Fish and Wildlife Service October 4, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a habitat conservation plan (HCP) in support of incidental take permit (ITP) applications received from the Deschutes Basin Board of Control (DBBC), on behalf of its eight member irrigation districts, and the City of Prineville (applicants). The eight irrigation districts that make up the DBBC are Arnold, Central Oregon, Lone Pine, North Unit, Ochoco, Swalley, Three Sisters, and Tumalo. The applicants have submitted applications for ITPs to both the Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service for the species under each agency's jurisdiction. Applicants are seeking authorization for the incidental take of five species that is expected to result from the storage, release, diversion, and return of irrigation water by the DBBC member districts and groundwater withdrawals, effluent discharges, and surface water diversions by the City of Prineville. Also available for review is the Service's draft environmental impact statement (DEIS), which was prepared, pursuant to NEPA, in response to the applications. We are seeking public comments on the HCP and DEIS.