81_FR_10926 81 FR 10885 - Draft Environmental Assessment for the Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Fishers in the Klamath, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountains

81 FR 10885 - Draft Environmental Assessment for the Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances for Fishers in the Klamath, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada Mountains

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 41 (March 2, 2016)

Page Range10885-10887
FR Document2016-04550

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt of an application from Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), a California forest management and lumber manufacturing company (applicant), for an enhancement of survival permit (permit) associated with a Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) covering the fisher (Pekania pennanti). The Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the applicant's permit application and the proposed CCAA. If approved, the permit would authorize incidental take for the Federal candidate fisher within the West Coast Distinct Population Segment (DPS), during forestry operations including commercial timber harvesting on SPI's property in 16 counties in California, if the fisher is listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We are requesting comment on the permit application, draft environmental assessment, and proposed candidate conservation plan with assurances.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10885-10887]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04550]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-2016-N019; FF08ESMF00-FXES11120800000F2-167]


Draft Environmental Assessment for the Candidate Conservation 
Agreement With Assurances for Fishers in the Klamath, Cascade, and 
Sierra Nevada Mountains

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comment; permit 
application, draft environmental assessment, and proposed candidate 
conservation plan with assurances.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce receipt 
of an application from Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), a California 
forest management and lumber manufacturing company (applicant), for an 
enhancement of survival permit (permit) associated with a Candidate 
Conservation Agreement with

[[Page 10886]]

Assurances (CCAA) covering the fisher (Pekania pennanti). The Service 
has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) per the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the applicant's permit application 
and the proposed CCAA. If approved, the permit would authorize 
incidental take for the Federal candidate fisher within the West Coast 
Distinct Population Segment (DPS), during forestry operations including 
commercial timber harvesting on SPI's property in 16 counties in 
California, if the fisher is listed under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended. We are requesting comment on the permit application, 
draft environmental assessment, and proposed candidate conservation 
plan with assurances.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments on or 
before April 1, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You may request a copy of the proposed 
CCAA and draft EA by email, telephone, 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 comments by any one of the following methods, and specify 
``SPI CCAA for fishers'' in your request or comment.
    Submitting Comments: You may submit comments or requests for copies 
or more information by one of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``SPI CCAA for fishers'' in 
the subject line of the message.
     Telephone: Robert Carey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
(530) 841-3103.
     Fax: Robert Carey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (530) 
842-4517, Attn: SPI CCAA for fishers.
     U.S. mail: Robert Carey, Attn: SPI CCAA for fishers, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1829 S. Oregon Street, Yreka, CA 96097.
     In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call (530) 841-
3103 to make an appointment during regular business hours at the above 
address to view and comment on the documents.
     Online: Documents will be posted online at: http://www.fws.gov/yreka/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Carey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, (530) 841-3103 (telephone). If you use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf, please call the Federal Information Relay Service 
at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce receipt of an application from 
Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), a forest management and lumber 
manufacturing company (applicant), for an enhancement of survival 
permit (permit) associated with a Candidate Conservation Agreement with 
Assurances (CCAA) covering the fisher (Pekania pennanti) for a period 
of 10 years. The Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment 
(EA) per the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the 
applicant's permit application and the proposed CCAA. If approved, the 
permit would authorize incidental take for the Federal candidate fisher 
within the West Coast Distinct Population Segment (DPS) if the fisher 
is listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), during forestry 
operations, including commercial timber harvesting, on SPI's property 
in 16 California counties: Amador, Shasta, El Dorado, Tehama, Nevada, 
Plumas, Calaveras, Siskiyou, Modoc, Tuolumne, Butte, Sierra, Lassen, 
Trinity, Placer, and Yuba.

Introduction

    We announce the availability of our draft EA for the proposed SPI 
CCAA for fishers in accordance with the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), and NEPA 
implementing regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 
CFR 1506.6, as well as the availability of the applicant's section 
10(a)(1)(A) permit application in compliance with section 10(c) of the 
Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 
seq.), which requires notice of applications for permits. The draft EA 
considers the environmental effects associated with issuing the 
applicant's requested enhancement of survival permit and implementation 
of the proposed CCAA, including impacts to the candidate fisher (Pekani 
pennanti) within the West Coast Distinct Population Segment (DPS). Take 
of fishers would be incidental to the applicant's forestry operations 
(29 CFR 780.215) and support activities in 16 counties in California.

Background

    A Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances is an agreement 
with the Service in which private and other non-Federal landowners 
voluntarily agree to undertake management activities and conservation 
efforts on their properties to enhance, restore, or maintain habitat to 
benefit species that are proposed for listing under the Act, that are 
candidates for listing, or that may become candidates. These permits 
encourage non-Federal property owners to implement conservation 
measures for species that are, or are likely to become, candidates for 
Federal listing as endangered or threatened by assuring property owners 
they will not be subjected to increased property use restrictions if 
the covered species becomes listed in the future. Application 
requirements and issuance criteria for permits for enhancement of 
survival through CCAAs are in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 
50 CFR 17.22(d) and 17.32(d). See also our policy on CCAAs (64 FR 
32726; June 17, 1999).

Applicant's Proposal

    The applicant requests a 10-year enhancement of survival permit 
under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act, which is accompanied by their 
CCAA. If we approve the permit application, the applicant anticipates 
taking fishers as a result of forestry operations and support 
activities primarily involving harvesting and transporting timber 
periodically on 1,570,963 acres of land where fishers are either known 
to occur or could reasonably be expected to occur in the future. Some 
forests owned by SPI are used by fishers for breeding, feeding, and 
sheltering. The take would be incidental to the applicant's routine 
forestry operations and support activities. The property is located in 
portions of 16 counties in California, generally occurring in rural 
regions but with some residential development intermingled with other 
privately owned lands and publically owned forests. Fishers use large 
home ranges and are difficult to detect during surveys. Without using 
telemetry or other methods of marking and recording fisher locations, 
home ranges are impossible to delineate precisely. Where fishers are 
known to occur within proximity (3 miles) of SPI's property, the 
Service has determined that SPI's timber activities may incidentally 
take fishers. Other federally listed species that are known to occur on 
or near SPI lands include northern spotted owls, gray wolves, several 
amphibians, and three anadromous salmonid runs (Central Valley 
Steelhead, S. Oregon-Northern California coho, and spring-run Chinook 
salmon).
    To enhance the survival of fishers on the enrolled lands, the 
applicant proposes to implement conservation actions that limit the 
removal or degradation of currently suitable fisher habitat, maintain 
and recruit habitat elements important to fishers, limit the timing of 
operations to avoid activities during the critical denning period, 
remove or reduce threats associated with the illegal use of toxic 
substances by trespassers cultivating marijuana, and reduce the risk of 
fishers drowning

[[Page 10887]]

in water tanks. During the 10-year term of the CCAA and ESP, the 
applicant proposes to maintain on its property the functional 
characteristic of fisher habitat on roughly 80 percent of the 10,000 
acre polygons identified by the Service as having the highest 
likelihood of supporting a reproductive female fisher and her 
offspring. The implementation of the CCAA will be funded by SPI's 
general revenue.
    The applicant proposes to continue with their normal forestry 
operations, which have been ongoing for several decades and are guided 
by a long-term management plan approved by the California Department of 
Forestry and Fire Protection under the California Forest Practice Rules 
(FPRs) at 14 CCR 913.1(a), 933.1(a), 953.1(a) (Option A plan). This 
demonstration of Maximum Sustained Production (MSP) of high-quality 
timber products per the FPRs specifies the amount of timber harvest 
that will occur over a 100-year planning horizon after accounting for 
constraints associated with protecting non-timber resources such as 
watershed, wildlife, fisheries quality, and aesthetic values. One of 
the conservation measures proposed in the CCAA is to maintain the 
harvest rate specified in the Option A plan. Under that rate of harvest 
SPI will keep approximately 50 percent (at least 700,000 acres) of 
their enrolled property in a mixed age condition. Harvest scheduling 
will also be constrained where necessary such that 43 of the 54 
originally identified high quality fisher areas maintain the functional 
characteristics of fisher habitat at the landscape scale over the 10-
year CCAA. In each timber harvesting unit, habitat elements such as 
large old trees, defective trees, snags, and hardwoods will be 
specifically retained and recruited as detailed in the CCAA. The 
implementation of these conservation measures will be monitored, and 
over time the effectiveness of these measures for providing functional 
fisher habitat will be evaluated in adaptive manner allowing for 
changes, if necessary to achieve the conservation goals.

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and Service 
regulations for implementing NEPA. We have prepared a draft EA for the 
proposed action and have made it and the applicant's proposed CCAA 
available for public inspection (see ADDRESSES). NEPA requires that a 
range of reasonable alternatives, including the proposed action, be 
described. The draft EA analyzes three alternatives, described below.

Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative)

    We propose issuing an enhancement of survival permit to the 
applicant, who would implement the CCAA, described above. If we approve 
the permit, incidental take of fishers would be authorized during the 
applicant's forestry operations and support activities should the 
fisher become listed. With this alternative, incidental take would be 
reduced from the No Action and Stirling Management area alternative 
because under the CCAA SPI would be required to reduce the disturbance 
during the fisher breeding season, maintain large blocks of mixed age 
class forest, maintain functional landscapes for fishers, retain and 
recruit habitat elements that are important to fishers, and monitor the 
implementation and effectiveness of these measures for conserving 
fishers throughout their property, including the Stirling Management 
Area.

No Action Alternative

    The draft EA includes a No Action alternative; the Service and SPI 
would not enter into the CCAA and the conservation measures would not 
be implemented. Under the No Action alternative, impacts to fishers 
would likely continue at the current rate. Under this alternative, SPI 
would continue with their ongoing operations guided by the California 
Forest Practice Rules, other local, State and Federal regulatory 
frameworks including the ESA.

Excluding the SPI Stirling Management Area From the CCAA Alternative

    Under this alternative, SPI's 159,966-acre Stirling Management Area 
(SMA) would be excluded from the CCAA. In 2005, in response to concerns 
over the absence of fishers in portions of their historical occupied 
range, the Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife 
(CDFW) began considering translocation of fishers to reestablish 
fishers in historically occupied areas. The Service and SPI entered 
into a CCAA and the Service issued an ESP that would authorize SPI's 
take of fishers in the event the translocation was successful and if 
the fisher is listed. Between 2009 and 2011, 40 fishers were 
translocated to the SMA. The Stirling CCAA requires fewer conservation 
measures than the proposed CCAA and will expire on April 14, 2028. 
Under Alternative 3 (excluding the SMA from the proposed CCAA), the 
environmental impacts from SPI's forestry operations and support 
activities would be identical to those under the Proposed Action; 
however, the SMA would be managed under the previous CCAA rather than 
the proposed CCAA.

Public Review

    The Service invites the public to comment on the permit 
application, including the proposed CCAA and draft EA, during the 
public comment period (see DATES). If you wish to comment, you may 
submit your comments via one of the means listed in ADDRESSES. 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

    Issuance of an enhancement of survival permit is a Federal action 
subject to compliance with NEPA. We will evaluate the application, 
associated documents, and any public comments we receive to determine 
whether the application meets the requirements of NEPA regulations and 
section 10(a) of the Act. If we determine that those requirements are 
met, we will issue a permit to the applicant for the incidental take of 
fishers that becomes effective if fishers are listed. We will not make 
our final decision until after the 30-day public comment period ends.

Alexandra Pitts,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2016-04550 Filed 3-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / Notices                                                  10885

                                                  and explain the basis for your                          hearing is at the discretion of the                   Applicant: Kenneth Morrill, Escalon,
                                                  comments. Include sufficient                            Service Director.                                     CA; PRT–86976b
                                                  information with your comments to                                                                               The applicant requests a permit to
                                                  allow us to authenticate any scientific or              III. Permit Applications
                                                                                                                                                                import a sport-hunted trophy of one
                                                  commercial data you include.                            A. Endangered Species                                 male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus
                                                     The comments and recommendations                                                                           pygargus) culled from a captive herd
                                                  that will be most useful and likely to                  Applicant: Tonya Bryson, Winston, GA;
                                                                                                                                                                maintained under the management
                                                  influence agency decisions are: (1)                     PRT–42334B
                                                                                                                                                                program of the Republic of South Africa,
                                                  Those supported by quantitative
                                                                                                            The applicant requests a captive-bred               for the purpose of enhancement of the
                                                  information or studies; and (2) Those
                                                                                                          wildlife registration under 50 CFR                    survival of the species.
                                                  that include citations to, and analyses
                                                  of, the applicable laws and regulations.                17.21(g) for the following species to                 B. Endangered Marine Mammals and
                                                  We will not consider or include in our                  enhance species propagation or                        Marine Mammals
                                                  administrative record comments we                       survival: Galapagos giant tortoise
                                                                                                          (Chelonoidis nigra), Aquatic box turtle               Applicant: Anthony Pagano, USGS/
                                                  receive after the close of the comment
                                                                                                          (Terrapene coahuila), Bolson tortoise                 Alaska Science Center, Anchorage, AK;
                                                  period (see DATES) or comments
                                                                                                          (Gopherus flavomarginatus), and                       PRT–77245B
                                                  delivered to an address other than those
                                                  listed above (see ADDRESSES).                           spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys                          The applicant requests a permit to
                                                                                                          hamiltonii). This notification covers                 take two captive-born polar bears (Ursus
                                                  B. May I review comments submitted by                                                                         maritimus) at Oregon Zoo by biological
                                                                                                          activities to be conducted by the
                                                  others?                                                                                                       sampling and fitting and removal of GPS
                                                                                                          applicant over a 5-year period.
                                                     Comments, including names and                                                                              collars for the purpose of scientific
                                                  street addresses of respondents, will be                Applicant: Juliann Sweet, Scottsdale,                 research on polar bears’ diet and
                                                  available for public review at the street               AZ; PRT–80172B                                        energetics. This notification covers
                                                  address listed under ADDRESSES. The                                                                           activities to be conducted by the
                                                  public may review documents and other                     The applicant requests a captive-bred
                                                                                                                                                                applicant for up to a 5-year period.
                                                  information applicants have sent in                     wildlife registration under 50 CFR                      Concurrent with publishing this
                                                  support of the application unless our                   17.21(g) for the following species to                 notice in the Federal Register, we are
                                                  allowing viewing would violate the                      enhance species propagation or                        forwarding copies of the above
                                                  Privacy Act or Freedom of Information                   survival: Exuma Island iguana (Cyclura                applications to the Marine Mammal
                                                  Act. Before including your address,                     cychlura figginsi). This notification                 Commission and the Committee of
                                                  phone number, email address, or other                   covers activities to be conducted by the              Scientific Advisors for their review.
                                                  personal identifying information in your                applicant over a 5-year period.
                                                  comment, you should be aware that                                                                             Brenda Tapia,
                                                                                                          Applicant: The Austin Savanna,                        Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch
                                                  your entire comment—including your                      Creedmoor, TX; PRT–10982A
                                                  personal identifying information—may                                                                          of Permits, Division of Management
                                                                                                                                                                Authority.
                                                  be made publicly available at any time.                   The applicant requests an amendment
                                                                                                                                                                [FR Doc. 2016–04565 Filed 3–1–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  While you can ask us in your comment                    and renewal of their captive-bred
                                                  to withhold your personal identifying                                                                         BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                                                                          wildlife registration under 50 CFR
                                                  information from public review, we                      17.21(g) for the following species to
                                                  cannot guarantee that we will be able to                enhance species propagation or
                                                  do so.                                                                                                        DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                                                                          survival: Galapagos giant tortoise
                                                  II. Background                                          (Chelonoidis nigra), radiated tortoise,               Fish and Wildlife Service
                                                                                                          (Astrochelys radiata), salmon-crested
                                                     To help us carry out our conservation                                                                      [FWS–R8–2016–N019; FF08ESMF00–
                                                                                                          cockatoo (Cacatua moluccensis), white
                                                  responsibilities for affected species, and                                                                    FXES11120800000F2–167]
                                                                                                          cockatoo (Cacatua alba), yellow-crested
                                                  in consideration of section 10(a)(1)(A) of
                                                  the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as                  cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea), blue-                   Draft Environmental Assessment for
                                                  amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and                   throated macaw (Ara glaucogularis),                   the Candidate Conservation
                                                  the Marine Mammal Protection Act of                     ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta), black                Agreement With Assurances for
                                                  1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et                     and white ruffed lemur (Varecia                       Fishers in the Klamath, Cascade, and
                                                  seq.), along with Executive Order 13576,                variegata), red-ruffed lemur (Varecia                 Sierra Nevada Mountains
                                                  ‘‘Delivering an Efficient, Effective, and               rubra), cottontop tamarin (Saguinus
                                                                                                                                                                AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,
                                                  Accountable Government,’’ and the                       oedipus), lar gibbon (Hylobates lar),
                                                                                                                                                                Interior.
                                                  President’s Memorandum for the Heads                    Southern white rhinoceros
                                                                                                                                                                ACTION: Notice of availability and
                                                  of Executive Departments and Agencies                   (Ceratotherium simum simum), black
                                                                                                          rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), Indian                 request for comment; permit
                                                  of January 21, 2009—Transparency and                                                                          application, draft environmental
                                                  Open Government (74 FR 4685; January                    rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis),
                                                                                                          Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi),                         assessment, and proposed candidate
                                                  26, 2009), which call on all Federal                                                                          conservation plan with assurances.
                                                  agencies to promote openness and                        Hartmann’s zebra (Equus zebra
                                                  transparency in Government by                           hartmannae), Przewalski’s horse (Equus                SUMMARY:  We, the Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                          przewalskii), Barasingha (Rucervus
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  disclosing information to the public, we                                                                      Service (Service), announce receipt of
                                                  invite public comment on these permit                   duvaucelii), Eld’s deer (Rucervus eldii),             an application from Sierra Pacific
                                                  applications before final action is taken.              bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus                         Industries (SPI), a California forest
                                                  Under the MMPA, you may request a                       pygargus), red lechwe (Kobus leche),                  management and lumber manufacturing
                                                  hearing on any MMPA application                         and slender-horned gazelle (Gazella                   company (applicant), for an
                                                  received. If you request a hearing, give                leptoceros). This notification covers                 enhancement of survival permit (permit)
                                                  specific reasons why a hearing would be                 activities to be conducted by the                     associated with a Candidate
                                                  appropriate. The holding of such a                      applicant over a 5-year period.                       Conservation Agreement with


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                                                  10886                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / Notices

                                                  Assurances (CCAA) covering the fisher                   company (applicant), for an                           candidates for Federal listing as
                                                  (Pekania pennanti). The Service has                     enhancement of survival permit (permit)               endangered or threatened by assuring
                                                  prepared a draft Environmental                          associated with a Candidate                           property owners they will not be
                                                  Assessment (EA) per the National                        Conservation Agreement with                           subjected to increased property use
                                                  Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for                     Assurances (CCAA) covering the fisher                 restrictions if the covered species
                                                  the applicant’s permit application and                  (Pekania pennanti) for a period of 10                 becomes listed in the future.
                                                  the proposed CCAA. If approved, the                     years. The Service has prepared a draft               Application requirements and issuance
                                                  permit would authorize incidental take                  Environmental Assessment (EA) per the                 criteria for permits for enhancement of
                                                  for the Federal candidate fisher within                 National Environmental Policy Act                     survival through CCAAs are in the Code
                                                  the West Coast Distinct Population                      (NEPA) for the applicant’s permit                     of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR
                                                  Segment (DPS), during forestry                          application and the proposed CCAA. If                 17.22(d) and 17.32(d). See also our
                                                  operations including commercial timber                  approved, the permit would authorize                  policy on CCAAs (64 FR 32726; June 17,
                                                  harvesting on SPI’s property in 16                      incidental take for the Federal candidate             1999).
                                                  counties in California, if the fisher is                fisher within the West Coast Distinct
                                                                                                                                                                Applicant’s Proposal
                                                  listed under the Endangered Species Act                 Population Segment (DPS) if the fisher
                                                  of 1973, as amended. We are requesting                  is listed under the Endangered Species                   The applicant requests a 10-year
                                                  comment on the permit application,                      Act (ESA), during forestry operations,                enhancement of survival permit under
                                                  draft environmental assessment, and                     including commercial timber                           section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act, which is
                                                  proposed candidate conservation plan                    harvesting, on SPI’s property in 16                   accompanied by their CCAA. If we
                                                  with assurances.                                        California counties: Amador, Shasta, El               approve the permit application, the
                                                                                                          Dorado, Tehama, Nevada, Plumas,                       applicant anticipates taking fishers as a
                                                  DATES: To ensure consideration, please
                                                                                                          Calaveras, Siskiyou, Modoc, Tuolumne,                 result of forestry operations and support
                                                  send your written comments on or
                                                                                                          Butte, Sierra, Lassen, Trinity, Placer,               activities primarily involving harvesting
                                                  before April 1, 2016.
                                                                                                          and Yuba.                                             and transporting timber periodically on
                                                  ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents: You                                                                           1,570,963 acres of land where fishers are
                                                  may request a copy of the proposed                      Introduction                                          either known to occur or could
                                                  CCAA and draft EA by email, telephone,                     We announce the availability of our                reasonably be expected to occur in the
                                                  fax, or U.S. mail (see below). These                    draft EA for the proposed SPI CCAA for                future. Some forests owned by SPI are
                                                  documents are also available for public                 fishers in accordance with the National               used by fishers for breeding, feeding,
                                                  inspection by appointment during                        Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as                  and sheltering. The take would be
                                                  normal business hours at the office                     amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.;                      incidental to the applicant’s routine
                                                  below. Please send your requests or                     NEPA), and NEPA implementing                          forestry operations and support
                                                  comments by any one of the following                    regulations in the Code of Federal                    activities. The property is located in
                                                  methods, and specify ‘‘SPI CCAA for                     Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR 1506.6, as                portions of 16 counties in California,
                                                  fishers’’ in your request or comment.                   well as the availability of the applicant’s           generally occurring in rural regions but
                                                     Submitting Comments: You may                         section 10(a)(1)(A) permit application in             with some residential development
                                                  submit comments or requests for copies                  compliance with section 10(c) of the                  intermingled with other privately
                                                  or more information by one of the                       Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973,                 owned lands and publically owned
                                                  following methods:                                      as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.),                  forests. Fishers use large home ranges
                                                     • Email: yreka@fws.gov. Include ‘‘SPI                which requires notice of applications for             and are difficult to detect during
                                                  CCAA for fishers’’ in the subject line of               permits. The draft EA considers the                   surveys. Without using telemetry or
                                                  the message.                                            environmental effects associated with                 other methods of marking and recording
                                                     • Telephone: Robert Carey, U.S. Fish                 issuing the applicant’s requested                     fisher locations, home ranges are
                                                  and Wildlife Service, (530) 841–3103.                   enhancement of survival permit and                    impossible to delineate precisely. Where
                                                     • Fax: Robert Carey, U.S. Fish and                                                                         fishers are known to occur within
                                                                                                          implementation of the proposed CCAA,
                                                  Wildlife Service, (530) 842–4517, Attn:                                                                       proximity (3 miles) of SPI’s property,
                                                                                                          including impacts to the candidate
                                                  SPI CCAA for fishers.                                                                                         the Service has determined that SPI’s
                                                                                                          fisher (Pekani pennanti) within the
                                                     • U.S. mail: Robert Carey, Attn: SPI
                                                                                                          West Coast Distinct Population Segment                timber activities may incidentally take
                                                  CCAA for fishers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                                                                          (DPS). Take of fishers would be                       fishers. Other federally listed species
                                                  Service, 1829 S. Oregon Street, Yreka,
                                                                                                          incidental to the applicant’s forestry                that are known to occur on or near SPI
                                                  CA 96097.
                                                                                                          operations (29 CFR 780.215) and                       lands include northern spotted owls,
                                                     • In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or
                                                                                                          support activities in 16 counties in                  gray wolves, several amphibians, and
                                                  Pickup: Call (530) 841–3103 to make an
                                                                                                          California.                                           three anadromous salmonid runs
                                                  appointment during regular business
                                                                                                                                                                (Central Valley Steelhead, S. Oregon-
                                                  hours at the above address to view and                  Background                                            Northern California coho, and spring-
                                                  comment on the documents.                                 A Candidate Conservation Agreement                  run Chinook salmon).
                                                     • Online: Documents will be posted
                                                                                                          with Assurances is an agreement with                     To enhance the survival of fishers on
                                                  online at: http://www.fws.gov/yreka/.
                                                                                                          the Service in which private and other                the enrolled lands, the applicant
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        non-Federal landowners voluntarily                    proposes to implement conservation
                                                  Robert Carey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife                    agree to undertake management                         actions that limit the removal or
                                                  Service, (530) 841–3103 (telephone). If                 activities and conservation efforts on                degradation of currently suitable fisher
                                                  you use a telecommunications device
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                                                                                                          their properties to enhance, restore, or              habitat, maintain and recruit habitat
                                                  for the deaf, please call the Federal                   maintain habitat to benefit species that              elements important to fishers, limit the
                                                  Information Relay Service at 800–877–                   are proposed for listing under the Act,               timing of operations to avoid activities
                                                  8339.                                                   that are candidates for listing, or that              during the critical denning period,
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We                           may become candidates. These permits                  remove or reduce threats associated
                                                  announce receipt of an application from                 encourage non-Federal property owners                 with the illegal use of toxic substances
                                                  Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), a forest               to implement conservation measures for                by trespassers cultivating marijuana,
                                                  management and lumber manufacturing                     species that are, or are likely to become,            and reduce the risk of fishers drowning


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 41 / Wednesday, March 2, 2016 / Notices                                                  10887

                                                  in water tanks. During the 10-year term                 EA analyzes three alternatives,                       identical to those under the Proposed
                                                  of the CCAA and ESP, the applicant                      described below.                                      Action; however, the SMA would be
                                                  proposes to maintain on its property the                                                                      managed under the previous CCAA
                                                                                                          Proposed Action (Preferred Alternative)
                                                  functional characteristic of fisher habitat                                                                   rather than the proposed CCAA.
                                                  on roughly 80 percent of the 10,000 acre                   We propose issuing an enhancement
                                                                                                          of survival permit to the applicant, who              Public Review
                                                  polygons identified by the Service as
                                                  having the highest likelihood of                        would implement the CCAA, described                     The Service invites the public to
                                                  supporting a reproductive female fisher                 above. If we approve the permit,                      comment on the permit application,
                                                  and her offspring. The implementation                   incidental take of fishers would be                   including the proposed CCAA and draft
                                                  of the CCAA will be funded by SPI’s                     authorized during the applicant’s                     EA, during the public comment period
                                                  general revenue.                                        forestry operations and support                       (see DATES). If you wish to comment,
                                                     The applicant proposes to continue                   activities should the fisher become                   you may submit your comments via one
                                                  with their normal forestry operations,                  listed. With this alternative, incidental             of the means listed in ADDRESSES. Before
                                                  which have been ongoing for several                     take would be reduced from the No                     including your address, phone number,
                                                                                                          Action and Stirling Management area                   email address, or other personal
                                                  decades and are guided by a long-term
                                                                                                          alternative because under the CCAA SPI                identifying information in your
                                                  management plan approved by the
                                                                                                          would be required to reduce the                       comment, you should be aware that
                                                  California Department of Forestry and
                                                                                                          disturbance during the fisher breeding                your entire comment—including your
                                                  Fire Protection under the California
                                                                                                          season, maintain large blocks of mixed                personal identifying information—may
                                                  Forest Practice Rules (FPRs) at 14 CCR
                                                                                                          age class forest, maintain functional                 be made publicly available at any time.
                                                  913.1(a), 933.1(a), 953.1(a) (Option A
                                                                                                          landscapes for fishers, retain and recruit            While you may ask us in your comment
                                                  plan). This demonstration of Maximum
                                                                                                          habitat elements that are important to                to withhold your personal identifying
                                                  Sustained Production (MSP) of high-
                                                                                                          fishers, and monitor the implementation               information from public review, we
                                                  quality timber products per the FPRs
                                                                                                          and effectiveness of these measures for               cannot guarantee that we will be able to
                                                  specifies the amount of timber harvest
                                                                                                          conserving fishers throughout their                   do so.
                                                  that will occur over a 100-year planning
                                                                                                          property, including the Stirling
                                                  horizon after accounting for constraints                                                                      Next Steps
                                                                                                          Management Area.
                                                  associated with protecting non-timber
                                                  resources such as watershed, wildlife,                  No Action Alternative                                    Issuance of an enhancement of
                                                  fisheries quality, and aesthetic values.                                                                      survival permit is a Federal action
                                                                                                             The draft EA includes a No Action                  subject to compliance with NEPA. We
                                                  One of the conservation measures                        alternative; the Service and SPI would
                                                  proposed in the CCAA is to maintain                                                                           will evaluate the application, associated
                                                                                                          not enter into the CCAA and the                       documents, and any public comments
                                                  the harvest rate specified in the Option                conservation measures would not be
                                                  A plan. Under that rate of harvest SPI                                                                        we receive to determine whether the
                                                                                                          implemented. Under the No Action                      application meets the requirements of
                                                  will keep approximately 50 percent (at                  alternative, impacts to fishers would
                                                  least 700,000 acres) of their enrolled                                                                        NEPA regulations and section 10(a) of
                                                                                                          likely continue at the current rate.                  the Act. If we determine that those
                                                  property in a mixed age condition.                      Under this alternative, SPI would
                                                  Harvest scheduling will also be                                                                               requirements are met, we will issue a
                                                                                                          continue with their ongoing operations                permit to the applicant for the
                                                  constrained where necessary such that                   guided by the California Forest Practice
                                                  43 of the 54 originally identified high                                                                       incidental take of fishers that becomes
                                                                                                          Rules, other local, State and Federal                 effective if fishers are listed. We will not
                                                  quality fisher areas maintain the                       regulatory frameworks including the
                                                  functional characteristics of fisher                                                                          make our final decision until after the
                                                                                                          ESA.                                                  30-day public comment period ends.
                                                  habitat at the landscape scale over the
                                                  10-year CCAA. In each timber                            Excluding the SPI Stirling Management                 Alexandra Pitts,
                                                  harvesting unit, habitat elements such                  Area From the CCAA Alternative
                                                                                                                                                                Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Southwest
                                                  as large old trees, defective trees, snags,                Under this alternative, SPI’s 159,966-             Region, Sacramento, California.
                                                  and hardwoods will be specifically                      acre Stirling Management Area (SMA)                   [FR Doc. 2016–04550 Filed 3–1–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  retained and recruited as detailed in the               would be excluded from the CCAA. In                   BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                  CCAA. The implementation of these                       2005, in response to concerns over the
                                                  conservation measures will be                           absence of fishers in portions of their
                                                  monitored, and over time the                            historical occupied range, the Service                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                  effectiveness of these measures for                     and the California Department of Fish
                                                  providing functional fisher habitat will                and Wildlife (CDFW) began considering                 Bureau of Indian Affairs
                                                  be evaluated in adaptive manner                         translocation of fishers to reestablish
                                                  allowing for changes, if necessary to                   fishers in historically occupied areas.               [167A2100DD/AAKC001030/
                                                  achieve the conservation goals.                         The Service and SPI entered into a                    A0A501010.999900 253G]

                                                  National Environmental Policy Act                       CCAA and the Service issued an ESP
                                                                                                                                                                Indian Child Welfare Act; Designated
                                                  Compliance                                              that would authorize SPI’s take of
                                                                                                                                                                Tribal Agents for Service of Notice
                                                                                                          fishers in the event the translocation
                                                    We provide this notice under section                  was successful and if the fisher is listed.           AGENCY:   Bureau of Indians Affairs,
                                                  10(c) of the Act and Service regulations                Between 2009 and 2011, 40 fishers were                Interior.
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                                                  for implementing NEPA. We have                          translocated to the SMA. The Stirling                 ACTION: Notice.
                                                  prepared a draft EA for the proposed                    CCAA requires fewer conservation
                                                  action and have made it and the                         measures than the proposed CCAA and                   SUMMARY:   The regulations implementing
                                                  applicant’s proposed CCAA available                     will expire on April 14, 2028. Under                  the Indian Child Welfare Act provide
                                                  for public inspection (see ADDRESSES).                  Alternative 3 (excluding the SMA from                 that Indian Tribes may designate an
                                                  NEPA requires that a range of                           the proposed CCAA), the environmental                 agent other than the Tribal chairman for
                                                  reasonable alternatives, including the                  impacts from SPI’s forestry operations                service of notice of proceedings under
                                                  proposed action, be described. The draft                and support activities would be                       the Act. This notice includes the current


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Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:04:26
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:04:26
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 and request for comment; permit application, draft environmental assessment, and proposed candidate conservation plan with assurances.
DatesTo ensure consideration, please send your written comments on or before April 1, 2016.
ContactRobert Carey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (530) 841-3103 (telephone). If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation81 FR 10885 

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