Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink; Polk County, FL; Categorical Exclusion, 102160-102161 [2024-29656]

Download as PDF 102160 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2024 / Notices TABLE 1—PERMIT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED—Continued Application No. Applicant, city, state Species 134338 ................... Brenna Ogg, San Diego, California. CA Survey, pursue, capture, handle, release, collect adult vouchers, and collect resting eggs. Renew and amend. 62708B .................. Mary Halterman, Onyx, California. National Park Service— Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California. San Francisco Zoological Society, San Francisco, California. • Quino checkerspot butterfly (Euphydryas editha quino). • Conservancy fairy shrimp (Branchinecta conservatio). • Longhorn fairy shrimp (Branchinecta longiantenna). • Vernal pool tadpole shrimp (Lepidurus packardi). • Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus woottoni). • San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta sandiegonensis). • Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus). • San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia). CA Survey .................................................. Renew. CA Amend. • Foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), South Coast and South Sierra distinct population segments. • San Francisco garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia). • California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) Santa Barbara County and Sonoma County distinct population segments. CA, NV Survey, capture, handle, temporarily hold in captivity, transport, mark, conduct telemetry, collect biological samples, and release. Transport, captive-rear, provide veterinary treatment and husbandry, take biological samples, mark, provide disease treatment and immunization, hold for educational display, release, sacrifice, and necropsy. 036499 ................... 92167B .................. Public Availability of Comments DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 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, will be made available for public disclosure in their entirety. Fish and Wildlife Service Next Steps If we decide to issue permits to any of the applicants listed in this notice, we will publish a notice in the Federal Register. Authority ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Location We publish this notice under section 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Angela Picco, Regional Threatened and Endangered Species Lead, Ecological Services, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, California. [FR Doc. 2024–29643 Filed 12–16–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:45 Dec 16, 2024 Jkt 265001 Take activity [Docket No. FWS–R4–ES–2024–0189; FXES11140400000–256–FF04EF4000] Receipt of Incidental Take Permit Application and Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink; Polk County, FL; Categorical Exclusion AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. Notice of availability; request for comments and information. ACTION: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from RWLC Development Sub, 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 and bluetail mole skink (skinks) incidental to the construction of a commercial development in Polk 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 SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Permit action Amend. 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 January 16, 2025. 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–2024–0189 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–2024–0189; or • U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. FWS–R4– ES–2024–0189; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Gawera, by U.S. mail (see ADDRESSES), by telephone at 904–404–2464, or via email at erin_gawera@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 E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 242 / Tuesday, December 17, 2024 / Notices 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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from RWLC Development Sub, LLC (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 federally listed sand skinks (Neoseps reynoldsi) and bluetail mole skinks (Eumeces egregius lividus) (skinks), federally listed as threatened under the ESA, incidental to the construction and operation of a commercial development in Polk County, Florida. We request public comments on the application, which includes the applicant’s habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on the Service’s preliminary determination that this proposed ITP qualifies as ‘‘low effect,’’ and may qualify for a categorical exclusion pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality’s National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1501.4), the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) NEPA regulations (43 CFR 46), and the DOI’s Departmental Manual (516 DM 8.5(C)(2)). 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. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 Proposed Project The applicant requests a 5-year ITP to take skinks via the conversion of approximately 1.68 acres (ac) of occupied nesting, foraging, and sheltering skink habitat incidental to the construction and operation of a commercial development on 12.64 ac on Parcel #: 27–26–29–706500–030310 and 27–26–29–706500–030300 in Section 29, Township 26 S, Range 27 E, Polk County, Florida. The applicant proposes to mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits equivalent to 3.36 ac of skink-occupied habitat within the Lake Wales Ridge Conservation Bank or another Service-approved conservation bank. The Service would require the applicant to purchase the credits 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 of the buildings and associated infrastructure (e.g., electric, water, and sewer lines)—would individually and cumulatively have a minor or negligible effect on the skinks VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:45 Dec 16, 2024 Jkt 265001 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 the skinks 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 incidental take permit is one that would result in (1) minor or negligible 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 reasonably foreseeable actions, would not result in significant cumulative effects to the human environment. 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 PER13163374 to RWLC Development Sub, LLC. 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. PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 102161 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 parts 1500 through 1508 and 43 CFR part 46). Robert L. Carey, Manager, Division of Environmental Review, Florida Ecological Services Field Office. [FR Doc. 2024–29656 Filed 12–16–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333–15–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [PO4820000251] Wyoming Resource Advisory Council Announces 2025 Meetings Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meetings. AGENCY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wyoming Resource Advisory Council (RAC) is announcing its 2025 meeting dates. DATES: The Wyoming RAC will meet as follows: • January 29, 2025, in-person and virtually, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT. A speaker presentation will be held January 30, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m.; • April 23, 2025, in-person and virtually, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT. A field tour will be held April 24, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m.; • July 9, in-person and virtually, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT. A field tour will be held July 10, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m.; • October 21, in-person and virtually, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MT. A field tour will be held October 22, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m. All meetings and field tours are open to the public. The public is responsible for their own transportation on field tours and to meetings. ADDRESSES: The January 29 meeting will be held at the BLM Wyoming State Office at 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009, as well as virtually through the Zoom platform. The April 23 meeting will be held at a determined Wyoming Field Office, as well as virtually through the Zoom platform. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17DEN1.SGM 17DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 102160-102161]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-29656]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[Docket No. FWS-R4-ES-2024-0189; FXES11140400000-256-FF04EF4000]


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt 
of an application from RWLC Development Sub, 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 and 
bluetail mole skink (skinks) incidental to the construction of a 
commercial development in Polk 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 January 16, 
2025.

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-2024-0189 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-2024-0189; 
or
     U.S. mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: Docket No. 
FWS-R4-ES-2024-0189; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS: PRB/3W, 5275 
Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Gawera, by U.S. mail (see 
ADDRESSES), by telephone at 904-404-2464, or via 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

[[Page 102161]]

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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 
announce receipt of an application from RWLC Development Sub, LLC 
(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 federally listed sand skinks 
(Neoseps reynoldsi) and bluetail mole skinks (Eumeces egregius lividus) 
(skinks), federally listed as threatened under the ESA, incidental to 
the construction and operation of a commercial development in Polk 
County, Florida. We request public comments on the application, which 
includes the applicant's habitat conservation plan (HCP), and on the 
Service's preliminary determination that this proposed ITP qualifies as 
``low effect,'' and may qualify for a categorical exclusion pursuant to 
the Council on Environmental Quality's National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) regulations (40 CFR 1501.4), the Department of the 
Interior's (DOI) NEPA regulations (43 CFR 46), and the DOI's 
Departmental Manual (516 DM 8.5(C)(2)). 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.

Proposed Project

    The applicant requests a 5-year ITP to take skinks via the 
conversion of approximately 1.68 acres (ac) of occupied nesting, 
foraging, and sheltering skink habitat incidental to the construction 
and operation of a commercial development on 12.64 ac on Parcel #: 27-
26-29-706500-030310 and 27-26-29-706500-030300 in Section 29, Township 
26 S, Range 27 E, Polk County, Florida. The applicant proposes to 
mitigate for take of the skinks by purchasing credits equivalent to 
3.36 ac of skink-occupied habitat within the Lake Wales Ridge 
Conservation Bank or another Service-approved conservation bank. The 
Service would require the applicant to purchase the credits 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 of the 
buildings and associated infrastructure (e.g., electric, water, and 
sewer lines)--would individually and cumulatively have a minor or 
negligible effect on the skinks 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 the skinks 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 incidental take permit is one 
that would result in (1) minor or negligible 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 reasonably foreseeable actions, would not result in 
significant cumulative effects to the human environment.

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 PER13163374 to RWLC Development Sub, LLC.

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 parts 
1500 through 1508 and 43 CFR part 46).

Robert L. Carey,
Manager, Division of Environmental Review, Florida Ecological Services 
Field Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-29656 Filed 12-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
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