Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Amendment to Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement and Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Kansas Aquatic Species, 6536-6538 [2024-01946]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Notices
fair opportunity for the expression and
consideration of various positions and
for public participation.
The MHCC is deemed an advisory
committee not composed of Federal
employees.
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Public Comment
Citizens wishing to make comments
on the business of the MHCC are
encouraged to register by or before
Monday, February 5, 2024, by
contacting the Administering
Organization (AO), Home Innovation
Research Labs; Attention: Kevin
Kauffman, 400 Prince Georges Blvd.,
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774, or email to
mhcc@homeinnovation.com or call 1–
888–602–4663. Written comments are
encouraged. All written comments must
be provided to mhcc@
homeinnovation.com no later than
Monday, February 12, 2024. Advance
registration for both meetings is strongly
encouraged.
Please note, written comments
submitted will not be read during the
meeting but will be provided to the
MHCC members prior to the meeting.
The MHCC will also provide an
opportunity for oral public comments
on specific matters before the MHCC at
each meeting. The total amount of time
for oral comments will be 30 minutes,
in two 15-minute periods, with each
commenter limited to two minutes to
ensure pertinent Committee business is
completed and all public comments can
be expressed. The Committee will not
respond to individual written or oral
statements; however, it will take all
public comments into account in its
deliberations. The MHCC strives to
accommodate citizen comments to the
extent possible within the time
constraints of the meeting agenda.
Noting the complexity of the
Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Energy
Conservation Rule as it works to align
energy conservation standards with its
Manufactured Housing Construction
and Safety Standards, HUD is
scheduling two meetings of the MHCC
to allow robust discussion, analysis, and
consideration of the notice of proposed
rulemaking, Energy Conservation
Program: Energy Conservations
Standards for Manufactured Housing;
Enforcement published by DOE on
December 23, 2024 at 88 FR 88844 (the
‘‘DOE NPR’’). These meetings are
scheduled for two days to provide
sufficient time for thorough
consideration. HUD, therefore, strongly
encourages active participation by
committee members, stakeholders, and
other interested parties.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:12 Jan 31, 2024
Jkt 262001
Tentative Agenda for the February 2024
Meetings
Day 1, Thursday, February 15, 2024
11:00–11:05 a.m. Call to Order—Chair,
Vice Chair, and Teresa Payne,
Designated Federal Officer (DFO)
11:05–11:15 a.m. Welcome and
Opening Remarks
A. Roll Call—Kevin Kauffman,
Administering Organization (AO)
a. Introductions
b. Manufactured Housing Consensus
Committee (MHCC) Members
c. U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) Staff
B. Administrative Announcements—
Teresa Payne, DFO, and Kevin
Kauffman, AO
11:15–11:20 a.m. Approve Draft
Minutes from October 18–20, 2022,
and November 15–17, 2022,
Manufactured Housing Consensus
Committee (MHCC) Meetings
11:20–11:50 a.m. Public Comment
Period (Public Encouraged to Sign
Up with AO)
11:50 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Review and
consider the DOE NPR and prepare
recommendations to HUD.
1:30–1:45 p.m. Break
1:45–2:15 p.m. Public Comment
Period (Public Encouraged to Sign
Up with AO)
2:15–3:50 p.m. Continued review and
consideration the DOE NPR and
prepare recommendations to HUD.
3:50–4:00 p.m. Daily Wrap Up–DFO
and AO
4:00 p.m. Adjourn for the Day
Day 2, Friday, February 16, 2024
11:00–11:05 a.m. Call to Order—
Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and
Teresa Payne, Designated Federal
Officer (DFO)
11:05–11:15 a.m. Welcome and
Opening Remarks
A. Roll Call—Kevin Kauffman,
Administering Organization (AO)
a. Introductions
b. Manufactured Housing Consensus
Committee (MHCC) Members
c. U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) Staff
B. Administrative Announcements—
Teresa Payne, DFO, and Kevin
Kauffman, AO
11:15–11:30 a.m. Public Comment
Period (Public Encouraged to Sign
Up with AO)
11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m. Continued
review and consideration of the
DOE NPR and prepare
recommendations to HUD.
12:45–1:00 p.m. Break
1:00–1:15 p.m. Public Comment
Period (Public Encouraged to Sign
Up with AO)
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
1:15–1:50 p.m. Continued review and
consideration of the DOE NPR and
prepare recommendations to HUD.
1:50–2:00 p.m. Daily Wrap Up–DFO
and AO
2:00 p.m. Adjournment
Julia R. Gordon,
Assistant Secretary for Housing, Federal
Housing Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 2024–01951 Filed 1–31–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–R6–ES–2021–0056;
FF06E21000 245 FXES11140600000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Proposed Amendment to
Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement
and Candidate Conservation
Agreement With Assurances for
Kansas Aquatic Species
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), are
announcing the availability of
documents associated with an
application to amend an enhancement
of survival permit (permit) under the
Endangered Species Act. The Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks has
applied to amend the existing
Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement
and Candidate Conservation Agreement
with Assurances for 15 Aquatic Species
in Kansas (SHA/CCAA) by adding 6
additional covered species: Lake
sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens),
sicklefin chub (Macrhybopsis meeki),
sturgeon chub (Macrhybopsis gelida),
snuffbox mussel (Epioblasma triquetra),
spectaclecase (Cumberlandia
monodonta), and Ouachita kidneyshell
(Ptychobranchus occidentalis). The
documents available for review and
comment are the applicant’s proposed
amended programmatic SHA/CCAA,
which is part of the permit amendment
application, and our draft
environmental action statement and
low-effect screening form, which
support a categorical exclusion for the
amendment under the National
Environmental Policy Act. We invite
comments from the public and Federal,
Tribal, State, and local governments.
DATES: We will accept comments
received or postmarked on or before
March 4, 2024. Comments submitted
online at https://www.regulations.gov
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM
01FEN1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Notices
(see ADDRESSES) must be received by
11:59 p.m. eastern time on March 4,
2024.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: The documents
this notice announces, as well as any
comments and other materials that we
receive, will be available for public
inspection online in Docket No. FWS–
R6–ES–2021–0056 at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Submitting Comments: To submit
written comments, please use one of the
following methods, and note that your
information request or comments are in
reference to the Kansas Aquatic SHA/
CCAA amendment.
• Online: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on Docket Number FWS–R6–ES–2021–
0056.
• U.S. Mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R6–
ES–2021–0056; U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Headquarters, MS: PRB/3W;
5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA
22041–3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gibran Suleiman, by phone at 785–539–
3474, extension 114, or by email at
gibran_suleiman@fws.gov. Individuals
in the United States who are deaf,
deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability may dial 711 (TTY,
TDD, or TeleBraille) to access
telecommunications relay services.
Individuals outside the United States
should use the relay services offered
within their country to make
international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
have received an application from the
Kansas Department of Wildlife and
Parks (KDWP, applicant) to amend their
existing 50-year enhancement of
survival permit (permit) under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
The amendment requests the addition of
6 species to the 15 species already
covered by the applicant’s approved
programmatic safe harbor agreement
(SHA) and candidate conservation
agreement with assurances (CCAA) on
non-Federal lands in the State of
Kansas. The documents available for
review and comment are the applicant’s
proposed amended programmatic SHA/
CCAA, which is part of the permit
amendment application, and our draft
environmental action statement and
low-effect screening form for the
amendment request, which support a
categorical exclusion under the National
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:12 Jan 31, 2024
Jkt 262001
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). We invite
comments on documents from the
public and Federal, Tribal, State, and
local governments.
Background
Via a Federal Register notice
published on September 15, 2021 (86 FR
51366), we announced the availability
of KDWP’s original application for an
enhancement of survival permit with a
50-year term, which included a
proposed programmatic SHA/CCAA for
14 aquatic species in Kansas, and our
draft environmental action statement
and low-effect screening form, which
supported a categorical exclusion under
NEPA. The comment period was open
until October 15, 2021. After
considering the application, associated
materials, and the 15 public comments
received, we issued the requested
permit. On October 12, 2022, we
announced via a Federal Register notice
(87 FR 62114) the availability of
KDWP’s subsequent application to
amend their enhancement of survival
permit to include one additional
covered species, the western fanshell
(Cyprogenia aberti). The comment
period for the amendment was open
until November 14, 2022, and we issued
the requested amended permit after
considering the application, associated
materials, and the three public
comments received. To provide
background information, we have made
the original 2021 proposed
programmatic SHA and CCAA, and the
2022 amendment, along with related
documents and comments, available for
review in https://www.regulations.gov
under Docket No. FWS–R6–ES–2021–
0056. However, we will not be taking
further comments on those documents.
Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate
Conservation Agreements With
Assurances
An SHA is an agreement between the
Service, partners, and landowners for
voluntary management of non-Federal
lands to contribute towards recovery of
ESA-listed species in a manner that is
consistent with the Service’s policy on
SHAs (64 FR 32717, June 17, 1999) and
applicable regulations. A CCAA is an
agreement between the Service,
partners, and landowners for voluntary
management of non-Federal lands to
remove or reduce key threats to species
that may become listed under the ESA,
in a manner that is consistent with the
Service’s policy on CCAAs (81 FR
95164, December 27, 2016) and
applicable regulations. In return for
PO 00000
Frm 00039
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
6537
implementing conservation measures in
a SHA/CCAA, the Service gives
participants assurances that the Service
will not impose land, water, or resource
use restrictions or conservation
requirements on ESA-listed species, or
those that may become listed, beyond
those agreed to in the SHA/CCAA.
Applicant’s Proposed Amendment to
Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement/
Candidate Conservation Agreement
With Assurances
KDWP’s purpose in amending its
programmatic SHA/CCAA is to add the
lake sturgeon, sicklefin chub, sturgeon
chub, snuffbox mussel, spectaclecase,
and Ouachita kidneyshell, to facilitate
the reintroduction and implementation
of conservation measures for the species
on non-Federal lands in Kansas. The
documents available for review and
comment are the proposed amended
programmatic SHA/CCAA, which is
part of the permit application, and our
draft environmental action statement
and low-effect screening form, which
support a categorical exclusion under
NEPA.
To enroll in the programmatic SHA/
CCAA, a non-Federal landowner would
enter into a landowner agreement with
KDWP to enroll all or a portion of their
property under the SHA and/or CCAA.
Upon signature by both parties, KDWP
would issue a certificate of inclusion to
the non-Federal landowner, extending
assurances and take authorization to the
participating landowner for the
appropriate covered species. The
requested permit duration is for 50
years, starting on December 15, 2021
(the date of original permit issuance).
Proposed conservation measures
include the introduction,
reintroduction, augmentation (release of
individuals to supplement an existing
population), or translocation of the
covered species, and protection or
enhancement of aquatic, wetland,
riparian, or adjacent upland habitats for
the covered species. Conservation
measures would be site specific, and
would be developed by the participating
landowner and KDWP. Incidental take
of covered species may occur as a result
of the implementation of conservation
measures or ongoing land management
activities on the enrolled lands.
Covered Species
The addition of the 6 species to the
15 species in the existing agreement
would bring the total number of species
covered under the CCAA/SHA to 21. All
21 species are in the table below.
E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM
01FEN1
6538
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2024 / Notices
Species name
Scientific name
Federal listing status
Federal Register listing citation
Safe Harbor Agreement Covered Species
Fishes:
Arkansas River shiner ............
Notropis girardi .............................
Threatened ...................................
Neosho madtom .....................
Neosho mucket .......................
Noturus placidus ...........................
Lampsilis rafinesqueana ...............
Threatened ...................................
Endangered ..................................
Peppered chub .......................
Topeka shiner .........................
Macrhybopsis tetranema ..............
Notropis topeka ............................
Endangered ..................................
Endangered ..................................
Mussels:
Rabbitsfoot ..............................
Quadrula cylindrica cylindrica .......
Threatened ...................................
Western fanshell .....................
Snuffbox mussel .....................
Spectaclecase ........................
Cyprogenia aberti .........................
Epioblasma triquetra .....................
Cumberlandia monodonta ............
Threatened ...................................
Endangered ..................................
Endangered ..................................
63 FR 64772; November 13,
1998.
55 FR 21148; May 22, 1990.
78 FR 57076; September 17,
2013.
87 FR 11188; February 28, 2022.
63 FR 69008; December 15,
1998.
78 FR 57076; September 17,
2013.
88 FR 41724; June 27, 2023.
77 FR 8631; February 14, 2012.
77 FR 14914; March 13, 2012.
Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances Covered Species
Reptiles:
Alligator snapping turtle ..........
Fishes:
Hornyhead chub .....................
Plains minnow .........................
Silver chub ..............................
Lake sturgeon .........................
Sicklefin chub ..........................
Sturgeon chub ........................
Mussels:
Butterfly mussel ......................
Cylindrical papershell ..............
Flat floater ...............................
Fluted shell .............................
Ouachita kidneyshell ...............
Macrochelys temminckii ...............
Proposed Threatened ...................
86 FR 62434; November 9, 2021.
Nocomis biguttatus .......................
Hybognathus placitus ...................
Macrhybopsis storeriana ..............
Acipenser fulvescens ....................
Macrhybopsis meeki .....................
Macrhybopsis gelida .....................
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
Ellipsaria lineolata .........................
Anodontoides ferussacianus ........
Anodonta suborbiculata ................
Lasmigona costata .......................
Ptychobranchus occidentalis ........
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
Unlisted
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
.........................................
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
Public Availability of Comments
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Written comments we receive become
part of the administrative 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
your entire comment—including your
personal identifying information—may
be made publicly available at any time.
While you can request in your comment
that we withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. All submissions
from organizations or businesses, and
from individuals identifying themselves
as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in
their entirety.
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. 4321 et seq.) and its
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:12 Jan 31, 2024
Jkt 262001
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1500–1508 and 43 CFR 46).
Marjorie Nelson,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological
Services, Mountain-Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2024–01946 Filed 1–31–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R8–ES–2024–0002;
FXES11140800000–245–FF08EVEN00]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
and Plants; Proposed Safe Harbor
Agreement and Proposed Categorical
Exclusion; Los Robles Ranch, Santa
Barbara County, CA
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of
permit application.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of an application for an
enhancement of survival permit
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
As part of the application, the applicant
submitted a proposed safe harbor
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
agreement. The Service prepared a draft
screening form in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act to
evaluate the potential effects of the
specific project to the natural and
human environment. We invite the
public and local, State, Tribal, and
Federal agencies to comment on these
documents. Before issuing the requested
permit, we will take into consideration
any information that we receive during
the public comment period.
DATES: Written comments should be
received on or before March 4, 2024.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: You may
obtain copies of the documents, and any
comments and other materials that we
receive, in Docket No. FWS–R8–ES–
2024–0002 at https://
www.regulations.gov.
Submitting Comments: You may
submit comments on the documents,
and any comments and other materials
that we receive, by one of the following
methods:
• Online: https://
www.regulations.gov. Search for and
submit comments on Docket No. FWS–
R8–ES–2024–0002.
• U.S. mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R8–
E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM
01FEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6536-6538]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01946]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2021-0056; FF06E21000 245 FXES11140600000]
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Proposed Amendment
to Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement and Candidate Conservation
Agreement With Assurances for Kansas Aquatic Species
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are
announcing the availability of documents associated with an application
to amend an enhancement of survival permit (permit) under the
Endangered Species Act. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has
applied to amend the existing Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement and
Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for 15 Aquatic Species
in Kansas (SHA/CCAA) by adding 6 additional covered species: Lake
sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), sicklefin chub (Macrhybopsis meeki),
sturgeon chub (Macrhybopsis gelida), snuffbox mussel (Epioblasma
triquetra), spectaclecase (Cumberlandia monodonta), and Ouachita
kidneyshell (Ptychobranchus occidentalis). The documents available for
review and comment are the applicant's proposed amended programmatic
SHA/CCAA, which is part of the permit amendment application, and our
draft environmental action statement and low-effect screening form,
which support a categorical exclusion for the amendment under the
National Environmental Policy Act. We invite comments from the public
and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.
DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before
March 4, 2024. Comments submitted online at https://www.regulations.gov
[[Page 6537]]
(see ADDRESSES) must be received by 11:59 p.m. eastern time on March 4,
2024.
ADDRESSES:
Obtaining Documents: The documents this notice announces, as well
as any comments and other materials that we receive, will be available
for public inspection online in Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2021-0056 at
https://www.regulations.gov.
Submitting Comments: To submit written comments, please use one of
the following methods, and note that your information request or
comments are in reference to the Kansas Aquatic SHA/CCAA amendment.
Online: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments on Docket Number FWS-R6-ES-2021-
0056.
U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No.
FWS-R6-ES-2021-0056; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS:
PRB/3W; 5275 Leesburg Pike; Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gibran Suleiman, by phone at 785-539-
3474, extension 114, or by email at [email protected].
Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of
hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), have received an application from the Kansas Department of
Wildlife and Parks (KDWP, applicant) to amend their existing 50-year
enhancement of survival permit (permit) under the Endangered Species
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The amendment
requests the addition of 6 species to the 15 species already covered by
the applicant's approved programmatic safe harbor agreement (SHA) and
candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) on non-Federal
lands in the State of Kansas. The documents available for review and
comment are the applicant's proposed amended programmatic SHA/CCAA,
which is part of the permit amendment application, and our draft
environmental action statement and low-effect screening form for the
amendment request, which support a categorical exclusion under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). We
invite comments on documents from the public and Federal, Tribal,
State, and local governments.
Background
Via a Federal Register notice published on September 15, 2021 (86
FR 51366), we announced the availability of KDWP's original application
for an enhancement of survival permit with a 50-year term, which
included a proposed programmatic SHA/CCAA for 14 aquatic species in
Kansas, and our draft environmental action statement and low-effect
screening form, which supported a categorical exclusion under NEPA. The
comment period was open until October 15, 2021. After considering the
application, associated materials, and the 15 public comments received,
we issued the requested permit. On October 12, 2022, we announced via a
Federal Register notice (87 FR 62114) the availability of KDWP's
subsequent application to amend their enhancement of survival permit to
include one additional covered species, the western fanshell
(Cyprogenia aberti). The comment period for the amendment was open
until November 14, 2022, and we issued the requested amended permit
after considering the application, associated materials, and the three
public comments received. To provide background information, we have
made the original 2021 proposed programmatic SHA and CCAA, and the 2022
amendment, along with related documents and comments, available for
review in https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R6-ES-2021-
0056. However, we will not be taking further comments on those
documents.
Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements With
Assurances
An SHA is an agreement between the Service, partners, and
landowners for voluntary management of non-Federal lands to contribute
towards recovery of ESA-listed species in a manner that is consistent
with the Service's policy on SHAs (64 FR 32717, June 17, 1999) and
applicable regulations. A CCAA is an agreement between the Service,
partners, and landowners for voluntary management of non-Federal lands
to remove or reduce key threats to species that may become listed under
the ESA, in a manner that is consistent with the Service's policy on
CCAAs (81 FR 95164, December 27, 2016) and applicable regulations. In
return for implementing conservation measures in a SHA/CCAA, the
Service gives participants assurances that the Service will not impose
land, water, or resource use restrictions or conservation requirements
on ESA-listed species, or those that may become listed, beyond those
agreed to in the SHA/CCAA.
Applicant's Proposed Amendment to Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement/
Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances
KDWP's purpose in amending its programmatic SHA/CCAA is to add the
lake sturgeon, sicklefin chub, sturgeon chub, snuffbox mussel,
spectaclecase, and Ouachita kidneyshell, to facilitate the
reintroduction and implementation of conservation measures for the
species on non-Federal lands in Kansas. The documents available for
review and comment are the proposed amended programmatic SHA/CCAA,
which is part of the permit application, and our draft environmental
action statement and low-effect screening form, which support a
categorical exclusion under NEPA.
To enroll in the programmatic SHA/CCAA, a non-Federal landowner
would enter into a landowner agreement with KDWP to enroll all or a
portion of their property under the SHA and/or CCAA. Upon signature by
both parties, KDWP would issue a certificate of inclusion to the non-
Federal landowner, extending assurances and take authorization to the
participating landowner for the appropriate covered species. The
requested permit duration is for 50 years, starting on December 15,
2021 (the date of original permit issuance). Proposed conservation
measures include the introduction, reintroduction, augmentation
(release of individuals to supplement an existing population), or
translocation of the covered species, and protection or enhancement of
aquatic, wetland, riparian, or adjacent upland habitats for the covered
species. Conservation measures would be site specific, and would be
developed by the participating landowner and KDWP. Incidental take of
covered species may occur as a result of the implementation of
conservation measures or ongoing land management activities on the
enrolled lands.
Covered Species
The addition of the 6 species to the 15 species in the existing
agreement would bring the total number of species covered under the
CCAA/SHA to 21. All 21 species are in the table below.
[[Page 6538]]
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Federal Register
Species name Scientific name Federal listing status listing citation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Safe Harbor Agreement Covered Species
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Fishes:
Arkansas River shiner............ Notropis girardi....... Threatened............. 63 FR 64772; November
13, 1998.
Neosho madtom.................... Noturus placidus....... Threatened............. 55 FR 21148; May 22,
1990.
Neosho mucket.................... Lampsilis rafinesqueana Endangered............. 78 FR 57076; September
17, 2013.
Peppered chub.................... Macrhybopsis tetranema. Endangered............. 87 FR 11188; February
28, 2022.
Topeka shiner.................... Notropis topeka........ Endangered............. 63 FR 69008; December
15, 1998.
Mussels:
Rabbitsfoot...................... Quadrula cylindrica Threatened............. 78 FR 57076; September
cylindrica. 17, 2013.
Western fanshell................. Cyprogenia aberti...... Threatened............. 88 FR 41724; June 27,
2023.
Snuffbox mussel.................. Epioblasma triquetra... Endangered............. 77 FR 8631; February
14, 2012.
Spectaclecase.................... Cumberlandia monodonta. Endangered............. 77 FR 14914; March 13,
2012.
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Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances Covered Species
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reptiles:
Alligator snapping turtle........ Macrochelys temminckii. Proposed Threatened.... 86 FR 62434; November
9, 2021.
Fishes:
Hornyhead chub................... Nocomis biguttatus..... Unlisted............... N/A.
Plains minnow.................... Hybognathus placitus... Unlisted............... N/A.
Silver chub...................... Macrhybopsis storeriana Unlisted............... N/A.
Lake sturgeon.................... Acipenser fulvescens... Unlisted............... N/A.
Sicklefin chub................... Macrhybopsis meeki..... Unlisted............... N/A.
Sturgeon chub.................... Macrhybopsis gelida.... Unlisted............... N/A.
Mussels:
Butterfly mussel................. Ellipsaria lineolata... Unlisted............... N/A.
Cylindrical papershell........... Anodontoides Unlisted............... N/A.
ferussacianus.
Flat floater..................... Anodonta suborbiculata. Unlisted............... N/A.
Fluted shell..................... Lasmigona costata...... Unlisted............... N/A.
Ouachita kidneyshell............. Ptychobranchus Unlisted............... N/A.
occidentalis.
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Public Availability of Comments
Written comments we receive become part of the administrative
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 your entire comment--
including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly
available at any time. While you can request in your comment that we
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or
businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their
entirety.
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. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40
CFR 1500-1508 and 43 CFR 46).
Marjorie Nelson,
Acting Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Mountain-
Prairie Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-01946 Filed 1-31-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
