Department of the Interior March 17, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Sweetwater Authority (applicant) for a 5- year incidental take permit for one covered species pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The application addresses the potential for ``take'' of the endangered San Diego fairy shrimp associated with the proposed use of an established hiking, biking, and equestrian trail near the Sweetwater Reservoir in unincorporated San Diego County, California. A conservation program to avoid, minimize, and mitigate for the project activities would be implemented as described in the proposed Sweetwater Riding and Hiking Trail Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan (proposed HCP), which would be implemented by the applicant. We are requesting comments on the permit application and on the preliminary determination that the proposed HCP qualifies as a ``low- effect'' Habitat Conservation Plan, eligible for a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The basis for this determination is discussed in the Environmental Action Statement (EAS) and the associated Low Effect Screening Form, which are also available for public review.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) adds 6 national wildlife refuges to the list of areas open for hunting and/or sport fishing, adds new hunts at 6 refuges, increases the hunting activities available at 20 other refuges, and increases fishing opportunities at 2 refuges, along with adopting pertinent refuge-specific regulations on other refuges that pertain to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting, and sport fishing for the 2013-2014 season.