81_FR_67566 81 FR 67376 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plans, Clay, Lake, Marion, and Putnam County, FL

81 FR 67376 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plans, Clay, Lake, Marion, and Putnam County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)

Page Range67376-67377
FR Document2016-23646

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, USFWS), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Vulcan Materials Company requests a 30-year ITP. We request public comment on the permit application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as low-effect under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, which are also available for review.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67376-67377]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23646]



[[Page 67376]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2015-N163; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of 
Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plans, Clay, Lake, Marion, and 
Putnam County, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment/information.

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

SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, USFWS), have 
received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Vulcan Materials 
Company requests a 30-year ITP. We request public comment on the permit 
application and accompanying proposed habitat conservation plan (HCP), 
as well as on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as 
low-effect under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To make 
this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-
effect screening form, which are also available for review.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
October 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the application and HCP, you may 
request documents by email, U.S. mail, or phone (see below). These 
documents are also available for public inspection by appointment 
during normal business hours at the office below. Send your comments or 
requests by any one of the following methods.
    Email: [email protected], Attn: Permit number TE96856B-0.
    Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731-3191, Attn: Permit number 
TE96856B-0.
    U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field 
Office, Attn: Permit number TE96856B-0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
    In-person drop-off: You may drop off information during regular 
business hours at the above office address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731-
3121; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and our implementing 
Federal regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 
17 prohibit the ``take'' of fish or wildlife species listed as 
endangered or threatened. Take of listed fish or wildlife is defined 
under the Act as ``to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, 
trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such 
conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1532). However, under limited circumstances, we 
issue permits to authorize incidental take--i.e., take that is 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, the carrying out of an otherwise 
lawful activity.
    Regulations governing incidental take permits for threatened and 
endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. The 
Act's take prohibitions do not apply to federally listed plants on 
private lands unless such take would violate State law. In addition to 
meeting other criteria, an incidental take permit's proposed actions 
must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed fish, wildlife, 
or plants.

Applicants' Proposal

Vulcan Materials Company

    Vulcan Materials Company proposes incremental mining of sand 
reserves throughout the 8,660.71-acre permitted mining limits of seven 
mine sites (Astatula Sand Plant, Goldhead Sand Plant, Keuka Sand Plant, 
Lake Sand Plant, Marion Sand Plant, Turnpike Sand Plant, and Weirsdale 
Sand Plant) over the life of the mines, and seeks a 30-year permit for 
take of foraging and sheltering habitat occupied by scrub-jay and sand 
skink. The project sites are located in Clay, Lake, Marion, and Putnam 
Counties within North and Central Florida, Florida. The extent of 
direct impacts in future phases is currently undetermined; however, 
based on the current USFWS guidelines, approximately 1,489.31 acres of 
the site appear to be suitable for the sand skink, and approximately 26 
acres of the site appear to be occupied by the Florida scrub-jay. In 
advance of the progression of the mining operations into future phases, 
quantitative surveys will be conducted for the Florida scrub-jay and 
sand skinks, to determine the occupancy and extent of occupancy within 
suitable areas. The completion of these surveys will be subject to the 
Service's approved survey guidelines at the time the surveys are 
conducted. The applicant proposes to mitigate for impacts to occupied 
skink habitat within future phases at a ratio of 2:1 by purchasing two 
mitigation bank credits at the Tiger Creek Conservation Bank or another 
permitted USFWS skink conservation bank per every 1 acre of impact. The 
applicant proposes to mitigate for impacts to occupied scrub-jay 
habitat within future phases at a ratio of 2:1 by purchasing credits at 
a permitted USFWS approved scrub-jay conservation bank or contributing 
an appropriate amount to the Florida Scrub-jay Conservation Fund as per 
mitigation guidelines at the time the surveys are conducted.

Our Preliminary Determination

    We have determined that the applicants' proposals, including the 
proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or 
negligible effects on the species covered in their HCPs. Therefore, we 
have determined that the incidental take permit for this project is 
``low effect'' and qualifies for categorical exclusion under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as provided by 43 CFR 46.205 
and 43 CFR 46.210. A low-effect HCP is one involving (1) Minor or 
negligible effects on federally listed or candidate species and their 
habitats, and (2) minor or negligible effects on other environmental 
values or resources.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the HCPs and comments we receive to determine 
whether the ITP applications meet the requirements of section 10(a) of 
the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If we determine that the application 
meets these requirements, we will issue ITP number #TE96856B-0. We will 
also evaluate whether issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITPs complies 
with section 7 of the Act by conducting an intra-Service section 7 
consultation. We will use the results of this consultation, in 
combination with the above findings, in our final analysis to determine 
whether or not to issue the ITP. If the requirements are met, we will 
issue the permit to the applicant.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, HCP, and 
associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods 
in ADDRESSES.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we

[[Page 67377]]

cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under Section 10 of the Act and NEPA 
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

    Dated: September 22, 2016.
Jay B. Herrington,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2016-23646 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                  67376                       Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices

                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              regulations in the Code of Federal                    mitigate for impacts to occupied scrub-
                                                                                                          Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17 prohibit               jay habitat within future phases at a
                                                  Fish and Wildlife Service                               the ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife species              ratio of 2:1 by purchasing credits at a
                                                  [FWS–R4–ES–2015–N163;                                   listed as endangered or threatened. Take              permitted USFWS approved scrub-jay
                                                  FXES11130400000EA–123–FF04EF1000]                       of listed fish or wildlife is defined under           conservation bank or contributing an
                                                                                                          the Act as ‘‘to harass, harm, pursue,                 appropriate amount to the Florida
                                                  Endangered and Threatened Wildlife                      hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture,              Scrub-jay Conservation Fund as per
                                                  and Plants; Availability of Proposed                    or collect, or to attempt to engage in any            mitigation guidelines at the time the
                                                  Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plans,                  such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532).                      surveys are conducted.
                                                  Clay, Lake, Marion, and Putnam                          However, under limited circumstances,
                                                                                                                                                                Our Preliminary Determination
                                                  County, FL                                              we issue permits to authorize incidental
                                                                                                          take—i.e., take that is incidental to, and               We have determined that the
                                                  AGENCY:    Fish and Wildlife Service,                   not the purpose of, the carrying out of               applicants’ proposals, including the
                                                  Interior.                                               an otherwise lawful activity.                         proposed mitigation and minimization
                                                  ACTION:  Notice of availability; request                   Regulations governing incidental take              measures, would have minor or
                                                  for comment/information.                                permits for threatened and endangered                 negligible effects on the species covered
                                                                                                          species are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22,                in their HCPs. Therefore, we have
                                                  SUMMARY:   We, the Fish and Wildlife                    respectively. The Act’s take prohibitions             determined that the incidental take
                                                  Service (Service, USFWS), have                          do not apply to federally listed plants               permit for this project is ‘‘low effect’’
                                                  received an application for an incidental               on private lands unless such take would               and qualifies for categorical exclusion
                                                  take permit (ITP) under the Endangered                  violate State law. In addition to meeting             under the National Environmental
                                                  Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).                  other criteria, an incidental take                    Policy Act (NEPA), as provided by 43
                                                  Vulcan Materials Company requests a                     permit’s proposed actions must not                    CFR 46.205 and 43 CFR 46.210. A low-
                                                  30-year ITP. We request public                          jeopardize the existence of federally                 effect HCP is one involving (1) Minor or
                                                  comment on the permit application and                   listed fish, wildlife, or plants.                     negligible effects on federally listed or
                                                  accompanying proposed habitat
                                                                                                          Applicants’ Proposal                                  candidate species and their habitats,
                                                  conservation plan (HCP), as well as on
                                                                                                                                                                and (2) minor or negligible effects on
                                                  our preliminary determination that the                  Vulcan Materials Company                              other environmental values or
                                                  plan qualifies as low-effect under the
                                                                                                             Vulcan Materials Company proposes                  resources.
                                                  National Environmental Policy Act
                                                  (NEPA). To make this determination, we                  incremental mining of sand reserves                   Next Steps
                                                  used our environmental action                           throughout the 8,660.71-acre permitted
                                                  statement and low-effect screening form,                mining limits of seven mine sites                       We will evaluate the HCPs and
                                                  which are also available for review.                    (Astatula Sand Plant, Goldhead Sand                   comments we receive to determine
                                                                                                          Plant, Keuka Sand Plant, Lake Sand                    whether the ITP applications meet the
                                                  DATES: To ensure consideration, please                                                                        requirements of section 10(a) of the Act
                                                                                                          Plant, Marion Sand Plant, Turnpike
                                                  send your written comments by October                                                                         (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). If we determine
                                                                                                          Sand Plant, and Weirsdale Sand Plant)
                                                  31, 2016.                                                                                                     that the application meets these
                                                                                                          over the life of the mines, and seeks a
                                                  ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the                    30-year permit for take of foraging and               requirements, we will issue ITP number
                                                  application and HCP, you may request                    sheltering habitat occupied by scrub-jay              #TE96856B–0. We will also evaluate
                                                  documents by email, U.S. mail, or                       and sand skink. The project sites are                 whether issuance of the section
                                                  phone (see below). These documents are                  located in Clay, Lake, Marion, and                    10(a)(1)(B) ITPs complies with section 7
                                                  also available for public inspection by                 Putnam Counties within North and                      of the Act by conducting an intra-
                                                  appointment during normal business                      Central Florida, Florida. The extent of               Service section 7 consultation. We will
                                                  hours at the office below. Send your                    direct impacts in future phases is                    use the results of this consultation, in
                                                  comments or requests by any one of the                  currently undetermined; however, based                combination with the above findings, in
                                                  following methods.                                      on the current USFWS guidelines,                      our final analysis to determine whether
                                                     Email: northflorida@fws.gov, Attn:                   approximately 1,489.31 acres of the site              or not to issue the ITP. If the
                                                  Permit number TE96856B–0.                               appear to be suitable for the sand skink,             requirements are met, we will issue the
                                                     Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731–                    and approximately 26 acres of the site                permit to the applicant.
                                                  3191, Attn: Permit number TE96856B–                     appear to be occupied by the Florida
                                                  0.                                                                                                            Public Comments
                                                                                                          scrub-jay. In advance of the progression
                                                     U.S. mail: Field Supervisor,                         of the mining operations into future                    If you wish to comment on the permit
                                                  Jacksonville Ecological Services Field                  phases, quantitative surveys will be                  application, HCP, and associated
                                                  Office, Attn: Permit number TE96856B–                   conducted for the Florida scrub-jay and               documents, you may submit comments
                                                  0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915                 sand skinks, to determine the                         by any one of the methods in
                                                  Baymeadows Way, Suite 200,                              occupancy and extent of occupancy                     ADDRESSES.
                                                  Jacksonville, FL 32256.                                 within suitable areas. The completion of
                                                     In-person drop-off: You may drop off                                                                       Public Availability of Comments
                                                                                                          these surveys will be subject to the
                                                  information during regular business                     Service’s approved survey guidelines at                 Before including your address, phone
                                                  hours at the above office address.                      the time the surveys are conducted. The               number, email address, or other
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin                   applicant proposes to mitigate for                    personal identifying information in your
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                                                  M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731–3121;                   impacts to occupied skink habitat                     comments, you should be aware that
                                                  email: erin_gawera@fws.gov.                             within future phases at a ratio of 2:1 by             your entire comment—including your
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              purchasing two mitigation bank credits                personal identifying information—may
                                                                                                          at the Tiger Creek Conservation Bank or               be made publicly available at any time.
                                                  Background                                              another permitted USFWS skink                         While you can ask us in your comment
                                                     Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531                 conservation bank per every 1 acre of                 to withhold your personal identifying
                                                  et seq.) and our implementing Federal                   impact. The applicant proposes to                     information from public review, we


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                                                                              Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices                                        67377

                                                  cannot guarantee that we will be able to                DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     The BLM
                                                  do so.                                                                                                        and Forest Service amended petition/
                                                                                                          Bureau of Land Management                             application requests the Secretary to
                                                  Authority                                                                                                     withdraw, subject to valid existing
                                                                                                          [LLOR936000.L1440000.ET0000.
                                                    We provide this notice under Section                  16XL1109AF; HAG 16–0207]                              rights, approximately 5,216.18 acres of
                                                  10 of the Act and NEPA regulations (40                                                                        BLM-managed public domain and O&C
                                                                                                          Notice of Amended Proposed                            lands and 95,805.53 acres of Forest
                                                  CFR 1506.6).
                                                                                                          Withdrawal and Notice of Public                       Service-managed NFS lands from
                                                    Dated: September 22, 2016.                            Meetings; Oregon                                      settlement, sale, location, and entry
                                                  Jay B. Herrington,                                                                                            under the public land laws; location and
                                                                                                          AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,                  entry under the United States mining
                                                  Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office,            Interior.
                                                  Southeast Region.                                                                                             laws, and operation of the mineral and
                                                                                                          ACTION: Notice.                                       geothermal leasing laws, for a period of
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–23646 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          SUMMARY:   The Assistant Secretary of the             20 years while Congress considers
                                                  BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
                                                                                                          Interior for Land and Minerals                        legislation to permanently withdraw
                                                                                                          Management has approved an                            those areas and, at the request of the
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              amendment to a previously filed                       BLM and the Forest Service, to protect
                                                                                                          application to withdraw public domain                 the Southwestern Oregon watershed
                                                  Bureau of Land Management                               and Revested Oregon California                        from possible adverse effects of mineral
                                                                                                          Railroad lands (O&C) managed by the                   development. The lands identified by
                                                                                                          Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and                   notice in the Federal Register on June
                                                  [16X L1109AF LLUT980300–                                                                                      29, 2015 (80 FR 37015), are incorporated
                                                  L12200000.XZ0000–24–1A]                                 National Forest System (NFS) lands
                                                                                                          managed by the U.S. Forest Service                    by reference. The areas described
                                                                                                          (Forest Service) while Congress                       aggregate 101,021.71 acres in Josephine
                                                  Postponement of Utah Resource
                                                                                                          considers legislation to permanently                  and Curry Counties.
                                                  Advisory Council Meeting                                                                                         The approved petition/application
                                                                                                          withdraw those lands. Such legislation
                                                                                                          is currently pending in the 114th                     constitutes a withdrawal proposal of the
                                                  AGENCY:     Bureau of Land Management,                                                                        Secretary of the Interior (43 CFR
                                                  Interior.                                               Congress as S. 346 and H.R. 682 and
                                                                                                          identified as the ‘‘Southwestern Oregon               2310.1–3(e)).
                                                  ACTION:Postponement of October 2016                                                                              Records relating to the application
                                                                                                          Watershed and Salmon Protection Act
                                                  Utah Resource Advisory Council                                                                                may be examined by contacting the
                                                                                                          of 2015.’’ This Notice amends the prior
                                                  meeting.                                                                                                      BLM at the above address and phone
                                                                                                          proposal notice of which was published
                                                                                                                                                                number.
                                                                                                          in the Federal Register on June 29,                      For a period until December 29, 2016,
                                                  SUMMARY:  The October 2016 Utah                         2015, to increase the proposed                        all persons who wish to submit
                                                  Resource Advisory Council meeting has                   withdrawal term from 5 years to 20                    comments, suggestions, or objections in
                                                  been postponed.                                         years, and to add that the withdrawal is              connection with the amended
                                                                                                          also being proposed at the request of the             withdrawal application may present
                                                  DATES: The meeting was scheduled for                    BLM and the Forest Service, to protect
                                                  Oct. 17–18, 2016, in Green River, Utah                                                                        their views in writing to the Oregon
                                                                                                          the Southwestern Oregon watershed                     State Director, BLM, at the above
                                                  and will be rescheduled at a later date.                from possible adverse effects of mineral              address or by email at blm_or_wa_
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:     Lola               development. This notice gives the                    withdrawals@blm.gov. Information
                                                  Bird, Public Affairs Specialist, Bureau of              public an opportunity to comment on                   regarding the amended withdrawal
                                                  Land Management, Utah State Office,                     the amended application and announces                 application will be available for public
                                                  440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt                     the dates, times, and locations of public             review at the BLM Oregon State Office
                                                                                                          meetings.                                             during regular business hours, 8:45 a.m.
                                                  Lake City, Utah 84101; phone (801)
                                                  539–4033; or, lbird@blm.gov.                            DATES: Comments must be received by                   to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
                                                                                                          December 29, 2016.                                    except Federal holidays. Before
                                                     Persons who use a                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      including your address, phone number,
                                                  telecommunications device for the deaf                  Jacob Childers, Oregon State Office,                  email address, or other personal
                                                  (TDD) may call the Federal Information                  Bureau of Land Management, at 503–                    identifying information in your
                                                  Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339                  808–6225 or by email jcchilders@                      comment, you should be aware that
                                                  to leave a message or question for the                  blm.gov, or Candice Polisky, USFS                     your entire comment—including your
                                                  above individual. The FIRS is available                 Pacific Northwest Region, at 503–808–                 personal identifying information—may
                                                  24 hours a day, seven days a week.                      2479. Persons who use a                               be made publicly available at any time.
                                                  Replies are provided during normal                      telecommunications device for the deaf                Individuals who submit written
                                                  business hours.                                         (TDD) may call the Federal Information                comments may request confidentiality
                                                     Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–1.                          Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339                by asking us in your comment to
                                                                                                          to reach either of the above individuals.             withhold your personal identifying
                                                  Jenna Whitlock,                                         The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7               information from public review;
                                                  Acting State Director.                                  days a week, to leave a message or                    however, we cannot guarantee that we
                                                                                                          question with the above individuals.                  will be able to do so.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–23640 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
                                                                                                          You will receive a reply during normal                   Notice is hereby given that public
                                                                                                          business hours.                                       meetings will be held in connection
                                                                                                          ADDRESSES: Written comments should                    with the amended proposed
                                                                                                          be sent to the Bureau of Land                         withdrawal. A notice of the times and
                                                                                                          Management, Oregon State Office                       places of the public meetings will be
                                                                                                          (OR936), P.O. Box 2965, Portland,                     announced at least 30 days in advance
                                                                                                          Oregon 97208–2965.                                    in the Federal Register and through


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Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:33:41
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:33:41
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability; request for comment/information.
DatesTo ensure consideration, please send your written comments by October 31, 2016.
ContactErin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731- 3121; email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 67376 

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