81_FR_59408 81 FR 59241 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe Harbor Agreement and Draft Environmental Assessment for Activities Within Austin, Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Milam, and Robertson Counties, Texas

81 FR 59241 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe Harbor Agreement and Draft Environmental Assessment for Activities Within Austin, Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Milam, and Robertson Counties, Texas

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 167 (August 29, 2016)

Page Range59241-59243
FR Document2016-20714

This notice advises the public that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD; applicant) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a proposed programmatic safe harbor agreement (agreement) between the applicant and the Service that would authorize incidental take resulting from voluntary activities to restore, maintain, enhance, or create habitat for the endangered Houston toad. The Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that has been prepared to evaluate the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We are making the permit application package, including the draft safe harbor agreement, and draft environmental assessment available for public review and comment.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 167 (Monday, August 29, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 167 (Monday, August 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59241-59243]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-20714]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2016-N059; FXES11130200000-167-FF02ENEH00]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe Harbor Agreement and Draft 
Environmental Assessment for Activities Within Austin, Bastrop, 
Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Milam, and Robertson Counties, 
Texas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft safe harbor agreement with 
assurances, draft environmental assessment, and permit application.

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Texas Parks and 
Wildlife Department (TPWD; applicant) has applied to the Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service) for an enhancement of survival permit 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The 
permit application includes a proposed programmatic safe harbor 
agreement (agreement) between the applicant and the Service that would 
authorize incidental take resulting from voluntary activities to 
restore, maintain, enhance, or create habitat for the endangered 
Houston toad. The Service also announces the availability of a draft 
environmental assessment (EA) that has been prepared to evaluate the 
permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. We are making the permit application package, 
including the draft safe harbor agreement, and draft environmental 
assessment available for public review and comment.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
October 28, 2016. Any comments we receive after the closing date or not 
postmarked by the closing date may not be considered in the final 
decision on this action.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy 
by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P.O. Box 1306, Room 4012, Albuquerque, NM 87103, or send a request by 
email to [email protected].

Obtaining Documents

     Internet: You may obtain copies of the EA and draft Safe 
Harbor Agreement on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Web 
site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas/.
     U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies 
of the EA and draft Safe Harbor Agreement are available, by request, 
from the Field Supervisor, by mail at the Austin Ecological Services 
Field Office, 1071 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; by phone 
at 512-490-0057; or by fax at 512-490-0974. Please note that your 
request is in reference to the draft Safe Harbor Agreement for the 
Houston toad.
     In-Person: Copies of the EA and draft Safe Harbor 
Agreement are also available for public inspection and review at the 
following locations, by appointment and written request only, 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m.:
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room 
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1071 Burnet Road, Suite 200, 
Austin, TX 78758.
    Comment submission: You may submit comments by one of the following 
methods.
    [cir] U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological 
Services Field Office, 1071 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; 
by phone at 512-490-0057; or by fax at 512-490-0974.
    [cir] Electronically: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 
10711 Burnet Rd, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; by telephone 512-490-
0057; or by facsimile 512-490-0974. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice advises the public that the TPWD 
has applied to the Service for an enhancement of survival permit 
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 
1531 et seq.; Act). The permit application includes a proposed 
programmatic safe harbor agreement (agreement) between the applicant 
and the Service for a period of 30 years. The proposed agreement will 
authorize incidental take during voluntary activities to restore, 
maintain, enhance, or create habitat for the endangered Houston toad 
(Anaxyrus [=Bufo] houstonensis). The Service also announces the 
availability of a draft environmental assessment that has been prepared 
to evaluate the permit application in accordance with the requirements 
of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 
NEPA). We are making the permit application package, including the 
draft safe harbor agreement, and draft Environmental Assessment 
available for public review and comment.

Background

    Under a safe harbor agreement, participating property owners 
voluntarily undertake management activities on their property to 
enhance, restore, or maintain habitat benefiting species listed under 
the Endangered Species Act. Safe harbor agreements encourage private 
and other non-Federal property owners to implement conservation efforts 
for listed species by

[[Page 59242]]

assuring property owners they will not be subjected to increased 
property use restrictions as a result of increased target species 
abundance due to their efforts to improve conditions for listed species 
on their property. Application requirements and issuance criteria for 
enhancement of survival permits through safe harbor agreements are 
found in 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action involves the issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(A) 
enhancement of survival permit (permit) by the Service to the applicant 
and approval of the proposed programmatic safe harbor agreement to 
facilitate recovery activities for the benefit of the federally listed 
endangered Houston toad on non-Federal lands within the current known 
range of the species. The requested term of the permit is 30 years. 
Landowners enrolled under the Agreement would implement conservation 
activities to benefit the endangered Houston toad and in turn receive 
assurances consistent with the Safe Harbor Agreement Policy, as amended 
(64 FR 32717 and 69 FR 24084) and related implementing regulations (50 
CFR 13 and 17). Non-Federal landowners within Austin, Bastrop, 
Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Milam, and Robertson Counties, 
Texas, could be enrolled under the agreement, if finalized, by entering 
into a cooperative agreement with the applicant.
    The cooperative agreement would include: (1) A map of the property 
and its legal location; (2) the portion of the property to be enrolled 
and its acreage; (3) a description of the existing structures and 
habitat types that occur on the portion of the property to be enrolled, 
including accurate descriptions of vegetation, water features, and soil 
types; and (4) a detailed account of conservation activities to be 
undertaken on the portion of the property to be enrolled. After signing 
a cooperative agreement, landowners would receive a certificate of 
inclusion to document the landowners' participation in the agreement 
and convey incidental take authorization from the applicant to 
certificate recipients. The applicant would be responsible for annual 
monitoring and reporting related to implementation of the agreement and 
cooperative agreements, and fulfillment of their provisions.
    We have worked with the applicant to design conservation activities 
expected to have a net conservation benefit to the Houston toad within 
the nine Texas counties to be covered under this proposed agreement; 
however, landowners would not have to conduct every activity in this 
list in order for their actions to have a net conservation benefit on 
Houston toads. These conservation activities include: (1) Brush 
management to create desired understory conditions; (2) forest 
enhancement/restoration to create favorable canopy conditions; (3) 
prescribed burning to restore, create, and maintain desired understory 
and ground cover conditions; (4) removal of sod-forming grasses and 
restoration of native ground cover; (5) enhancement of existing 
breeding ponds to provide habitat for breeding adults and emerging 
toadlets; (6) removal of ponds, where it would be beneficial to do so; 
(7) control of red imported fire ants to maximize successful toadlet 
emergence from ponds; (8) creation of new breeding ponds; (9) 
headstarting and/or reintroduction of captively-bred Houston toads; and 
(10) release and translocation of wild-caught Houston toads.
    These conservation activities are expected to: (1) Enhance Houston 
toad foraging and hibernating habitat; (2) create and enhance Houston 
toad breeding and toadlet emergence habitat; (3) facilitate Houston 
toad dispersal through the creation and enhancement of habitat linkages 
throughout the species' range; (4) increase Houston toad population 
numbers through headstarting and reintroduction; and (5) facilitate 
viable, self-sustaining Houston toad subpopulations.
    Take, as defined by the Act, means ``to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 
shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage 
in any such conduct. Incidental take is defined by the Act as take that 
is ``incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an 
otherwise lawful activity.'' The incidental take of toads may occur 
from: (1) Habitat management actions conducted in accordance with the 
conservation activities in the Agreement, (2) ongoing land use 
activities that may have an increased chance of taking a toad if toad 
numbers increase, as expected, and (3) cessation of the conservation 
activities if enrolled landowners exercise their option to return the 
property to its baseline condition, or pre-enrollment condition, as 
provided for in the final Safe Harbor Agreement Policy (64 FR 32717 and 
69 FR 24084).

Alternative

    We considered one alternative to the proposed action as part of the 
Environmental Assessment process--the No Action Alternative. Under the 
No Action Alternative, a coordinated effort to conserve Houston toads 
on non-Federal properties using a single programmatic safe harbor 
agreement and enhancement of survival permit would not occur. Houston 
toad conservation efforts could take place through the actions of 
individual landowners without the assurances that a safe harbor 
agreement would provide. However, it is likely that many landowners 
would not feel comfortable participating in conservation activities on 
their properties to enhance habitat for a federally endangered species 
without coverage for their activities under the Act or assurances that 
they could eventually take their properties back to their baseline 
conditions. Therefore, many landowners might not undertake beneficial 
actions for the Houston toad on their properties because they would be 
fearful of attracting an endangered species and increasing their 
liability under the Act. Conservation efforts for the species would 
primarily occur within the areas already being managed for the Houston 
toad within Bastrop County, Texas, with little participation of 
landowners in other areas of the species' range.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the proposed safe harbor agreement, associated 
documents, and comments we receive to determine whether the 
requirements of sections 10(a) and 10(c) of the Endangered Species Act, 
the Act's implementing regulations at 50 CFR 17.22 (regulations that 
pertain to safe harbor agreements and endangered species), and NEPA 
have been met. If we determine that the requirements have been met, we 
will issue an enhancement of survival permit under section 10(a)(1)(A) 
of the Endangered Species Act to the applicant in accordance with the 
terms of the safe harbor agreement and specific terms and conditions of 
the authorizing permit. We will not make our final decision until after 
the end of the 60-day comment period and will fully consider all 
comments received during the comment period.

Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments 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 comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including 
your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can request in your comment that

[[Page 59243]]

we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider 
anonymous comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, 
and from individuals identifying themselves as representative or 
officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for 
public disclosure in their entirety.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and its 
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2016-20714 Filed 8-26-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P



                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 167 / Monday, August 29, 2016 / Notices                                            59241

                                                  Applicant: Out of Africa Wildlife Park,                 environmental assessment, and permit                    Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500
                                                  LLC, Camp Verde, AZ; PRT–760354                         application.                                          Gold Avenue SW., Room 6034,
                                                                                                                                                                Albuquerque, NM 87102.
                                                    The applicant requests renewal of                     SUMMARY:   This notice advises the public               Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
                                                  their captive-bred wildlife registration                that the Texas Parks and Wildlife                     1071 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,
                                                  under 50 CFR 17.21(g) for the following                 Department (TPWD; applicant) has                      TX 78758.
                                                  species to enhance species propagation                  applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service                Comment submission: You may
                                                  or survival: Leopard (Panthera pardus)                  (Service) for an enhancement of survival              submit comments by one of the
                                                  and snow leopard (Uncia uncia). This                    permit pursuant to the Endangered                     following methods.
                                                  notification covers activities to be                    Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).                  Æ U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                                                  conducted by the applicant over a 5-                    The permit application includes a                     Service, Austin Ecological Services
                                                  year period.                                            proposed programmatic safe harbor                     Field Office, 1071 Burnet Road, Suite
                                                                                                          agreement (agreement) between the                     200, Austin, TX 78758; by phone at
                                                  Applicant: James Mercer, Carbondale,
                                                                                                          applicant and the Service that would                  512–490–0057; or by fax at 512–490–
                                                  KS; PRT–98881B
                                                                                                          authorize incidental take resulting from              0974.
                                                    The applicant requests a permit to                    voluntary activities to restore, maintain,              Æ Electronically: fw2_hcp_permits@
                                                  import a sport-hunted trophy of two                     enhance, or create habitat for the                    fws.gov.
                                                  male bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus                      endangered Houston toad. The Service
                                                  pygargus) culled from a captive herd                    also announces the availability of a draft            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  maintained under the management                         environmental assessment (EA) that has                Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S.
                                                  program of the Republic of South Africa,                been prepared to evaluate the permit                  Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin
                                                  for the purpose of enhancement of the                   application in accordance with the                    Ecological Services Field Office, 10711
                                                  survival of the species.                                requirements of the National                          Burnet Rd, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758;
                                                                                                          Environmental Policy Act. We are                      by telephone 512–490–0057; or by
                                                  Multiple Applicants                                     making the permit application package,                facsimile 512–490–0974. Persons who
                                                     The following applicants each request                including the draft safe harbor                       use a telecommunications device for the
                                                  a permit to import the sport-hunted                     agreement, and draft environmental                    deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
                                                  trophy of one male bontebok                             assessment available for public review                Information Relay Service (FIRS) at
                                                  (Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled                   and comment.                                          800–877–8339.
                                                  from a captive herd maintained under                    DATES: We will accept comments                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
                                                  the management program of the                           received or postmarked on or before                   notice advises the public that the TPWD
                                                  Republic of South Africa, for the                       October 28, 2016. Any comments we                     has applied to the Service for an
                                                  purpose of enhancement of the survival                  receive after the closing date or not                 enhancement of survival permit
                                                  of the species.                                         postmarked by the closing date may not                pursuant to the Endangered Species Act
                                                                                                          be considered in the final decision on                of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
                                                  Applicant: Marion Searle, Lake Forest,                                                                        seq.; Act). The permit application
                                                                                                          this action.
                                                  IL; PRT–99186B                                                                                                includes a proposed programmatic safe
                                                                                                          ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review
                                                  Applicant: Kristian O’Meara, Powell,                    the application may obtain a copy by                  harbor agreement (agreement) between
                                                  OH; PRT–99852B                                          writing to the Regional Director, U.S.                the applicant and the Service for a
                                                  Applicant: David Robertson, Lewistown,                  Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box                   period of 30 years. The proposed
                                                  MT; PRT–94807B                                          1306, Room 4012, Albuquerque, NM                      agreement will authorize incidental take
                                                                                                          87103, or send a request by email to                  during voluntary activities to restore,
                                                  Brenda Tapia,                                           fw2_hcp_permits@fws.gov.                              maintain, enhance, or create habitat for
                                                  Program Analyst/Data Administrator, Branch                                                                    the endangered Houston toad (Anaxyrus
                                                                                                          Obtaining Documents                                   [=Bufo] houstonensis). The Service also
                                                  of Permits, Division of Management
                                                  Authority.                                                • Internet: You may obtain copies of                announces the availability of a draft
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–20553 Filed 8–26–16; 8:45 am]             the EA and draft Safe Harbor Agreement                environmental assessment that has been
                                                  BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                                                                          on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s               prepared to evaluate the permit
                                                                                                          (Service) Web site at http://                         application in accordance with the
                                                                                                          www.fws.gov/southwest/es/                             requirements of the National
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              AustinTexas/.                                         Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
                                                                                                            • U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD–                4321 et seq.; NEPA). We are making the
                                                  Fish and Wildlife Service                               ROM and printed copies of the EA and                  permit application package, including
                                                                                                          draft Safe Harbor Agreement are                       the draft safe harbor agreement, and
                                                  [FWS–R2–ES–2016–N059;                                   available, by request, from the Field                 draft Environmental Assessment
                                                  FXES11130200000–167–FF02ENEH00]                         Supervisor, by mail at the Austin                     available for public review and
                                                                                                          Ecological Services Field Office, 1071                comment.
                                                  Notice of Availability of a Draft Safe                  Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX
                                                  Harbor Agreement and Draft                              78758; by phone at 512–490–0057; or by                Background
                                                  Environmental Assessment for                            fax at 512–490–0974. Please note that                   Under a safe harbor agreement,
                                                  Activities Within Austin, Bastrop,                      your request is in reference to the draft             participating property owners
                                                                                                                                                                voluntarily undertake management
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca, Lee,                        Safe Harbor Agreement for the Houston
                                                  Leon, Milam, and Robertson Counties,                    toad.                                                 activities on their property to enhance,
                                                  Texas                                                     • In-Person: Copies of the EA and                   restore, or maintain habitat benefiting
                                                                                                          draft Safe Harbor Agreement are also                  species listed under the Endangered
                                                  AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                    available for public inspection and                   Species Act. Safe harbor agreements
                                                  Interior.                                               review at the following locations, by                 encourage private and other non-Federal
                                                  ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft safe              appointment and written request only, 8               property owners to implement
                                                  harbor agreement with assurances, draft                 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:                                    conservation efforts for listed species by


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                                                  59242                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 167 / Monday, August 29, 2016 / Notices

                                                  assuring property owners they will not                  proposed agreement; however,                          Action Alternative, a coordinated effort
                                                  be subjected to increased property use                  landowners would not have to conduct                  to conserve Houston toads on non-
                                                  restrictions as a result of increased                   every activity in this list in order for              Federal properties using a single
                                                  target species abundance due to their                   their actions to have a net conservation              programmatic safe harbor agreement
                                                  efforts to improve conditions for listed                benefit on Houston toads. These                       and enhancement of survival permit
                                                  species on their property. Application                  conservation activities include: (1)                  would not occur. Houston toad
                                                  requirements and issuance criteria for                  Brush management to create desired                    conservation efforts could take place
                                                  enhancement of survival permits                         understory conditions; (2) forest                     through the actions of individual
                                                  through safe harbor agreements are                      enhancement/restoration to create                     landowners without the assurances that
                                                  found in 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32.                        favorable canopy conditions; (3)                      a safe harbor agreement would provide.
                                                                                                          prescribed burning to restore, create,                However, it is likely that many
                                                  Proposed Action
                                                                                                          and maintain desired understory and                   landowners would not feel comfortable
                                                     The proposed action involves the                     ground cover conditions; (4) removal of               participating in conservation activities
                                                  issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(A)                       sod-forming grasses and restoration of                on their properties to enhance habitat
                                                  enhancement of survival permit (permit)                 native ground cover; (5) enhancement of               for a federally endangered species
                                                  by the Service to the applicant and                     existing breeding ponds to provide                    without coverage for their activities
                                                  approval of the proposed programmatic                   habitat for breeding adults and emerging              under the Act or assurances that they
                                                  safe harbor agreement to facilitate                     toadlets; (6) removal of ponds, where it              could eventually take their properties
                                                  recovery activities for the benefit of the              would be beneficial to do so; (7) control             back to their baseline conditions.
                                                  federally listed endangered Houston                     of red imported fire ants to maximize                 Therefore, many landowners might not
                                                  toad on non-Federal lands within the                    successful toadlet emergence from                     undertake beneficial actions for the
                                                  current known range of the species. The                 ponds; (8) creation of new breeding                   Houston toad on their properties
                                                  requested term of the permit is 30 years.               ponds; (9) headstarting and/or                        because they would be fearful of
                                                  Landowners enrolled under the                           reintroduction of captively-bred                      attracting an endangered species and
                                                  Agreement would implement                               Houston toads; and (10) release and                   increasing their liability under the Act.
                                                  conservation activities to benefit the                  translocation of wild-caught Houston                  Conservation efforts for the species
                                                  endangered Houston toad and in turn                     toads.                                                would primarily occur within the areas
                                                  receive assurances consistent with the                     These conservation activities are                  already being managed for the Houston
                                                  Safe Harbor Agreement Policy, as                        expected to: (1) Enhance Houston toad                 toad within Bastrop County, Texas, with
                                                  amended (64 FR 32717 and 69 FR                          foraging and hibernating habitat; (2)                 little participation of landowners in
                                                  24084) and related implementing                         create and enhance Houston toad                       other areas of the species’ range.
                                                  regulations (50 CFR 13 and 17). Non-                    breeding and toadlet emergence habitat;
                                                  Federal landowners within Austin,                       (3) facilitate Houston toad dispersal                 Next Steps
                                                  Bastrop, Burleson, Colorado, Lavaca,                    through the creation and enhancement                     We will evaluate the proposed safe
                                                  Lee, Leon, Milam, and Robertson                         of habitat linkages throughout the                    harbor agreement, associated
                                                  Counties, Texas, could be enrolled                      species’ range; (4) increase Houston toad             documents, and comments we receive to
                                                  under the agreement, if finalized, by                   population numbers through                            determine whether the requirements of
                                                  entering into a cooperative agreement                   headstarting and reintroduction; and (5)              sections 10(a) and 10(c) of the
                                                  with the applicant.                                     facilitate viable, self-sustaining Houston            Endangered Species Act, the Act’s
                                                     The cooperative agreement would                      toad subpopulations.                                  implementing regulations at 50 CFR
                                                  include: (1) A map of the property and                     Take, as defined by the Act, means                 17.22 (regulations that pertain to safe
                                                  its legal location; (2) the portion of the              ‘‘to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,               harbor agreements and endangered
                                                  property to be enrolled and its acreage;                wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or            species), and NEPA have been met. If
                                                  (3) a description of the existing                       to attempt to engage in any such                      we determine that the requirements
                                                  structures and habitat types that occur                 conduct. Incidental take is defined by                have been met, we will issue an
                                                  on the portion of the property to be                    the Act as take that is ‘‘incidental to,              enhancement of survival permit under
                                                  enrolled, including accurate                            and not the purpose of, the carrying out              section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered
                                                  descriptions of vegetation, water                       of an otherwise lawful activity.’’ The                Species Act to the applicant in
                                                  features, and soil types; and (4) a                     incidental take of toads may occur from:              accordance with the terms of the safe
                                                  detailed account of conservation                        (1) Habitat management actions                        harbor agreement and specific terms and
                                                  activities to be undertaken on the                      conducted in accordance with the                      conditions of the authorizing permit.
                                                  portion of the property to be enrolled.                 conservation activities in the                        We will not make our final decision
                                                  After signing a cooperative agreement,                  Agreement, (2) ongoing land use                       until after the end of the 60-day
                                                  landowners would receive a certificate                  activities that may have an increased                 comment period and will fully consider
                                                  of inclusion to document the                            chance of taking a toad if toad numbers               all comments received during the
                                                  landowners’ participation in the                        increase, as expected, and (3) cessation              comment period.
                                                  agreement and convey incidental take                    of the conservation activities if enrolled
                                                  authorization from the applicant to                                                                           Public Availability of Comments
                                                                                                          landowners exercise their option to
                                                  certificate recipients. The applicant                   return the property to its baseline                     Written comments we receive become
                                                  would be responsible for annual                         condition, or pre-enrollment condition,               part of the public record associated with
                                                  monitoring and reporting related to                     as provided for in the final Safe Harbor              this action. Before including your
                                                                                                                                                                address, phone number, email address,
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  implementation of the agreement and                     Agreement Policy (64 FR 32717 and 69
                                                  cooperative agreements, and fulfillment                 FR 24084).                                            or other personal identifying
                                                  of their provisions.                                                                                          information in your comment, you
                                                     We have worked with the applicant to                 Alternative                                           should be aware that your entire
                                                  design conservation activities expected                   We considered one alternative to the                comment, including your personal
                                                  to have a net conservation benefit to the               proposed action as part of the                        identifying information, may be made
                                                  Houston toad within the nine Texas                      Environmental Assessment process—the                  publicly available at any time. While
                                                  counties to be covered under this                       No Action Alternative. Under the No                   you can request in your comment that


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 167 / Monday, August 29, 2016 / Notices                                             59243

                                                  we withhold your personal identifying                   During the September 14th meeting,                    I. Abstract
                                                  information from public review, we                      there will be travel management                          The America the Beautiful—National
                                                  cannot guarantee that we will be able to                planning training, an overview of the                 Parks and Federal Recreation Lands
                                                  do so. We will not consider anonymous                   2016 fire season and the 40th                         Pass Program covers recreation
                                                  comments. All submissions from                          anniversary of the Federal Land Policy                opportunities on public lands managed
                                                  organizations or businesses, and from                   Management Act along with field office                by four Department of the Interior
                                                  individuals identifying themselves as                   updates. Additional topics may be                     agencies—the National Park Service,
                                                  representative or officials of                          added and will be included in local                   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau
                                                  organizations or businesses, will be                    media announcements.                                  of Land Management, and the Bureau of
                                                  made available for public disclosure in                   More information is available at                    Reclamation—and by the Department of
                                                  their entirety.                                         www.blm.gov/id/st/en/res/resource_                    Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service. The
                                                                                                          advisory.3.html. RAC meetings are open                passes provide visitors an affordable
                                                  Authority
                                                                                                          to the public.                                        and convenient way to access Federal
                                                    We provide this notice under section
                                                                                                            Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–1.                         recreation lands. The pass program’s
                                                  10(c) of the Act and its implementing
                                                                                                                                                                proceeds are used to improve and
                                                  regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32)                    Michael C. Courtney,
                                                                                                                                                                enhance visitor recreation services. Two
                                                  and NEPA and its implementing                           BLM Twin Falls District Manager.
                                                                                                                                                                of the available passes—Interagency
                                                  regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).                            [FR Doc. 2016–20719 Filed 8–26–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                Access Pass and Interagency Senior
                                                  Benjamin N. Tuggle,                                     BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P                                Pass—require documentation and are
                                                  Regional Director, Southwest Region,                                                                          the bases for this information collection.
                                                  Albuquerque, New Mexico.                                                                                         The Interagency Access Pass is a free,
                                                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            lifetime pass issued to citizens or
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–20714 Filed 8–26–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  BILLING CODE 4310–55–P                                  National Park Service                                 residents who are domiciled in the
                                                                                                                                                                United States, regardless of age, and
                                                                                                          [NPS–WASO–BSD–FEES–21785;                             who have a medical determination and
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              PX.XBSAD0096.00.1]                                    documentation of permanent disability.
                                                                                                                                                                You can obtain an Access Pass in
                                                  Bureau of Land Management                               Proposed Information Collection; The                  person, with proper documentation,
                                                                                                          Interagency Access Pass and Senior                    from a participating Federal recreation
                                                  [LLIDT000000.L11200000.DD0000.241A.00;                  Pass Application Processes
                                                  4500069133]                                                                                                   site or office. Access Passes may also be
                                                                                                          AGENCY:   National Park Service, Interior.            obtained via mail order. Mail-order
                                                  Notice of Public Meeting, Twin Falls                    ACTION:   Notice; request for comments.               applicants for the Access Pass must
                                                  District Resource Advisory Council,                                                                           submit a completed application, proof
                                                  Idaho                                                   SUMMARY:   We (National Park Service,                 of residency, and documentation of
                                                                                                          NPS) will ask the Office of Management                permanent disability, and pay the
                                                  AGENCY:    Bureau of Land Management,
                                                                                                          and Budget (OMB) to approve the                       document processing fee of $10 to
                                                  Interior.
                                                                                                          information collection (IC) described                 obtain a pass through the mail.
                                                  ACTION:  Notice of public meetings.                     below. As required by the Paperwork                      If a person arrives at a recreation site
                                                  SUMMARY:    In accordance with the                      Reduction Act of 1995 and as part of our              and claims eligibility for the Interagency
                                                  Federal Land Policy and Management                      continuing efforts to reduce paperwork                Access Pass, but cannot produce any
                                                  Act (FLPMA), the Federal Advisory                       and respondent burden, we invite the                  documentation, that person must read,
                                                  Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), and the                   general public and other Federal                      sign, and date a Statement of Disability
                                                  Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement                    agencies to take this opportunity to                  Form in the presence of the agency
                                                  Act of 2004 (FLREA), the U.S.                           comment on this IC. This information                  officer issuing the Interagency Access
                                                  Department of the Interior, Bureau of                   collection is scheduled to expire on May              Pass. If the applicant cannot read and/
                                                  Land Management (BLM) Twin Falls                        31, 2017. We may not conduct or                       or sign the form, someone else may
                                                  District Resource Advisory Council                      sponsor and a person is not required to               read, date, and sign the statement on
                                                  (RAC) will meet as indicated below.                     respond to a collection of information                his/her behalf in the applicant’s
                                                                                                          unless it displays a currently valid OMB              presence and in the presence of the
                                                  DATES: The Twin Falls District RAC will
                                                                                                          Control Number.                                       agency officer issuing the Interagency
                                                  meet September 14, 2016 at the Twin
                                                                                                          DATES: You must submit comments on                    Access Pass.
                                                  Falls District BLM Office, 2878 Addison
                                                                                                          or before October 28, 2016.                              The Interagency Senior Pass is a
                                                  Ave. E., Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301. The
                                                                                                                                                                lifetime pass issued to U.S. citizens or
                                                  meeting will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end                 ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the
                                                                                                                                                                permanent residents who are 62 years or
                                                  no later than 3:45 p.m. The public                      IC to Madonna L. Baucum, Information                  older. There is a $10 fee for the Senior
                                                  comment period will take place from                     Collection Clearance Officer, National                Pass. You can buy a Senior Pass in
                                                  9:15 to 9:45 a.m.                                       Park Service, 12201 Sunrise Valley                    person from a participating Federal
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        Drive (MS–242), Reston, VA 20192                      recreation site or office, online or by
                                                  Heather Tiel-Nelson, Twin Falls                         (mail); or madonna_baucum@nps.gov                     mail order. There is an additional
                                                  District, Idaho, 2536 Kimberly Road,                    (email). Please reference OMB Control                 document processing fee of $10 to
                                                  Twin Falls, Idaho, 83301, (208) 736–                    Number 1024–0252 in the subject line of               obtain a Senior Pass online or through
jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                  2352.                                                   your comments.                                        the mail. Online and mail-order
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15-                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To                   applicants must submit a completed
                                                  member RAC advises the Secretary of                     request additional information about                  application and proof of residency and
                                                  the Interior, through the Bureau of Land                this IC, contact Brooke Linford by email              age, and pay $20 for the pass fee and
                                                  Management, on a variety of planning                    at brooke_linford@nps.gov, or at (202)                processing fee.
                                                  and management issues associated with                   513–7139 (telephone).                                    Agency Web sites provide information
                                                  public land management in Idaho.                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            on the passes and acceptable


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Document Created: 2016-08-26 23:49:59
Document Modified: 2016-08-26 23:49:59
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: Draft safe harbor agreement with assurances, draft environmental assessment, and permit application.
DatesWe will accept comments received or postmarked on or before October 28, 2016. Any comments we receive after the closing date or not postmarked by the closing date may not be considered in the final decision on this action.
ContactAdam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Rd, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; by telephone 512-490- 0057; or by facsimile 512-490-0974. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation81 FR 59241 

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