80_FR_60893 80 FR 60699 - Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for Seven Covered Species, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Land, Inyo and Mono Counties, California

80 FR 60699 - Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for Seven Covered Species, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Land, Inyo and Mono Counties, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 194 (October 7, 2015)

Page Range60699-60701
FR Document2015-25521

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for a 10-year incidental take permit (ITP) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (applicant). The application includes the draft habitat conservation plan (draft HCP) for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's operations, maintenance, and management activities on its land in Mono and Inyo Counties, California, pursuant to the Act. We invite public comment on the permit application, draft HCP, and draft Environmental Action Statement/Low Effect Screening Form. The Service is considering the issuance of a 10-year ITP for seven covered species in a 314,000-acre permit area. The permit is needed because take of species could occur as a result of the proposed covered activities.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 194 (Wednesday, October 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60699-60701]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25521]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2015-N177; FXES11120800000-156-FF08ECAR00]


Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for Seven Covered Species, 
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Land, Inyo and Mono Counties, 
California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received an application for a 10-year incidental take permit (ITP) 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), from 
the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (applicant). The 
application includes the draft habitat conservation plan (draft HCP) 
for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's operations, 
maintenance, and management activities on its land in Mono and Inyo 
Counties, California, pursuant to the Act. We invite public comment on 
the permit application, draft HCP, and draft Environmental Action 
Statement/Low Effect Screening Form. The Service is considering the 
issuance of a 10-year ITP for seven covered species in a 314,000-acre 
permit area. The permit is needed because take of species could occur 
as a result of the proposed covered activities.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
November 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of the draft HCP and Environmental 
Action Statement/Low Effect Screening Form online at http://www.fws.gov/carlsbad/HCPs/HCP_Docs.html. You may request copies of the 
documents by email, fax, or U.S. mail (see below). These documents are 
also available for public inspection by appointment during normal 
business hours at the office below. Please send your requests or 
written comments by any one of the following methods, and specify 
``LADWP HCP'' in your request or comment.
    Submitting Request for Documents/Comments: You may submit comments 
or requests for more information by any of the following methods:
    Email: fw8cfwocomments@fws.gov. Include ``LADWP HCP'' in the 
subject line of your message. If you choose to submit comments via 
email, please ensure that the file size does not exceed 10 megabytes. 
Emails that exceed the maximum file size may not be properly 
transmitted to the Service.
    Telephone: Kennon A. Corey, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 
760-322-2070.
    Fax: Kennon A. Corey, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 760-
322-4648, Attn.: LADWP HCP.
    U.S. Mail: Kennon A. Corey, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 
Attn.: LADWP HCP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 777 East Tahquitz 
Canyon Way, Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup of Documents, or Delivery of Comments: 
Call 760-322-2070 to make an appointment during regular business hours 
at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kennon A. Corey, Assistant Field 
Supervisor, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office; telephone 760-322-
2070. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please 
call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The applicant, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, 
requests an ITP under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. If approved, the 
applicant anticipates the taking of five federally listed species and 
two unlisted species as a result of activities undertaken or authorized 
on lands held by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power in Inyo 
and Mono Counties. These activities are associated with water 
conveyance, agriculture, recreation, road maintenance, habitat 
restoration, and other land management activities. Take of listed 
species would be incidental to the applicant's performance or 
authorization of these activities on lands they manage.

Background

    Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 
CFR 17 prohibit the ``take'' of fish and wildlife species federally 
listed as endangered or threatened. Take of federally listed fish or 
wildlife is defined under the Act as to ``harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect listed species, or 
attempt to engage in such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1538). ``Harm'' includes 
significant habitat modification or degradation that actually kills or 
injures listed wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral 
patterns, including breeding, feeding, and sheltering (50 CFR 17.3(c)). 
Under limited circumstances, we may issue permits to authorize 
incidental take, which is defined under the Act as take that is 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities. 
Regulations governing incidental take permits for threatened and 
endangered species are found in 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. 
All species included on the incidental take permit, if issued, would 
receive assurances under the Service's ``No Surprises'' regulation (50 
CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)).

Applicant's Proposal

    To comply with the requirements of the Act, the draft HCP defines 
biological goals and objectives, evaluates the effects of covered 
activities on covered species, describes a conservation strategy, 
describes a monitoring and adaptive management program, identifies 
changed circumstances and responsive actions, identifies funding 
sources, and identifies alternative actions to the proposed impacts. 
The draft HCP is intended to be a document that will facilitate 
regional species conservation and assist the applicant to better meet 
its legal obligations to provide water and power to the citizens of Los 
Angeles while managing its non-urban lands. The draft HCP will also 
provide a coordinated process for permitting and mitigating the 
incidental take of covered species as an alternative to activity-by-
activity review.
    The draft HCP addresses seven covered species, including three fish 
species and four bird species. The permit would provide take 
authorization for all covered species

[[Page 60700]]

identified by the draft HCP. Take authorized for listed covered species 
would be effective upon permit issuance. Take authorization for 
currently unlisted covered species would become effective concurrent 
with listing, should the species be listed under the Act during the 
permit term.
    The proposed permit would include the following five federally 
listed animal species: Owens tui chub (Siphateles bicolor snyderi), 
Owens pupfish (Cyprinodon radiosus), yellow-billed cuckoo (western 
distinct population segment) (Coccyzus americanus), southwestern willow 
flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), and least Bell's vireo (Vireo 
bellii pusillus). The unlisted species proposed for coverage under the 
draft HCP are the greater sage-grouse (bi-state distinct population 
segment) (Centrocercus urophasianus) and the Long Valley/Owens speckled 
dace (Rhinichthys osculus ssp.).
    The applicant is requesting coverage for incidental take resulting 
from ongoing water and power operations and maintenance activities and 
land management activities (collectively referred to as covered 
activities) in the following categories:
    1. Water gathering and distribution,
    2. Power production and transmission,
    3. Livestock grazing,
    4. Irrigated agriculture,
    5. Outdoor recreation,
    6. Road maintenance and use,
    7. Weed management,
    8. Fire management, and
    9. Habitat enhancement, habitat creation, and monitoring.
    The proposed 314,000-acre permit area is the area where incidental 
take of covered species resulting from covered activities could occur. 
The permit area is non-urban land held by the City of Los Angeles in 
Mono and Inyo Counties; it includes part of the watershed for Mono Lake 
in Mono County and the Owens River, including several of its 
tributaries and much of its watershed in Mono and Inyo Counties.
    The applicant has developed a conservation strategy that includes 
measures to avoid, minimize, and mitigate take of covered species 
associated with the covered activities as well as enhance and/or create 
habitat for covered species. The conservation strategy includes 
biological goals and objectives at the landscape, habitat, and species 
levels. The conservation actions to implement the biological goals and 
objectives are habitat based. The rationale for this habitat-based 
approach is that by enhancing/creating habitat, the HCP implementation 
would benefit a broader range of species in addition to the covered 
species.

Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan Alternatives

    In the draft HCP, the applicant considers four alternatives to the 
proposed action: ``Status Quo,'' ``No Action or Avoid Take,'' 
``Activity by Activity Permitting,'' and ``Reduced Species.'' Under the 
``Status Quo'' alternative, the Service would not issue an ITP, but the 
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would continue its operations 
and maintenance activities to provide water and power to the citizens 
of Los Angeles and manage City-owned land in Inyo and Mono Counties. 
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would potentially be in 
violation of the Act should incidental take of a listed species occur 
as a result of their operations and maintenance and land management 
activities. Therefore, the applicant rejected this alternative.
    Under the ``No Action'' or ``Avoid Take'' alternative, no permit 
would be issued and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would 
cease all activities that may result in the incidental take of a 
federally listed species. Ceasing these activities would thereby 
adversely affect its ability to provide water and power to its 
customers and properly manage its lands. This alternative was rejected 
because it does not allow the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power 
to complete its mission.
    The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power evaluated obtaining 
incidental take permits for individual covered activities or an 
``Activity by Activity'' alternative. This alternative would require 
the applicant to prepare multiple habitat conservation plans. It would 
require the Service to prepare multiple environmental documents to 
analyze the issuance of multiple incidental take permits, complete 
multiple public review processes, and then prepare multiple incidental 
take permits. This alternative was rejected because it is inefficient, 
less effective in conserving covered species (i.e., does not provide a 
landscape approach to conservation and management), and more costly.
    Under the ``Reduced Species'' alternative, the applicant considered 
covered species as only the five animal species listed under the Act 
whose ranges substantially overlapped City of Los Angeles land at the 
beginning of the HCP development process, as the applicant would need a 
permit to incidentally take these species. With this alternative, if 
additional species were listed during the term of the permit, the 
applicant would need to develop additional habitat conservation 
planning documents for these newly listed species to obtain incidental 
take coverage and request new incidental take permits or major permit 
amendments. Based upon input from the public and its desire to have 
incidental take coverage for species that might become listed during 
the permit term, the applicant rejected the ``Reduced Species'' 
alternative.

Our Preliminary Determination Under the National Environmental Policy 
Act

    The Service's proposed permit issuance triggers the need for 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. In our analysis 
of the impacts of the proposed permit issuance, we completed a draft 
Environmental Action Statement/Low Effect Screening Form and made a 
preliminary determination that the applicant's proposal will have a 
minor or negligible effect on the covered species, and that the plan 
qualifies as a low-effect HCP as defined by our Habitat Conservation 
Planning Handbook (November 1996). We invite comments on our 
preliminary determination. Three criteria form the basis for this 
determination: (1) Implementation of the proposed project as described 
in the HCP would result in minor or negligible effects on federally 
listed, proposed, and/or candidate species and their habitats; (2) 
implementation of the HCP would result in minor or negligible effects 
on other environmental values or resources; and (3) HCP impacts, 
considered together with those of other past, present, and reasonably 
foreseeable future projects, would not result in cumulatively 
significant effects. Our preliminary determination is that HCP approval 
and ITP issuance qualify for categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as provided by the 
Department of the Interior Manual (516 DM 2.3(A) and 516 DM 8; however, 
we may revise our determination based upon review of public comments 
received in response to this notice (see Public Comments section).

Public Comments

    The Service invites the public to comment on the permit 
application, draft HCP, and draft Environmental Action Statement/Low 
Effect Screening Form during the public comment period (see DATES). 
Please direct written comments to the contacts listed in the ADDRESSES 
section. Please direct questions regarding the draft HCP to the

[[Page 60701]]

Service contacts listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments and materials we receive, including names and 
addresses, will become part of the administrative record and may be 
released to the public. 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 may 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.

Next Steps

    We provide this notice under section 10(a) of the Act and Service 
regulations for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (40 CFR 1506.6). We will evaluate the permit application, 
associated documents, and comments we receive to make a final 
determination regarding whether the application meets the requirements 
of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will also evaluate whether 
issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP would comply with section 7 of 
the Act by conducting an intra-service consultation. We will use the 
results of our intra-Service consultation, in combination with the 
above findings, in our final analysis to determine whether to issue the 
ITP. If the requirements and issuance criteria are met under section 
10(a), we will issue the ITP to the applicant to authorize incidental 
take of the covered species. We will make a permit decision no sooner 
than 30 days after the date of this notice.

Authority

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

G. Mendel Stewart,
Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, Carlsbad, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2015-25521 Filed 10-6-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices                                          60699

                                                      Dated: October 1, 2015.                                   To ensure consideration, please
                                                                                                            DATES:                                                water conveyance, agriculture,
                                                    Harriet Tregoning,                                  send your written comments by                             recreation, road maintenance, habitat
                                                    Principal Deputy Assistant, Secretary for           November 6, 2015.                                         restoration, and other land management
                                                    Community Planning and Development.                 ADDRESSES: You may obtain copies of                       activities. Take of listed species would
                                                                                                        the draft HCP and Environmental                           be incidental to the applicant’s
                                                    Appendix A                                                                                                    performance or authorization of these
                                                                                                        Action Statement/Low Effect Screening
                                                                                                        Form online at http://www.fws.gov/                        activities on lands they manage.
                                                        FY 2014 APPALACHIA ECONOMIC
                                                      DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE GRANTEES                   carlsbad/HCPs/HCP_Docs.html. You                          Background
                                                                                                        may request copies of the documents by
                                                                                                        email, fax, or U.S. mail (see below).                        Section 9 of the Endangered Species
                                                                                             Amount                                                               Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531
                                                           Grantee               State                  These documents are also available for
                                                                                            awarded
                                                                                                                                                                  et seq.), and the Code of Federal
                                                                                                        public inspection by appointment
                                                    Kentucky Depart-            KY .....    $200,000.00 during normal business hours at the                       Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17 prohibit
                                                       ment of Local                                                                                              the ‘‘take’’ of fish and wildlife species
                                                                                                        office below. Please send your requests
                                                       Government.                                                                                                federally listed as endangered or
                                                                                                        or written comments by any one of the
                                                    State of Maryland— MD ....               350,000.00                                                           threatened. Take of federally listed fish
                                                                                                        following methods, and specify
                                                       Department of                                                                                              or wildlife is defined under the Act as
                                                       Housing and                                      ‘‘LADWP HCP’’ in your request or
                                                                                                                                                                  to ‘‘harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
                                                       Community De-                                    comment.
                                                                                                                                                                  wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect
                                                       velopment.                                          Submitting Request for Documents/
                                                                                                                                                                  listed species, or attempt to engage in
                                                                                                        Comments: You may submit comments
                                                         Total ................ ...........  550,000.00 or requests for more information by any
                                                                                                                                                                  such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1538). ‘‘Harm’’
                                                                                                                                                                  includes significant habitat modification
                                                                                                        of the following methods:
                                                    [FR Doc. 2015–25535 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am]                                                                   or degradation that actually kills or
                                                                                                           Email: fw8cfwocomments@fws.gov.
                                                                                                                                                                  injures listed wildlife by significantly
                                                    BILLING CODE 4210–67–P                              Include ‘‘LADWP HCP’’ in the subject
                                                                                                                                                                  impairing essential behavioral patterns,
                                                                                                        line of your message. If you choose to
                                                                                                                                                                  including breeding, feeding, and
                                                                                                        submit comments via email, please
                                                                                                                                                                  sheltering (50 CFR 17.3(c)). Under
                                                                                                        ensure that the file size does not exceed
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                                                                    limited circumstances, we may issue
                                                                                                        10 megabytes. Emails that exceed the                      permits to authorize incidental take,
                                                                                                        maximum file size may not be properly                     which is defined under the Act as take
                                                    Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                                                                        transmitted to the Service.                               that is incidental to, and not the
                                                                                                           Telephone: Kennon A. Corey, Palm                       purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.
                                                    [FWS–R8–ES–2015–N177;                               Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, 760–
                                                    FXES11120800000–156–FF08ECAR00]                                                                               Regulations governing incidental take
                                                                                                        322–2070.                                                 permits for threatened and endangered
                                                                                                           Fax: Kennon A. Corey, Palm Springs                     species are found in 50 CFR 17.32 and
                                                    Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan
                                                                                                        Fish and Wildlife Office, 760–322–4648,                   17.22, respectively. All species included
                                                    for Seven Covered Species, Los
                                                                                                        Attn.: LADWP HCP.                                         on the incidental take permit, if issued,
                                                    Angeles Department of Water and
                                                                                                           U.S. Mail: Kennon A. Corey, Palm
                                                    Power Land, Inyo and Mono Counties,                                                                           would receive assurances under the
                                                                                                        Springs Fish and Wildlife Office, Attn.:
                                                    California                                                                                                    Service’s ‘‘No Surprises’’ regulation (50
                                                                                                        LADWP HCP, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                                                                                  CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)).
                                                    AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,                  Service, 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way,
                                                    Interior.                                           Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262.                        Applicant’s Proposal
                                                    ACTION: Notice of availability; request
                                                                                                           In-Person Viewing or Pickup of                            To comply with the requirements of
                                                    for comment.                                        Documents, or Delivery of Comments:                       the Act, the draft HCP defines biological
                                                                                                        Call 760–322–2070 to make an                              goals and objectives, evaluates the
                                                    SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and                      appointment during regular business                       effects of covered activities on covered
                                                    Wildlife Service (Service), have received hours at the above address.                                         species, describes a conservation
                                                    an application for a 10-year incidental             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                          strategy, describes a monitoring and
                                                    take permit (ITP) pursuant to the                   Kennon A. Corey, Assistant Field                          adaptive management program,
                                                    Endangered Species Act of 1973, as                  Supervisor, Palm Springs Fish and                         identifies changed circumstances and
                                                    amended (Act), from the Los Angeles                 Wildlife Office; telephone 760–322–                       responsive actions, identifies funding
                                                    Department of Water and Power                       2070. If you use a telecommunications                     sources, and identifies alternative
                                                    (applicant). The application includes               device for the deaf (TDD), please call the                actions to the proposed impacts. The
                                                    the draft habitat conservation plan (draft Federal Information Relay Service                                  draft HCP is intended to be a document
                                                    HCP) for the Los Angeles Department of (FIRS) at 800–877–8339.                                                that will facilitate regional species
                                                    Water and Power’s operations,                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                                conservation and assist the applicant to
                                                    maintenance, and management                                                                                   better meet its legal obligations to
                                                    activities on its land in Mono and Inyo             Introduction                                              provide water and power to the citizens
                                                    Counties, California, pursuant to the                  The applicant, the Los Angeles                         of Los Angeles while managing its non-
                                                    Act. We invite public comment on the                Department of Water and Power,                            urban lands. The draft HCP will also
                                                    permit application, draft HCP, and draft requests an ITP under section                                        provide a coordinated process for
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Environmental Action Statement/Low                  10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. If approved, the                  permitting and mitigating the incidental
                                                    Effect Screening Form. The Service is               applicant anticipates the taking of five                  take of covered species as an alternative
                                                    considering the issuance of a 10-year               federally listed species and two unlisted                 to activity-by-activity review.
                                                    ITP for seven covered species in a                  species as a result of activities                            The draft HCP addresses seven
                                                    314,000-acre permit area. The permit is             undertaken or authorized on lands held                    covered species, including three fish
                                                    needed because take of species could                by the Los Angeles Department of Water                    species and four bird species. The
                                                    occur as a result of the proposed                   and Power in Inyo and Mono Counties.                      permit would provide take
                                                    covered activities.                                 These activities are associated with                      authorization for all covered species


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                                                    60700                      Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices

                                                    identified by the draft HCP. Take                       a broader range of species in addition to             permit, the applicant would need to
                                                    authorized for listed covered species                   the covered species.                                  develop additional habitat conservation
                                                    would be effective upon permit                                                                                planning documents for these newly
                                                                                                            Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan
                                                    issuance. Take authorization for                                                                              listed species to obtain incidental take
                                                                                                            Alternatives
                                                    currently unlisted covered species                                                                            coverage and request new incidental
                                                    would become effective concurrent with                     In the draft HCP, the applicant                    take permits or major permit
                                                    listing, should the species be listed                   considers four alternatives to the                    amendments. Based upon input from
                                                    under the Act during the permit term.                   proposed action: ‘‘Status Quo,’’ ‘‘No                 the public and its desire to have
                                                       The proposed permit would include                    Action or Avoid Take,’’ ‘‘Activity by                 incidental take coverage for species that
                                                    the following five federally listed                     Activity Permitting,’’ and ‘‘Reduced                  might become listed during the permit
                                                    animal species: Owens tui chub                          Species.’’ Under the ‘‘Status Quo’’                   term, the applicant rejected the
                                                    (Siphateles bicolor snyderi), Owens                     alternative, the Service would not issue              ‘‘Reduced Species’’ alternative.
                                                    pupfish (Cyprinodon radiosus), yellow-                  an ITP, but the Los Angeles Department
                                                    billed cuckoo (western distinct                         of Water and Power would continue its                 Our Preliminary Determination Under
                                                    population segment) (Coccyzus                           operations and maintenance activities to              the National Environmental Policy Act
                                                    americanus), southwestern willow                        provide water and power to the citizens                  The Service’s proposed permit
                                                    flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus),                of Los Angeles and manage City-owned                  issuance triggers the need for
                                                    and least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii                    land in Inyo and Mono Counties. The                   compliance with the National
                                                    pusillus). The unlisted species proposed                Los Angeles Department of Water and                   Environmental Policy Act. In our
                                                    for coverage under the draft HCP are the                Power would potentially be in violation
                                                                                                                                                                  analysis of the impacts of the proposed
                                                    greater sage-grouse (bi-state distinct                  of the Act should incidental take of a
                                                                                                                                                                  permit issuance, we completed a draft
                                                    population segment) (Centrocercus                       listed species occur as a result of their
                                                                                                                                                                  Environmental Action Statement/Low
                                                    urophasianus) and the Long Valley/                      operations and maintenance and land
                                                                                                                                                                  Effect Screening Form and made a
                                                    Owens speckled dace (Rhinichthys                        management activities. Therefore, the
                                                                                                                                                                  preliminary determination that the
                                                    osculus ssp.).                                          applicant rejected this alternative.
                                                                                                               Under the ‘‘No Action’’ or ‘‘Avoid                 applicant’s proposal will have a minor
                                                       The applicant is requesting coverage                                                                       or negligible effect on the covered
                                                    for incidental take resulting from                      Take’’ alternative, no permit would be
                                                                                                            issued and the Los Angeles Department                 species, and that the plan qualifies as a
                                                    ongoing water and power operations                                                                            low-effect HCP as defined by our
                                                    and maintenance activities and land                     of Water and Power would cease all
                                                                                                            activities that may result in the                     Habitat Conservation Planning
                                                    management activities (collectively                                                                           Handbook (November 1996). We invite
                                                    referred to as covered activities) in the               incidental take of a federally listed
                                                                                                            species. Ceasing these activities would               comments on our preliminary
                                                    following categories:                                                                                         determination. Three criteria form the
                                                       1. Water gathering and distribution,                 thereby adversely affect its ability to
                                                                                                            provide water and power to its                        basis for this determination: (1)
                                                       2. Power production and                                                                                    Implementation of the proposed project
                                                    transmission,                                           customers and properly manage its
                                                                                                            lands. This alternative was rejected                  as described in the HCP would result in
                                                       3. Livestock grazing,                                                                                      minor or negligible effects on federally
                                                       4. Irrigated agriculture,                            because it does not allow the Los
                                                                                                            Angeles Department of Water and Power                 listed, proposed, and/or candidate
                                                       5. Outdoor recreation,
                                                       6. Road maintenance and use,                         to complete its mission.                              species and their habitats; (2)
                                                       7. Weed management,                                     The Los Angeles Department of Water                implementation of the HCP would result
                                                       8. Fire management, and                              and Power evaluated obtaining                         in minor or negligible effects on other
                                                       9. Habitat enhancement, habitat                      incidental take permits for individual                environmental values or resources; and
                                                    creation, and monitoring.                               covered activities or an ‘‘Activity by                (3) HCP impacts, considered together
                                                       The proposed 314,000-acre permit                     Activity’’ alternative. This alternative              with those of other past, present, and
                                                    area is the area where incidental take of               would require the applicant to prepare                reasonably foreseeable future projects,
                                                    covered species resulting from covered                  multiple habitat conservation plans. It               would not result in cumulatively
                                                    activities could occur. The permit area                 would require the Service to prepare                  significant effects. Our preliminary
                                                    is non-urban land held by the City of                   multiple environmental documents to                   determination is that HCP approval and
                                                    Los Angeles in Mono and Inyo Counties;                  analyze the issuance of multiple                      ITP issuance qualify for categorical
                                                    it includes part of the watershed for                   incidental take permits, complete                     exclusion under the National
                                                    Mono Lake in Mono County and the                        multiple public review processes, and                 Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
                                                    Owens River, including several of its                   then prepare multiple incidental take                 4321 et seq.), as provided by the
                                                    tributaries and much of its watershed in                permits. This alternative was rejected                Department of the Interior Manual (516
                                                    Mono and Inyo Counties.                                 because it is inefficient, less effective in          DM 2.3(A) and 516 DM 8; however, we
                                                       The applicant has developed a                        conserving covered species (i.e., does                may revise our determination based
                                                    conservation strategy that includes                     not provide a landscape approach to                   upon review of public comments
                                                    measures to avoid, minimize, and                        conservation and management), and                     received in response to this notice (see
                                                    mitigate take of covered species                        more costly.                                          Public Comments section).
                                                    associated with the covered activities as                  Under the ‘‘Reduced Species’’                      Public Comments
                                                    well as enhance and/or create habitat for               alternative, the applicant considered
                                                    covered species. The conservation                       covered species as only the five animal                 The Service invites the public to
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    strategy includes biological goals and                  species listed under the Act whose                    comment on the permit application,
                                                    objectives at the landscape, habitat, and               ranges substantially overlapped City of               draft HCP, and draft Environmental
                                                    species levels. The conservation actions                Los Angeles land at the beginning of the              Action Statement/Low Effect Screening
                                                    to implement the biological goals and                   HCP development process, as the                       Form during the public comment period
                                                    objectives are habitat based. The                       applicant would need a permit to                      (see DATES). Please direct written
                                                    rationale for this habitat-based approach               incidentally take these species. With                 comments to the contacts listed in the
                                                    is that by enhancing/creating habitat,                  this alternative, if additional species               ADDRESSES section. Please direct
                                                    the HCP implementation would benefit                    were listed during the term of the                    questions regarding the draft HCP to the


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 194 / Wednesday, October 7, 2015 / Notices                                                 60701

                                                    Service contacts listed in the FOR                      DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            sensitive natural, scenic, and cultural
                                                    FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.                                                                          resources.
                                                                                                            Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                    Public Availability of Comments                                                                                 We are furnishing this notice in
                                                                                                            [FWS–R1–R–2015–N140; 1265–0000–10137–                 compliance with the Service’s National
                                                      All comments and materials we                         S3]                                                   Wildlife Refuge System planning policy,
                                                    receive, including names and addresses,                                                                       and the National Environmental Policy
                                                    will become part of the administrative                  Hanford Reach National Monument,
                                                                                                                                                                  Act of 1969 as amended (NEPA; 42
                                                    record and may be released to the                       Adams, Benton, Franklin and Grant
                                                                                                                                                                  U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and its
                                                                                                            Counties, WA
                                                    public. Before including your address,                                                                        implementing regulations. This notice
                                                    phone number, email address, or other                   AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                  serves to advise other agencies, Tribal
                                                    personal identifying information in your                Interior.                                             governments, and the public of our
                                                    comment, you should be aware that                       ACTION: Notice of request for comments                meetings; initiate the public scoping
                                                    your entire comment—including your                      and public meetings.                                  comment period; and request public
                                                    personal identifying information—may                                                                          comments and information on issues,
                                                    be made publicly available at any time.                 SUMMARY:    We, the U.S. Fish and                     opportunities, and access alternatives
                                                    While you may ask us in your comment                    Wildlife Service (Service), will hold a               we should consider.
                                                    to withhold your personal identifying                   30-day comment period, including two
                                                                                                            public meetings, to obtain comments on                  We will consider the comments we
                                                    information from public review, we                                                                            receive and issue a scoping report that
                                                                                                            providing public access to the
                                                    cannot guarantee that we will be able to                                                                      discusses the issues and opportunities
                                                                                                            Rattlesnake Mountain Unit, including
                                                    do so.                                                                                                        identified during the public comment
                                                                                                            the summit of Rattlesnake Mountain,
                                                    Next Steps                                              within the Hanford Reach National                     period, the issues we may or may not
                                                                                                            Monument (Monument). In Section                       further analyze, and the next steps in
                                                       We provide this notice under section                 3081 of the Howard P. ‘‘Buck’’ McKeon                 our process to examine what public
                                                    10(a) of the Act and Service regulations                National Defense Authorization Act for                access opportunities may be compatible
                                                    for implementing the National                           Fiscal Year 2015, the Service is directed             with the purposes of the Monument.
                                                    Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (40                    to ensure public access to the summit of
                                                    CFR 1506.6). We will evaluate the                       Rattlesnake Mountain (a.k.a., Laliik) for             Public Availability of Comments
                                                    permit application, associated                          educational, recreational, historical,                  Before including your address, phone
                                                    documents, and comments we receive to                   scientific, cultural, and other purposes,             number, email address, or other
                                                    make a final determination regarding                    including motor vehicle access, and
                                                                                                                                                                  personal identifying information in your
                                                    whether the application meets the                       pedestrian and other nonmotorized
                                                                                                                                                                  comment, you should be aware that
                                                    requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of                  access.
                                                                                                                                                                  your entire comment—including your
                                                    the Act. We will also evaluate whether                  DATES:  The public may submit                         personal identifying information—may
                                                    issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP                   comments from October 15 through                      be made publicly available at any time.
                                                    would comply with section 7 of the Act                  November 13, 2015. Two public                         While you can ask us in your comment
                                                    by conducting an intra-service                          meetings will be held on October 14,                  to withhold your personal identifying
                                                    consultation. We will use the results of                2015, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., see the                   information from public review, we
                                                    our intra-Service consultation, in                      location under ADDRESSES.                             cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                    combination with the above findings, in                 ADDRESSES: More information on public                 do so.
                                                    our final analysis to determine whether                 access can be found on our Web site:
                                                    to issue the ITP. If the requirements and               http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Hanford_                    Reasonable Accommodations
                                                    issuance criteria are met under section                 Reach/. The two public meetings will be
                                                                                                            held at the Hanford Reach Interpretive                  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is
                                                    10(a), we will issue the ITP to the
                                                                                                            Center, 1943 Columbia Park Trail,                     committed to providing access to this
                                                    applicant to authorize incidental take of
                                                                                                            Richland, WA 99352. Submit comments                   meeting for all participants. Please
                                                    the covered species. We will make a
                                                                                                            on public access to the Rattlesnake                   direct all requests for sign language
                                                    permit decision no sooner than 30 days
                                                                                                            Mountain Unit, by any of the following                interpreting services, closed captioning,
                                                    after the date of this notice.
                                                                                                            methods:                                              or other accommodation needs to Dan
                                                    Authority                                                  Email: mcriver@fws.gov. Include                    Haas, (509) 546–8333 (phone); or
                                                                                                            ‘‘Public Access to Rattlesnake                        mcriver@fws.gov (email); or 800–877–
                                                      We provide this notice under section                  Mountain’’ in the subject line of the                 8339 (TTY); by close of business on
                                                    10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)                  message.                                              September 30, 2015.
                                                    and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).                      Fax: (509) 546–8303.                                 Dated: September 2, 2015.
                                                    G. Mendel Stewart,                                         U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                            Service, Rattlesnake Mountain Access,                 Richard R. Hannan,
                                                    Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife                                                                  Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region,
                                                    Office, Carlsbad, California.
                                                                                                            64 Maple Street, Burbank, WA 99323.
                                                                                                                                                                  Portland, OR.
                                                    [FR Doc. 2015–25521 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am]             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan
                                                                                                            Haas, at (509) 546–8333 (phone), or                   [FR Doc. 2015–24193 Filed 10–6–15; 8:45 am]
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                                                                            mcriver@fws.gov (email).                              BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

                                                                                                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
                                                                                                            purpose of the public comment period
                                                                                                            is to obtain comments and ideas from
                                                                                                            the public and other interested parties
                                                                                                            on providing public access to the
                                                                                                            Monument’s Rattlesnake Mountain Unit
                                                                                                            in a manner that protects unique and


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Document Created: 2015-12-15 08:49:35
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 08:49:35
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 availability; request for comment.
DatesTo ensure consideration, please send your written comments by November 6, 2015.
ContactKennon A. Corey, Assistant Field Supervisor, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office; telephone 760-322- 2070. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation80 FR 60699 

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