Joint Final Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report, Joint Final Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan; Placer County, California, 31203-31204 [2020-10401]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices FEMA Form 086–0–5, Flood Insurance Preferred Risk Policy and Newly Mapped Application. Abstract: In order to provide for the availability of policies for flood insurance, policies are marketed through the facilities of licensed insurance agents or brokers in the various States. Applications from agents or brokers are forwarded to a direct servicing agent designated as fiscal agent by the Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA), referred to as NFIP Direct. Upon receipt and examination of the application and required premium, the servicing company issues the appropriate Federal flood insurance policy. Affected Public: Individuals or households; State, local or Tribal Government; Business or other for profit; Not-for-profit institutions; and Farms. Estimated Number of Respondents: 409,781. Estimated Number of Responses: 409,781. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 62,196. Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost: $2,446,169. Estimated Respondents’ Operation and Maintenance Costs: $0. Estimated Respondents’ Capital and Start-Up Costs: $0. Estimated Total Annual Cost to the Federal Government: $9,356,398. Comments Comments may be submitted as indicated in the ADDRESSES caption above. Comments are solicited to (a) evaluate whether the proposed data collection is necessary for the proper performance of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) evaluate the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 May 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Maile Arthur, Acting Records Management Branch Chief, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, Mission Support, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2020–11046 Filed 5–21–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–11–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R8–ES–2020–N039; FF08ESMF00– FXES11140800000–201] Joint Final Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report, Joint Final Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan; Placer County, California Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the availability of a joint final environmental impact statement and final environmental impact report (final EIS/EIR) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as amended. We also announce the availability of a final Western Placer County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (Final Plan). The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are cooperating agencies on the final EIS/EIR. DATES: A record of decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after the publication of this notice of availability in the Federal Register. We must receive any written comments by 5 p.m. on June 22, 2020. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain electronic copies of the Final Plan and final EIS/EIR from the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office website at https://www.fws.gov/ sacramento. Please use the information in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below with questions on obtaining documents. Submitting Comments: Please address written comments to Eric Tattersall, Assistant Field Supervisor, by facsimile to (916) 414–6713; or by mail to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W–2605, Sacramento, California 95825. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 31203 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Jentsch, 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: The County of Placer, City of Lincoln, South Placer Regional Transportation Authority, Placer County Water Agency, and the Placer County Authority (PCA) (collectively, the applicants) have applied for a 50-year incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicants prepared the Final Plan pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA and the California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act of 2002 (NCCPA). Background Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531– 1544 et seq.) and Federal regulations (50 CFR 17) prohibit the taking of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered, and certain species listed as threatened under section 4 of the ESA. Regulations governing permits for endangered and threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32. For more about the Federal habitat conservation plan program, go to https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esalibrary/pdf/hcp.pdf. As cooperating agencies, NMFS may use the EIS analysis to support a decision as to whether to issue an ITP to the applicants, and the Corps may use the EIS analysis to support decisions made associated with implementing the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). 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 FWS and NMFS would issue an ITP to the applicants for a period of 50 years for certain covered activities (listed below). The applicants have requested ITPs for 14 covered animal species (listed below), of which 7 are listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA. E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM 22MYN1 31204 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 100 / Friday, May 22, 2020 / Notices Plan Area The geographic scope of the Final Plan includes two plan areas. Plan Area A encompasses approximately 209,000 acres of the City of Lincoln and unincorporated lands in western Placer County and is the focus of the Final Plan. Plan Area B includes additional specific areas in Placer and Sutter Counties that are not included in Plan Area A. Combined, Plan Areas A and B cover approximately 260,000 acres. Covered Activities The proposed section 10 ITPs would allow take of 14 covered species resulting from covered activities in the proposed plan area. The applicants are requesting incidental take authorization for covered species resulting from covered activities, including urban and rural development, water management, conservation measures, and facilities maintenance. A complete description of the covered activities is provided in the Final Plan, Chapter 2. The applicants are also proposing to implement a number of project design features, including best management practices, as well as general and species-specific avoidance and minimization measures to minimize the impacts of the take from the covered activities. Covered Species The following wildlife species federally listed as endangered are proposed to be covered by the Final Plan: Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio) and vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi). The following wildlife species federally listed as threatened are proposed to be covered by the Final Plan: Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas), California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus), and vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi). The following wildlife species that are not federally listed are also proposed to be covered by the Final Plan: Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni), California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus), western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea), tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor), western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata), and foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii). Two species of fish are proposed to be covered by the Final Plan under an ITP from NMFS: The Central Valley steelhead (distinct population segment; Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus), which is federally listed as threatened; and the Central Valley fall/late-fall run Chinook VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:07 May 21, 2020 Jkt 250001 salmon (evolutionarily significant unit; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), which is not listed. that those requirements are met, we will issue a permit to the applicants for the incidental take of the Covered Species. National Environmental Policy Act Compliance The final EIS/EIR was prepared to analyze the impacts of issuing an ITP based on the Final Plan and to inform the public of the proposed action, alternatives, and associated impacts and to disclose any irreversible commitments of resources. The final EIS/EIR analyzes three alternatives in addition to the proposed action described above. The other alternatives include a no-action (i.e., no ITP) alternative, a reduced take/reduced fill alternative, and a reduced permit term alternative, and are all described in the Final EIS/EIR. The final EIS/EIR also includes all comments received on the draft EIS/EIR, draft HCP/NCCP, and responses to those comments. Authority Public Review The FWS published a notice of intent to prepare a joint EIS/EIR in the Federal Register on March 7, 2005 (70 FR 11022), announcing a 30-day public scoping period, during which the public was invited to provide written comments and attend three public meetings. The FWS published a notice of availability of the draft EIS/EIR and draft HCP/NCCP in the Federal Register on June 21, 2019 (84 FR 29224), announcing a 60-day public comment period, during which the public was invited to provide written comments and attend two public meetings. Copies of the final EIS/EIR and Final Plan are available for inspection (see ADDRESSES). Any comments we receive will become part of the public record. 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 and the ESA. The FWS and NMFS will evaluate the application, associated documents, and any public comments we receive to determine whether the application meets the requirements of NEPA regulations and sections 7 and 10(a) of the ESA. If FWS and NMFS determine PO 00000 Frm 00070 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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). Michael Fris, Assistant Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento. [FR Doc. 2020–10401 Filed 5–21–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2020–0031; FXIA16710900000–201–FF09A30000] Foreign Endangered Species; Marine Mammals; Receipt of Permit Applications Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit applications; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals. DATES: We must receive comments by June 22, 2020. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: The applications, application supporting materials, and any comments and other materials that we receive will be available for public inspection at https:// www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2020–0031. Submitting Comments: When submitting comments, please specify the name of the applicant and the permit number at the beginning of your SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM 22MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 100 (Friday, May 22, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31203-31204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10401]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2020-N039; FF08ESMF00-FXES11140800000-201]


Joint Final Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental 
Impact Report, Joint Final Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural 
Community Conservation Plan; Placer County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the 
availability of a joint final environmental impact statement and final 
environmental impact report (final EIS/EIR) under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as amended. We also announce the 
availability of a final Western Placer County Habitat Conservation Plan 
and Natural Community Conservation Plan (Final Plan). The National 
Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are 
cooperating agencies on the final EIS/EIR.

DATES: A record of decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after 
the publication of this notice of availability in the Federal Register. 
We must receive any written comments by 5 p.m. on June 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: You may obtain electronic copies of the Final 
Plan and final EIS/EIR from the Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office 
website at https://www.fws.gov/sacramento. Please use the information in 
the For Further Information Contact section below with questions on 
obtaining documents.
    Submitting Comments: Please address written comments to Eric 
Tattersall, Assistant Field Supervisor, by facsimile to (916) 414-6713; 
or by mail to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Sacramento Fish and 
Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W-2605, Sacramento, California 
95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Jentsch, 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: The County of Placer, City of Lincoln, South 
Placer Regional Transportation Authority, Placer County Water Agency, 
and the Placer County Authority (PCA) (collectively, the applicants) 
have applied for a 50-year incidental take permit (ITP) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). The applicants prepared the Final Plan pursuant to section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA and the California Natural Community 
Conservation Planning Act of 2002 (NCCPA).

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544 et seq.) and Federal 
regulations (50 CFR 17) prohibit the taking of fish and wildlife 
species listed as endangered, and certain species listed as threatened 
under section 4 of the ESA. Regulations governing permits for 
endangered and threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32. For 
more about the Federal habitat conservation plan program, go to https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/hcp.pdf. As cooperating 
agencies, NMFS may use the EIS analysis to support a decision as to 
whether to issue an ITP to the applicants, and the Corps may use the 
EIS analysis to support decisions made associated with implementing the 
Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).
    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 FWS and NMFS would issue an ITP to the applicants for a period 
of 50 years for certain covered activities (listed below). The 
applicants have requested ITPs for 14 covered animal species (listed 
below), of which 7 are listed as endangered or threatened under the 
ESA.

[[Page 31204]]

Plan Area

    The geographic scope of the Final Plan includes two plan areas. 
Plan Area A encompasses approximately 209,000 acres of the City of 
Lincoln and unincorporated lands in western Placer County and is the 
focus of the Final Plan. Plan Area B includes additional specific areas 
in Placer and Sutter Counties that are not included in Plan Area A. 
Combined, Plan Areas A and B cover approximately 260,000 acres.

Covered Activities

    The proposed section 10 ITPs would allow take of 14 covered species 
resulting from covered activities in the proposed plan area. The 
applicants are requesting incidental take authorization for covered 
species resulting from covered activities, including urban and rural 
development, water management, conservation measures, and facilities 
maintenance. A complete description of the covered activities is 
provided in the Final Plan, Chapter 2. The applicants are also 
proposing to implement a number of project design features, including 
best management practices, as well as general and species-specific 
avoidance and minimization measures to minimize the impacts of the take 
from the covered activities.

Covered Species

    The following wildlife species federally listed as endangered are 
proposed to be covered by the Final Plan: Conservancy fairy shrimp 
(Branchinecta conservatio) and vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus 
packardi). The following wildlife species federally listed as 
threatened are proposed to be covered by the Final Plan: Giant garter 
snake (Thamnophis gigas), California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii), 
valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus), 
and vernal pool fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi). The following 
wildlife species that are not federally listed are also proposed to be 
covered by the Final Plan: Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni), 
California black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus), western 
burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea), tricolored blackbird 
(Agelaius tricolor), western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata), and 
foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii).
    Two species of fish are proposed to be covered by the Final Plan 
under an ITP from NMFS: The Central Valley steelhead (distinct 
population segment; Oncorhynchus mykiss irideus), which is federally 
listed as threatened; and the Central Valley fall/late-fall run Chinook 
salmon (evolutionarily significant unit; Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), 
which is not listed.

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

    The final EIS/EIR was prepared to analyze the impacts of issuing an 
ITP based on the Final Plan and to inform the public of the proposed 
action, alternatives, and associated impacts and to disclose any 
irreversible commitments of resources. The final EIS/EIR analyzes three 
alternatives in addition to the proposed action described above. The 
other alternatives include a no-action (i.e., no ITP) alternative, a 
reduced take/reduced fill alternative, and a reduced permit term 
alternative, and are all described in the Final EIS/EIR. The final EIS/
EIR also includes all comments received on the draft EIS/EIR, draft 
HCP/NCCP, and responses to those comments.

Public Review

    The FWS published a notice of intent to prepare a joint EIS/EIR in 
the Federal Register on March 7, 2005 (70 FR 11022), announcing a 30-
day public scoping period, during which the public was invited to 
provide written comments and attend three public meetings. The FWS 
published a notice of availability of the draft EIS/EIR and draft HCP/
NCCP in the Federal Register on June 21, 2019 (84 FR 29224), announcing 
a 60-day public comment period, during which the public was invited to 
provide written comments and attend two public meetings.
    Copies of the final EIS/EIR and Final Plan are available for 
inspection (see ADDRESSES). Any comments we receive will become part of 
the public record. 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 and the ESA. The FWS and NMFS will 
evaluate the application, associated documents, and any public comments 
we receive to determine whether the application meets the requirements 
of NEPA regulations and sections 7 and 10(a) of the ESA. If FWS and 
NMFS determine that those requirements are met, we will issue a permit 
to the applicants 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).

Michael Fris,
Assistant Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento.
[FR Doc. 2020-10401 Filed 5-21-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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