80_FR_11504 80 FR 11463 - Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed South Coast Resource Management Plan Amendment; for the Proposed Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan and Land Exchange

80 FR 11463 - Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed South Coast Resource Management Plan Amendment; for the Proposed Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan and Land Exchange

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 41 (March 3, 2015)

Page Range11463-11466
FR Document2015-04341

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM), intend to prepare a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, for the proposed Upper Santa Ana River Wash Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and a related land exchange. The SDEIS will be a joint Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), for which the Service, the BLM, and the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (District) intend to gather information necessary for preparation. The proposed HCP has been drafted to meet the requirements of the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, and the State of California's Endangered Species Act and Natural Communities Conservation Planning Act. The BLM, in compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, as amended, will consider this NEPA process and the resulting HCP documents in its analysis toward possible amendment of the BLM South Coast Resource Management Plan (SCRMP) to support the land exchange.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11463-11466]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04341]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2015-N254; FXES11120000-156-FF08E00000]


Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Proposed South Coast Resource Management Plan Amendment; for the 
Proposed Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan and Land 
Exchange

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior; Bureau of Land Management, 
Interior.

[[Page 11464]]


ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of public meeting; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM), intend to prepare a Supplemental Draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) under the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, for the proposed Upper Santa Ana 
River Wash Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and a related land 
exchange. The SDEIS will be a joint Environmental Impact Statement/
Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR), for which the Service, the BLM, 
and the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District (District) 
intend to gather information necessary for preparation. The proposed 
HCP has been drafted to meet the requirements of the Federal Endangered 
Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, and the State of California's 
Endangered Species Act and Natural Communities Conservation Planning 
Act. The BLM, in compliance with the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act, as amended, will consider this NEPA process and the resulting HCP 
documents in its analysis toward possible amendment of the BLM South 
Coast Resource Management Plan (SCRMP) to support the land exchange.

DATES: Please send written comments on or before May 4, 2015.
    We will hold two public scoping meetings on March 18, 2015, from 2 
to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the San Bernardino Valley Water 
Conservation District office located at 1630 West Redlands Avenue, 
Redlands, CA 92373. In addition to this notice, we will announce the 
public scoping meetings in local news media and on the Internet at the 
BLM Web site (http://www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings) and the Service Web 
site (http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad) at least 15 days prior to the event. 
For more information, see Public Comments and Reasonable Accommodation 
in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

ADDRESSES: Comments or requests for more information specific to the 
proposed land exchange and amendment to the SCRMP should be sent via 
any one of the following methods:
    U.S. Mail: Brandon Anderson, Santa Ana River Wash Project, Bureau 
of Land Management, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
    Email: [email protected]. Subject line should include ``Scoping 
Comments for the Upper Santa Ana River Wash Project.''
    Comments or requests for more information specific to the issuance 
of an incidental take permit and the HCP should be sent to the 
following:
    U.S. Mail: Kennon Corey, Santa Ana River Wash Project, Palm Springs 
Fish and Wildlife Service Office, 777 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 
208, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Brandon Anderson, Santa 
Ana River Wash Project, Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs South 
Coast Field Office, by telephone at 760-833-7117, or by email at 
[email protected], or Kennon Corey, Santa Ana River Wash Project, by 
mail at Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 777 East Tahquitz Canyon 
Way, Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262 or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In 1993, representatives of numerous agencies, including water, 
mining, flood control, wildlife, and municipal interests, formed a Wash 
Committee to address mining issues that were local to the upper Santa 
Ana River wash area. The role of the Committee was subsequently 
expanded, and it began meeting in 1997 to determine how this area might 
accommodate the ongoing and contemplated future activities of the 
participating entities. To achieve this goal, the Wash Committee worked 
with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the 
Service to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), which would 
establish a structure to integrate ongoing operations and planned 
projects with biological resource conservation within the Plan area. 
The District prepared a draft HCP on behalf of the Wash Committee in 
November 2008 and subsequently revised it in January 2010. The District 
and the Wash Committee subsequently worked with the Service and CDFW to 
revise the HCP, which now provides additional conservation. The 
District and the Wash Committee have also been working with the BLM to 
facilitate a land exchange to accommodate the HCP conservation 
strategy.
    The Supplemental Draft EIR/EIS (SDEIS) will provide an updated 
analysis to the 2009 Draft EIS issued by the BLM in April 2009 for the 
Proposed Santa Ana River Wash Land Use Plan Amendment and Land Exchange 
and the Final EIR issued by the District for the HCP. The SDEIS will 
consider the environmental effects associated with the proposed land 
exchange, the proposed amendment to the SCRMP, and the proposed HCP, as 
well as those of several alternatives.
    The SDEIS will evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts of several alternatives related to the proposed land exchange 
and to the proposed issuance of Endangered Species Act permits to 
permit applicants in San Bernardino County, California. The permit 
applicants intend to apply for a 30-year permit from the Service that 
would authorize the incidental take of species resulting from 
implementation or approval of covered activities, including aggregate 
mining, the construction of ground water recharge basins, road 
improvements, trail construction, and other kinds of projects.
    Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.2(c), notice is hereby given that the BLM 
is considering a proposal to amend the 1994 SCRMP and exchange lands 
with the District. Additionally, the Service is considering the 
issuance of an incidental take permit consistent with the Upper Santa 
Ana River Wash HCP. The SDEIS will describe and analyze alternatives to 
the proposed land use plan amendment, and HCP. The lands proposed for 
exchange in the 2009 Draft EIS have been revised to incorporate the 
activities and conservation strategy to be carried out consistent with 
the terms of the HCP and the refinement of exchange parcels to allow 
water conservation, mining, flood control, and other public actions 
within the study area while protecting and consolidating the natural 
resources, especially the threatened and endangered species in the 
area. This analysis will also review reasonably foreseeable activities 
currently undergoing initial feasibility review for an additional flood 
control activity, potentially resulting in a new Area of Critical 
Environmental Concern designation. Covered activities will also be 
reviewed for potential impacts to land designated as an Area of 
Critical Environmental Concern and Research Natural Area for protection 
of two plants federally listed as endangered, Eriastrum densifolium 
subsp. sanctorum (Santa Ana River woolly-star) and Dodecahema 
leptoceras (slender-horned spineflower); as well as the federally 
endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus); the 
federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila 
californica californica); and the cactus wren (Campylorhynchus 
brunneicapillus). In order to respond to comments received on the 2009 
Draft EIS, extensive biological fieldwork was conducted to identify the 
areas in which the species

[[Page 11465]]

are found in both a quantitative and qualitative manner. The 
Supplemental EIS will address the Federal actions in approving and 
implementing the project, including the proposed land exchange between 
the BLM and the District, the proposed amendment to the SCRMP by the 
BLM to accommodate the land exchange and the overall Wash Plan, and the 
proposed issuance of an incidental take permit consistent with the HCP. 
The BLM and the Service will be co-lead Agencies for the Supplemental 
EIS. The District will be the Lead Agency for the Supplemental EIR, 
under the California Environmental Quality Act.
    The Service and BLM are publishing this notice to announce the 
initiation of a public scoping period, during which we invite other 
agencies (local, State, and Federal), Tribes, nongovernmental 
organizations, and the public to submit written comments providing 
suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to 
be addressed in the SDEIS. Concurrently with this notice, the District 
has publicly released a California Environmental Quality Act Notice of 
Preparation for its EIR via State and local media.

Project Area

    The project area lies within San Bernardino County, California, 
primarily in the cities of Highland and Redlands, as well as within the 
unincorporated County area. The project area encompasses approximately 
4,467 acres within the area bounded by Greenspot Road to the north and 
east, Alabama Street to the west, and the Santa Ana River Wash to the 
south.

Potential Applicants

    The Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan is being prepared through a 
collaboration of Federal, State, and local agencies as the basis for 
the BLM to amend the SCRMP and exchange lands for the HCP, for the HCP 
approval and potential issuance of incidental take permits for the 
implementation of the Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan by the District, 
City of Highland, City of Redlands, San Bernardino County, San 
Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and others. The incidental 
take permits would be issued pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA 
and section 2081 (CESA) of the California Fish and Game Code. Only the 
applicants listed in the applications and HCP could receive incidental 
take permits for the covered activities and the covered species.

Covered Activities

    The HCP is intended to cover two types of activities in the Upper 
Santa Ana River Wash Plan project area:
    (1) Activities related to the operations and maintenance of 
existing facilities or land uses already in operation in the Wash, 
covering an area totaling 166.9 acres; and
    (2) Expansion or enhancement of facilities planned for the Wash 
area, totaling 634.1 acres.
    It should be noted that activities related to all utilities 
belonging to Southern California Edison within the project footprint, 
and the EBX Foothill Pipeline, also located within the project 
footprint, are excluded from the covered activities described in the 
HCP.
    All listed project activities can be subdivided into the following 
categories:
    (1) Flood Control--activities related to the operation and 
maintenance of existing flood control facilities;
    (2) Mining--activities that support continued aggregate mining 
activities in the Wash;
    (3) Trails--the development of trails and open space opportunities; 
activities that support the restoration and maintenance of habitat 
values in the Wash;
    (4) Transportation--activities related to the construction and 
maintenance of planned transportation facilities;
    (5) Water Conservation--activities related to water management for 
conservation purposes, as well as habitat restoration activities, and 
the continued operations and maintenance of certain miscellaneous 
activities present on the site such as citrus production; and
    (6) Wells--activities related to the recharge or extraction of 
potable water from groundwater basins as part of the regional water 
supply.

Covered Species

    Covered Species are those species addressed in the proposed Upper 
Santa Ana River Wash Plan for which conservation actions will be 
implemented and for which the applicants will seek incidental take 
authorizations for a period of up to 30 years. Proposed Covered Species 
are expected to include threatened and endangered species listed under 
the ESA, species listed under CESA, and unlisted species of Federal and 
State conservation concern.
    Under the ESA, there is no take of federally listed plant species, 
and authorization under an ESA section 10 permit is not required. 
Section 9 of ESA does, however, prohibit certain actions related to 
plants including the removal of federally listed plants from areas 
under Federal jurisdiction and the removal or destruction of endangered 
plants in knowing violation of State law. In addition, section 7(a)(2) 
of the ESA prohibits Federal agencies from jeopardizing the continued 
existence of any listed plant or animal species, or destroying or 
adversely modifying the critical habitat of such species. The species 
that may be affected by the proposed actions include two plants 
federally listed as endangered, Eriastrum densiflorum subsp. sanctorum 
and Dodecahema leptoceras, the federally endangered San Bernardino 
kangaroo rat and federally threatened coastal California gnatcatcher, 
and the cactus wren (not currently listed under the ESA).
    The species noted above will be evaluated for inclusion in the 
Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan as proposed Covered Species. However, 
the list of Covered Species may change as the planning process 
progresses; species may be added or removed as more is learned about 
the nature of Covered Activities and their impact on native species 
within the Plan area.

Environmental Impact Statement

    Before deciding whether to issue the requested Federal incidental 
take permit, the land exchange and the SCRMP, the Service and BLM will 
prepare a SDEIS, and a final EIS as part of the joint EIS/EIR, in order 
to analyze the environmental impacts associated with potential adoption 
and implementation of the proposed Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan as a 
HCP, land exchange, and SCRMP amendment. In the EIS component of the 
joint EIS/EIR, the Service and BLM intend to consider the following 
alternatives:
    (1) The proposed action, which includes the Service issuance of 
incidental take Permit consistent with the proposed Upper Santa Ana 
River Wash Plan HCP under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA to the 
applicants, and BLM's approval of a land exchange and SCRMP amendment;
    (2) No action (no Federal ESA permit issuance, no land exchange, 
and no SCRMP amendment); and
    (3) A reasonable range of alternatives that address different 
scenarios of development and species conservation on both Federal and 
non-Federal land. The SDEIS will include a detailed analysis of the 
impacts of the proposed action and alternatives. The range of 
alternatives to be considered and analyzed will represent varying 
levels of conservation and impacts, and may include variations in the 
scope of

[[Page 11466]]

Covered Activities; variations in the locations, amount, and type of 
conservation and land exchange; variations in permit duration; or a 
combination of these elements. The BLM may address other considerations 
in the SDEIS. In compliance with NEPA, the Service and BLM will be 
responsible for the scope and preparation of the EIS component of the 
joint EIS/EIR.
    The SDEIS will identify and analyze potentially significant direct, 
indirect, and cumulative impacts of the Service's authorization of 
incidental take (permit issuance) and the implementation of the 
proposed Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan on biological resources, land 
uses, utilities, air quality, water resources (including surface and 
groundwater supply and water quality), cultural resources, 
socioeconomics and environmental justice, outdoor recreation, visual 
resources, induced growth, climate change and greenhouse gases, and 
other environmental issues that could occur with implementation of the 
proposed action and alternatives. The Service and the BLM will use all 
practicable means, consistent with NEPA and other essential 
considerations of national policy, to avoid or minimize significant 
effects of their actions upon the quality of the human environment.
    The CDFW has requested and agreed to be a State cooperating agency. 
The Service, BLM, and CDFW agree that establishing a cooperating agency 
relationship will create a more streamlined and coordinated approach in 
developing this joint EIS/EIR.

Reasonable Accommodation

    The Service and BLM are committed to providing access to these 
scoping meetings for all participants. Please direct all requests for 
sign language interpreting services, closed captioning, or other 
accommodation needs to Kennon Corey at 760-322-2070 (telephone), 
[email protected] (email), or 800-877-8339 (TTY), as soon as possible. 
To allow sufficient time to process requests, please call no later than 
1 week before the public meeting. Information regarding this proposed 
action is available in alternative formats upon request.

Public Comments

    We invite other government agencies, Native American Tribes, the 
scientific community, industry, nongovernmental organizations, and all 
other interested parties to participate in this scoping process and 
provide comments and information. Comments on issues and potential 
impacts, or suggestions for additional or different alternatives, may 
be submitted in writing at any public scoping meeting or through one of 
the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    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 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and by NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22).

    Dated: February 23, 2015.
Alexandra Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Sacramento, California.
    Dated: February 23, 2015.
Tom Pogacnik,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources, California State Office, 
Bureau of Land Management, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2015-04341 Filed 3-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Notices                                                  11463

                                                  Program. The site contains a detailed                   sellers, leveraging efficient mass                    structural improvements, including
                                                  list of frequently asked questions,                     appraisal results, making a single wave               instances in which the Program might
                                                  outreach materials, instructions for                    of offers, and continually learning from              choose to acquire interests.
                                                  completing the deed, cooperative                        experience and data. Moreover, the                       8. Whereabouts Unknown.
                                                  agreement guidance and instructional                    Status Report described a number of                   Whereabouts unknown (WAU) is the
                                                  documents, and Program presentations,                   factors the Program will consider to                  term used to describe Individual Indian
                                                  among other items.                                      determine how to best expend funds,                   Money (IIM) account holders without
                                                     The Program seeks comment on what,                   such as:                                              current address information on file with
                                                  if any, additional information on the                      a. Level of interested or documented               the Office of the Special Trustee for
                                                  Program’s Web site would be helpful in                  willing sellers;                                      American Indians (OST). The
                                                  assisting individual landowners to reach                   b. availability of valuation related-              Settlement provides for an outreach
                                                  informed decisions about the                            information;                                          effort to locate landowners whose
                                                  disposition of their fractional interests.                 c. tribal readiness or interest;                   whereabouts are unknown as of the date
                                                     The Program also seeks comments on                      d. severity of fractionation;                      of final approval of the Settlement. If
                                                  what additional steps can be taken to                      e. cost and time efficiency;                       those owners are not located after the
                                                  ensure landowners have sufficient                          f. promotion of tribal sovereignty and
                                                                                                                                                                Department undertakes the outreach
                                                  information and answers to their                        self-determination;
                                                                                                                                                                effort and the passage of five years, the
                                                  questions.                                                 g. economic and/or cultural value for
                                                                                                                                                                landowners shall be deemed to have
                                                     3. Public Domain or ‘‘Off-                           the community, as evidenced by well-
                                                                                                                                                                consented to the conveyance of their
                                                  Reservation’’ Lands. Under the                          articulated tribal priorities; and
                                                                                                             h. loss of historical reservation land as          fractional interest [Cobell Settlement
                                                  Settlement, fractional interests acquired
                                                                                                          a result of allotment.                                Agreement at F (6); Claims Resolution
                                                  by the Program are to be immediately
                                                                                                             Such steps are intended to help the                Act of 2010 101(e) (5)]. Since the
                                                  held in trust or restricted status for the
                                                                                                          Program address instances where sales                 Program’s inception, the focus has been
                                                  recognized tribe that exercises
                                                                                                          fall below estimates to ensure full use of            locating WAU through outreach efforts
                                                  jurisdiction over the land. When
                                                  identifying the locations with fractional               the Consolidation Fund by November                    so the individuals can receive and
                                                  interests that may be consolidated, the                 2022. The Program seeks comment on                    consider an offer.
                                                  Program excludes land area names that                   these steps, including the most                          The Program has not exercised WAU
                                                  include the term ‘‘public domain’’ or                   equitable, efficient, and cost effective              purchases thus far and is seeking input
                                                  ‘‘off reservation’’ because use of these                way to utilize/repurpose purchase                     from tribes and individuals on whether
                                                  terms indicate that there may be no                     estimate amounts remaining following                  and how it should implement the
                                                  recognized tribe that exercises                         active implementation at each                         provision.
                                                  jurisdiction over the land. The Program                 individual location.                                  IV. Additional Resources
                                                  has encouraged feedback, however, on                       5. Purchase Offer Package. The
                                                  the list of locations in its 2012 and 2013              Program strives to make the offer                        The Land Buy-Back Program for
                                                  implementation plans. Since then, the                   package documents as clear and user                   Tribal Nations 2014 Status Report and
                                                  Program has received feedback from                      friendly as possible. Following the                   additional information about the Buy-
                                                  several tribes suggesting that certain                  initial purchase offers to landowners,                Back Program is available at: http://
                                                  land areas should be included.                          the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) made               www.doi.gov/buybackprogram. In
                                                     The Program is now seeking general                   several changes to the Deed paperwork                 addition, landowners can contact their
                                                  feedback on whether the Program                         to reduce common errors by landowners                 local Fiduciary Trust Officer or call
                                                  should incorporate public domain or off                 and notaries and increase processing                  Interior’s Trust Beneficiary Call Center
                                                  reservation land areas into the Program,                speed. The Program also clarified the                 at (888) 678–6836.
                                                  and if so, what criteria should be                      Cover Letter and Instructions to address                Dated: February 23, 2015.
                                                  applied.                                                frequent questions and recurring errors.              Michael L. Connor,
                                                     4. Purchase Estimates. Consultations                    The Program seeks comment on what,                 Deputy Secretary.
                                                  between Departmental, Program, and                      if any, additional changes would assist               [FR Doc. 2015–04304 Filed 3–2–15; 8:45 am]
                                                  tribal leaders led to the policy decision               in making offer package documents as
                                                                                                                                                                BILLING CODE P
                                                  to express purchase ceiling amounts                     clear and user friendly as possible.
                                                  within the Initial Implementation Plan                     6. Reimbursement for Post-Settlement
                                                  (2012 Plan) and Updated                                 Purchases of Fractional Interests. The                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                  Implementation Plan (2013 Plan). The                    Buy-Back Program has received
                                                  underlying concept behind such                          inquiries regarding, and requests from                Bureau of Land Management
                                                  purchase estimates is to approximate                    tribes for, reimbursement from the Land
                                                  the potential portion of the                            Consolidation Fund for tribal purchases               Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                  Consolidation Fund available to pay                     of fractional interests.
                                                  owners who choose to sell fractional                       The Program seeks comment on what
                                                                                                                                                                [FWS–R8–ES–2015–N254; FXES11120000–
                                                  interests at a given location, based on a               criteria it should apply in making                    156–FF08E00000]
                                                  formula that considers a location’s                     reimbursement decisions.
                                                  proportional share of fractionation                        7. Structural Improvements. While the              Supplemental Draft Environmental
                                                  across Indian Country.                                  Program will not acquire structural                   Impact Statement for the Proposed
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                     The Program’s November 2014 Status                   improvements, which are non-trust                     South Coast Resource Management
                                                  Report expounds on the purchase                         property, the Program continues to work               Plan Amendment; for the Proposed
                                                  estimate approach. Among other things,                  with its tribal and Federal partners to               Upper Santa Ana River Habitat
                                                  it noted that the Program was                           determine the feasibility of making                   Conservation Plan and Land Exchange
                                                  implementing several steps to ‘‘make                    offers on tracts with structures.
                                                  sure the Consolidation Fund is used                        The Program seeks comment on a                     AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,
                                                  before November 2022,’’ including the                   recommended policy regarding                          Interior; Bureau of Land Management,
                                                  creation of opportunities for willing                   acquiring interests in tracts with                    Interior.


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   19:24 Mar 02, 2015   Jkt 235001   PO 00000   Frm 00077   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM   03MRN1


                                                  11464                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Notices

                                                  ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of                    Comments or requests for more                       proposed amendment to the SCRMP,
                                                  public meeting; request for comments.                   information specific to the issuance of               and the proposed HCP, as well as those
                                                                                                          an incidental take permit and the HCP                 of several alternatives.
                                                  SUMMARY:    We, the U.S. Fish and                       should be sent to the following:                         The SDEIS will evaluate the direct,
                                                  Wildlife Service (Service) and Bureau of                  U.S. Mail: Kennon Corey, Santa Ana                  indirect, and cumulative impacts of
                                                  Land Management (BLM), intend to                        River Wash Project, Palm Springs Fish                 several alternatives related to the
                                                  prepare a Supplemental Draft                            and Wildlife Service Office, 777 E.                   proposed land exchange and to the
                                                  Environmental Impact Statement                          Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 208, Palm                  proposed issuance of Endangered
                                                  (SDEIS) under the National                              Springs, CA 92262.                                    Species Act permits to permit
                                                  Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of                                                                            applicants in San Bernardino County,
                                                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                                  1969, as amended, for the proposed                                                                            California. The permit applicants intend
                                                                                                          further information and/or to have your
                                                  Upper Santa Ana River Wash Habitat                                                                            to apply for a 30-year permit from the
                                                                                                          name added to our mailing list, contact
                                                  Conservation Plan (HCP), and a related                                                                        Service that would authorize the
                                                                                                          Brandon Anderson, Santa Ana River
                                                  land exchange. The SDEIS will be a                                                                            incidental take of species resulting from
                                                                                                          Wash Project, Bureau of Land
                                                  joint Environmental Impact Statement/                                                                         implementation or approval of covered
                                                                                                          Management, Palm Springs South Coast
                                                  Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR),                                                                        activities, including aggregate mining,
                                                                                                          Field Office, by telephone at 760–833–
                                                  for which the Service, the BLM, and the                                                                       the construction of ground water
                                                                                                          7117, or by email at bganderson@
                                                  San Bernardino Valley Water                                                                                   recharge basins, road improvements,
                                                                                                          blm.gov, or Kennon Corey, Santa Ana
                                                  Conservation District (District) intend to                                                                    trail construction, and other kinds of
                                                                                                          River Wash Project, by mail at Palm
                                                  gather information necessary for                                                                              projects.
                                                                                                          Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 777
                                                  preparation. The proposed HCP has                                                                                Pursuant to 43 CFR 1610.2(c), notice
                                                                                                          East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 208,
                                                  been drafted to meet the requirements of                                                                      is hereby given that the BLM is
                                                                                                          Palm Springs, CA 92262 or by email at
                                                  the Federal Endangered Species Act                                                                            considering a proposal to amend the
                                                                                                          fw8cfwocomments@fws.gov.
                                                  (ESA) of 1973, as amended, and the                                                                            1994 SCRMP and exchange lands with
                                                  State of California’s Endangered Species                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            the District. Additionally, the Service is
                                                  Act and Natural Communities                             Background                                            considering the issuance of an
                                                  Conservation Planning Act. The BLM, in                                                                        incidental take permit consistent with
                                                                                                             In 1993, representatives of numerous               the Upper Santa Ana River Wash HCP.
                                                  compliance with the Federal Land
                                                                                                          agencies, including water, mining, flood              The SDEIS will describe and analyze
                                                  Policy and Management Act, as
                                                                                                          control, wildlife, and municipal                      alternatives to the proposed land use
                                                  amended, will consider this NEPA
                                                                                                          interests, formed a Wash Committee to                 plan amendment, and HCP. The lands
                                                  process and the resulting HCP
                                                                                                          address mining issues that were local to              proposed for exchange in the 2009 Draft
                                                  documents in its analysis toward
                                                                                                          the upper Santa Ana River wash area.                  EIS have been revised to incorporate the
                                                  possible amendment of the BLM South
                                                                                                          The role of the Committee was                         activities and conservation strategy to be
                                                  Coast Resource Management Plan
                                                                                                          subsequently expanded, and it began                   carried out consistent with the terms of
                                                  (SCRMP) to support the land exchange.
                                                                                                          meeting in 1997 to determine how this                 the HCP and the refinement of exchange
                                                  DATES: Please send written comments                     area might accommodate the ongoing
                                                  on or before May 4, 2015.                                                                                     parcels to allow water conservation,
                                                                                                          and contemplated future activities of the             mining, flood control, and other public
                                                     We will hold two public scoping                      participating entities. To achieve this
                                                  meetings on March 18, 2015, from 2 to                                                                         actions within the study area while
                                                                                                          goal, the Wash Committee worked with                  protecting and consolidating the natural
                                                  4 p.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the San                 the California Department of Fish and
                                                  Bernardino Valley Water Conservation                                                                          resources, especially the threatened and
                                                                                                          Wildlife (CDFW) and the Service to                    endangered species in the area. This
                                                  District office located at 1630 West                    develop a Habitat Conservation Plan
                                                  Redlands Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373.                                                                          analysis will also review reasonably
                                                                                                          (HCP), which would establish a                        foreseeable activities currently
                                                  In addition to this notice, we will                     structure to integrate ongoing operations
                                                  announce the public scoping meetings                                                                          undergoing initial feasibility review for
                                                                                                          and planned projects with biological                  an additional flood control activity,
                                                  in local news media and on the Internet                 resource conservation within the Plan                 potentially resulting in a new Area of
                                                  at the BLM Web site (http://                            area. The District prepared a draft HCP               Critical Environmental Concern
                                                  www.ca.blm.gov/palmsprings) and the                     on behalf of the Wash Committee in                    designation. Covered activities will also
                                                  Service Web site (http://www.fws.gov/                   November 2008 and subsequently                        be reviewed for potential impacts to
                                                  carlsbad) at least 15 days prior to the                 revised it in January 2010. The District              land designated as an Area of Critical
                                                  event. For more information, see Public                 and the Wash Committee subsequently                   Environmental Concern and Research
                                                  Comments and Reasonable                                 worked with the Service and CDFW to                   Natural Area for protection of two
                                                  Accommodation in the SUPPLEMENTARY                      revise the HCP, which now provides                    plants federally listed as endangered,
                                                  INFORMATION.                                            additional conservation. The District                 Eriastrum densifolium subsp.
                                                  ADDRESSES:   Comments or requests for                   and the Wash Committee have also been                 sanctorum (Santa Ana River woolly-
                                                  more information specific to the                        working with the BLM to facilitate a                  star) and Dodecahema leptoceras
                                                  proposed land exchange and                              land exchange to accommodate the HCP                  (slender-horned spineflower); as well as
                                                  amendment to the SCRMP should be                        conservation strategy.                                the federally endangered San
                                                  sent via any one of the following                          The Supplemental Draft EIR/EIS                     Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys
                                                  methods:                                                (SDEIS) will provide an updated                       merriami parvus); the federally
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                                                     U.S. Mail: Brandon Anderson, Santa                   analysis to the 2009 Draft EIS issued by              threatened coastal California
                                                  Ana River Wash Project, Bureau of Land                  the BLM in April 2009 for the Proposed                gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica
                                                  Management, 1201 Bird Center Drive,                     Santa Ana River Wash Land Use Plan                    californica); and the cactus wren
                                                  Palm Springs, CA 92262.                                 Amendment and Land Exchange and                       (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). In
                                                     Email: bganderson@blm.gov. Subject                   the Final EIR issued by the District for              order to respond to comments received
                                                  line should include ‘‘Scoping                           the HCP. The SDEIS will consider the                  on the 2009 Draft EIS, extensive
                                                  Comments for the Upper Santa Ana                        environmental effects associated with                 biological fieldwork was conducted to
                                                  River Wash Project.’’                                   the proposed land exchange, the                       identify the areas in which the species


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Notices                                           11465

                                                  are found in both a quantitative and                    Covered Activities                                    related to plants including the removal
                                                  qualitative manner. The Supplemental                      The HCP is intended to cover two                    of federally listed plants from areas
                                                  EIS will address the Federal actions in                 types of activities in the Upper Santa                under Federal jurisdiction and the
                                                  approving and implementing the                          Ana River Wash Plan project area:                     removal or destruction of endangered
                                                  project, including the proposed land                      (1) Activities related to the operations            plants in knowing violation of State law.
                                                  exchange between the BLM and the                        and maintenance of existing facilities or             In addition, section 7(a)(2) of the ESA
                                                  District, the proposed amendment to the                 land uses already in operation in the                 prohibits Federal agencies from
                                                  SCRMP by the BLM to accommodate the                                                                           jeopardizing the continued existence of
                                                                                                          Wash, covering an area totaling 166.9
                                                  land exchange and the overall Wash                                                                            any listed plant or animal species, or
                                                                                                          acres; and
                                                  Plan, and the proposed issuance of an                                                                         destroying or adversely modifying the
                                                                                                            (2) Expansion or enhancement of
                                                  incidental take permit consistent with                                                                        critical habitat of such species. The
                                                                                                          facilities planned for the Wash area,
                                                                                                                                                                species that may be affected by the
                                                  the HCP. The BLM and the Service will                   totaling 634.1 acres.
                                                                                                                                                                proposed actions include two plants
                                                  be co-lead Agencies for the                               It should be noted that activities
                                                                                                                                                                federally listed as endangered,
                                                  Supplemental EIS. The District will be                  related to all utilities belonging to
                                                                                                                                                                Eriastrum densiflorum subsp.
                                                  the Lead Agency for the Supplemental                    Southern California Edison within the
                                                                                                                                                                sanctorum and Dodecahema leptoceras,
                                                  EIR, under the California Environmental                 project footprint, and the EBX Foothill
                                                                                                                                                                the federally endangered San
                                                  Quality Act.                                            Pipeline, also located within the project
                                                                                                                                                                Bernardino kangaroo rat and federally
                                                    The Service and BLM are publishing                    footprint, are excluded from the covered
                                                                                                                                                                threatened coastal California
                                                  this notice to announce the initiation of               activities described in the HCP.                      gnatcatcher, and the cactus wren (not
                                                                                                            All listed project activities can be                currently listed under the ESA).
                                                  a public scoping period, during which
                                                                                                          subdivided into the following                           The species noted above will be
                                                  we invite other agencies (local, State,
                                                                                                          categories:                                           evaluated for inclusion in the Upper
                                                  and Federal), Tribes, nongovernmental
                                                                                                            (1) Flood Control—activities related to             Santa Ana River Wash Plan as proposed
                                                  organizations, and the public to submit
                                                                                                          the operation and maintenance of                      Covered Species. However, the list of
                                                  written comments providing suggestions                  existing flood control facilities;
                                                  and information on the scope of issues                                                                        Covered Species may change as the
                                                                                                            (2) Mining—activities that support                  planning process progresses; species
                                                  and alternatives to be addressed in the                 continued aggregate mining activities in
                                                  SDEIS. Concurrently with this notice,                                                                         may be added or removed as more is
                                                                                                          the Wash;                                             learned about the nature of Covered
                                                  the District has publicly released a                      (3) Trails—the development of trails
                                                  California Environmental Quality Act                                                                          Activities and their impact on native
                                                                                                          and open space opportunities; activities              species within the Plan area.
                                                  Notice of Preparation for its EIR via                   that support the restoration and
                                                  State and local media.                                  maintenance of habitat values in the                  Environmental Impact Statement
                                                  Project Area                                            Wash;                                                    Before deciding whether to issue the
                                                                                                            (4) Transportation—activities related               requested Federal incidental take
                                                    The project area lies within San                      to the construction and maintenance of                permit, the land exchange and the
                                                  Bernardino County, California,                          planned transportation facilities;                    SCRMP, the Service and BLM will
                                                  primarily in the cities of Highland and                    (5) Water Conservation—activities                  prepare a SDEIS, and a final EIS as part
                                                  Redlands, as well as within the                         related to water management for                       of the joint EIS/EIR, in order to analyze
                                                  unincorporated County area. The project                 conservation purposes, as well as                     the environmental impacts associated
                                                  area encompasses approximately 4,467                    habitat restoration activities, and the               with potential adoption and
                                                  acres within the area bounded by                        continued operations and maintenance                  implementation of the proposed Upper
                                                  Greenspot Road to the north and east,                   of certain miscellaneous activities                   Santa Ana River Wash Plan as a HCP,
                                                  Alabama Street to the west, and the                     present on the site such as citrus                    land exchange, and SCRMP amendment.
                                                  Santa Ana River Wash to the south.                      production; and                                       In the EIS component of the joint EIS/
                                                                                                             (6) Wells—activities related to the                EIR, the Service and BLM intend to
                                                  Potential Applicants                                    recharge or extraction of potable water               consider the following alternatives:
                                                                                                          from groundwater basins as part of the                   (1) The proposed action, which
                                                    The Upper Santa Ana River Wash
                                                                                                          regional water supply.                                includes the Service issuance of
                                                  Plan is being prepared through a
                                                                                                          Covered Species                                       incidental take Permit consistent with
                                                  collaboration of Federal, State, and local
                                                                                                                                                                the proposed Upper Santa Ana River
                                                  agencies as the basis for the BLM to                      Covered Species are those species                   Wash Plan HCP under section
                                                  amend the SCRMP and exchange lands                      addressed in the proposed Upper Santa                 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA to the applicants,
                                                  for the HCP, for the HCP approval and                   Ana River Wash Plan for which                         and BLM’s approval of a land exchange
                                                  potential issuance of incidental take                   conservation actions will be                          and SCRMP amendment;
                                                  permits for the implementation of the                   implemented and for which the                            (2) No action (no Federal ESA permit
                                                  Upper Santa Ana River Wash Plan by                      applicants will seek incidental take                  issuance, no land exchange, and no
                                                  the District, City of Highland, City of                 authorizations for a period of up to 30               SCRMP amendment); and
                                                  Redlands, San Bernardino County, San                    years. Proposed Covered Species are                      (3) A reasonable range of alternatives
                                                  Bernardino Valley Municipal Water                       expected to include threatened and                    that address different scenarios of
                                                  District, and others. The incidental take               endangered species listed under the                   development and species conservation
                                                  permits would be issued pursuant to
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                                                                                                          ESA, species listed under CESA, and                   on both Federal and non-Federal land.
                                                  section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA and                      unlisted species of Federal and State                 The SDEIS will include a detailed
                                                  section 2081 (CESA) of the California                   conservation concern.                                 analysis of the impacts of the proposed
                                                  Fish and Game Code. Only the                              Under the ESA, there is no take of                  action and alternatives. The range of
                                                  applicants listed in the applications and               federally listed plant species, and                   alternatives to be considered and
                                                  HCP could receive incidental take                       authorization under an ESA section 10                 analyzed will represent varying levels of
                                                  permits for the covered activities and                  permit is not required. Section 9 of ESA              conservation and impacts, and may
                                                  the covered species.                                    does, however, prohibit certain actions               include variations in the scope of


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                                                  11466                          Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 41 / Tuesday, March 3, 2015 / Notices

                                                  Covered Activities; variations in the                   be submitted in writing at any public                 your ISDEAA contract proposal in
                                                  locations, amount, and type of                          scoping meeting or through one of the                 accordance with the directions in the
                                                  conservation and land exchange;                         methods listed in the ADDRESSES section               application packet to climate.funding@
                                                  variations in permit duration; or a                     of this notice.                                       bia.gov or Ms. Helen Riggs, Deputy
                                                  combination of these elements. The                        Before including your address, phone                Bureau Director, Office of Trust
                                                  BLM may address other considerations                    number, email address, or other                       Services, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 1849
                                                  in the SDEIS. In compliance with NEPA,                  personal identifying information in your              C St. NW., MS–4620, Washington, DC
                                                  the Service and BLM will be responsible                 comment, you should be aware that                     20240.
                                                  for the scope and preparation of the EIS                your entire comment—including your                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:      If
                                                  component of the joint EIS/EIR.                         personal identifying information—may                  you do not receive an application packet
                                                     The SDEIS will identify and analyze                  be made publicly available at any time.               or if you would like additional
                                                  potentially significant direct, indirect,               While you can ask us in your comment                  information on how to apply, please
                                                  and cumulative impacts of the Service’s                 to withhold your personal identifying
                                                  authorization of incidental take (permit                                                                      contact Helen Riggs, BIA Office of Trust
                                                                                                          information from public review, we                    Services, at helen.riggs@bia.gov or (202)
                                                  issuance) and the implementation of the                 cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                  proposed Upper Santa Ana River Wash                                                                           208–5770.
                                                                                                          do so.
                                                  Plan on biological resources, land uses,                                                                      SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIA
                                                  utilities, air quality, water resources                 Authority                                             has up to $8 million in funding
                                                  (including surface and groundwater                        We provide this notice under section                available for federally recognized tribes
                                                  supply and water quality), cultural                     10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)                for climate change adaptation and for
                                                  resources, socioeconomics and                           and by NEPA regulations (40 CFR                       ocean and coastal management
                                                  environmental justice, outdoor                          1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22).                         planning. Because limited funding is
                                                  recreation, visual resources, induced                                                                         available, no more than $250,000 is
                                                                                                            Dated: February 23, 2015.                           available for any one proposal. The
                                                  growth, climate change and greenhouse
                                                  gases, and other environmental issues                   Alexandra Pitts,                                      funds are awarded pursuant to ISDEAA,
                                                  that could occur with implementation of                 Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest           25 U.S.C. 450 et seq., and are subject to
                                                  the proposed action and alternatives.                   Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,               25 CFR part 900 (for self-determination
                                                                                                          Sacramento, California.                               contracts) or 25 CFR part 1000 (for self-
                                                  The Service and the BLM will use all
                                                  practicable means, consistent with                        Dated: February 23, 2015.                           governance funding agreements). Tribes
                                                  NEPA and other essential                                Tom Pogacnik,                                         that seek for BIA to perform a project via
                                                  considerations of national policy, to                   Deputy State Director, Natural Resources,             direct service should contact their BIA
                                                  avoid or minimize significant effects of                California State Office, Bureau of Land               Regional Director for additional
                                                  their actions upon the quality of the                   Management, Sacramento, California.                   information. Applicants may request
                                                  human environment.                                      [FR Doc. 2015–04341 Filed 3–2–15; 8:45 am]            funding for the following:
                                                     The CDFW has requested and agreed                    BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
                                                                                                                                                                Climate Adaptation Planning
                                                  to be a State cooperating agency. The
                                                  Service, BLM, and CDFW agree that                                                                                • Category 1. Trainings & Workshops.
                                                  establishing a cooperating agency                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            Design and host tribal training(s) or
                                                  relationship will create a more                                                                               workshop(s) to support tribal leaders,
                                                                                                          Bureau of Indian Affairs                              climate change coordinators, planners,
                                                  streamlined and coordinated approach
                                                  in developing this joint EIS/EIR.                       [145D0102DR DS5A300000                                and program managers to build skills
                                                                                                          DR.5A311.IA000514]                                    and gather information needed to
                                                  Reasonable Accommodation                                                                                      coordinate the tribal adaptation
                                                     The Service and BLM are committed                    Availability of Funds for Climate                     planning process.
                                                  to providing access to these scoping                    Change Adaptation and Coastal                            • Category 2. Climate Adaptation
                                                  meetings for all participants. Please                   Management to Federally Recognized                    Planning. Develop tribal government
                                                  direct all requests for sign language                   Indian Tribes                                         climate adaptation plans, vulnerability
                                                  interpreting services, closed captioning,                                                                     assessments, or data analysis.
                                                                                                          AGENCY:   Bureau of Indian Affairs,
                                                  or other accommodation needs to                                                                                  • Category 3. Travel. Provide travel
                                                                                                          Interior.
                                                  Kennon Corey at 760–322–2070                                                                                  support for tribal leaders and staff to
                                                  (telephone), ken_corey@fws.gov (email),                 ACTION: Notice.                                       attend training(s) or workshop(s) or to
                                                  or 800–877–8339 (TTY), as soon as                                                                             participate in cooperative climate
                                                                                                          SUMMARY:    The Bureau of Indian Affairs
                                                  possible. To allow sufficient time to                                                                         change adaptation efforts (including
                                                                                                          (BIA) has funding available for support
                                                  process requests, please call no later                                                                        Landscape Conservation Cooperatives,
                                                                                                          of tribal climate change adaptation and
                                                  than 1 week before the public meeting.                                                                        Climate Science Centers, and other
                                                                                                          ocean and coastal management
                                                  Information regarding this proposed                                                                           adaptation management forums).
                                                                                                          planning. Any federally recognized tribe
                                                  action is available in alternative formats              (or tribal organization whose                         Ocean and Coastal Management
                                                  upon request.                                           application is supported by a tribal                  Planning
                                                  Public Comments                                         resolution) may submit an application                    • Category 4. Ocean and Coastal
                                                    We invite other government agencies,                  for these funds. The BIA is mailing                   Management Planning. Develop ocean
                                                                                                          application packets to each tribal leader.
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                                                  Native American Tribes, the scientific                                                                        and coastal management planning; build
                                                  community, industry, nongovernmental                    Funds will be awarded under the Indian                tribal capacity; implement a pilot
                                                  organizations, and all other interested                 Self-Determination and Education                      project for restoration and resilience of
                                                  parties to participate in this scoping                  Assistance Act (ISDEAA).                              coastal resources; perform inventories or
                                                  process and provide comments and                        DATES: Applications must be submitted                 vulnerability assessments; identify
                                                  information. Comments on issues and                     by April 24, 2015.                                    monitoring protocols and critical
                                                  potential impacts, or suggestions for                   ADDRESSES: An application packet has                  indicator species; marine spatial
                                                  additional or different alternatives, may               been mailed to tribal leaders. Submit                 planning; coast climate adaptation


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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:55:52
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:55:52
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of intent and notice of public meeting; request for comments.
DatesPlease send written comments on or before May 4, 2015.
ContactFor further information and/or to have your name added to our mailing list, contact Brandon Anderson, Santa Ana River Wash Project, Bureau of Land Management, Palm Springs South Coast Field Office, by telephone at 760-833-7117, or by email at [email protected], or Kennon Corey, Santa Ana River Wash Project, by mail at Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 11463 

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