Fish and Wildlife Service May 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) permit to conduct activities with the potential for take of endangered and threatened species that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out otherwise lawful activities. We invite comments on the applicant's permit application and habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the associated environmental assessment, which we have prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act. We will take comments into consideration before issuance of the requested permit.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), invite the public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and foreign or native species for which the Service has jurisdiction under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With some exceptions, the ESA and the MMPA prohibit activities with listed species unless Federal authorization is issued that allows such activities. The ESA and MMPA also require that we invite public comment before issuing permits for any activity otherwise prohibited by the ESA or MMPA with respect to any endangered species or marine mammals.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the availability of a joint final environmental impact statement and final environmental impact report (final EIS/EIR) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as amended. We also announce the availability of a final Western Placer County Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (Final Plan). The National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are cooperating agencies on the final EIS/EIR.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are proposing to renew an existing information collection with revisions.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Lennar Homes (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink incidental to construction in Orange County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low effect,'' categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Asma & Asma (applicant) for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The applicant requests the ITP to take the federally listed sand skink incidental to construction in Lake County, Florida. We request public comment on the application, which includes the applicant's proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), and the Service's preliminary determination that this HCP qualifies as ``low-effect,'' categorically excluded, under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, both of which are also available for public review.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a final environmental impact statement (EIS) analyzing the impacts of issuance of two incidental take permits (ITPs) under the Endangered Species Act for implementation of the Upper Santa Ana River Wash Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). Our proposed decision is to issue 30-year ITPs to the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (District) and the San Bernardino County Flood Control District (SBCFCD) covering two federally listed animal species, two federally listed plant species, and one non-listed animal species. The HCP covers activities for water conservation, aggregate mining, recreation, flood control, and other public services in San Bernardino County, California. The final EIS is a joint Environmental Impact Statement/ Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (EIS/SEIR). The final SEIR portion of the joint document was prepared by the District in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are proposing to reinstate a previously approved information collection with revisions.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (Department) is seeking nominations for the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Advisory Council (Council) to advise the Secretary of the Interior regarding the Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize competitions. In addition, the Department is seeking nominations for the five Advisory Boards (Boards) to help implement the Prizes.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) is revising regulations governing the annual Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Contest, also known as the Federal Duck Stamp Contest (Contest). We are instituting changes to design elements and judging requirements beginning with the 2020 Contest. Beginning in 2020, the Contest will include a permanent theme of ``celebrating our waterfowl hunting heritage,'' and it will be mandatory that each entry include an appropriate waterfowl hunting scene and/or accessory.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act. We also announce receipt of an application for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and receipt of a draft habitat conservation plan. The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) (applicant) has applied for an incidental take permit under the ESA for the Dos Osos Reservoir Replacement Project in Contra Costa County, California. The permit would authorize the take of one species incidental to the construction of the project. Incidental take coverage is not being sought for operation and maintenance of the project, as these activities are covered, analyzed, and mitigated for under the existing EBMUD Low- Effect East Bay HCP. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing the requested permit, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received applications for permits to conduct activities intended to enhance the propagation or survival of endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. We invite the public and local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to comment on these applications. Before issuing any of the requested permits, we will take into consideration any information that we receive during the public comment period.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are reopening the public comment period for the incidental take permit (ITP) application received from the Pueblo of Santa Clara supported by a low-effect habitat conservation plan (LEHCP).