81_FR_64373 81 FR 64192 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Indiana Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Plan

81 FR 64192 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Indiana Department of Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Plan

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 181 (September 19, 2016)

Page Range64192-64193
FR Document2016-22455

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), we are advising the public that we intend to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take permit (ITP) application from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Forestry (DoF) for the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). We are also announcing the initiation of a public scoping process to engage Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments; special interest groups; and the public in the identification of issues and concerns, potential impacts, and possible alternatives to the proposed action.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 181 (Monday, September 19, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 181 (Monday, September 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64192-64193]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-22455]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2016-N128]; [FVES59420300000F2 14X FF03E00000]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement; Indiana Department of 
Natural Resources Habitat Conservation Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
notice of scoping meeting; and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (NEPA), we are advising the public that we intend to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on a proposed Endangered Species 
Act (ESA) incidental take permit (ITP) application from the Indiana 
Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), Division of Forestry (DoF) for 
the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). We are also 
announcing the initiation of a public scoping process to engage 
Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments; special interest groups; 
and the public in the identification of issues and concerns, potential 
impacts, and possible alternatives to the proposed action.

DATES: Public scoping will begin with the publication of this NOI in 
the Federal Register and will continue through October 19, 2016. We 
will consider all comments on the scope of the EIS analysis that are 
received or postmarked by this date. Comments received or postmarked 
after this date will be considered to the extent practicable. We will 
conduct a public scoping meeting during the scoping period. The scoping 
meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions, 
discuss issues with Service staff regarding the EIS, and provide 
written comments.
     September 30th, 6:00-9:00 p.m. at the Forestry Training 
Center on Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Directions: from the Forest 
Office at 6220 Forest Road, Martinsville, IN (see Google Maps), go 0.2 
miles north on Forest Road and take the first road to the left (West), 
go 0.4 miles and park at 2nd building on the right. The Forestry 
Training Center is located approx. 6 miles south of Martinsville, IN.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments via U.S. mail to the Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington Field Office, 620 South 
Walker Street, Bloomington, IN 47403-2121; by facsimile to 812-334-
4273; or by electronic mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew King, by telephone at 812-334-
4261, extension 1216, or email at [email protected]. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf, please call the Federal 
Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    Indiana bats were listed as an endangered species under the ESA in 
1967. The decline of this species has historically been attributed to 
loss and degradation of winter hibernation habitat and summer roosting 
habitat, human disturbance during hibernation, and possibly pesticides. 
A recent new threat to Indiana bats is white-nose syndrome (WNS), a 
disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. WNS has 
caused significant population declines throughout much of the Indiana 
bat's range, particularly in the Northeast and Appalachian regions.
    The DoF conducts management activities on 13 State Forests and 2 
State Recreation Areas covering approximately 158,000 acres of state-
owned forest land in Indiana. These activities include maintenance of 
recreation trails, timber harvest, tree plantings, prescribed burning, 
and the use of specific chemicals such as herbicides and fertilizers. 
Management activities on these lands are designed for long-term 
sustainability and to enhance forest health and diversity, create 
wildlife habitat, provide recreational opportunities and to generate 
revenue from timber harvests that contribute to local and state 
economies. While many forest management activities benefit the 
conservation and recovery of the Indiana bat, some activities may 
adversely impact this species and their habitat during certain life 
stages.
    The net effect of forest management on Indiana bats may vary 
depending on the type, scale, and timing of various practices. Unlike 
forest conversion where habitat is permanently removed, the DoF's 
forest management practices are designed to promote and sustain 
suitable forested bat habitat on the landscape, and adverse impacts 
typically are temporary in nature. The primary potential benefit of 
forest management to the species is perpetuating forests on the 
landscape that provide suitable roosting and foraging habitat. Impacts 
from timber harvest, which can range from the selective removal of 
individual trees to small clearcuts, can range from positive (e.g., 
maintaining or increasing suitable roosting and foraging habitat within 
Indiana bat home ranges) to neutral (e.g., minor amounts of timber 
harvest, areas outside Indiana bats summer home ranges, away from 
hibernacula) to negative (e.g., death of adult female bats and/or pups 
resulting from accidental felling of occupied maternity roost trees). 
Therefore, the DoF is developing a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in 
support of an ITP that would authorize the incidental take of Indiana 
bats from certain forest management activities on State Forest lands 
within the State of Indiana.
    The HCP will incorporate avoidance, minimization, mitigation, 
monitoring, and reporting measures aimed at addressing the impact of 
take caused by certain forest and property management activities 
occurring on approximately 158,000 acres of state-owned land managed by 
the DoF. The forest and property management activities included in the 
DoF HCP are timber harvesting, prescribed burning, timber stand 
improvement, and the construction and maintenance of roads, trails, and 
recreation and operational facilities. Potential measures to avoid, 
minimize, and mitigate impacts to Indiana bats may include, but are not 
limited to, retention of potential roost trees, sustained supply of 
future roost trees, protection of known roost trees, leave-tree 
designation near perennial streams, seasonal tree-felling restrictions 
around known hibernacula, and set-back distances for the protection of 
hibernacula entrances. The requested term of the ITP is 20 years.

[[Page 64193]]

Habitat Conservation Plans and Incidental Take Permits

    Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ``take'' of fish and wildlife 
species listed as endangered under section 4 (16 U.S.C. 1538, and 1533, 
respectively). The ESA implementing regulations extend, under certain 
circumstances, the prohibition of take to threatened species (50 CFR 
17.31). Under section 3 of the ESA, the term ``take'' means to harass, 
harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or 
attempt to engage in any such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)).
    Under section 10 of the ESA, the Service may issue permits to 
authorize incidental take of federally listed fish and wildlife 
species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by the ESA as ``take that is 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an otherwise lawful 
activity.'' To obtain an ITP, an applicant must submit an HCP to the 
Service that specifies (1) the impact that will likely result from the 
taking; (2) what steps the applicant will take to monitor, minimize and 
mitigate the impacts, the funding that will be available to implement 
such steps and the procedures to be used to deal with changed 
circumstances; (3) what alternative actions to the taking the applicant 
considered and the reasons why the alternatives are not being utilized; 
and (4) how the applicant will carry out any other measures that we may 
require as being necessary or appropriate for purposes of the HCP. 50 
CFR 17.22(b)(1)(iii); 50 CFR 17.32(b)(1)(iii)(C). If we find, after 
opportunity for public comment, with respect to the permit application 
and the related HCP that (1) the taking will be incidental; (2) the 
applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, minimize and 
mitigate the impacts of such taking; (3) the applicant will ensure that 
adequate funding for the HCP will be provided, as well as procedures to 
deal with unforeseen circumstances; (4) the taking will not appreciably 
reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of the species in 
the wild; and (5) the measures, if any, required by us will be carried 
out; and we have received assurances that the plan will be implemented, 
then we will issue the DoF its requested permit. 50 CFR 17.22, 
17.32(b)(2)(i).
    The purpose of an HCP and subsequent issuance of an ITP is to 
authorize the incidental take of threatened or endangered species, not 
to authorize the underlying activities that result in take. This 
process ensures that the effects of the authorized incidental take will 
be adequately minimized and mitigated to the maximum extent practicable 
(Final Handbook for Habitat Conservation Planning and Incidental Take 
Permitting Process (61 FR 63854, December 2, 1996)).

Environmental Impact Statement

    NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requires that Federal agencies 
conduct an environmental analysis of their proposed actions to 
determine if the actions may significantly affect the human 
environment. Based on 40 CFR 1508.27 and 40 CFR 1508.2, we have 
determined that issuance of an ITP to the DoF, including implementation 
of its proposed HCP (i.e., proposed action), may have significant 
impacts on the human environment. Therefore, before deciding whether to 
issue an ITP to the IDNR, we will prepare an EIS to analyze the 
environmental impacts associated with that action. The EIS will also 
include an analysis of a reasonable range of alternatives to the 
proposed action. Alternatives considered in the EIS may include, but 
are not limited to, variations in the permit term or permit structure; 
the level of take allowed; the level, location, or type of 
conservation, monitoring, or mitigation provided in the HCP; the scope 
of covered activities; or a combination of these factors. Additionally, 
a ``no-action'' alternative will be included that assesses the 
anticipated effects of not issuing an ITP for the DoF's management 
activities.

Request for Information

    We request data, comments, information, and suggestions from the 
public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific 
community, Tribes, industry, and any other interested party on this 
notice. We will consider all comments we receive with respect to 
complying with the requirements of NEPA and the development of the HCP 
and ITP. We seek comments particularly related to:
    (1) Information concerning the range, distribution, population 
size, and population trends of Indiana bats and other federally listed 
species in Indiana;
    (2) Additional biological information concerning Indiana bats and 
other federally listed species that occur in Indiana that could be 
affected by activities on State-owned forest land;
    (3) Relevant data and information concerning timber management 
practices and bat interactions;
    (4) Current or planned forest management activities and their 
possible impacts on Indiana bats and other federally listed species in 
Indiana;
    (5) The presence of facilities within the project planning area 
that are eligible to be listed on the National Register of Historic 
Places, or whether other historical, archeological, or traditional 
cultural properties may be present; and
    (6) Any other environmental issues that we should consider with 
regard to the HCP coverage area and potential ITP issuance.

Next Steps

    We are seeking information to assist us in the development of the 
EIS and the associated HCP. We will develop a draft EIS based on a 
complete ITP application, draft HCP, and public comments received 
through this early scoping effort. We may solicit additional public, 
agency, and Tribal input to identify the nature and scope of the 
potentially significant environmental issues that should be addressed 
in the EIS. We will publish a notice of availability for the draft EIS 
and draft HCP, and seek additional public comments, before completing 
our final analysis to determine whether to issue an ITP to the DoF.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments received, including names and addresses, will become 
part of the administrative record and will be available to the public. 
Before including your address, phone number, electronic mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should 
be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--will be publicly available. If you submit a hardcopy 
comment that includes personal identifying information, you may request 
at the top of your document that we withhold this information from 
public review. However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do 
so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and per NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 1506.5, and 1508.22).

    Dated: August 22, 2016.
Lori H. Nordstrom,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-22455 Filed 9-16-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                  64192                     Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2016 / Notices

                                                  respond: 22 responses (Form I–690) at                   received or postmarked after this date                local and state economies. While many
                                                  approximately 3 hours per response; 11                  will be considered to the extent                      forest management activities benefit the
                                                  responses (Supplement 1) at                             practicable. We will conduct a public                 conservation and recovery of the
                                                  approximately 2 hours per response.                     scoping meeting during the scoping                    Indiana bat, some activities may
                                                    (6) An estimate of the total public                   period. The scoping meeting will                      adversely impact this species and their
                                                  burden (in hours) associated with the                   provide the public with an opportunity                habitat during certain life stages.
                                                  collection: The total estimated annual                  to ask questions, discuss issues with
                                                                                                                                                                   The net effect of forest management
                                                  hour burden associated with this                        Service staff regarding the EIS, and
                                                                                                                                                                on Indiana bats may vary depending on
                                                  collection is 88 hours.                                 provide written comments.
                                                    (7) An estimate of the total public                      • September 30th, 6:00–9:00 p.m. at                the type, scale, and timing of various
                                                  burden (in cost) associated with the                    the Forestry Training Center on Morgan-               practices. Unlike forest conversion
                                                  collection: The estimated total annual                  Monroe State Forest. Directions: from                 where habitat is permanently removed,
                                                  cost burden associated with this                        the Forest Office at 6220 Forest Road,                the DoF’s forest management practices
                                                  collection of information is $3,316.50.                 Martinsville, IN (see Google Maps), go                are designed to promote and sustain
                                                                                                          0.2 miles north on Forest Road and take               suitable forested bat habitat on the
                                                    Dated: September 14, 2016.
                                                                                                          the first road to the left (West), go 0.4             landscape, and adverse impacts
                                                  Samantha Deshommes,                                                                                           typically are temporary in nature. The
                                                                                                          miles and park at 2nd building on the
                                                  Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division,                                                                      primary potential benefit of forest
                                                  Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship         right. The Forestry Training Center is
                                                  and Immigration Services, Department of                 located approx. 6 miles south of                      management to the species is
                                                  Homeland Security.                                      Martinsville, IN.                                     perpetuating forests on the landscape
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–22461 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]             ADDRESSES: Send written comments via                  that provide suitable roosting and
                                                                                                          U.S. mail to the Field Supervisor, U.S.               foraging habitat. Impacts from timber
                                                  BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
                                                                                                          Fish and Wildlife Service, Bloomington                harvest, which can range from the
                                                                                                          Field Office, 620 South Walker Street,                selective removal of individual trees to
                                                                                                          Bloomington, IN 47403–2121; by                        small clearcuts, can range from positive
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                                                                          facsimile to 812–334–4273; or by                      (e.g., maintaining or increasing suitable
                                                  Fish and Wildlife Service                               electronic mail to commentbfo@fws.gov.                roosting and foraging habitat within
                                                                                                          FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      Indiana bat home ranges) to neutral
                                                  [FWS–R3–ES–2016–N128];
                                                                                                          Andrew King, by telephone at 812–334–                 (e.g., minor amounts of timber harvest,
                                                  [FVES59420300000F2 14X FF03E00000]
                                                                                                          4261, extension 1216, or email at                     areas outside Indiana bats summer
                                                  Draft Environmental Impact Statement;                   andrew_king@fws.gov. If you use a                     home ranges, away from hibernacula) to
                                                  Indiana Department of Natural                           telecommunications device for the deaf,               negative (e.g., death of adult female bats
                                                  Resources Habitat Conservation Plan                     please call the Federal Information                   and/or pups resulting from accidental
                                                                                                          Relay Service at 800–877–8339.                        felling of occupied maternity roost
                                                  AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                                                                          trees). Therefore, the DoF is developing
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  Interior.                                                                                                     a Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) in
                                                  ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an                  Introduction                                          support of an ITP that would authorize
                                                  environmental impact statement; notice                     Indiana bats were listed as an                     the incidental take of Indiana bats from
                                                  of scoping meeting; and request for                     endangered species under the ESA in                   certain forest management activities on
                                                  comments.                                               1967. The decline of this species has                 State Forest lands within the State of
                                                                                                          historically been attributed to loss and              Indiana.
                                                  SUMMARY:   Pursuant to the National                     degradation of winter hibernation
                                                  Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as                                                                             The HCP will incorporate avoidance,
                                                                                                          habitat and summer roosting habitat,
                                                  amended (NEPA), we are advising the                                                                           minimization, mitigation, monitoring,
                                                                                                          human disturbance during hibernation,
                                                  public that we intend to prepare an                                                                           and reporting measures aimed at
                                                                                                          and possibly pesticides. A recent new
                                                  environmental impact statement (EIS)                                                                          addressing the impact of take caused by
                                                                                                          threat to Indiana bats is white-nose
                                                  on a proposed Endangered Species Act                                                                          certain forest and property management
                                                                                                          syndrome (WNS), a disease caused by
                                                  (ESA) incidental take permit (ITP)                                                                            activities occurring on approximately
                                                                                                          the fungus Pseudogymnoascus
                                                  application from the Indiana                            destructans. WNS has caused significant               158,000 acres of state-owned land
                                                  Department of Natural Resources                         population declines throughout much of                managed by the DoF. The forest and
                                                  (IDNR), Division of Forestry (DoF) for                  the Indiana bat’s range, particularly in              property management activities
                                                  the federally endangered Indiana bat                    the Northeast and Appalachian regions.                included in the DoF HCP are timber
                                                  (Myotis sodalis). We are also                              The DoF conducts management                        harvesting, prescribed burning, timber
                                                  announcing the initiation of a public                   activities on 13 State Forests and 2 State            stand improvement, and the
                                                  scoping process to engage Federal,                      Recreation Areas covering                             construction and maintenance of roads,
                                                  Tribal, State, and local governments;                   approximately 158,000 acres of state-                 trails, and recreation and operational
                                                  special interest groups; and the public                 owned forest land in Indiana. These                   facilities. Potential measures to avoid,
                                                  in the identification of issues and                     activities include maintenance of                     minimize, and mitigate impacts to
                                                  concerns, potential impacts, and                        recreation trails, timber harvest, tree               Indiana bats may include, but are not
                                                  possible alternatives to the proposed                   plantings, prescribed burning, and the                limited to, retention of potential roost
                                                  action.                                                 use of specific chemicals such as                     trees, sustained supply of future roost
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  DATES: Public scoping will begin with                   herbicides and fertilizers. Management                trees, protection of known roost trees,
                                                  the publication of this NOI in the                      activities on these lands are designed for            leave-tree designation near perennial
                                                  Federal Register and will continue                      long-term sustainability and to enhance               streams, seasonal tree-felling restrictions
                                                  through October 19, 2016. We will                       forest health and diversity, create                   around known hibernacula, and set-
                                                  consider all comments on the scope of                   wildlife habitat, provide recreational                back distances for the protection of
                                                  the EIS analysis that are received or                   opportunities and to generate revenue                 hibernacula entrances. The requested
                                                  postmarked by this date. Comments                       from timber harvests that contribute to               term of the ITP is 20 years.


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 181 / Monday, September 19, 2016 / Notices                                                  64193

                                                  Habitat Conservation Plans and                          practicable (Final Handbook for Habitat               other historical, archeological, or
                                                  Incidental Take Permits                                 Conservation Planning and Incidental                  traditional cultural properties may be
                                                     Section 9 of the ESA prohibits ‘‘take’’              Take Permitting Process (61 FR 63854,                 present; and
                                                  of fish and wildlife species listed as                  December 2, 1996)).                                      (6) Any other environmental issues
                                                  endangered under section 4 (16 U.S.C.                   Environmental Impact Statement                        that we should consider with regard to
                                                  1538, and 1533, respectively). The ESA                                                                        the HCP coverage area and potential ITP
                                                                                                             NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) requires
                                                  implementing regulations extend, under                                                                        issuance.
                                                                                                          that Federal agencies conduct an
                                                  certain circumstances, the prohibition of
                                                                                                          environmental analysis of their                       Next Steps
                                                  take to threatened species (50 CFR
                                                                                                          proposed actions to determine if the
                                                  17.31). Under section 3 of the ESA, the
                                                                                                          actions may significantly affect the                     We are seeking information to assist
                                                  term ‘‘take’’ means to harass, harm,
                                                                                                          human environment. Based on 40 CFR                    us in the development of the EIS and
                                                  pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap,
                                                                                                          1508.27 and 40 CFR 1508.2, we have                    the associated HCP. We will develop a
                                                  capture, or collect, or attempt to engage
                                                                                                          determined that issuance of an ITP to                 draft EIS based on a complete ITP
                                                  in any such conduct (16 U.S.C.
                                                                                                          the DoF, including implementation of                  application, draft HCP, and public
                                                  1532(19)).
                                                                                                          its proposed HCP (i.e., proposed action),             comments received through this early
                                                     Under section 10 of the ESA, the
                                                                                                          may have significant impacts on the                   scoping effort. We may solicit additional
                                                  Service may issue permits to authorize
                                                                                                          human environment. Therefore, before                  public, agency, and Tribal input to
                                                  incidental take of federally listed fish
                                                                                                          deciding whether to issue an ITP to the               identify the nature and scope of the
                                                  and wildlife species. ‘‘Incidental take’’
                                                                                                          IDNR, we will prepare an EIS to analyze               potentially significant environmental
                                                  is defined by the ESA as ‘‘take that is
                                                                                                          the environmental impacts associated                  issues that should be addressed in the
                                                  incidental to, and not the purpose of,
                                                                                                          with that action. The EIS will also
                                                  carrying out an otherwise lawful                                                                              EIS. We will publish a notice of
                                                                                                          include an analysis of a reasonable
                                                  activity.’’ To obtain an ITP, an applicant                                                                    availability for the draft EIS and draft
                                                                                                          range of alternatives to the proposed
                                                  must submit an HCP to the Service that                                                                        HCP, and seek additional public
                                                                                                          action. Alternatives considered in the
                                                  specifies (1) the impact that will likely                                                                     comments, before completing our final
                                                                                                          EIS may include, but are not limited to,
                                                  result from the taking; (2) what steps the                                                                    analysis to determine whether to issue
                                                                                                          variations in the permit term or permit
                                                  applicant will take to monitor, minimize                                                                      an ITP to the DoF.
                                                                                                          structure; the level of take allowed; the
                                                  and mitigate the impacts, the funding
                                                                                                          level, location, or type of conservation,             Public Availability of Comments
                                                  that will be available to implement such
                                                                                                          monitoring, or mitigation provided in
                                                  steps and the procedures to be used to
                                                                                                          the HCP; the scope of covered activities;               All comments received, including
                                                  deal with changed circumstances; (3)
                                                                                                          or a combination of these factors.                    names and addresses, will become part
                                                  what alternative actions to the taking
                                                                                                          Additionally, a ‘‘no-action’’ alternative             of the administrative record and will be
                                                  the applicant considered and the
                                                                                                          will be included that assesses the                    available to the public. Before including
                                                  reasons why the alternatives are not
                                                                                                          anticipated effects of not issuing an ITP             your address, phone number, electronic
                                                  being utilized; and (4) how the
                                                                                                          for the DoF’s management activities.                  mail address, or other personal
                                                  applicant will carry out any other
                                                  measures that we may require as being                   Request for Information                               identifying information in your
                                                  necessary or appropriate for purposes of                                                                      comment, you should be aware that
                                                                                                             We request data, comments,
                                                  the HCP. 50 CFR 17.22(b)(1)(iii); 50 CFR                                                                      your entire comment—including your
                                                                                                          information, and suggestions from the
                                                  17.32(b)(1)(iii)(C). If we find, after                                                                        personal identifying information—will
                                                                                                          public, other concerned governmental
                                                  opportunity for public comment, with                    agencies, the scientific community,                   be publicly available. If you submit a
                                                  respect to the permit application and                   Tribes, industry, and any other                       hardcopy comment that includes
                                                  the related HCP that (1) the taking will                interested party on this notice. We will              personal identifying information, you
                                                  be incidental; (2) the applicant will, to               consider all comments we receive with                 may request at the top of your document
                                                  the maximum extent practicable,                         respect to complying with the                         that we withhold this information from
                                                  minimize and mitigate the impacts of                    requirements of NEPA and the                          public review. However, we cannot
                                                  such taking; (3) the applicant will                     development of the HCP and ITP. We                    guarantee that we will be able to do so.
                                                  ensure that adequate funding for the                    seek comments particularly related to:
                                                  HCP will be provided, as well as                                                                              Authority
                                                                                                             (1) Information concerning the range,
                                                  procedures to deal with unforeseen                      distribution, population size, and                      We provide this notice under section
                                                  circumstances; (4) the taking will not                  population trends of Indiana bats and                 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
                                                  appreciably reduce the likelihood of the                other federally listed species in Indiana;            and per NEPA regulations (40 CFR
                                                  survival and recovery of the species in                    (2) Additional biological information
                                                  the wild; and (5) the measures, if any,                                                                       1501.7, 1506.5, and 1508.22).
                                                                                                          concerning Indiana bats and other
                                                  required by us will be carried out; and                 federally listed species that occur in                  Dated: August 22, 2016.
                                                  we have received assurances that the                    Indiana that could be affected by                     Lori H. Nordstrom,
                                                  plan will be implemented, then we will                  activities on State-owned forest land;                Assistant Regional Director, Ecological
                                                  issue the DoF its requested permit. 50                     (3) Relevant data and information                  Services, Midwest Region.
                                                  CFR 17.22, 17.32(b)(2)(i).                              concerning timber management                          [FR Doc. 2016–22455 Filed 9–16–16; 8:45 am]
                                                     The purpose of an HCP and                            practices and bat interactions;                       BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                  subsequent issuance of an ITP is to                        (4) Current or planned forest
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  authorize the incidental take of                        management activities and their
                                                  threatened or endangered species, not to                possible impacts on Indiana bats and
                                                  authorize the underlying activities that                other federally listed species in Indiana;
                                                  result in take. This process ensures that                  (5) The presence of facilities within
                                                  the effects of the authorized incidental                the project planning area that are
                                                  take will be adequately minimized and                   eligible to be listed on the National
                                                  mitigated to the maximum extent                         Register of Historic Places, or whether


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Document Created: 2016-09-17 02:29:45
Document Modified: 2016-09-17 02:29:45
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 intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; notice of scoping meeting; and request for comments.
DatesPublic scoping will begin with the publication of this NOI in the Federal Register and will continue through October 19, 2016. We will consider all comments on the scope of the EIS analysis that are received or postmarked by this date. Comments received or postmarked after this date will be considered to the extent practicable. We will conduct a public scoping meeting during the scoping period. The scoping meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to ask questions, discuss issues with Service staff regarding the EIS, and provide written comments.
ContactAndrew King, by telephone at 812-334- 4261, extension 1216, or email at [email protected] If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation81 FR 64192 

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