Record of Decision for the Barred Owl Management Strategy; Washington, Oregon, and California, 72881-72882 [2024-20073]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 173 / Friday, September 6, 2024 / Notices
implementing the Service’s standard
protection measures for the Eastern
indigo snake during implementation of
activities associated with the
construction and operation of the solar
facility. The applicant proposes to
mitigate for take of the Eastern indigo
snake by contributing $403,620.00 to the
Wildlife Foundation of Florida’s Eastern
Indigo Snake Conservation Fund. These
funds will be used for the management
or restoration of Eastern indigo snake
habitat, purchase of occupied habitat,
purchase of development rights of
occupied habitat, or a combination
thereof, in Georgia. The Service would
require the applicant to provide the
contribution of the funds prior to
engaging in any phase of the project.
Our Preliminary Determination
The Service has made a preliminary
determination that the applicant’s
proposed project, including the
construction and operation of the solar
facility, would individually and
cumulatively have a minor effect on the
Eastern indigo snake and the human
environment. Therefore, we have
preliminarily determined that the
proposed ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) permit
would be a low-effect ITP that
individually or cumulatively would
have a minor effect on Eastern indigo
snakes and may qualify for application
of a categorical exclusion pursuant to
the Council on Environmental Quality’s
NEPA regulations, DOI’s NEPA
regulations, and the DOI Departmental
Manual. A low-effect ITP is one that
would result in (1) minor or
nonsignificant effects on species
covered in the HCP; (2) nonsignificant
effects on the human environment; and
(3) impacts that, when added together
with the impacts of other past, present,
and reasonable foreseeable actions,
would not result in significant
cumulative effects to the human
environment.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Next Steps
The Service will evaluate the
application and the comments to
determine whether to issue the
requested ITP. 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 and other
matters, 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
PER 11935051 to Double Run Solar,
LLC.
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16:42 Sep 05, 2024
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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. If you submit a
comment at https://
www.regulations.gov, your entire
comment, including any personal
identifying information will be posted
on the website. If you submit a
hardcopy comment that includes
personal identifying information, such
as your address, phone number, or
email address, you may request at the
top of your document that we withhold
this information from public review.
However, we cannot guarantee that we
will be able to do so. Moreover, 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
The Service provides this notice
under section 10(c) of the Endangered
Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and
its implementing regulations (50 CFR
17.32) and the National Environmental
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and
its implementing regulations (40 CFR
1500–1508 and 43 CFR 46).
Peter Maholland,
Field Supervisor, Georgia Ecological Services
Office.
[FR Doc. 2024–20087 Filed 9–5–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–R1–ES–2022–0074;
ES11140100000–245–FF01E0000]
Record of Decision for the Barred Owl
Management Strategy; Washington,
Oregon, and California
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; record of
decision.
AGENCY:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) announces the
availability of a record of decision
(ROD) for the final environmental
impact statement for the Barred Owl
Management Strategy (strategy) in
Washington, Oregon, and California.
With this notice, we also make available
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00062
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
72881
the final strategy. The ROD documents
the Service’s decision to select the
preferred alternative to address the
threat that the nonnative and invasive
barred owl (Strix varia) poses to the
northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis
caurina) and the California spotted owl
(Strix occidentalis occidentalis).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of
the ROD and other documents
associated with the decision by any of
the following methods:
• Internet: https://
www.regulations.gov (search for Docket
No. FWS–R1–ES–2022–0074) or at
https://www.fws.gov/project/barred-owlmanagement.
• Upon Request: You may request
alternative formats of the documents
directly from the Service (see FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robin Bown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Office, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office,
by telephone at 503–231–6923, or by
email at robin_bown@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: The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
announces the availability of its record
of decision (ROD) for the final
environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the Barred Owl Management
Strategy (strategy) in Washington,
Oregon, and California developed in
compliance with agency decisionmaking requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (NEPA). Implementation of
the selected strategy focuses on the
removal of the nonnative and invasive
barred owl populations in identified
management areas in Washington,
Oregon, and California. Where barred
owls are in the early stages of invasion,
such as in the California spotted owl’s
range, the strategy allows for removal of
all barred owls in order to prevent
establishment of barred owl
populations. The barred owl is
protected under the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act (MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 703–712),
which prohibits take of protected
migratory bird species unless authorized
by the Service through permit or
regulation (50 CFR 21.10). This decision
includes issuance of a Migratory Bird
Special Purpose permit under the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM
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72882
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 173 / Friday, September 6, 2024 / Notices
Spotted owls are native to western
North America. Competition from
barred owls (Strix varia) has been
identified as a primary threat to the
northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis
caurina), which is listed as threatened
under the Endangered Species Act
(ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as well as
a threat to the persistence of California
spotted owl (Strix occidentalis
occidentalis), which the Service has
proposed for listing (88 FR 11600;
February 23, 2023). Barred owls, native
to eastern North America, began to
expand their range around 1900 as a
likely result of European settlement.
Barred owls are larger and more
aggressive than the northern spotted owl
and the California spotted owl. Upon
reaching the Pacific Northwest, barred
owls displaced spotted owls from their
historic territories. Without
management of barred owls, extirpation
of northern spotted owls from major
portions of their historic range is likely
in the near future. While barred owls
have not substantially impacted
California spotted owl populations to
date, the establishment of a small barred
owl population in the northern Sierra
Nevada mountains, and the history of
the invasion and impacts on northern
spotted owls following such expansion,
demonstrates that barred owls are also
a significant threat to the persistence of
California spotted owls. The purpose of
this action is to reduce barred owl
populations to improve the survival and
recovery of northern spotted owls and to
prevent declines in California spotted
owls from barred owl competition.
The Service published a notice of
intent (NOI) in the Federal Register to
develop an EIS for this project on July
22, 2022 (87 FR 43886). The Service
published a notice of availability (NOA)
for the draft EIS on November 17, 2023
(88 FR 80329) and published an NOA
for the final EIS on July 5, 2024 (89 FR
55647). The EIS analyzed the
environmental consequences of the
preferred action (Alternative 2,
Management Strategy Implementation),
a no action alternative, and four
alternatives to the preferred action
outlining different management
frameworks for entities (Federal, State
or Tribal government agencies, or
private landowners) to implement
barred owl management. All action
alternatives included issuance of an
MBTA Special Purpose permit for
management to reduce barred owl
populations in areas within the northern
spotted owl’s range and to prevent
establishment of barred owl populations
within the California spotted owl’s
range.
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16:42 Sep 05, 2024
Jkt 262001
We are advising the public of the
availability of the ROD, documenting
the Service’s decision to issue a
Migratory Bird Special Purpose permit
pursuant to the MBTA under EIS,
Alternative 2, Management Strategy
Implementation (Preferred Alternative).
Alternative 2 combines three
approaches to barred owl management
within the northern spotted owl’s range
and focuses on early detection and rapid
response in the California spotted owl’s
range. Alternative 2 best accomplishes
the purpose and need for action because
it will allow for rapid implementation of
barred owl management on specific
areas across the range of the northern
spotted owl in a manner that allows for
a swift reduction in barred owl numbers
and the impact of barred owls within
these targeted management areas. The
focus in Alternative 2 on location and
removal of all barred owls in the range
of the California spotted owl and
associated invasion pathways will also
limit the invasion of barred owls and
allow for removal of those individuals
that succeed in establishing territories
in the subspecies’ range.
The Service has prepared this ROD
pursuant to the Council on
Environmental Quality’s (CEQ’s)
implementing NEPA regulations at 40
CFR parts 1500–1508, which became
effective on May 20, 2022 (87 FR 23453;
April 20, 2022). Because the Service
published a notice of intent (NOI) to
develop an EIS for this project on July
22, 2022, prior to the July 1, 2024,
effective date for the Council on
Environmental Quality’s updated NEPA
regulations, the draft EIS, final EIS, and
ROD were prepared according to the
2022 regulations.
Authority
We provide this notice in accordance
with the requirements of NEPA and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR
1503.1 and 1506.6).
Hugh Morrison,
Regional Director, Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2024–20073 Filed 9–5–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2024–0134;
FXES11140400000–245–FF04EF4000]
Receipt of Incidental Take Permit
Application and Proposed Habitat
Conservation Plan for the Audubon’s
Crested Caracara; Hardee County, FL;
Categorical Exclusion
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:
We, the Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service), announce receipt of
an application from Mosaic Fertilizer,
LLC (applicant) for an incidental take
permit (ITP) under the Endangered
Species Act. The applicant requests the
ITP to take a portion of the breeding
territory of the federally listed crested
caracara (Audubon’s) [FL DPS]
(Caracara plancus audubonii)
incidental to the construction and
operation of a phosphate mine in
Hardee 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 the proposed
permitting action may be eligible for a
categorical exclusion pursuant to the
Council on Environmental Quality’s
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) regulations, the Department of
the Interior’s (DOI) NEPA regulations,
and the DOI Departmental Manual. To
make this preliminary determination,
we prepared a draft environmental
action statement and low-effect
screening form, both of which are also
available for public review. We invite
comment from the public and local,
State, Tribal, and Federal agencies.
DATES: We must receive your written
comments on or before October 7, 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–
R4–ES–2024–0134 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
one of the following methods:
• Online: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments
on Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2024–0134.
• U.S. mail: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4–
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 173 (Friday, September 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72881-72882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20073]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0074; ES11140100000-245-FF01E0000]
Record of Decision for the Barred Owl Management Strategy;
Washington, Oregon, and California
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; record of decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the
availability of a record of decision (ROD) for the final environmental
impact statement for the Barred Owl Management Strategy (strategy) in
Washington, Oregon, and California. With this notice, we also make
available the final strategy. The ROD documents the Service's decision
to select the preferred alternative to address the threat that the
nonnative and invasive barred owl (Strix varia) poses to the northern
spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) and the California spotted owl
(Strix occidentalis occidentalis).
ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the ROD and other documents
associated with the decision by any of the following methods:
Internet: https://www.regulations.gov (search for Docket
No. FWS-R1-ES-2022-0074) or at https://www.fws.gov/project/barred-owl-management.
Upon Request: You may request alternative formats of the
documents directly from the Service (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robin Bown, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Office, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office, by telephone at 503-231-6923,
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: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)
announces the availability of its record of decision (ROD) for the
final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Barred Owl
Management Strategy (strategy) in Washington, Oregon, and California
developed in compliance with agency decision-making requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA).
Implementation of the selected strategy focuses on the removal of the
nonnative and invasive barred owl populations in identified management
areas in Washington, Oregon, and California. Where barred owls are in
the early stages of invasion, such as in the California spotted owl's
range, the strategy allows for removal of all barred owls in order to
prevent establishment of barred owl populations. The barred owl is
protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA; 16 U.S.C. 703-
712), which prohibits take of protected migratory bird species unless
authorized by the Service through permit or regulation (50 CFR 21.10).
This decision includes issuance of a Migratory Bird Special Purpose
permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).
[[Page 72882]]
Spotted owls are native to western North America. Competition from
barred owls (Strix varia) has been identified as a primary threat to
the northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), which is listed
as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), as well as a threat to the persistence of California spotted owl
(Strix occidentalis occidentalis), which the Service has proposed for
listing (88 FR 11600; February 23, 2023). Barred owls, native to
eastern North America, began to expand their range around 1900 as a
likely result of European settlement. Barred owls are larger and more
aggressive than the northern spotted owl and the California spotted
owl. Upon reaching the Pacific Northwest, barred owls displaced spotted
owls from their historic territories. Without management of barred
owls, extirpation of northern spotted owls from major portions of their
historic range is likely in the near future. While barred owls have not
substantially impacted California spotted owl populations to date, the
establishment of a small barred owl population in the northern Sierra
Nevada mountains, and the history of the invasion and impacts on
northern spotted owls following such expansion, demonstrates that
barred owls are also a significant threat to the persistence of
California spotted owls. The purpose of this action is to reduce barred
owl populations to improve the survival and recovery of northern
spotted owls and to prevent declines in California spotted owls from
barred owl competition.
The Service published a notice of intent (NOI) in the Federal
Register to develop an EIS for this project on July 22, 2022 (87 FR
43886). The Service published a notice of availability (NOA) for the
draft EIS on November 17, 2023 (88 FR 80329) and published an NOA for
the final EIS on July 5, 2024 (89 FR 55647). The EIS analyzed the
environmental consequences of the preferred action (Alternative 2,
Management Strategy Implementation), a no action alternative, and four
alternatives to the preferred action outlining different management
frameworks for entities (Federal, State or Tribal government agencies,
or private landowners) to implement barred owl management. All action
alternatives included issuance of an MBTA Special Purpose permit for
management to reduce barred owl populations in areas within the
northern spotted owl's range and to prevent establishment of barred owl
populations within the California spotted owl's range.
We are advising the public of the availability of the ROD,
documenting the Service's decision to issue a Migratory Bird Special
Purpose permit pursuant to the MBTA under EIS, Alternative 2,
Management Strategy Implementation (Preferred Alternative). Alternative
2 combines three approaches to barred owl management within the
northern spotted owl's range and focuses on early detection and rapid
response in the California spotted owl's range. Alternative 2 best
accomplishes the purpose and need for action because it will allow for
rapid implementation of barred owl management on specific areas across
the range of the northern spotted owl in a manner that allows for a
swift reduction in barred owl numbers and the impact of barred owls
within these targeted management areas. The focus in Alternative 2 on
location and removal of all barred owls in the range of the California
spotted owl and associated invasion pathways will also limit the
invasion of barred owls and allow for removal of those individuals that
succeed in establishing territories in the subspecies' range.
The Service has prepared this ROD pursuant to the Council on
Environmental Quality's (CEQ's) implementing NEPA regulations at 40 CFR
parts 1500-1508, which became effective on May 20, 2022 (87 FR 23453;
April 20, 2022). Because the Service published a notice of intent (NOI)
to develop an EIS for this project on July 22, 2022, prior to the July
1, 2024, effective date for the Council on Environmental Quality's
updated NEPA regulations, the draft EIS, final EIS, and ROD were
prepared according to the 2022 regulations.
Authority
We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of NEPA
and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1503.1 and 1506.6).
Hugh Morrison,
Regional Director, Pacific Region.
[FR Doc. 2024-20073 Filed 9-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
