Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Eastern Indigo Snake, Citrus County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 61314-61315 [2021-24126]

Download as PDF 61314 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 212 / Friday, November 5, 2021 / Notices (ii) A complete detailed description of the incident; and (iii) Any other actions taken. Injured, dead, or distressed polar bears that are clearly not associated with project activities (e.g., animals found outside the project area, previously wounded animals, or carcasses with moderate to advanced decomposition or scavenger damage) must also be reported to the Service immediately, and not later than 48 hours after discovery. Photographs, video, location information, or any other available documentation must be included. (3) Final report. The results of monitoring and mitigation efforts identified in the polar bear avoidance and interaction plan must be submitted to the Service for review within 90 days of the expiration of this IHA. Upon request, final report data must be provided in a common electronic format (to be specified by the Service). Information in the final report must include, but need not be limited to: (i) Copies of all observation reports submitted under the IHA; (ii) A summary of the observation reports; (iii) A summary of monitoring and mitigation efforts including areas, total hours, total distances, and distribution; (iv) Analysis of factors affecting the visibility and detectability of polar bears during monitoring; (v) Analysis of the effectiveness of mitigation measures; (vi) A summary and analysis of the distribution, abundance, and behavior of all polar bears observed; and (vii) Estimates of take in relation to the specified activities. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 Request for Public Comments If you wish to comment on this proposed authorization, the associated draft environmental assessment, or both documents, you may submit your comments by either of the methods described in ADDRESSES. Please identify if you are commenting on the proposed authorization, draft environmental assessment, or both, make your comments as specific as possible, confine them to issues pertinent to the proposed authorization, and explain the reason for any changes you recommend. Where possible, your comments should reference the specific section or paragraph that you are addressing. The Service will consider all comments that are received before the close of the comment period (see DATES). The Service does not anticipate extending the public comment period beyond the 30 days required under section 101(a)(5)(D)(iii) of the MMPA. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:40 Nov 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will become part of the administrative record for this proposal. Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comments to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Karen Cogswell, Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region. [FR Doc. 2021–24371 Filed 11–3–21; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2021–0124; FXES11130400000EA–123–FF04EF4000] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Eastern Indigo Snake, Citrus 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 Florida Department of Transportation—Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (applicant) (Suncoast Parkway 2) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed eastern indigo snake incidental to construction of the fourlane Suncoast Parkway 2 in Citrus County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s proposed 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. SUMMARY: ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may obtain copies of the documents online PO 00000 Frm 00202 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 in Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2021–0124 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– 2021–0124. • U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4– ES–2021–0124; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zakia Williams, by telephone at 904– 731–3119 or via email at zakia_ williams@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 Florida Department of Transportation— Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (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 eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperii) incidental to the construction of the four-lane Suncoast Parkway 2 (project) in Citrus County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant’s proposed 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 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.). To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, which are also available for public review. Project Florida Department of Transportation—Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise requests a 10-year ITP to take no more than two eastern indigo snakes (one male and one female) and one eastern indigo snake egg clutch incidental to the construction of the Suncoast Parkway 2. The take is based on the estimated home range of the species and the conversion of approximately 140 acres (ac) of occupied eastern indigo snake foraging and sheltering habitat during construction of the roadway from SR 44 to CR 486 in Sections 29, 30, 32, Township 18S, Range 18E, Citrus County, Florida. The applicant proposes E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 212 / Friday, November 5, 2021 / Notices to mitigate for take of the eastern indigo snake by implementing conservation measures in the Standard Protection Measures for the Eastern Indigo Snake (Service 2013), which primarily focus on the preservation of the species during land conversion. The applicant will also install and maintain silt fence and chain-link fence along the entire project boundary and the perimeter of the project area to deter the species from entering the roadway and to reduce wildlife interactions within the construction zone. In addition to these measures, the applicant will contribute $22,820, which is calculated as $163 per ac of converted habitat, to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida—Eastern Indigo Snake Conservation Fund. This contribution will be used to help ensure the long-term viability of the species by maintaining and enhancing existing populations via habitat conservation, restoration, and management; monitoring the status of the extant populations; identifying and securing additional eastern indigo snake populations and habitat; repatriating populations through reintroductions; and supporting research that guides land management and provides demographic and ecological data. The Service would require the applicant to make the contribution to the Fund prior to engaging in activities associated with the project. jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with NOTICES1 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 the eastern indigo snake 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 VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:40 Nov 04, 2021 Jkt 256001 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 preceding 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 PER0017213 to Florida Department of Transportation—Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. 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. 2021–24126 Filed 11–4–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION Notice of Receipt of Complaint; Solicitation of Comments Relating to the Public Interest U.S. International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has received a complaint entitled Certain Integrated Circuits, Chipsets, and Electronic Devices, and Products Containing the Same, DN 3574; the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or complainant’s filing pursuant to the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. SUMMARY: Lisa R. Barton, Secretary to the Commission, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202) 205–2000. The FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: PO 00000 Frm 00203 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61315 public version of the complaint can be accessed on the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email EDIS3Help@usitc.gov. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at United States International Trade Commission (USITC) at https://www.usitc.gov. The public record for this investigation may be viewed on the Commission’s Electronic Document Information System (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. Hearing-impaired persons are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on (202) 205–1810. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Commission has received a complaint and a submission pursuant to § 210.8(b) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure filed on behalf of NXP Semiconductors N.V. and NXP USA, Inc., on November 1, 2021. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1337) in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain integrated circuits, chipsets, and electronic devices, and products containing the same. The complainant names as respondents: MediaTek Inc. of China; MediaTek USA Inc. of San Jose, CA; Amazon.com, Inc. of Seattle, WA; Belkin International, Inc. of Playa Vista, CA; and Linskys USA, Inc. of Irvine, CA. The complainant requests that the Commission issue a limited exclusion order, cease and desist orders, and impose a bond upon respondents alleged infringing articles during the 60day Presidential review period pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1337(j). Proposed respondents, other interested parties, and members of the public are invited to file comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or § 210.8(b) filing. Comments should address whether issuance of the relief specifically requested by the complainant in this investigation would affect the public health and welfare in the United States, competitive conditions in the United States economy, the production of like or directly competitive articles in the United States, or United States consumers. In particular, the Commission is interested in comments that: (i) Explain how the articles potentially subject to the requested remedial orders are used in the United States; E:\FR\FM\05NON1.SGM 05NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 212 (Friday, November 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61314-61315]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24126]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2021-0124; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF4000]


Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Eastern Indigo Snake, Citrus 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 Florida Department of Transportation--Florida's 
Turnpike Enterprise (applicant) (Suncoast Parkway 2) for an incidental 
take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant 
requests the ITP to take the federally listed eastern indigo snake 
incidental to construction of the four-lane Suncoast Parkway 2 in 
Citrus County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, 
which includes the applicant's proposed 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-2021-0124 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-2021-0124.
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-R4-ES-2021-0124; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zakia Williams, by telephone at 904-
731-3119 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 Florida Department of 
Transportation--Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (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 eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon 
corais couperii) incidental to the construction of the four-lane 
Suncoast Parkway 2 (project) in Citrus County, Florida. We request 
public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's 
proposed 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 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4231 et seq.). To make this determination, we used our environmental 
action statement and low-effect screening form, which are also 
available for public review.

Project

    Florida Department of Transportation--Florida's Turnpike Enterprise 
requests a 10-year ITP to take no more than two eastern indigo snakes 
(one male and one female) and one eastern indigo snake egg clutch 
incidental to the construction of the Suncoast Parkway 2. The take is 
based on the estimated home range of the species and the conversion of 
approximately 140 acres (ac) of occupied eastern indigo snake foraging 
and sheltering habitat during construction of the roadway from SR 44 to 
CR 486 in Sections 29, 30, 32, Township 18S, Range 18E, Citrus County, 
Florida. The applicant proposes

[[Page 61315]]

to mitigate for take of the eastern indigo snake by implementing 
conservation measures in the Standard Protection Measures for the 
Eastern Indigo Snake (Service 2013), which primarily focus on the 
preservation of the species during land conversion. The applicant will 
also install and maintain silt fence and chain-link fence along the 
entire project boundary and the perimeter of the project area to deter 
the species from entering the roadway and to reduce wildlife 
interactions within the construction zone. In addition to these 
measures, the applicant will contribute $22,820, which is calculated as 
$163 per ac of converted habitat, to the Wildlife Foundation of 
Florida--Eastern Indigo Snake Conservation Fund. This contribution will 
be used to help ensure the long-term viability of the species by 
maintaining and enhancing existing populations via habitat 
conservation, restoration, and management; monitoring the status of the 
extant populations; identifying and securing additional eastern indigo 
snake populations and habitat; repatriating populations through 
reintroductions; and supporting research that guides land management 
and provides demographic and ecological data. The Service would require 
the applicant to make the contribution to the Fund prior to engaging in 
activities associated with 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, infrastructure building, 
landscaping, and the proposed mitigation measures, would individually 
and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the eastern 
indigo snake 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 
preceding 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 PER0017213 to Florida Department of 
Transportation--Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.

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. 2021-24126 Filed 11-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

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