Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; the Alternatives Process in Hydropower Licensing, 47144-47145 [2021-17932]
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47144
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 160 / Monday, August 23, 2021 / Notices
conservation actions that are expected
to provide a net benefit to these species.
We have prepared a draft EAS for our
preliminary determination that the SHA
and permit decision may be eligible for
categorical exclusion under NEPA. We
invite the public to review and
comment on the permit application,
draft SHA, and draft EAS.
This SHA provides for the
management of mountain yellow-legged
frog and unarmored threespine
stickleback habitat at Bluff Lake, San
Bernardino County, California. Bluff
Lake occurs within the U.S. Geological
Survey 7.5-minute series Big Bear Lake
topographic quadrangle (township 2
north, range 1 west, section 34). When
fully implemented, the SHA and
requested enhancement of survival
permit will allow the Applicant to
return habitat conditions to baseline
after the end of the 30-year term of the
SHA and permit, if so desired by the
applicant.
The SHA describes the management
activities to be undertaken by the
applicant, and the net conservation
benefits expected to the mountain
yellow-legged frog and unarmored
threespine stickleback. Upon approval
of this SHA, and consistent with the
Service’s Safe Harbor Policy published
in the Federal Register on June 17, 1999
(64 FR 32717), the Service would issue
a permit to the applicant authorizing
take of the mountain yellow-legged frog
and unarmored threespine stickleback
incidental to the implementation of the
management activities specified in the
SHA; incidental to other lawful uses of
the enrolled property including normal,
routine land management activities; and
to return to pre-SHA conditions
(baseline).
Under the SHA, the applicant will
allow the release of mountain yellowlegged frogs and unarmored threespine
stickleback on the property. This release
may involve the temporary placement of
small enclosures. The applicant will
further undertake management activities
to benefit the mountain yellow-legged
frog and unarmored threespine
stickleback. This will include
maintaining or improving habitat
conditions on the property, throughout
the duration of the SHA, except in the
event of a natural disaster such as a
wildfire or severe drought. The
applicant will also minimize the
potential impact of recreation and
nonnative species management.
National Environmental Policy Act
Compliance
The development of the draft SHA
and the proposed issuance of an
enhancement of survival permit are
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:11 Aug 20, 2021
Jkt 253001
Federal actions that trigger the need for
compliance with the NEPA (43 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.). We have prepared a draft
EAS to assess the probable scope of
impacts of permit issuance and
implementation of the SHA on the
human environment. We have made a
preliminary determination that issuing
the permit and implementing the SHA
would have minor or negligible impacts
to the environment, and thus the
proposed SHA and permit actions are
eligible for categorical exclusion under
NEPA. The basis for our preliminary
determination is contained in the EAS,
which is available for public review (see
ADDRESSES).
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Next Steps
SUMMARY:
We will evaluate the permit
application, associated documents, and
comments we receive to determine
whether the permit application meets
the requirements of the ESA, NEPA, and
implementing regulations. If we
determine that all requirements are met,
we will sign the proposed SHA and
issue a permit under section 10(a)(1)(A)
of the ESA to the applicant. We will not
make our final decision on the permit
application until after the end of the
public comment period, and we will
fully consider all comments we receive
during the comment period.
Public Availability of Comments
Written comments we receive become
part of the public record associated with
this action. Before including your
address, phone number, email address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that the entire
comment, including your personal
identifying information, may be made
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.
Authority
We provide this notice under 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 NEPA (42
U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1506.6; 43 CFR 46).
Scott Sobiech,
Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife
Office, Carlsbad, California.
[FR Doc. 2021–17977 Filed 8–20–21; 8:45 am]
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Office of the Secretary
[212D0102DM DS61100000
DLSN00000.000000 DX61101; OMB Control
Number 1094–0001]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget for Review
and Approval; the Alternatives Process
in Hydropower Licensing
Office of the Secretary, Office
of Environmental Policy and
Compliance, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the Office of the Secretary, Office of
Environmental Policy and Compliance,
Department of the Interior (we, OS–
OEPC) are proposing to renew an
information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before
September 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
this information collection request (ICR)
to the Office of Management and
Budget’s Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior by email at
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via
facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please
provide a copy of your comments to Dr.
Shawn Alam, Office of Environmental
Policy and Compliance, U.S.
Department of the Interior, MS 2629–
MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC
20240; or by email to Shawn_Alam@
ios.doi.gov. Please reference OMB
Control Number 1094–0001 in the
subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Dr. Shawn Alam by
email at Shawn_Alam@ios.doi.gov, or by
telephone at (202) 208–5465. You may
also view the ICR at https://
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
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.
On April 5, 2021, we published a
Federal Register notice with a 60-day
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
23AUN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 160 / Monday, August 23, 2021 / Notices
public comment period soliciting
comments on this collection of
information (86 FR 17634). We received
no comments in response to that notice.
We are again soliciting comments on
the proposed 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
OS–OEPC; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the OS–OEPC enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the OS–OEPC 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. 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 OMB regulations at 5
CFR part 1320, which implement the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq., require that
interested members of the public and
affected agencies have an opportunity to
comment on information collection and
recordkeeping activities (see 5 CFR
1320.8 (d)).
On November 23, 2016, the
Departments of Agriculture, the Interior,
and Commerce published a final rule on
the March 31, 2015 revised interim final
rule to the interim rule originally
published in November 2005 at 7 CFR
part 1, 43 CFR part 45, and 50 CFR part
221, to implement section 241 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EP Act),
Public Law 109–58, enacted on August
8, 2005. Section 241 of the EP Act added
a new section 33 to the Federal Power
Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 823d, that allowed
the license applicant or any other party
to the license proceeding to propose an
alternative to a condition or prescription
that one or more of the Departments
develop for inclusion in a hydropower
license issued by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC) under
the FPA. This provision required that
the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of the Interior, and the
Department of Commerce collect the
information covered by 1094–0001.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:11 Aug 20, 2021
Jkt 253001
Under FPA section 33, the Secretary
of the Department involved must accept
the proposed alternative if the Secretary
determines, based on substantial
evidence provided by a party to the
license proceeding or otherwise
available to the Secretary, (a) that the
alternative condition provides for the
adequate protection and utilization of
the reservation, or that the alternative
prescription will be no less protective
than the fishway initially proposed by
the Secretary, and (b) that the
alternative will either cost significantly
less to implement or result in improved
operation of the project works for
electricity production.
In order to make this determination,
the regulations require that all of the
following information be collected: (1)
A description of the alternative, in an
equivalent level of detail to the
Department’s preliminary condition or
prescription; (2) an explanation of how
the alternative: (i) If a condition, will
provide for the adequate protection and
utilization of the reservation; or (ii) if a
prescription, will be no less protective
than the fishway prescribed by the
bureau; (3) an explanation of how the
alternative, as compared to the
preliminary condition or prescription,
will: (i) Cost significantly less to
implement; or (ii) result in improved
operation of the project works for
electricity production; (4) an
explanation of how the alternative or
revised alternative will affect: (i) Energy
supply, distribution, cost, and use; (ii)
flood control; (iii) navigation; (iv) water
supply; (v) air quality; and (vi) other
aspects of environmental quality; and
(5) specific citations to any scientific
studies, literature, and other
documented information relied on to
support the proposal.
This notice of proposed renewal of an
existing information collection is being
published by the Office of
Environmental Policy and Compliance,
Department of the Interior, on behalf of
all three Departments, and the data
provided below covers anticipated
responses (alternative conditions/
prescriptions and associated
information) for all three Departments.
Title of Collection: 7 CFR part 1; 43
CFR part 45; 50 CFR part 221; The
Alternatives Process in Hydropower
Licensing.
OMB Control Number: 1094–0001.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Business or for-profit entities.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 5.
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47145
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 5.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: 500 hours.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 2,500 hours.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Once per
alternative proposed.
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.).
Stephen G. Tryon,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and
Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021–17932 Filed 8–20–21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334–63–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[DOI–BLM–NV–W010–2020–0030–EIS;
LLNVW01000.L51100000.GN0000.
LVEMF1907180.19XMO#4500153666]
Notice of Availability of the Final
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Gold Acquisition
Corporation—Relief Canyon Gold
Mine—Mine Expansion Amendment,
Pershing County, NV
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land
Policy and Management Act of 1976, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Humboldt River
Field Office, Winnemucca, Nevada has
prepared the Relief Canyon Mine Final
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for the proposed expansion to the Relief
Canyon gold mining operation in
Pershing County, Nevada, and by this
notice announces the availability of the
Final EIS.
DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
decision on the proposal for a minimum
of 30-days after the Environmental
Protection Agency publishes its notice
of availability of the Gold Acquisition
Corporation—Relief Canyon Gold
Mine—Mine Expansion Amendment
Final EIS DOI–BLM–NV–W010–2020–
0030–EIS in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the Relief Canyon
Mine Plan Expansion and the Final EIS
SUMMARY:
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47144-47145]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17932]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
[212D0102DM DS61100000 DLSN00000.000000 DX61101; OMB Control Number
1094-0001]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; the
Alternatives Process in Hydropower Licensing
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of Environmental Policy and
Compliance, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we,
the Office of the Secretary, Office of Environmental Policy and
Compliance, Department of the Interior (we, OS-OEPC) are proposing to
renew an information collection.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before
September 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on this information collection request
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget's Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior by email at [email protected]; or
via facsimile to (202) 395-5806. Please provide a copy of your comments
to Dr. Shawn Alam, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, U.S.
Department of the Interior, MS 2629-MIB, 1849 C Street NW, Washington,
DC 20240; or by email to [email protected]. Please reference OMB
Control Number 1094-0001 in the subject line of your comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To request additional information
about this ICR, contact Dr. Shawn Alam by email at
[email protected], or by telephone at (202) 208-5465. You may also
view the ICR at https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
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.
On April 5, 2021, we published a Federal Register notice with a 60-
day
[[Page 47145]]
public comment period soliciting comments on this collection of
information (86 FR 17634). We received no comments in response to that
notice.
We are again soliciting comments on the proposed 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 OS-OEPC; (2) will this information be processed
and used in a timely manner; (3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the OS-OEPC enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected; and (5) how might the OS-OEPC 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. 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 OMB regulations at 5 CFR part 1320, which implement
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., require
that interested members of the public and affected agencies have an
opportunity to comment on information collection and recordkeeping
activities (see 5 CFR 1320.8 (d)).
On November 23, 2016, the Departments of Agriculture, the Interior,
and Commerce published a final rule on the March 31, 2015 revised
interim final rule to the interim rule originally published in November
2005 at 7 CFR part 1, 43 CFR part 45, and 50 CFR part 221, to implement
section 241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EP Act), Public Law 109-
58, enacted on August 8, 2005. Section 241 of the EP Act added a new
section 33 to the Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 823d, that allowed
the license applicant or any other party to the license proceeding to
propose an alternative to a condition or prescription that one or more
of the Departments develop for inclusion in a hydropower license issued
by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) under the FPA. This
provision required that the Department of Agriculture, the Department
of the Interior, and the Department of Commerce collect the information
covered by 1094-0001.
Under FPA section 33, the Secretary of the Department involved must
accept the proposed alternative if the Secretary determines, based on
substantial evidence provided by a party to the license proceeding or
otherwise available to the Secretary, (a) that the alternative
condition provides for the adequate protection and utilization of the
reservation, or that the alternative prescription will be no less
protective than the fishway initially proposed by the Secretary, and
(b) that the alternative will either cost significantly less to
implement or result in improved operation of the project works for
electricity production.
In order to make this determination, the regulations require that
all of the following information be collected: (1) A description of the
alternative, in an equivalent level of detail to the Department's
preliminary condition or prescription; (2) an explanation of how the
alternative: (i) If a condition, will provide for the adequate
protection and utilization of the reservation; or (ii) if a
prescription, will be no less protective than the fishway prescribed by
the bureau; (3) an explanation of how the alternative, as compared to
the preliminary condition or prescription, will: (i) Cost significantly
less to implement; or (ii) result in improved operation of the project
works for electricity production; (4) an explanation of how the
alternative or revised alternative will affect: (i) Energy supply,
distribution, cost, and use; (ii) flood control; (iii) navigation; (iv)
water supply; (v) air quality; and (vi) other aspects of environmental
quality; and (5) specific citations to any scientific studies,
literature, and other documented information relied on to support the
proposal.
This notice of proposed renewal of an existing information
collection is being published by the Office of Environmental Policy and
Compliance, Department of the Interior, on behalf of all three
Departments, and the data provided below covers anticipated responses
(alternative conditions/prescriptions and associated information) for
all three Departments.
Title of Collection: 7 CFR part 1; 43 CFR part 45; 50 CFR part 221;
The Alternatives Process in Hydropower Licensing.
OMB Control Number: 1094-0001.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: Business or for-profit entities.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 5.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 5.
Estimated Completion Time per Response: 500 hours.
Total Estimated Number of Annual Burden Hours: 2,500 hours.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Once per alternative proposed.
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.).
Stephen G. Tryon,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021-17932 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4334-63-P
