Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of an Enhancement of Survival Permit Application and Safe Harbor Agreement for Bluff Lake, San Bernardino County, California, 47143-47144 [2021-17977]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 160 / Monday, August 23, 2021 / Notices
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 view, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Authority
We provide this notice under section
10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, Ventura, California.
[FR Doc. 2021–17975 Filed 8–20–21; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–2021–N027;
FXES11140800000–212]
Endangered and Threatened Species;
Receipt of an Enhancement of Survival
Permit Application and Safe Harbor
Agreement for Bluff Lake, San
Bernardino County, California
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability and
request for comments.
AGENCY:
The Wildlands Conservancy
(applicant) has submitted a safe harbor
agreement (SHA) and applied to the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
for an enhancement of survival permit
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
The Service is considering issuance to
the applicant of a 30-year permit that
would authorize take of the federally
endangered mountain yellow-legged
frog and unarmored threespine
stickleback (a fish species). We have
prepared a draft environmental action
statement (EAS) for our preliminary
determination that the SHA and permit
decision may be eligible for categorical
exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act. We invite
comments from the public on the
aforementioned documents.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before September 22,
2021.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
You may view or download
copies of the draft SHA and draft EAS
and obtain additional information on
the internet at https://www.fws.gov/
carlsbad/, or obtain hard copies by
calling the phone number listed below.
You may submit comments or requests
ADDRESSES:
18:11 Aug 20, 2021
The
Wildlands Conservancy (applicant) has
applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) for an enhancement of
survival permit pursuant to section
10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Service is
considering issuance to the applicant of
a 30-year permit that would authorize
take of the federally endangered
mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana
muscosa) and unarmored threespine
stickleback (a fish species; Gasterosteus
aculeatus williamsoni) through a safe
harbor agreement (SHA). The purpose of
this SHA is for the applicant to manage
habitat for the species at Bluff Lake in
San Bernardino County, California. The
applicant seeks to provide for the longterm recovery of the species in the wild
through the maintenance and/or
enhancement of suitable habitat that can
accommodate reestablishment of the site
from captive populations or other extant
locations that may be present within the
historic range of the species. We have
prepared a draft environmental action
statement (EAS) for our preliminary
determination that the SHA and permit
decision may be eligible for categorical
exclusion under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
We invite comments from the public
on the permit application, draft SHA,
and draft EAS, which are available for
review. The SHA describes the
proposed project and the measures that
the applicant would undertake to avoid
and minimize take of the covered
species.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
for more information by any of the
following methods:
• Email: fw8cfwocomments@fws.gov.
Include ‘‘Bluff Lake SHA’’ in the subject
line of the message.
• U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Fish
and Wildlife Office, 2177 Salk Avenue,
Suite 250, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jesse Bennett, by telephone at 760–431–
9440 or by electronic mail at Jesse_
Bennett@fws.gov. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf
(TDD), please call the Federal
Information Relay Service at 800–877–
8339.
Jkt 253001
Background
SHAs are intended to encourage
private or other non-Federal property
owners to implement beneficial
conservation actions for species listed
under the ESA. SHA permit holders are
assured that they will not be subject to
increased property use restrictions as a
PO 00000
Frm 00094
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
47143
result of their proactive actions to
benefit listed species. Incidental take of
listed species is authorized under a
permit pursuant to the provisions of
section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. For an
applicant to receive a permit through an
SHA, the applicant must submit an
application form that includes the
following:
1. The common and scientific names
of the listed species for which the
applicant requests incidental take
authorization;
2. A description of how incidental
take of the listed species pursuant to the
SHA is likely to occur, both as a result
of management activities and as a result
of the return to baseline; and
3. A description of how the SHA
complies with the requirements of the
Service’s Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR
32717, June 17, 1999).
For the Service to issue a permit, we
must determine that:
1. The take of listed species will be
incidental to an otherwise lawful
activity and will be in accordance with
the terms of the SHA;
2. The implementation of the terms of
the SHA is reasonably expected to
provide a net conservation benefit to the
covered species by contributing to its
recovery, and the SHA otherwise
complies with the Service’s Safe Harbor
Policy;
3. The probable direct and indirect
effects of any authorized take will not
appreciably reduce the likelihood of
survival and recovery in the wild of any
listed species;
4. Implementation of the terms of the
SHA is consistent with applicable
Federal, State, and Tribal laws and
regulations;
5. Implementation of the terms of the
SHA will not be in conflict with any
ongoing conservation or recovery
programs for listed species covered by
the permit; and
6. The applicant has shown capability
for and commitment to implementing
all of the terms of the SHA.
The Service’s Safe Harbor Policy and
Safe Harbor Regulations (68 FR 53320;
69 FR 24084) provide important terms
and concepts for developing SHAs. The
policy and regulations are available at
https://www.fws.gov/endangered/lawspolicies/regulations-and-policies.html.
Proposed Action
The applicant’s permit application
includes a draft SHA, which covers 60
acres owned by the applicant in San
Bernardino County, California. The
proposed term of the permit and the
SHA is 30 years. The permit would
authorize incidental take of the two
species that may occur while pursuing
E:\FR\FM\23AUN1.SGM
23AUN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
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]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
PO 00000
Frm 00095
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47143-47144]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17977]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R8-ES-2021-N027; FXES11140800000-212]
Endangered and Threatened Species; Receipt of an Enhancement of
Survival Permit Application and Safe Harbor Agreement for Bluff Lake,
San Bernardino County, California
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Wildlands Conservancy (applicant) has submitted a safe
harbor agreement (SHA) and applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to the
Endangered Species Act. The Service is considering issuance to the
applicant of a 30-year permit that would authorize take of the
federally endangered mountain yellow-legged frog and unarmored
threespine stickleback (a fish species). We have prepared a draft
environmental action statement (EAS) for our preliminary determination
that the SHA and permit decision may be eligible for categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We invite
comments from the public on the aforementioned documents.
DATES: Written comments should be received on or before September 22,
2021.
ADDRESSES: You may view or download copies of the draft SHA and draft
EAS and obtain additional information on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/, or obtain hard copies by calling the phone
number listed below. You may submit comments or requests for more
information by any of the following methods:
Email: [email protected]. Include ``Bluff Lake SHA''
in the subject line of the message.
U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 2177 Salk Avenue, Suite
250, Carlsbad, CA 92008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Bennett, by telephone at 760-
431-9440 or by electronic mail at [email protected]. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal
Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Wildlands Conservancy (applicant) has
applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an
enhancement of survival permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.). The Service is considering issuance to the applicant of a 30-
year permit that would authorize take of the federally endangered
mountain yellow-legged frog (Rana muscosa) and unarmored threespine
stickleback (a fish species; Gasterosteus aculeatus williamsoni)
through a safe harbor agreement (SHA). The purpose of this SHA is for
the applicant to manage habitat for the species at Bluff Lake in San
Bernardino County, California. The applicant seeks to provide for the
long-term recovery of the species in the wild through the maintenance
and/or enhancement of suitable habitat that can accommodate
reestablishment of the site from captive populations or other extant
locations that may be present within the historic range of the species.
We have prepared a draft environmental action statement (EAS) for our
preliminary determination that the SHA and permit decision may be
eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
We invite comments from the public on the permit application, draft
SHA, and draft EAS, which are available for review. The SHA describes
the proposed project and the measures that the applicant would
undertake to avoid and minimize take of the covered species.
Background
SHAs are intended to encourage private or other non-Federal
property owners to implement beneficial conservation actions for
species listed under the ESA. SHA permit holders are assured that they
will not be subject to increased property use restrictions as a result
of their proactive actions to benefit listed species. Incidental take
of listed species is authorized under a permit pursuant to the
provisions of section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. For an applicant to
receive a permit through an SHA, the applicant must submit an
application form that includes the following:
1. The common and scientific names of the listed species for which
the applicant requests incidental take authorization;
2. A description of how incidental take of the listed species
pursuant to the SHA is likely to occur, both as a result of management
activities and as a result of the return to baseline; and
3. A description of how the SHA complies with the requirements of
the Service's Safe Harbor Policy (64 FR 32717, June 17, 1999).
For the Service to issue a permit, we must determine that:
1. The take of listed species will be incidental to an otherwise
lawful activity and will be in accordance with the terms of the SHA;
2. The implementation of the terms of the SHA is reasonably
expected to provide a net conservation benefit to the covered species
by contributing to its recovery, and the SHA otherwise complies with
the Service's Safe Harbor Policy;
3. The probable direct and indirect effects of any authorized take
will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of survival and recovery in
the wild of any listed species;
4. Implementation of the terms of the SHA is consistent with
applicable Federal, State, and Tribal laws and regulations;
5. Implementation of the terms of the SHA will not be in conflict
with any ongoing conservation or recovery programs for listed species
covered by the permit; and
6. The applicant has shown capability for and commitment to
implementing all of the terms of the SHA.
The Service's Safe Harbor Policy and Safe Harbor Regulations (68 FR
53320; 69 FR 24084) provide important terms and concepts for developing
SHAs. The policy and regulations are available at https://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws-policies/regulations-and-policies.html.
Proposed Action
The applicant's permit application includes a draft SHA, which
covers 60 acres owned by the applicant in San Bernardino County,
California. The proposed term of the permit and the SHA is 30 years.
The permit would authorize incidental take of the two species that may
occur while pursuing
[[Page 47144]]
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
yellow-legged 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 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).
Next Steps
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]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P