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, 46693-46694 [2020-16814]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 149 / Monday, August 3, 2020 / Notices appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response. 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. Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703–712) designates the Department of the Interior as the primary agency responsible for managing migratory bird populations frequenting the United States and setting hunting regulations that allow for the well-being of migratory bird populations. These responsibilities dictate that we gather accurate data on various characteristics of migratory bird populations. The North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey is an essential part of the migratory bird management program. Federal, State, Provincial, Tribal, and local conservation agencies conduct the survey annually to provide the data necessary to determine the population status of the American woodcock. In addition, the information is vital in assessing the relative changes in the geographic distribution of the species. We use the information primarily to develop recommendations for hunting regulations. Without information on the population’s status, we might promulgate hunting regulations that: • Are not sufficiently restrictive, which could cause harm to the woodcock population, or • Are too restrictive, which would unduly restrict recreational opportunities afforded by woodcock hunting. The Service, State, and Provincial conservation agencies, university associates, and other interested parties use the data for various research and management projects. Title of Collection: North American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey. OMB Control Number: 1018–0019. Form Number: FWS Form 3–156. Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection. VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:39 Jul 31, 2020 Jkt 250001 Respondents/Affected Public: State, Provincial, local, and Tribal employees. Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 808. Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 808. Estimated Completion Time per Response: Varies from 1.75 hours to 1.88 hours, depending on activity. Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 1,515. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Frequency of Collection: Annually. Total Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Cost: None. 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: July 29, 2020. Madonna Baucum, Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2020–16841 Filed 7–31–20; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2020–0035; 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 Cemex Construction Materials Florida, LLC (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 sand mining in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on 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. SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00108 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 46693 We must receive your written comments on or before September 2, 2020. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents online in Docket No. FWS–R4–ES– 2020–0035 at https:// www.regulations.gov. Submitting Comments: If you wish to submit comments on any of the documents, you may do so in writing by any of the following methods: • Online: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS–R4–ES– 2020–0035. • U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4– ES–2020–0035; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfredo Begazo, by telephone at (772) 469–4234 or via email at Alfredo_ Begazo@fws.gov. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1– 800–877–8339 for TTY assistance. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Cemex Construction Materials Florida, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregious lividus) (skinks) incidental to the construction and operation of a sand mine in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s HCP, and on 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. DATES: Project The applicant requests a 10-year ITP to take skinks through the conversion of approximately 19.8 acres of occupied skink foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to the construction and operation of a sand mine on a 294-acre parcel in Sections 10, 11, Township 30 South, Range 28 East in Polk County, Florida. The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits equivalent to 39.6 acres of skink-occupied habitat from a E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1 46694 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 149 / Monday, August 3, 2020 / Notices Service-approved conservation bank in Polk County. The Service would require the applicant to purchase the credits prior to engaging in any phase of the project. Roxanna Hinzman, Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office. Public Availability of Comments [FR Doc. 2020–16814 Filed 7–31–20; 8:45 am] 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 a sand mine, and the proposed mitigation measures, 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 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 reasonable foreseeable similarly situated projects, would not result in significant cumulative effects to environmental values or resources over time. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Next Steps The Service will evaluate the application and the comments 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 preceding matters, 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 TE75515D–0 to Cemex Construction Materials Florida, LLC. Authority The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1539(c)) VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:55 Jul 31, 2020 Jkt 250001 of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40 CFR 1506.6. BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS–R5–FAC–2020–N088; FF05F24400– 201–FXFR13350500000; OMB Control Number 1018–0127] Agency Information Collection Activities; Horseshoe Crab and Cooperative Fish Tagging Programs 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, are proposing to renew an information collection. SUMMARY: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before October 2, 2020. ADDRESSES: Send your comments on this information collection request (ICR) by mail to the Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB (JAO/ 3W), 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803; or by email to Info_ Coll@fws.gov. Please reference OMB Control Number 1018–0127 in the subject line of your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madonna L. Baucum, Service Information Collection Clearance Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, or by telephone at (703) 358–2503. Individuals who are hearing or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 1–800–877–8339 for TTY assistance. DATES: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and its implementing regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1), all information collections require approval under the PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burdens, we invite the public and other Federal agencies to comment on new, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00109 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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 especially interested in public comment addressing the following: (1) Whether or not the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether or not the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of our estimate of the burden for this collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) How might the agency 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, e.g., permitting electronic submission of response. 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. Abstract: The Maryland Fish & Wildlife Conservation Office (MDFWCO) will collect information on crabs and fishes captured by the public. Tag information provided by the public will be used to estimate recreational and commercial harvest rates, estimate natural mortality rates, and evaluate migratory patterns, length and age frequencies, and effectiveness of current regulations. Horseshoe crabs play a vital role commercially, biomedically, and ecologically along the Atlantic coast. Horseshoe crabs are commercially harvested and used as bait in eel and conch fisheries. Biomedical companies along the coast also collect and bleed horseshoe crabs at their facilities. Limulus amebocyte lysate, derived from E:\FR\FM\03AUN1.SGM 03AUN1

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[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 149 (Monday, August 3, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46693-46694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-16814]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2020-0035; 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 Cemex Construction Materials Florida, LLC 
(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 sand mining 
in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, 
which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan 
(HCP), and on 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 on or before September 2, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents 
online in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2020-0035 at https://www.regulations.gov.
    Submitting Comments: If you wish to submit comments on any of the 
documents, you may do so in writing by any of the following methods:
     Online: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2020-0035.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-R4-ES-2020-0035; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alfredo Begazo, by telephone at (772) 
469-4234 or via email at [email protected]. Individuals who are 
hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service 
at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
announce receipt of an application from Cemex Construction Materials 
Florida, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.). The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand 
skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregious 
lividus) (skinks) incidental to the construction and operation of a 
sand mine in Polk County, Florida. We request public comment on the 
application, which includes the applicant's HCP, and on 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

    The applicant requests a 10-year ITP to take skinks through the 
conversion of approximately 19.8 acres of occupied skink foraging and 
sheltering habitat incidental to the construction and operation of a 
sand mine on a 294-acre parcel in Sections 10, 11, Township 30 South, 
Range 28 East in Polk County, Florida. The applicant proposes to 
mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits equivalent to 
39.6 acres of skink-occupied habitat from a

[[Page 46694]]

Service-approved conservation bank in Polk County. The Service would 
require the applicant to purchase the credits 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 a sand 
mine, and the proposed mitigation measures, 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 
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 
reasonable foreseeable similarly situated projects, would not result in 
significant cumulative effects to environmental values or resources 
over time.

Next Steps

    The Service will evaluate the application and the comments 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 
preceding matters, 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 TE75515D-0 to Cemex Construction 
Materials Florida, LLC.

Authority

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

Roxanna Hinzman,
Field Supervisor, South Florida Ecological Services Office.
[FR Doc. 2020-16814 Filed 7-31-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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