80_FR_42975 80 FR 42837 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Nevada Department of Wildlife; Application for Enhancement of Survival Permit; Proposed Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for the Relict Leopard Frog; Clark County, Nevada

80 FR 42837 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Nevada Department of Wildlife; Application for Enhancement of Survival Permit; Proposed Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for the Relict Leopard Frog; Clark County, Nevada

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 138 (July 20, 2015)

Page Range42837-42838
FR Document2015-17705

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce receipt from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) of an application for an enhancement of survival permit (permit) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The requested permit would authorize take of the relict leopard frog (RLF) resulting from certain land use and conservation activities, should the species be listed as endangered or threatened in the future. The permit application includes a proposed programmatic candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) between NDOW and the Service. The requested term of the proposed CCAA and permit is 30 years. In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we have prepared a draft low-effect screening form supporting our determination that the proposed action qualifies as a categorical exclusion under NEPA. We are accepting comments on the permit application, proposed CCAA, and draft NEPA compliance documentation.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 138 (Monday, July 20, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 138 (Monday, July 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42837-42838]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17705]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2015-N123; FF08ENVD00-FXES11120888ENR0-156]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Nevada Department 
of Wildlife; Application for Enhancement of Survival Permit; Proposed 
Programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for the 
Relict Leopard Frog; Clark County, Nevada

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Receipt of application; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce 
receipt from the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) of an application 
for an enhancement of survival permit (permit) under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The requested permit would 
authorize take of the relict leopard frog (RLF) resulting from certain 
land use and conservation activities, should the species be listed as 
endangered or threatened in the future. The permit application includes 
a proposed programmatic candidate conservation agreement with 
assurances (CCAA) between NDOW and the Service. The requested term of 
the proposed CCAA and permit is 30 years. In accordance with the 
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we have 
prepared a draft low-effect screening form supporting our determination 
that the proposed action qualifies as a categorical exclusion under 
NEPA. We are accepting comments on the permit application, proposed 
CCAA, and draft NEPA compliance documentation.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application, proposed 
programmatic CCAA, and draft NEPA compliance documentation must be 
received on or before August 19, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: Persons wishing to review the 
application, the proposed CCAA, the draft NEPA compliance 
documentation, or other related documents may obtain copies by written 
or telephone request to Jeri Krueger, by mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Reno Fish and Wildlife Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 
234, Reno, NV 89502, or by phone at 775-861-6300. Copies of these 
documents may also be obtained on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/nevada/protected_species/amphibians/species/relict_leopard_frog.html.
    Submitting Comments: Please address written comments to Michael J. 
Senn, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southern Nevada 
Fish and Wildlife Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, NV 
89130. You may also send comments by facsimile to 702-515-5231. Please 
note that your information request or comment is in reference to the 
Programmatic CCAA for the Relict Leopard Frog, Clark County, Nevada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeri Krueger, Reno Fish and Wildlife 
Office, at the address or telephone number listed above under 
ADDRESSES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Document Availability

    You may obtain copies of the permit application, proposed CCAA, 
draft NEPA compliance documentation, and other related documents from 
the individual listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Copies of 
these documents are also available for public inspection, by 
appointment, during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), at 
the Southern Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines 
Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130.

Background Information

    Enhancement of survival permits issued for CCAAs encourage non-
Federal landowners to implement conservation measures for species that 
are, or are likely to become, candidates for Federal listing as 
endangered or threatened by assuring landowners they will not be 
subjected to increased property use restrictions if the covered species 
becomes listed in the future. Application requirements and issuance 
criteria for enhancement of survival permits issued for CCAAs are in 
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d). 
The policy

[[Page 42838]]

for CCAAs was published in the Federal Register on June 17, 1999 (64 FR 
32726).

Proposed Project

    The proposed RLF CCAA is a programmatic agreement between the 
Service and NDOW to further the conservation of the RLF on non-Federal 
lands or on lands under the management authority of a non-Federal 
entity. A RLF Conservation Agreement and Strategy (CAS) that directs 
the implementation of conservation actions on Federal land was 
completed and approved in 2005, and is being implemented by the RLF 
Conservation Team, which is comprised of representatives from the 
signatory agencies of the CAS. One of the primary goals of the CAS is 
to establish additional populations of RLF within its historic range to 
secure species persistence into the future. However, the CAS does not 
provide a mechanism to establish populations on non-Federal lands while 
providing regulatory assurances to the landowner in the event the 
species becomes listed in the future. The proposed programmatic CCAA 
would provide these assurances to non-Federal landowners, thus 
promoting opportunities to implement conservation actions and increase 
RLF distribution on non-Federal land.
    Under the proposed RLF CCAA, NDOW would establish a program in 
which individual landowners would enroll their property. To enroll in 
the program, a landowner would enter into a cooperative agreement (CA) 
with NDOW that contains a site-specific management plan for the 
enrolled lands. NDOW would then issue the landowner a Certificate of 
Inclusion that would authorize a certain level of take of RLF under 
NDOW's permit as described in the CCAA and CA if the species becomes 
listed under the ESA in the future. The CA would specify conservation 
measures to address known threats to the RLF which may include, but are 
not limited to, translocation of RLF, fencing, deepening a tank or 
pool, removal of non-native aquatic predators, maintenance of suitable 
habitat conditions, enhancement of dispersal corridors, vegetation 
enhancement, and public education. The CA would also specify measures 
to minimize the incidental take of RLF that might occur as a result of 
implementing the conservation measures or conducting other land use 
activities.
    NDOW seeks to enroll lands in Clark County, Nevada, that are 
associated with the Virgin, Muddy, and Colorado River drainages within 
or in close proximity to the historic range of the RLF, identified as 
the Potential Management Zone in the CAS and CCAA. The proposed CCAA 
would include properties that have existing, historic, or potentially 
suitable habitat for RLF. Such habitats may include reliable and 
protected water supplies and water quality, limited or controllable 
public access, accessibility for management actions and RLF 
translocations or removal, permanent ponds and/or wetland areas, 
natural springs, spring outflows or reaches of springbrooks and streams 
that represent suitable habitat for any or all life stages of RLF. An 
enrolled property may include all or some combination of suitable 
habitat types, or the potential to create those habitats.
    As required by NEPA, we evaluated impacts to the human environment 
that would result from issuance of the requested permit, and we do not 
foresee any significant effects. Therefore, we are proposing to 
categorically exclude this action from further analysis under NEPA. 
Entering into a cooperative agreement is strictly a voluntary action 
for landowners, and the activities to be covered under the permit are 
generally activities already occurring on these properties.
    We will evaluate the permit application, associated documents, and 
comments we receive to determine whether the permit application meets 
the requirements of the ESA, NEPA, and implementing regulations. If we 
determine that all requirements are met, we will sign the proposed CCAA 
and issue a permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA to NDOW for 
take of RLF. We will not make our final decision until after the end of 
the 30-day public comment period, and we will fully consider all 
comments we receive during the public comment period.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments we receive become part of the public record. Requests 
for copies of comments will be handled in accordance with the Freedom 
of Information Act, NEPA, and Service and Department of Interior 
policies and procedures. 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 to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee we will be able to 
do so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 
17.32), and the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et 
seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

    Dated: July 14, 2015.
Michael J. Senn,
Field Supervisor, Southern Nevada Fish and Wildlife Office, Las Vegas, 
Nevada.
[FR Doc. 2015-17705 Filed 7-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 138 / Monday, July 20, 2015 / Notices 42837 surveys in Tennessee, Alabama, grisescens), and northern long-eared DATES: Written comments on the permit Kentucky, and Georgia. bats (Myotis septentrionalis) in application, proposed programmatic Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, CCAA, and draft NEPA compliance Permit Application Number: TE Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, documentation must be received on or 66480B–0 Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, before August 19, 2015. Applicant: Thomas Gilbert, Greenwood, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: Arkansas. Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, Persons wishing to review the The applicant requests a permit to and take (capture, identify, release, and application, the proposed CCAA, the take (live-trap and release) American collect relict shells) 26 species of draft NEPA compliance documentation, burying beetles (Nicrophorus freshwater mussels in Kentucky for the or other related documents may obtain americanus) for the purpose of purpose of conducting presence/absence copies by written or telephone request conducting presence/absence surveys in surveys. to Jeri Krueger, by mail at U.S. Fish and Arkansas and Oklahoma. Dated: June 23, 2015. Wildlife Service, Reno Fish and Wildlife Permit Application Number: TE Leopoldo Miranda, Office, 1340 Financial Boulevard, Suite 017853–3 Assistant Regional Director—Ecological 234, Reno, NV 89502, or by phone at Services, Southeast Region. 775–861–6300. Copies of these Applicant: Lynne Byrd, Mote Marine documents may also be obtained on the [FR Doc. 2015–17070 Filed 7–17–15; 8:45 am] Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida. Internet at http://www.fws.gov/nevada/ BILLING CODE 4310–55–P The applicant requests renewal of his protected_species/amphibians/species/ current permit to take (euthanize) relict_leopard_frog.html. Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii), DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Submitting Comments: Please address hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), written comments to Michael J. Senn, leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), Fish and Wildlife Service Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife green (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead Service, Southern Nevada Fish and (Caretta caretta), sea turtles for the [FWS–R8–ES–2015–N123; FF08ENVD00– Wildlife Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines purpose of veterinary treatment in the FXES11120888ENR0–156] Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130. You may state of Florida and elsewhere as also send comments by facsimile to directed by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Endangered and Threatened Wildlife 702–515–5231. Please note that your Service. and Plants; Nevada Department of information request or comment is in Wildlife; Application for Enhancement reference to the Programmatic CCAA for Permit Application Number: TE of Survival Permit; Proposed the Relict Leopard Frog, Clark County, 68616B–0 Programmatic Candidate Conservation Nevada. Applicant: Carla Atkinson, University of Agreement With Assurances for the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeri Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Relict Leopard Frog; Clark County, Nevada Krueger, Reno Fish and Wildlife Office, The applicant requests a permit to at the address or telephone number take (capture, identify, release) 33 AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, listed above under ADDRESSES. species of mussels for the purpose of Interior. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: conducting presence absence surveys in ACTION: Receipt of application; request Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Document Availability for comment. Permit Application Number: TE You may obtain copies of the permit 121059–2 SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and application, proposed CCAA, draft Wildlife Service (Service) announce NEPA compliance documentation, and Applicant: Peggy Measel, Round receipt from the Nevada Department of other related documents from the Mountain Biological & Environmental Wildlife (NDOW) of an application for individual listed under FOR FURTHER Studies Inc., Nicholasville, Kentucky. an enhancement of survival permit INFORMATION CONTACT. Copies of these The applicant requests an amendment (permit) under the Endangered Species documents are also available for public of her current permit to add the states Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The inspection, by appointment, during of Indiana, Illinois, Virginia, and West requested permit would authorize take regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 Virginia for already permitted activities of the relict leopard frog (RLF) resulting p.m.), at the Southern Nevada Fish and with Indiana (Myotis sodalis) and gray from certain land use and conservation Wildlife Office, 4701 North Torrey Pines (Myotis grisescen) bats. Permitted activities, should the species be listed as Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89130. activities will continue to be take (enter endangered or threatened in the future. hibernacula and maternity roost caves, The permit application includes a Background Information salvage bead bats, collect hair samples, proposed programmatic candidate Enhancement of survival permits mist-net, harp trap, band, radio-tag, conservation agreement with assurances issued for CCAAs encourage non- light-tag, wing punch, and salvage) for (CCAA) between NDOW and the Federal landowners to implement the purpose of carrying out presence/ Service. The requested term of the conservation measures for species that absence surveys. proposed CCAA and permit is 30 years. are, or are likely to become, candidates In accordance with the requirements of for Federal listing as endangered or Permit Application Number: TE the National Environmental Policy Act threatened by assuring landowners they 64232B–0 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES (NEPA), we have prepared a draft low- will not be subjected to increased Applicant: Joshua R. Young, Lexington, effect screening form supporting our property use restrictions if the covered Kentucky. determination that the proposed action species becomes listed in the future. The applicant requests a permit to qualifies as a categorical exclusion Application requirements and issuance take (capture, identify, tag, and release) under NEPA. We are accepting criteria for enhancement of survival Virginia big-eared (Corynorhinus comments on the permit application, permits issued for CCAAs are in the (=plecotus) townsendii virginianus), proposed CCAA, and draft NEPA Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 Indiana (Myotis sodalis), gray (Myotis compliance documentation. CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d). The policy VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Jul 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1

42838 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 138 / Monday, July 20, 2015 / Notices for CCAAs was published in the Federal RLF, identified as the Potential Authority Register on June 17, 1999 (64 FR 32726). Management Zone in the CAS and We provide this notice under section CCAA. The proposed CCAA would 10(c) of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) Proposed Project include properties that have existing, and its implementing regulations (50 The proposed RLF CCAA is a historic, or potentially suitable habitat CFR 17.22 and 17.32), and the National programmatic agreement between the for RLF. Such habitats may include Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. Service and NDOW to further the reliable and protected water supplies 4371 et seq.) and its implementing conservation of the RLF on non-Federal and water quality, limited or regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). lands or on lands under the controllable public access, accessibility management authority of a non-Federal Dated: July 14, 2015. for management actions and RLF entity. A RLF Conservation Agreement Michael J. Senn, translocations or removal, permanent and Strategy (CAS) that directs the ponds and/or wetland areas, natural Field Supervisor, Southern Nevada Fish and implementation of conservation actions Wildlife Office, Las Vegas, Nevada. springs, spring outflows or reaches of on Federal land was completed and springbrooks and streams that represent [FR Doc. 2015–17705 Filed 7–17–15; 8:45 am] approved in 2005, and is being suitable habitat for any or all life stages BILLING CODE 4310–55–P implemented by the RLF Conservation of RLF. An enrolled property may Team, which is comprised of include all or some combination of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR representatives from the signatory suitable habitat types, or the potential to agencies of the CAS. One of the primary create those habitats. U.S. Geological Survey goals of the CAS is to establish additional populations of RLF within its As required by NEPA, we evaluated impacts to the human environment that National Earthquake Prediction historic range to secure species would result from issuance of the Evaluation Council persistence into the future. However, the CAS does not provide a mechanism requested permit, and we do not foresee AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, to establish populations on non-Federal any significant effects. Therefore, we are Interior. lands while providing regulatory proposing to categorically exclude this ACTION: Notice of meeting. assurances to the landowner in the action from further analysis under event the species becomes listed in the NEPA. Entering into a cooperative SUMMARY: Pursuant to Public Law 106– future. The proposed programmatic agreement is strictly a voluntary action 503, the National Earthquake Prediction CCAA would provide these assurances for landowners, and the activities to be Evaluation Council (NEPEC) will hold to non-Federal landowners, thus covered under the permit are generally its next meeting at the Southern promoting opportunities to implement activities already occurring on these Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. conservation actions and increase RLF properties. The Committee is comprised of distribution on non-Federal land. members from academia, industry, and We will evaluate the permit Under the proposed RLF CCAA, State government. The Committee shall application, associated documents, and NDOW would establish a program in advise the Director of the U.S. comments we receive to determine which individual landowners would Geological Survey (USGS) on matters whether the permit application meets enroll their property. To enroll in the relating to the USGS’s participation in the requirements of the ESA, NEPA, and program, a landowner would enter into the National Earthquake Hazards implementing regulations. If we a cooperative agreement (CA) with Reduction Program. determine that all requirements are met, At the meeting, the Council will NDOW that contains a site-specific we will sign the proposed CCAA and receive briefings and updates on: The management plan for the enrolled lands. NDOW would then issue the landowner issue a permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) USGS’s strategic plan for operational a Certificate of Inclusion that would of the ESA to NDOW for take of RLF. earthquake forecasting and outcomes of authorize a certain level of take of RLF We will not make our final decision a user-needs workshop on that subject under NDOW’s permit as described in until after the end of the 30-day public held in March 2015; on USGS work to the CCAA and CA if the species comment period, and we will fully calculate the probability of future becomes listed under the ESA in the consider all comments we receive earthquakes in areas of the U.S. subject future. The CA would specify during the public comment period. to induced seismicity; on the estimation conservation measures to address Public Availability of Comments of aftershock probabilities and on new known threats to the RLF which may modeled estimates of earthquake include, but are not limited to, All comments we receive become part likelihood along the Wasatch fault zone translocation of RLF, fencing, deepening of the public record. Requests for copies by a technical working group; and on a tank or pool, removal of non-native of comments will be handled in development of a plan for rapid aquatic predators, maintenance of accordance with the Freedom of communication of earthquake suitable habitat conditions, Information Act, NEPA, and Service and information in the Cascadia region. The enhancement of dispersal corridors, Department of Interior policies and NEPEC will review USGS procedures vegetation enhancement, and public procedures. Before including your for calculating and communicating education. The CA would also specify address, phone number, email address, aftershock probabilities following large measures to minimize the incidental or other personal identifying earthquakes in areas outside of take of RLF that might occur as a result information in your comment, you California and the application of these mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES of implementing the conservation should be aware that your entire procedures following the M7.8 Gorkha, measures or conducting other land use comment—including your personal Nepal earthquake of April 2015. The activities. identifying information—may be made council will also finalize a statement for NDOW seeks to enroll lands in Clark publicly available at any time. While public release summarizing the proper County, Nevada, that are associated you can ask us to withhold your procedures for posing and testing with the Virgin, Muddy, and Colorado personal identifying information from earthquake predictions and forecasts. River drainages within or in close public review, we cannot guarantee we Meetings of the National Earthquake proximity to the historic range of the will be able to do so. Prediction Evaluation Council are open VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Jul 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\20JYN1.SGM 20JYN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 12:58:12
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 12:58:12
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
ActionReceipt of application; request for comment.
DatesWritten comments on the permit application, proposed programmatic CCAA, and draft NEPA compliance documentation must be received on or before August 19, 2015.
ContactJeri Krueger, Reno Fish and Wildlife
FR Citation80 FR 42837 
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