82 FR 16848 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, Lake County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 65 (April 6, 2017)

Page Range		16848-16849
FR Document		2017-06801

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) from New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. requests a 5-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. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, which are also available for review.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 65 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 65 (Thursday, April 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16848-16849]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06801]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2017-N038; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of 
Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, Lake County, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

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

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) from New 
Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. under the Endangered Species Act of 
1973, as amended (Act). New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. 
requests a 5-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. 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 
May 8, 2017.

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]. Use ``Attn: Permit number TE19759C-0'' 
as your message subject line for New Beginnings of Central Florida, 
Inc.
    Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731-3191, Attn: Permit number 
TE19759C-0.
    U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field 
Office, Attn: Permit number TE19759C-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: Anthony W. Daly-Crews, telephone: 
(904) 731-3182; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 16849]]

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 
part 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.

Applicant's Proposal

    New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. is requesting take of 
approximately 3.3 acres of occupied sand skink foraging and sheltering 
habitat incidental to the construction of a residential apartment 
complex and seeks a 5-year permit. The sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) 
is listed in 50 CFR 17.11(h) as a threatened species. The 9.67-ac New 
Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. project is located on parcel 09-22-
26-080500900000, within Section 20, Township 22 South, Range 26 East, 
Lake County, Florida. The project includes the construction of a 
residential apartment complex, associated infrastructure, and 
landscaping. New Beginnings of Central Florida, Inc. proposes to 
mitigate for the take of sand skinks by purchasing 6.6 mitigation 
credits within the Scrub Conservation Bank.

Our Preliminary Determination

    We have determined that the applicant's proposal, including the 
proposed mitigation measures, would have minor or negligible effects on 
the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, we determined that the ITP 
would be for a ``low-effect'' project and qualifies for categorical 
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.), as provided by the Department of the Interior NEPA 
regulations (43 CFR part 46). 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 HCP and comments we receive to determine 
whether the ITP application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of 
the Act. If we determine that the application meets these requirements, 
we will issue ITP number TE19759C-0. We will also evaluate whether 
issuance of the section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP 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 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: February 24, 2017.
Jay B. Herrington,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2017-06801 Filed 4-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 65 / Thursday, April 6, 2017 / Notices 16849

Background negligible effects on federally listed or ACTION: Notice.
Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 candidate species and their habitats,
and (2) minor or negligible effects on SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs
et seq.) and our implementing Federal (BIA) owns or has an interest in
regulations in the Code of Federal other environmental values or
resources. irrigation projects located on or
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17 associated with various Indian
prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife Next Steps reservations throughout the United
species listed as endangered or We will evaluate the HCP and States. We are required to establish
threatened. Take of listed fish or comments we receive to determine irrigation assessment rates to recover the
wildlife is defined under the Act as ‘‘to whether the ITP application meets the costs to administer, operate, maintain,
harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, requirements of section 10(a) of the Act. and rehabilitate these projects. We are
wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or If we determine that the application notifying you that we have adjusted the
to attempt to engage in any such meets these requirements, we will issue irrigation assessment rates at several of
conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532). However, ITP number TE19759C–0. We will also our irrigation projects and facilities to
under limited circumstances, we issue evaluate whether issuance of the section reflect current costs of administration,
permits to authorize incidental take— 10(a)(1)(B) ITP complies with section 7 operation, maintenance, and
i.e., take that is incidental to, and not of the Act by conducting an intra- rehabilitation.
the purpose of, the carrying out of an Service section 7 consultation. We will DATES: The irrigation assessment rates
otherwise lawful activity. use the results of this consultation, in are current as of January 1, 2016.
Regulations governing incidental take combination with the above findings, in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
permits for threatened and endangered our final analysis to determine whether details about a particular BIA irrigation
species are at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, or not to issue the ITP. If the project or facility, please use the tables
respectively. The Act’s take prohibitions requirements are met, we will issue the in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
do not apply to federally listed plants permit to the applicant. section to contact the regional or local
on private lands unless such take would
Public Comments office where the project or facility is
violate State law. In addition to meeting
located.
other criteria, an incidental take If you wish to comment on the permit
permit’s proposed actions must not SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A Notice
application, HCP, and associated
jeopardize the existence of federally of Proposed Rate Adjustment was
documents, you may submit comments
listed fish, wildlife, or plants. published in the Federal Register on
by any one of the methods in
August 5, 2016 (81 FR 51927) to propose
Applicant’s Proposal ADDRESSES.
adjustments to the irrigation assessment
New Beginnings of Central Florida, Public Availability of Comments rates at several BIA irrigation projects.
Inc. is requesting take of approximately Before including your address, phone The public and interested parties were
3.3 acres of occupied sand skink number, email address, or other provided an opportunity to submit
foraging and sheltering habitat personal identifying information in your written comments during the 60-day
incidental to the construction of a comments, you should be aware that period that ended October 4, 2016.
residential apartment complex and your entire comment—including your Did BIA defer or change any proposed
seeks a 5-year permit. The sand skink personal identifying information—may rate increases?
(Neoseps reynoldsi) is listed in 50 CFR be made publicly available at any time.
17.11(h) as a threatened species. The Yes. For the Flathead and Duck Valley
While you can ask us in your comment Indian Irrigation Projects the rate
9.67-ac New Beginnings of Central to withhold your personal identifying
Florida, Inc. project is located on parcel increase to $33.50 and $6.30,
information from public review, we respectively, as published in the
09–22–26–080500900000, within cannot guarantee that we will be able to proposed notice for the 2016 rate was
Section 20, Township 22 South, Range do so. not implemented. The final 2016 rate
26 East, Lake County, Florida. The
Authority will remain at the 2015 amounts of
project includes the construction of a
$26.00 and $5.30. All other rates are to
residential apartment complex, We provide this notice under section
be implemented at the respective
associated infrastructure, and 10 of the Act and NEPA regulations (40
irrigation project as published.
landscaping. New Beginnings of Central CFR 1506.6).
Florida, Inc. proposes to mitigate for the Dated: February 24, 2017. Did BIA receive any comments on the
take of sand skinks by purchasing 6.6 Jay B. Herrington,
proposed irrigation assessment rate
mitigation credits within the Scrub adjustments?
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office,
Conservation Bank. Southeast Region. No. The BIA did not receive any
Our Preliminary Determination [FR Doc. 2017–06801 Filed 4–5–17; 8:45 am] comments to the proposed irrigation
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
assessment rate adjustment.
We have determined that the
applicant’s proposal, including the Does this notice affect me?
proposed mitigation measures, would This notice affects you if you own or
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
have minor or negligible effects on the lease land within the assessable acreage
species covered in the HCP. Therefore, Bureau of Indian Affairs of one of our irrigation projects or if you
we determined that the ITP would be for
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

have a carriage agreement with one of
a ‘‘low-effect’’ project and qualifies for [178A2100DD/AAKC001030/
our irrigation projects.
categorical exclusion under the National A0A501010.999900 253G]
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 Where can I get information on the
Rate Adjustments for Indian Irrigation regulatory and legal citations in this
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as provided by the
Projects notice?
Department of the Interior NEPA
regulations (43 CFR part 46). A low- AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, You can contact the appropriate
effect HCP is one involving (1) Minor or Interior. office(s) stated in the tables for the

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Document Created: 2017-04-06 01:46:44
Document Modified: 2017-04-06 01:46:44

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability; request for comments/information.
Dates		To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by May 8, 2017.
Contact		Anthony W. Daly-Crews, telephone: (904) 731-3182; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 16848

82 FR 16848 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan, Lake County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 65 (April 6, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service