Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 61287-61288 [2021-24124]

Download as PDF 61287 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 212 / Friday, November 5, 2021 / Notices review each listed species’ status at least once every 5 years. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.21 require that we publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing those species under active review. For additional information about 5-year reviews, go to https:// www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/ recovery-overview.html, scroll down to ‘‘Learn More about 5-Year Reviews,’’ and click on our factsheet. What information do we consider in our review? A 5-year review considers the best scientific and commercial data that have Final listing rule (Federal Register citation and publication date) Common name Scientific name Taxonomic group Listing status Winged mapleleaf .. Quadrula fragosa Clam ......... E AL, AR, MN, MO, OK, TN, WI. 56 FR 28345; June 20, 1991. Dwarf lake iris ........ Iris lacustris ......... Plant ......... T MI, WI .................. Fassett’s locoweed Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea. Antrobia culveri ... Plant ......... T WI ........................ Snail ......... E MO ....................... 53 FR 37972; September 28, 1988. 53 FR 37970; September 28, 1988. 67 FR 52879; August 14, 2002. Mead’s milkweed ... Asclepias meadii Plant ......... T IA, IL, IN, KS, MO, WI. Rusty patched bumble bee. Bombus affinis ..... Insect ....... E CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, SD, WI, TN, VT, WV. Tumbling creek cave snail. Request for Information To ensure that a 5-year review is complete and based on the best available scientific and commercial information, we request new information from all sources. See ‘‘What Information Do We Consider in Our Review?’’ for specific criteria. If you submit information, please support it with documentation such as maps, bibliographic references, methods used to gather and analyze the data, and/or copies of any pertinent publications, reports, or letters by knowledgeable sources. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 become available since the current listing determination or most recent status review of each species, such as: (A) Species biology, including but not limited to population trends, distribution, abundance, demographics, and genetics; (B) Habitat conditions, including but not limited to amount, distribution, and suitability; (C) Conservation measures that have been implemented that benefit the species; (D) Threat status and trends in relation to the five listing factors (as How do I ask questions or provide information? If you wish to provide information for any species listed above, please submit your comments and materials to the appropriate contact in the table above. You may also direct questions to those contacts. Individuals who are hearing impaired or speech impaired may call the Federal Relay Service at 800–877– 8339 for TTY assistance. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:40 Nov 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 Where listed 53 FR 33992; September 1, 1988. 82 FR 3186; January 11, 2017. defined in section 4(a)(1) of the ESA); and (E) Other new information, data, or corrections, including but not limited to taxonomic or nomenclatural changes, identification of erroneous information contained in the List, and improved analytical methods. New information will be considered in the 5-year review and ongoing recovery programs for the species. What species are under review? This notice announces our active 5year status reviews of the species in the following table. Contact person, email, phone Contact person’s U.S. mail address Nick Utrup, nick_utrup@ fws.gov, 952–252–0092, ext. 204. Carrie Tansy, carrie_ tansy@fws.gov, 517– 351–8375. Jill Utrup, jill_utrup@ fws.gov, 952–252–0092, ext. 207. Iwona Kuczynska, Iwona_ Kuczynska@fws.gov, 573–234–5011. Ashley Riedel, ashley_ riedel@fws.gov, 573– 234–2132, ext. 404. Tamara Smith, tamara_ smith@fws.gov, 952– 252–0092, ext. 219. USFWS, 4101 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN 55425. USFWS, 2651 Coolidge Road, Suite 101, East Lansing, MI 48823. USFWS, 4101 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN 55425. USFWS, 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 65203. USFWS, 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, MO 65203. USFWS, 4101 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN 55425. Public Availability of Submissions DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 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. Fish and Wildlife Service Authority We publish this notice under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Lori Nordstrom, Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region. [FR Doc. 2021–24208 Filed 11–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P PO 00000 Frm 00175 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2021–0122; FXES11130400000EA–123–FF04EF4000] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake County, FL; Categorical Exclusion Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment and information. AGENCY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from VK Avalon Groves 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 incidental to construction in Lake County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s proposed SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 61288 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 212 / Friday, November 5, 2021 / Notices habitat conservation plan (HCP), and 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 December 6, 2021. ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents online in Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2021–0122 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– 2021–0122. • U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4– ES–2021–0122; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, by telephone at (904) 731– 3121 or via email at erin_gawera@ fws.gov. Individuals who are hearing 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 VK Avalon Groves LLC (Serenoa Commercial) 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) incidental to the construction of a commercial development (project) in Lake 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 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4231 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 5-year ITP to take sand skinks through the conversion of approximately 1.2 acres (ac) of occupied sand skink foraging and VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:40 Nov 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 sheltering habitat incidental to the construction of a commercial development located on a 24-ac parcel in Section 13; Township 24 South; Range 26 East, Lake County, Florida, identified by Parcel ID numbers 3–24– 26–0200–X01–00000 and 13–24–26– 0200–C8B–00000. The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skink by purchasing credits equivalent to 2.4 acres of occupied habitat from Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank or another Service-approved conservation bank prior to any clearing activities. 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, infrastructure building, landscaping, and the proposed mitigation measures, would individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on sand skinks and the environment. Therefore, we have preliminarily concluded that the ITP for this project would qualify for categorical exclusion and the HCP is low effect under our NEPA regulations at 43 CFR 46.205 and 46.210. A loweffect 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 reasonably foreseeable similarly situated projects, would not over time result in significant cumulative effects to environmental values or resources. Next Steps The Service will evaluate the application and the comments received 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 above findings, 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 PER0015886–0 to VK Avalon Groves LLC. PO 00000 Frm 00176 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Authority The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.32) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR 46.305). Robert L. Carey, Division Manager, Environmental Review, Florida Ecological Services Field Office. [FR Doc. 2021–24124 Filed 11–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–R7–ES–2021–0055; FXES111607MRG01–212–FF07CAMM00] Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; Proposed Incidental Harassment Authorization for Southern Beaufort Sea Stock of Polar Bears in the Prudhoe Bay Unit and Point Thomson Unit of the North Slope of Alaska Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of receipt of application; proposed incidental harassment authorization; notice of availability of draft environmental assessment; request for comments. AGENCY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, received a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 from JADE Energy, LLC, for authorization to take by Level B harassment a small number of polar bears from the Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) stock incidental to oil and gas exploratory activities scheduled to occur between December 1, 2021, through November 30, 2022. These activities include mobilization, constructing ice roads and ice pads, drilling wells, and associated cleanup in the Prudhoe Bay Unit and Point Thomson Unit of the North Slope of Alaska. Mobilization would occur in December 2021, along a winter trail stretching east from Deadhorse, Alaska, to Point Thomson, Alaska. Prepacking of snow and construction of ice roads and pads would begin mid-December 2021, and drilling would begin at JADE #1 pad in late-January 2022. If conditions are favorable, drilling on JADE #2 pad would take place in midMarch 2022, preceding cleanup activities, which are proposed to be completed by July 15, 2022. We estimate these activities may result in the nonlethal incidental take of up to two SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61287-61288]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24124]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2021-0122; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF4000]


Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake County, FL; 
Categorical Exclusion

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment and information.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt 
of an application from VK Avalon Groves 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 
incidental to construction in Lake County, Florida. We request public 
comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed

[[Page 61288]]

habitat conservation plan (HCP), and 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 December 6, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents online 
in Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2021-0122 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-2021-0122.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-R4-ES-2021-0122; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, by telephone at (904) 
731-3121 or via email at [email protected]. Individuals who are 
hearing 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 VK Avalon Groves LLC (Serenoa 
Commercial) 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) incidental to the construction of a commercial 
development (project) in Lake 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 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4231 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 5-year ITP to take sand skinks through the 
conversion of approximately 1.2 acres (ac) of occupied sand skink 
foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to the construction of a 
commercial development located on a 24-ac parcel in Section 13; 
Township 24 South; Range 26 East, Lake County, Florida, identified by 
Parcel ID numbers 3-24-26-0200-X01-00000 and 13-24-26-0200-C8B-00000. 
The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skink by purchasing 
credits equivalent to 2.4 acres of occupied habitat from Lake Wales 
Ridge Conservation Bank or another Service-approved conservation bank 
prior to any clearing activities.

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, infrastructure building, 
landscaping, and the proposed mitigation measures, would individually 
and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on sand skinks and 
the environment. Therefore, we have preliminarily concluded that the 
ITP for this project would qualify for categorical exclusion and the 
HCP is 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 
reasonably foreseeable similarly situated projects, would not over time 
result in significant cumulative effects to environmental values or 
resources.

Next Steps

    The Service will evaluate the application and the comments received 
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 
above findings, 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 PER0015886-0 to VK Avalon Groves LLC.

Authority

    The Service provides this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.32) 
and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 
CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR 46.305).

Robert L. Carey,
Division Manager, Environmental Review, Florida Ecological Services 
Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2021-24124 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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