80_FR_9512 80 FR 9477 - Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the Fender's Blue Butterfly on Private Lands in Yamhill County, Oregon

80 FR 9477 - Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the Fender's Blue Butterfly on Private Lands in Yamhill County, Oregon

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 35 (February 23, 2015)

Page Range9477-9479
FR Document2015-03572

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for an incidental take permit (permit) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permit application includes a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) addressing private land management activities within upland prairie in Yamhill County, Oregon, that may result in the incidental take of the federally endangered Fender's blue butterfly. The Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) addressing the proposed HCP and issuance of a permit that was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). We invite comments from all interested parties on the permit application, including the HCP and the EA.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9477-9479]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-03572]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2015-N001; FXES11120100000F2-156-FF01E00000]


Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Habitat Conservation 
Plan for the Fender's Blue Butterfly on Private Lands in Yamhill 
County, Oregon

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received an application from the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation 
District (SWCD) for an incidental take permit (permit) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The permit 
application includes a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) addressing 
private land management activities within upland prairie in Yamhill 
County, Oregon, that may result in the incidental take of the federally 
endangered Fender's blue butterfly. The Service also announces the 
availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) addressing the 
proposed HCP and issuance of a permit that was prepared in accordance 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA). 
We invite comments from all interested parties on the permit 
application, including the HCP and the EA.

DATES: Written comments on the HCP and the EA must be received from 
interested parties no later than March 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: To request further information or submit written comments, 
please use one of the following methods, and note that your information 
request or comments are in reference to the Yamhill SWCD HCP.
     Internet: Documents may be viewed on the Internet at 
http://www.fws.gov/oregonfwo/ToolsForLandowners/HabitatConservationPlans/.
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Yamhill SWCD HCP'' 
in the subject line of the message or comments.
     U.S. Mail: State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 2600 SE 98th Ave., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97266.
     Fax: 503-231-6195, Attn: Yamhill SWCD HCP.
     In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Comments and materials 
received will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
2600 SE 98th Ave., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97266.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Szlemp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 503-231-6179; facsimile: 503-231- 
6195. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call 
the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibits the take of 
fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened under 
section 4 of the ESA. Under the ESA, the term ``take'' means to harass, 
harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or 
to attempt to engage in any such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term 
``harm,'' as defined in our regulations, includes significant habitat 
modification or degradation that results in death or injury to listed 
species by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, 
including breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term 
``harass'' is defined in our regulations as to carry out actions that 
create the likelihood of injury to listed species to such an extent as 
to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns, which include, but 
are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3).
    Under specified circumstances, the Service may issue permits that 
authorize take of federally listed species, provided the take is 
incidental to, but not the purpose of, an otherwise lawful activity. 
Regulations governing permits for endangered and threatened species are 
at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA 
contains provisions for issuing such incidental take permits to non-
Federal entities for the take of endangered and threatened species, 
provided the following criteria are met:
    (1) The taking will be incidental;
    (2) The applicant will prepare a conservation plan that, to the 
maximum extent practicable, identifies the steps the applicant will 
take to minimize and mitigate the impact of such taking;
    (3) The applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the plan 
will be provided;
    (4) The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the 
survival and recovery of the species in the wild; and
    (5) The applicant will carry out any other measures that the 
Service may require as being necessary or appropriate for the purposes 
of the plan.

Proposed Action

    The Service proposes to approve the HCP and to issue a permit, both 
with a term of 50 years, to the SWCD for incidental take of the 
federally endangered Fender's blue butterfly (Icaricia icarioides 
fenderi) caused by covered activities, if permit issuance criteria are 
met. The permit would allow the SWCD to issue certificates of inclusion 
to private landowners wanting coverage under the HCP for incidental 
take of the Fender's blue butterfly. Private landowners who wish to be 
covered under the permit may apply for a certificate of inclusion to 
the permit after signing a cooperative agreement with the SWCD. This 
will allow landowners within identified butterfly habitat in Yamhill 
County to continue to perform otherwise lawful activities that have the 
potential to impact the Fender's blue butterfly. To compensate for take 
impacts, the SWCD will work

[[Page 9478]]

with participating landowners to minimize and mitigate their impacts.
    The area to be addressed in the HCP (i.e., the covered lands) 
consists of privately-owned lands in Yamhill County, Oregon, totaling 
approximately 7,831 acres. The covered lands are primarily rural lands 
supporting a variety of agricultural activities, some of which have the 
potential to affect Fender's blue butterflies. Activities proposed for 
coverage (covered activities) under the HCP include forage production, 
livestock grazing, vineyard establishment, timber establishment, 
voluntary habitat restoration, and mitigation and monitoring. Potential 
impacts caused by covered activities are anticipated to occur within 
upland prairie habitat in areas that are within the butterfly flight 
distance (1.2 miles) of known Fender's blue butterfly populations.
    Under the HCP, the impacts of ``take'' of the Fender's blue 
butterfly are being measured by the quantity of the butterfly's host 
plant, Kincaid's lupine (Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii), and nectar 
resources that are adversely affected. Kincaid's lupine is federally-
listed as a threatened species, but there are no take prohibitions for 
plants on non-Federal lands under the ESA. These impacts are projected 
based on the acreage of butterfly habitat where the covered activities 
occur, and the average abundance of Kincaid's lupine and nectar plants 
in those affected areas. Under the HCP, the total take impact on 
covered lands is estimated at 0.91 acres over the 50-year permit term.
    The HCP includes measures to conserve butterfly habitat, and to 
avoid and minimize incidental take of the Fender's blue butterfly. 
Under the HCP, the conservation measures include:
    (1) Working with individual landowners and providing technical 
assistance on means to avoid adverse impacts to the butterfly and its 
habitat and to implement best management practices for the identified 
covered activities;
    (2) Implementing mitigation measures when impacts to the Fender's 
blue butterfly and its habitats are unavoidable. Mitigation may be 
completed by protection of existing butterfly-occupied habitat, habitat 
enhancement and management that increases the quantity of resources for 
Fender's blue butterflies beyond pre-existing levels, or a combination 
of protection and enhancement. Mitigation ratios will be calculated 
using a product of a site quality multiplier and a base mitigation 
ratio. The site quality modifier ranges from 0.8 to 1.2, and the base 
mitigation ratios vary from 1 to 1, to 5 to 1. The HCP assumes an 
overall average mitigation ratio of 2 to 1 to be applied.

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

    The development of the draft HCP and the proposed issuance of the 
permit under this plan is a Federal action that triggers the need for 
compliance with NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). We have prepared a draft 
EA to analyze the environmental impacts of three alternatives related 
to the issuance of a permit and implementation of the conservation 
program under the proposed HCP. The three alternatives include the 
proposed action, a no-action alternative, and an individual permit 
alternative to the issuance of certificates of inclusion under the HCP.
    The ``Proposed Action'' alternative is the issuance of a permit to 
the SWCD and implementation of the HCP.
    Under the ``No-action'' alternative, the proposed HCP would not be 
implemented and no permit would be issued to the SWCD to provide 
landowners coverage for incidental take of Fender's blue butterfly 
resulting from covered activities. The no-action alternative would not 
give landowners regulatory certainty, and actions that could result in 
take of Fender's blue butterfly would be prohibited under section 9 of 
the ESA.
    Under the individual permit alternative, each landowner who may 
impact the Fender's blue butterfly and its habitat would complete their 
own HCP, obtain their own permit, and conduct and pay for their own 
mitigation, which could delay implementation of a covered activity 
anywhere from one to three years. The SWCD would also be required to 
obtain take coverage for any habitat restoration, enhancement, and 
management activities that are likely to impact and cause take of the 
Fender's blue butterfly.

Public Comments

    You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods 
listed in the ADDRESSES section. We request data, comments, new 
information, or suggestions from the public, other concerned 
governmental agencies, the scientific community, Tribes, industry, or 
any other interested party on our proposed Federal action. We 
particularly seek comments on the following: (1) Biological data or 
other information regarding the Fender's blue butterfly and Kincaid's 
lupine; (2) additional information concerning the range, distribution, 
population size, and population trends of the butterfly and the lupine; 
(3) current or planned activities in the subject area and their 
possible impacts on these species; (4) the presence of archeological 
sites, buildings and structures, historic events, sacred and 
traditional areas, and other historic preservation concerns, which are 
required to be considered in Federal project planning by the National 
Historic Preservation Act; (5) identification of any other 
environmental issues that should be considered with regard to the 
permit action; and (6) information regarding the adequacy of the HCP 
pursuant to the requirements for permits at 50 CFR parts 13 and 17.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments and materials we receive become part of the public 
record associated with this action. Before including your address, 
phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information 
in your comments, 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. Comments and materials we 
receive, as well as supporting documentation we use in preparing the 
EA, will be available for public inspection by appointment, during 
normal business hours, at our Oregon Fish and Wildlife Office (see 
ADDRESSES).

Next Steps

    After completion of the EA based on consideration of public 
comments, we will determine whether our proposed approval of the HCP 
warrants a finding of no significant impact or whether an environmental 
impact statement should be prepared pursuant to NEPA. We will evaluate 
the HCP, as well as any comments we receive, to determine whether 
implementation of the HCP would meet the criteria for issuance of a 
permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. We will also evaluate 
whether the proposed permit action would comply with section 7 of the 
ESA by conducting an intra-Service section 7 consultation. We will 
consider the results of this consultation, in combination with the 
above findings, in our final analysis to determine whether or not to 
issue a permit to the SWCD. We will not make the final NEPA and permit 
decisions until after the end of the 30-day public comment period on 
this notice, and we will fully consider all comments we receive during 
the public comment period.

[[Page 9479]]

    If we determine that the permit issuance requirements are met, the 
Service will issue a permit to the SWCD. The SWCD would then begin 
processing requests from landowners interested in certificates on 
inclusion under the HCP in order to receive coverage for the incidental 
take of the Fender's blue butterfly under the permit issued to SWCD.

Authority

    We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of 
section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.) and their implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 40 
CFR 1506.6, respectively).

    Dated: January 9, 2015.
Richard Hannan,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2015-03572 Filed 2-20-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P



                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 35 / Monday, February 23, 2015 / Notices                                             9477

                                               Next Steps                                              Conservation Plan (HCP) addressing                    or degradation that results in death or
                                                 After completion of the EA based on                   private land management activities                    injury to listed species by significantly
                                               consideration of public comments, we                    within upland prairie in Yamhill                      impairing essential behavioral patterns,
                                               will determine whether adoption of the                  County, Oregon, that may result in the                including breeding, feeding, or
                                               proposed CCAA warrants a finding of                     incidental take of the federally                      sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term
                                               no significant impact or whether an                     endangered Fender’s blue butterfly. The               ‘‘harass’’ is defined in our regulations as
                                               environmental impact statement should                   Service also announces the availability               to carry out actions that create the
                                               be prepared. We will evaluate the                       of a draft environmental assessment                   likelihood of injury to listed species to
                                               proposed CCAA as well as any                            (EA) addressing the proposed HCP and                  such an extent as to significantly disrupt
                                               comments we receive, to determine                       issuance of a permit that was prepared                normal behavioral patterns, which
                                               whether implementation of the                           in accordance with the National                       include, but are not limited to, breeding,
                                               proposed CCAA would meet the                            Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as                  feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3).
                                               requirements for issuance of an EOS                     amended (NEPA). We invite comments                       Under specified circumstances, the
                                               permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the                 from all interested parties on the permit             Service may issue permits that authorize
                                               ESA. We will also evaluate whether the                  application, including the HCP and the                take of federally listed species, provided
                                               proposed permit action would comply                     EA.                                                   the take is incidental to, but not the
                                               with section 7 of the ESA by conducting                 DATES: Written comments on the HCP                    purpose of, an otherwise lawful activity.
                                               an intra-Service section 7 consultation.                and the EA must be received from                      Regulations governing permits for
                                               We will consider the results of this                    interested parties no later than March                endangered and threatened species are
                                               consultation, in combination with the                   25, 2015.                                             at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively.
                                               above findings, in our final analysis to                ADDRESSES: To request further                         Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA contains
                                               determine whether or not to issue an                    information or submit written                         provisions for issuing such incidental
                                               EOS permit to the DSL. We will not                      comments, please use one of the                       take permits to non-Federal entities for
                                               make our final decision until after the                 following methods, and note that your                 the take of endangered and threatened
                                               end of the 30-day public comment                        information request or comments are in                species, provided the following criteria
                                               period, and we will fully consider all                  reference to the Yamhill SWCD HCP.                    are met:
                                               comments we receive during the public                      • Internet: Documents may be viewed                   (1) The taking will be incidental;
                                               comment period.                                         on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/                   (2) The applicant will prepare a
                                                                                                       oregonfwo/ToolsForLandowners/                         conservation plan that, to the maximum
                                               Authority                                               HabitatConservationPlans/.                            extent practicable, identifies the steps
                                                 We provide this notice in accordance                     • Email: OFWOcomment@fws.gov.                      the applicant will take to minimize and
                                               with the requirements of section 10 of                  Include ‘‘Yamhill SWCD HCP’’ in the                   mitigate the impact of such taking;
                                               the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and                   subject line of the message or                           (3) The applicant will ensure that
                                               NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and their                 comments.                                             adequate funding for the plan will be
                                               implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22                     • U.S. Mail: State Supervisor, U.S.                provided;
                                               and 40 CFR 1506.6, respectively).                       Fish and Wildlife Service, 2600 SE 98th                  (4) The taking will not appreciably
                                                                                                       Ave., Suite 100, Portland, OR 97266.                  reduce the likelihood of the survival
                                                 Dated: February 10, 2015.
                                                                                                          • Fax: 503–231–6195, Attn: Yamhill                 and recovery of the species in the wild;
                                               Richard Hannan,
                                                                                                       SWCD HCP.                                             and
                                               Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S.             • In-Person Viewing or Pickup:                        (5) The applicant will carry out any
                                               Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon.            Comments and materials received will                  other measures that the Service may
                                               [FR Doc. 2015–03565 Filed 2–20–15; 8:45 am]             be available for public inspection, by                require as being necessary or
                                               BILLING CODE 4310–55–P                                  appointment, during normal business                   appropriate for the purposes of the plan.
                                                                                                       hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                       Service, 2600 SE 98th Ave., Suite 100,                Proposed Action
                                               DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              Portland, OR 97266.                                      The Service proposes to approve the
                                               Fish and Wildlife Service                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      HCP and to issue a permit, both with a
                                                                                                       Richard Szlemp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife                term of 50 years, to the SWCD for
                                               [FWS–R1–ES–2015–N001;                                   Service (see ADDRESSES), telephone:                   incidental take of the federally
                                               FXES11120100000F2–156–FF01E00000]                       503–231–6179; facsimile: 503–231–                     endangered Fender’s blue butterfly
                                                                                                       6195. If you use a telecommunications                 (Icaricia icarioides fenderi) caused by
                                               Draft Environmental Assessment and
                                                                                                       device for the deaf, please call the                  covered activities, if permit issuance
                                               Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the
                                                                                                       Federal Information Relay Service at                  criteria are met. The permit would allow
                                               Fender’s Blue Butterfly on Private
                                                                                                       800–877–8339.                                         the SWCD to issue certificates of
                                               Lands in Yamhill County, Oregon
                                                                                                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            inclusion to private landowners wanting
                                               AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                                                                          coverage under the HCP for incidental
                                               Interior.                                               Background                                            take of the Fender’s blue butterfly.
                                               ACTION: Notice of availability; request                    Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531               Private landowners who wish to be
                                               for comment.                                            et seq.) prohibits the take of fish and               covered under the permit may apply for
                                                                                                       wildlife species listed as endangered or              a certificate of inclusion to the permit
                                               SUMMARY:   We, the U.S. Fish and                        threatened under section 4 of the ESA.                after signing a cooperative agreement
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                                               Wildlife Service (Service), have received               Under the ESA, the term ‘‘take’’ means                with the SWCD. This will allow
                                               an application from the Yamhill Soil                    to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,                 landowners within identified butterfly
                                               and Water Conservation District (SWCD)                  wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or            habitat in Yamhill County to continue to
                                               for an incidental take permit (permit)                  to attempt to engage in any such                      perform otherwise lawful activities that
                                               under the Endangered Species Act of                     conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term                have the potential to impact the
                                               1973, as amended (ESA). The permit                      ‘‘harm,’’ as defined in our regulations,              Fender’s blue butterfly. To compensate
                                               application includes a draft Habitat                    includes significant habitat modification             for take impacts, the SWCD will work


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                                               9478                         Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 35 / Monday, February 23, 2015 / Notices

                                               with participating landowners to                        to 5 to 1. The HCP assumes an overall                 activities in the subject area and their
                                               minimize and mitigate their impacts.                    average mitigation ratio of 2 to 1 to be              possible impacts on these species; (4)
                                                  The area to be addressed in the HCP                  applied.                                              the presence of archeological sites,
                                               (i.e., the covered lands) consists of                                                                         buildings and structures, historic
                                               privately-owned lands in Yamhill                        National Environmental Policy Act
                                                                                                                                                             events, sacred and traditional areas, and
                                               County, Oregon, totaling approximately                  Compliance
                                                                                                                                                             other historic preservation concerns,
                                               7,831 acres. The covered lands are                         The development of the draft HCP                   which are required to be considered in
                                               primarily rural lands supporting a                      and the proposed issuance of the permit               Federal project planning by the National
                                               variety of agricultural activities, some of             under this plan is a Federal action that              Historic Preservation Act; (5)
                                               which have the potential to affect                      triggers the need for compliance with                 identification of any other
                                               Fender’s blue butterflies. Activities                   NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). We have                environmental issues that should be
                                               proposed for coverage (covered                          prepared a draft EA to analyze the                    considered with regard to the permit
                                               activities) under the HCP include forage                environmental impacts of three                        action; and (6) information regarding the
                                               production, livestock grazing, vineyard                 alternatives related to the issuance of a             adequacy of the HCP pursuant to the
                                               establishment, timber establishment,                    permit and implementation of the                      requirements for permits at 50 CFR parts
                                               voluntary habitat restoration, and                      conservation program under the                        13 and 17.
                                               mitigation and monitoring. Potential                    proposed HCP. The three alternatives
                                               impacts caused by covered activities are                include the proposed action, a no-action              Public Availability of Comments
                                               anticipated to occur within upland                      alternative, and an individual permit                   All comments and materials we
                                               prairie habitat in areas that are within                alternative to the issuance of certificates           receive become part of the public record
                                               the butterfly flight distance (1.2 miles)               of inclusion under the HCP.                           associated with this action. Before
                                               of known Fender’s blue butterfly                           The ‘‘Proposed Action’’ alternative is             including your address, phone number,
                                               populations.                                            the issuance of a permit to the SWCD                  email address, or other personal
                                                  Under the HCP, the impacts of ‘‘take’’               and implementation of the HCP.                        identifying information in your
                                               of the Fender’s blue butterfly are being                   Under the ‘‘No-action’’ alternative, the           comments, you should be aware that
                                               measured by the quantity of the                         proposed HCP would not be                             your entire comment—including your
                                               butterfly’s host plant, Kincaid’s lupine                implemented and no permit would be                    personal identifying information—may
                                               (Lupinus sulphureus ssp. kincaidii), and                issued to the SWCD to provide                         be made publicly available at any time.
                                               nectar resources that are adversely                     landowners coverage for incidental take               While you can ask us in your comment
                                               affected. Kincaid’s lupine is federally-                of Fender’s blue butterfly resulting from             to withhold your personal identifying
                                               listed as a threatened species, but there               covered activities. The no-action                     information from public review, we
                                               are no take prohibitions for plants on                  alternative would not give landowners                 cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                               non-Federal lands under the ESA. These                  regulatory certainty, and actions that                do so. Comments and materials we
                                               impacts are projected based on the                      could result in take of Fender’s blue                 receive, as well as supporting
                                               acreage of butterfly habitat where the                  butterfly would be prohibited under                   documentation we use in preparing the
                                               covered activities occur, and the average               section 9 of the ESA.                                 EA, will be available for public
                                               abundance of Kincaid’s lupine and                          Under the individual permit                        inspection by appointment, during
                                               nectar plants in those affected areas.                  alternative, each landowner who may                   normal business hours, at our Oregon
                                               Under the HCP, the total take impact on                 impact the Fender’s blue butterfly and                Fish and Wildlife Office (see
                                               covered lands is estimated at 0.91 acres                its habitat would complete their own                  ADDRESSES).
                                               over the 50-year permit term.                           HCP, obtain their own permit, and
                                                                                                                                                             Next Steps
                                                  The HCP includes measures to                         conduct and pay for their own
                                               conserve butterfly habitat, and to avoid                mitigation, which could delay                           After completion of the EA based on
                                               and minimize incidental take of the                     implementation of a covered activity                  consideration of public comments, we
                                               Fender’s blue butterfly. Under the HCP,                 anywhere from one to three years. The                 will determine whether our proposed
                                               the conservation measures include:                      SWCD would also be required to obtain                 approval of the HCP warrants a finding
                                                  (1) Working with individual                          take coverage for any habitat restoration,            of no significant impact or whether an
                                               landowners and providing technical                      enhancement, and management                           environmental impact statement should
                                               assistance on means to avoid adverse                    activities that are likely to impact and              be prepared pursuant to NEPA. We will
                                               impacts to the butterfly and its habitat                cause take of the Fender’s blue butterfly.            evaluate the HCP, as well as any
                                               and to implement best management                                                                              comments we receive, to determine
                                               practices for the identified covered                    Public Comments                                       whether implementation of the HCP
                                               activities;                                               You may submit your comments and                    would meet the criteria for issuance of
                                                  (2) Implementing mitigation measures                 materials by one of the methods listed                a permit under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
                                               when impacts to the Fender’s blue                       in the ADDRESSES section. We request                  ESA. We will also evaluate whether the
                                               butterfly and its habitats are                          data, comments, new information, or                   proposed permit action would comply
                                               unavoidable. Mitigation may be                          suggestions from the public, other                    with section 7 of the ESA by conducting
                                               completed by protection of existing                     concerned governmental agencies, the                  an intra-Service section 7 consultation.
                                               butterfly-occupied habitat, habitat                     scientific community, Tribes, industry,               We will consider the results of this
                                               enhancement and management that                         or any other interested party on our                  consultation, in combination with the
                                               increases the quantity of resources for                 proposed Federal action. We                           above findings, in our final analysis to
                                               Fender’s blue butterflies beyond pre-                   particularly seek comments on the                     determine whether or not to issue a
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                                               existing levels, or a combination of                    following: (1) Biological data or other               permit to the SWCD. We will not make
                                               protection and enhancement. Mitigation                  information regarding the Fender’s blue               the final NEPA and permit decisions
                                               ratios will be calculated using a product               butterfly and Kincaid’s lupine; (2)                   until after the end of the 30-day public
                                               of a site quality multiplier and a base                 additional information concerning the                 comment period on this notice, and we
                                               mitigation ratio. The site quality                      range, distribution, population size, and             will fully consider all comments we
                                               modifier ranges from 0.8 to 1.2, and the                population trends of the butterfly and                receive during the public comment
                                               base mitigation ratios vary from 1 to 1,                the lupine; (3) current or planned                    period.


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 35 / Monday, February 23, 2015 / Notices                                             9479

                                                  If we determine that the permit                      March 18. Comments may also be                        Mendoza, Program Analyst, Bureau of
                                               issuance requirements are met, the                      submitted to the NGAC in writing.                     Indian Education, U.S. Department of
                                               Service will issue a permit to the SWCD.                Members of the public who wish to                     the Interior, 1951 Constitution Avenue
                                               The SWCD would then begin processing                    attend the meeting must register in                   NW., MS 312, Washington, DC 20240; or
                                               requests from landowners interested in                  advance. Please register by contacting                email to: Juanita.Mendoza@bie.edu.
                                               certificates on inclusion under the HCP                 Lucia Foulkes at the U.S. Geological                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
                                               in order to receive coverage for the                    Survey (703–648–4142, lfoulkes@                       Juanita Mendoza, telephone: (202) 208–
                                               incidental take of the Fender’s blue                    usgs.gov). Registrations are due by                   3559. You may review the information
                                               butterfly under the permit issued to                    March 13, 2015. While the meeting will                collection request online at http://
                                               SWCD.                                                   be open to the public, registration is                www.reginfo.gov. Follow the
                                                                                                       required for entrance to the South                    instructions to review Department of the
                                               Authority
                                                                                                       Interior Building, and seating may be                 Interior collections under review by
                                                 We provide this notice in accordance                  limited due to room capacity.                         OMB.
                                               with the requirements of section 10 of                  DATES: The meeting will be held from
                                               the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and                                                                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                       8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 17 and
                                               NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and their                 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on March 18.              I. Abstract
                                               implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
                                               and 40 CFR 1506.6, respectively).                                                                                The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)
                                                                                                       Mahoney, U.S. Geological Survey (206–                 is seeking renewal of the approval for
                                                 Dated: January 9, 2015.                               220–4621).                                            the information collection conducted
                                               Richard Hannan,                                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meetings                   under 25 CFR part 46 to manage
                                               Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S.          of the National Geospatial Advisory                   program resources and for fiscal
                                               Fish and Wildlife Service, Portland, Oregon.            Committee are open to the public.                     accountability and appropriate direct
                                               [FR Doc. 2015–03572 Filed 2–20–15; 8:45 am]             Additional information about the NGAC                 services documentation. Approval for
                                               BILLING CODE 4310–55–P                                  and the meeting is available at                       this collection expires on February 28,
                                                                                                       www.fgdc.gov/ngac.                                    2015. This information includes an
                                                                                                       Kenneth Shaffer,
                                                                                                                                                             annual report form. No changes are
                                               DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                                                                    being made to the approved burden
                                                                                                       Deputy Executive Director, Federal
                                                                                                       Geographic Data Committee.
                                                                                                                                                             hours and forms for this information
                                               Geological Survey                                                                                             collection.
                                                                                                       [FR Doc. 2015–03592 Filed 2–20–15; 8:45 am]
                                               [GX15EE000101100]                                                                                             II. Request for Comments
                                                                                                       BILLING CODE 4311–AM–P

                                               Announcement of National Geospatial                                                                              On December 9, 2014, the BIE
                                               Advisory Committee Meeting                                                                                    published a notice announcing the
                                                                                                       DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                                                                                                                             renewal of this information collection
                                               AGENCY:    U.S. Geological Survey,                                                                            and provided a 60-day comment period
                                               Interior.                                               Bureau of Indian Affairs
                                                                                                                                                             in the Federal Register (79 FR 73100).
                                               ACTION:  Notice of Meeting                              [145A2100DD.AADD001000.A0E501010.                     There were no comments received in
                                                                                                       999900]                                               response to this notice.
                                               SUMMARY:    The National Geospatial
                                               Advisory Committee (NGAC) will meet                     Renewal of Agency Information                            The BIE requests your comments on
                                               on March 17–18, 2015 at the South                       Collection for the Bureau of Indian                   this collection concerning: (a) The
                                               Interior Building Auditorium, 1951                      Education Adult Education Program                     necessity of this information collection
                                               Constitution Avenue NW, Washington,                                                                           for the proper performance of the
                                               DC 20240. The meeting will be held in                   AGENCY:   Bureau of Indian Affairs,                   functions of the agency, including
                                               the first floor Auditorium. The NGAC,                   Interior.                                             whether the information will have
                                               which is composed of representatives                    ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB.                  practical utility; (b) The accuracy of the
                                               from governmental, private sector, non-                                                                       agency’s estimate of the burden (hours
                                                                                                       SUMMARY:    In compliance with the                    and cost) of the collection of
                                               profit, and academic organizations, was                 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
                                               established to advise the Federal                                                                             information, including the validity of
                                                                                                       Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) is                   the methodology and assumptions used;
                                               Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) on                     submitting to the Office of Management
                                               management of Federal geospatial                                                                              (c) Ways we could enhance the quality,
                                                                                                       and Budget (OMB) a request for renewal                utility, and clarity of the information to
                                               programs, the development of the                        for the collection of information for the
                                               National Spatial Data Infrastructure                                                                          be collected; and (d) Ways we could
                                                                                                       Bureau of Indian Education Adult                      minimize the burden of the collection of
                                               (NSDI), and the implementation of                       Education Program. The information
                                               Office of Management and Budget                                                                               the information on the respondents.
                                                                                                       collection is currently authorized by                    Please note that an agency may not
                                               (OMB) Circular A–16. Topics to be                       OMB Control Number 1076–0120,
                                               addressed at the meeting include:                                                                             conduct or sponsor, and an individual
                                                                                                       which expires February 28, 2015.                      need not respond to, a collection of
                                               • Leadership Dialogue
                                                                                                       DATES: Interested persons are invited to              information unless it displays a valid
                                               • FGDC Report (NSDI Strategic Plan
                                                                                                       submit comments on or before March                    OMB Control Number.
                                               Implementation, National Geospatial
                                                                                                       25, 2015.                                                It is our policy to make all comments
                                               Data Asset Management Plan,
                                                                                                       ADDRESSES: You may submit comments                    available to the public for review at the
Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                               Geospatial Platform)
                                               • Crowd-Sourced Geospatial Data                         on the information collection to the                  location listed in the ADDRESSES section.
                                               • Geospatial Privacy                                    Desk Officer for the Department of the                Before including your address, phone
                                               • 3D Elevation Program                                  Interior at the Office of Management and              number, email address or other personal
                                               • Landsat                                               Budget, by facsimile to (202) 395–5806                identifying information in your
                                               • Subcommittee Activities                               or you may send an email to: OIRA_                    comment, you should be aware that
                                                  The meeting will include an                          Submission@omb.eop.gov. Please send a                 your entire comment—including your
                                               opportunity for public comment on                       copy of your comments to Ms. Juanita                  personal identifying information—may


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Document Created: 2015-12-18 13:28:23
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 13:28:23
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.
DatesWritten comments on the HCP and the EA must be received from interested parties no later than March 25, 2015.
ContactRichard Szlemp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
FR Citation80 FR 9477 

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