.7 percent)
are in natural land-cover types, 144,274
ac (25.5 percent) are in urban land-cover
types, and 117,682 ac (20.8 percent) are
in agricultural land-cover types.
The proposed section 10 ITP may
allow take of the following covered
wildlife species in California during the
course of patrols and inspections, power
pole replacements, reconductoring gas
pipeline segment replacement, gas valve
station replacement, and trimming of
vegetation near power lines. Proposed
incidental take (measured as habitat
loss) for wildlife species over the permit
term is shown in the table below.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 41 / Monday, March 2, 2020 / Notices
Species
12321
Proposed for incidental take (measured as habitat loss) over permit term
Animal Species
Blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) ...................
California tiger salamander Central California distinct
population segment (DPS) (Ambystoma
californiense).
California tiger salamander Santa Barbara DPS
(Ambystoma californiense).
California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) ...................
Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio) ..
Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) .......................
Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) .......................
Giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) .......................
Longhorn fairy shrimp (Branchinecta longiantenna) .....
Marbeled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) ........
Morro shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta
walkeriana).
Mount Hermon June beetle (Polyphylla barbata) .........
Mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) .............
Northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) .........
Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela ohlone) .........................
Point Arena mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa nigra) ..
San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) ..............
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander (Ambystoma
macrodactylum croceum).
Smith’s blue butterfly (Euphilotes enoptes smithi) ........
Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus
californicus dimorphus).
Vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi) .............
Vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi) .........
Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus) ...............................
Zayante band-winged grasshopper (Trimerotropis
infantilis).
70.94 ac, (13.28-ac permanent loss; 57.56-ac temporary disturbance).
Breeding habitat: 35.04 ac, (5.91-ac permanent loss; 29.13-ac temporary disturbance).
Upland habitat: 1,394.51 ac, (248.81-ac permanent loss; 1,148.71-ac temporary disturbance).
Breeding habitat: 0.16 ac, (0.02-ac permanent loss; 0.14-ac temporary disturbance).
Upland habitat: 88.78 ac, (11.77-ac permanent loss; 77.01-ac temporary disturbance).
Breeding habitat: 234.00 ac, (48.00-ac permanent loss; 186.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Upland habitat: 768.00 ac, (127.50-ac permanent loss; 640.52-ac temporary disturbance).
65.42 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss; 57.92-ac temporary disturbance).
Breeding habitat: 11.57 ac, (1.69-ac permanent loss; 9.88-ac temporary disturbance).
Dispersal habitat: 139.00 ac, (20.23-ac permanent loss; 118.76-ac temporary disturbance).
Aquatic habitat: 102.75 ac, (12.75-ac permanent loss; 90.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Upland habitat: 338.01 ac, (38.01-ac permanent loss; 300.00-ac temporary disturbance).
180.00 ac, (30.00-ac permanent loss; 150.00-ac temporary disturbance).
24.39 ac, (3.32-ac permanent loss; 21.06-ac temporary disturbance).
127.50 ac, (45.00-ac permanent loss; 82.50-ac temporary disturbance).
9.00 ac, (3.00-ac permanent loss; 6.00-ac temporary disturbance).
30 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss; 22.50-ac temporary disturbance).
3.60 ac, (0.60-ac permanent loss; 3.00-ac temporary disturbance).
825.00 ac, (165.00-ac permanent loss; 660.00-ac temporary disturbance).
30.00 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss; 22.50-ac temporary disturbance).
10.50 ac, (3.00-ac permanent loss; 7.50-ac temporary disturbance).
65.42 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss; 57.92-ac temporary disturbance).
High-value habitat: 105.00 ac, (15.00-ac permanent loss; 90.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Moderate value habitat: 170.55 ac, (29.06-ac permanent loss; 141.49-ac temporary disturbance).
Low-value habitat: 1216.86 ac, (213.86-ac permanent loss; 1002.99-ac temporary disturbance).
87.94 ac, (15.25-ac permanent loss; 72.69-ac temporary disturbance).
360.60 ac, (78.93-ac permanent loss; 281.67-ac temporary disturbance).
380.54 ac, (41.97-ac permanent loss; 338.57-ac temporary disturbance).
380.54 ac, (41.97-ac permanent loss; 338.57-ac temporary disturbance).
2.50 ac, (0.50-ac permanent loss; 2.00-ac temporary disturbance).
18.75 ac, (3.59-ac permanent loss; 15.15-ac temporary disturbance).
Species
Proposed for coverage (measured as habitat loss) over permit term
Plant Species
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Beach layia (Lavia carnosa) ..........................................
Ione manzanita (Arctostaphylos myrtifolia) ...................
Kern mallow (Eremalche parryi ssp. kernensis) ...........
Layne’s ragwort (Packera layneae) ..............................
Monterey gilia (Gilia tenuiflora ssp. arenaria) ...............
Monterey spineflower (Chorizanthe pungens var.
pungens).
Pine Hill ceanothus (Ceanothus roderickii) ...................
Pine Hill flannelbush (Fremontodendron decumbens) ..
Robust spineflower (Chorizanthe robusta var. robusta)
San Benito evening-primrose (Camissonia benitensis)
Stebbins’ morning-glory (Calystegia stebbinsii) ............
Yadon’s rein orchid (Piperia yadonii) ............................
0.32 ac or 143 plants, whichever total is met first.
12.25 ac or 64 plants, whichever total is met first.
10.5 ac or 1,226 plants, whichever total is met first.
2.86 ac or 103 plants, whichever total is met first.
6.6 ac or 6,266 plants, whichever total is met first.
46.6 ac or 4,376 plants, whichever total is met first.
3.67 ac or 33 plants, whichever total is met first.
1.19 ac or 2 plants, whichever total is met first.
1.3 ac or 3,765 plants, whichever total is met first.
0.37 ac or 1,888 plants, whichever total is met first.
0.37 ac or 1,888 plants, whichever total is met first.
2.1 ac or 64 plants, whichever total is met first.
Public Availability of Comments
Next Steps
Authority
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.
Issuance of an incidental take permit
is a Federal proposed action subject to
compliance with NEPA. We will
evaluate the application, associated
documents, and any public comments
we receive to determine whether the
application meets the requirements of
NEPA regulations and section 10(a) of
the Act. If we determine that those
requirements are met, we will issue a
permit to the applicant for the
incidental take of the Covered Species.
We issue this notice pursuant to
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 the National Environmental Policy
Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1506.6 and 43 CFR 46.305).
Jennifer Norris,
Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2020–04224 Filed 2–28–20; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 41 (Monday, March 2, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12319-12321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04224]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2019-N162; FRES48010811290 XXX]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of Incidental Take
Permit Application and Habitat Conservation Plan; Availability of
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an
application from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for a permit to
conduct activities with the potential to take listed species that is
incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out otherwise lawful
activities. With some exceptions, the Endangered Species Act prohibits
certain activities that may impact listed species unless a Federal
permit allows such activity. We invite comments on this application and
the accompanying Environmental Assessment, which we will take into
consideration before issuing a permit.
DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before
April 1, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: The documents this notice announces, as
[[Page 12320]]
well as any comments and other materials that we receive, will be
available for public inspection on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's
Sacramento Field Office website at https://www.fws.gov/sacramento. They
may also be viewed in person by appointment at the Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office during regular business hours by contacting the
individuals in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Submitting Comments: Please submit comments by one of the following
methods:
Fax: (916) 414-6713.
U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Eric Tattersall, Assistant
Field Supervisor; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Sacramento Fish and
Wildlife Office; 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605; Sacramento, CA 95825
We request that you submit comments by only the methods described
above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joshua Emery, Senior Biologist,
Conservation Planning Division; or Eric Tattersall, Assistant Field
Supervisor, at the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office address above or
by telephone at (916) 414-6600. If you use a telecommunications device
for the deaf, hard-of-hearing, or speech disabled, please call the
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit
(ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The application addresses the potential for take
of listed species that is likely to occur incidental to the otherwise
lawful activities as described in the applicant's habitat conservation
plan, titled the Draft Pacific Gas and Electric Company Multiple Region
Operation and Maintenance Habitat Conservation Plan (draft HCP).
This notice also advises the public that we have prepared a draft
environmental assessment (draft EA) under the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and its
implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40
CFR 1506.6.
Background
Section 9 of the ESA prohibits take of fish and wildlife species
listed as endangered (16 U.S.C. 1538). By regulation, this take
prohibition also applies to certain species listed as threatened. (50
CFR 17.31(a)). Under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA (16 U.S.C.
1539(a)(1)(B)), we may issue permits to authorize take of listed fish
and wildlife species that is incidental to, and not the purpose of,
carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing
permits for listed wildlife species are set forth in 50 CFR parts 17.22
and 17.32.
NEPA requires Federal agencies to analyze their proposed actions to
determine whether the actions may significantly affect the human
environment. In these NEPA analyses, the Federal agency will identify
direct, indirect, and cumulative effects, as well as possible
mitigation for effects on environmental resources that could occur with
implementation of the proposed action and alternatives.
Proposed Action
The Service would issue an ITP to PG&E for a period of 30 years for
certain covered activities (described below) in 34 counties in
California. Annual species effects as a result of PG&E's activities are
estimated to be approximately 100 acres (ac) of permanent habitat loss
and 465 ac of temporary habitat disturbance. PG&E has requested
inclusion of 36 species for coverage (covered species)--24 animals and
12 plants, 35 of which are currently listed as threatened or endangered
under the Act, with one non-listed species also proposed for inclusion
in the HCP. Of these covered species, the Service would, through
issuance of the ITP, authorize incidental take of the 24 animal species
proposed for coverage.
Draft HCP Area
The geographic scope of the draft HCP includes Amador, Butte,
Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Kern, Lake,
Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Modoc, Monterey, Nevada, Placer,
Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa
Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare,
Tuolumne, Yolo and Yuba counties. The geographic scope of the draft HCP
also includes, for mitigation purposes, an area known as the integrated
plan area, which encompasses the geographic boundaries of the
applicant's two existing HCPs in the San Joaquin Valley and California
Bay Area.
Covered Activities
The proposed section 10 ITP may allow take of wildlife covered
species resulting from covered activities in the proposed HCP plan
area. PG&E is requesting incidental take authorization for covered
species that could be affected by activities identified in the draft
HCP. The draft HCP covers all PG&E O&M, minor new construction, and
pipeline safety enhancement program activities related to PG&E's
natural gas and electric transmission and distribution systems that may
result in take of covered species and that are located in the draft HCP
area. O&M activities occur throughout PG&E's existing network of
facilities and would occur at or near the existing facilities. Minor
new construction activities include installing new or replacement
structures to upgrade facilities or to extend service to new customers.
Minor new construction, when in natural vegetation or agricultural
land-cover types that contain suitable habitat for covered species, is
limited to approximately 2 miles or fewer of new electric or gas line
extensions from an existing line, a total of 1.0 ac or less of new gas
pressure limiting stations within the study area, and 3 ac or less per
electric substation expansion. The size of a minor new construction
project would be estimated as the total footprint, expressed in ac.
Additionally, PG&E's community pipeline safety initiative involves
upgrading key existing gas transmission pipelines located in heavily
populated and other critical areas. Covered activities include
inspection, field testing, and potentially replacing many pipeline
segments to ensure reliable and safe delivery of gas to customers.
Pipeline replacements are estimated to average between 4 miles and 8
miles and are primarily in urban areas, although there would also be
replacement activities in areas of natural vegetation. In such areas,
pipeline replacement projects will take place in areas that have been
previously disturbed by the construction of the original pipeline.
The draft HCP area consists of PG&E's gas and electric transmission
and distribution facilities, rights-of-way, buffer lands, areas owned
by PG&E and/or subject to PG&E easements, access routes, and those
areas acquired as mitigation to offset the impacts resulting from
covered activities. The total draft HCP area is approximately 564,781
ac; of this area, 303,287 ac (53.7 percent) are in natural land-cover
types, 144,274 ac (25.5 percent) are in urban land-cover types, and
117,682 ac (20.8 percent) are in agricultural land-cover types.
The proposed section 10 ITP may allow take of the following covered
wildlife species in California during the course of patrols and
inspections, power pole replacements, reconductoring gas pipeline
segment replacement, gas valve station replacement, and trimming of
vegetation near power lines. Proposed incidental take (measured as
habitat loss) for wildlife species over the permit term is shown in the
table below.
[[Page 12321]]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed for incidental take
Species (measured as habitat loss) over
permit term
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Animal Species
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blunt-nosed leopard lizard 70.94 ac, (13.28-ac permanent loss;
(Gambelia sila). 57.56-ac temporary disturbance).
California tiger salamander Breeding habitat: 35.04 ac, (5.91-ac
Central California distinct permanent loss; 29.13-ac temporary
population segment (DPS) disturbance).
(Ambystoma californiense). Upland habitat: 1,394.51 ac, (248.81-
ac permanent loss; 1,148.71-ac
temporary disturbance).
California tiger salamander Santa Breeding habitat: 0.16 ac, (0.02-ac
Barbara DPS (Ambystoma permanent loss; 0.14-ac temporary
californiense). disturbance).
Upland habitat: 88.78 ac, (11.77-ac
permanent loss; 77.01-ac temporary
disturbance).
California red-legged frog (Rana Breeding habitat: 234.00 ac, (48.00-
draytonii). ac permanent loss; 186.00-ac
temporary disturbance).
Upland habitat: 768.00 ac, (127.50-
ac permanent loss; 640.52-ac
temporary disturbance).
Conservancy fairy shrimp 65.42 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss;
(Branchinecta conservatio). 57.92-ac temporary disturbance).
Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana Breeding habitat: 11.57 ac, (1.69-ac
boylii). permanent loss; 9.88-ac temporary
disturbance).
Dispersal habitat: 139.00 ac, (20.23-
ac permanent loss; 118.76-ac
temporary disturbance).
Giant garter snake (Thamnophis Aquatic habitat: 102.75 ac, (12.75-
gigas). ac permanent loss; 90.00-ac
temporary disturbance).
Upland habitat: 338.01 ac, (38.01-ac
permanent loss; 300.00-ac temporary
disturbance).
Giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys 180.00 ac, (30.00-ac permanent loss;
ingens). 150.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Longhorn fairy shrimp 24.39 ac, (3.32-ac permanent loss;
(Branchinecta longiantenna). 21.06-ac temporary disturbance).
Marbeled murrelet (Brachyramphus 127.50 ac, (45.00-ac permanent loss;
marmoratus). 82.50-ac temporary disturbance).
Morro shoulderband snail 9.00 ac, (3.00-ac permanent loss;
(Helminthoglypta walkeriana). 6.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Mount Hermon June beetle 30 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss;
(Polyphylla barbata). 22.50-ac temporary disturbance).
Mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana 3.60 ac, (0.60-ac permanent loss;
muscosa). 3.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Northern spotted owl (Strix 825.00 ac, (165.00-ac permanent
occidentalis caurina). loss; 660.00-ac temporary
disturbance).
Ohlone tiger beetle (Cicindela 30.00 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss;
ohlone). 22.50-ac temporary disturbance).
Point Arena mountain beaver 10.50 ac, (3.00-ac permanent loss;
(Aplodontia rufa nigra). 7.50-ac temporary disturbance).
San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes 65.42 ac, (7.50-ac permanent loss;
macrotis mutica). 57.92-ac temporary disturbance).
Santa Cruz long-toed salamander High-value habitat: 105.00 ac,
(Ambystoma macrodactylum croceum). (15.00-ac permanent loss; 90.00-ac
temporary disturbance).
Moderate value habitat: 170.55 ac,
(29.06-ac permanent loss; 141.49-ac
temporary disturbance).
Low-value habitat: 1216.86 ac,
(213.86-ac permanent loss; 1002.99-
ac temporary disturbance).
Smith's blue butterfly (Euphilotes 87.94 ac, (15.25-ac permanent loss;
enoptes smithi). 72.69-ac temporary disturbance).
Valley elderberry longhorn beetle 360.60 ac, (78.93-ac permanent loss;
(Desmocerus californicus 281.67-ac temporary disturbance).
dimorphus).
Vernal pool fairy shrimp 380.54 ac, (41.97-ac permanent loss;
(Branchinecta lynchi). 338.57-ac temporary disturbance).
Vernal pool tadpole shrimp 380.54 ac, (41.97-ac permanent loss;
(Lepidurus packardi). 338.57-ac temporary disturbance).
Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus).. 2.50 ac, (0.50-ac permanent loss;
2.00-ac temporary disturbance).
Zayante band-winged grasshopper 18.75 ac, (3.59-ac permanent loss;
(Trimerotropis infantilis). 15.15-ac temporary disturbance).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Proposed for coverage (measured as
habitat loss) over permit term
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plant Species
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beach layia (Lavia carnosa)....... 0.32 ac or 143 plants, whichever
total is met first.
Ione manzanita (Arctostaphylos 12.25 ac or 64 plants, whichever
myrtifolia). total is met first.
Kern mallow (Eremalche parryi ssp. 10.5 ac or 1,226 plants, whichever
kernensis). total is met first.
Layne's ragwort (Packera layneae). 2.86 ac or 103 plants, whichever
total is met first.
Monterey gilia (Gilia tenuiflora 6.6 ac or 6,266 plants, whichever
ssp. arenaria). total is met first.
Monterey spineflower (Chorizanthe 46.6 ac or 4,376 plants, whichever
pungens var. pungens). total is met first.
Pine Hill ceanothus (Ceanothus 3.67 ac or 33 plants, whichever
roderickii). total is met first.
Pine Hill flannelbush 1.19 ac or 2 plants, whichever total
(Fremontodendron decumbens). is met first.
Robust spineflower (Chorizanthe 1.3 ac or 3,765 plants, whichever
robusta var. robusta). total is met first.
San Benito evening-primrose 0.37 ac or 1,888 plants, whichever
(Camissonia benitensis). total is met first.
Stebbins' morning-glory 0.37 ac or 1,888 plants, whichever
(Calystegia stebbinsii). total is met first.
Yadon's rein orchid (Piperia 2.1 ac or 64 plants, whichever total
yadonii). is met first.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Availability of Comments
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.
Next Steps
Issuance of an incidental take permit is a Federal proposed action
subject to compliance with NEPA. We will evaluate the application,
associated documents, and any public comments we receive to determine
whether the application meets the requirements of NEPA regulations and
section 10(a) of the Act. If we determine that those requirements are
met, we will issue a permit to the applicant for the incidental take of
the Covered Species.
Authority
We issue this notice pursuant to 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 the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR
46.305).
Jennifer Norris,
Field Supervisor, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, Sacramento,
California.
[FR Doc. 2020-04224 Filed 2-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
