82_FR_31754 82 FR 31625 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Candidate Conservation Agreement, Draft Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances, and Draft Environmental Assessment for Activities Within Eddy County, New Mexico, and Culberson County, Texas

82 FR 31625 - Notice of Availability of a Draft Candidate Conservation Agreement, Draft Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances, and Draft Environmental Assessment for Activities Within Eddy County, New Mexico, and Culberson County, Texas

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 129 (July 7, 2017)

Page Range31625-31627
FR Document2017-14235

This notice advises the public that the Center of Excellence in Hazardous Material Management (CEHMM; applicant) and the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO, applicant) have applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for two separate enhancement of survival permits pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes draft programmatic candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for the Texas hornshell and other covered species (the Rio Grande River cooter, gray redhorse, blue sucker, and Pecos springsnail) in west Texas and southeast New Mexico. A separate permit application includes a draft programmatic candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for the Texas hornshell and other covered species (the Rio Grande River cooter, gray redhorse, blue sucker, and Pecos springsnail) that is valid only on New Mexico State trust lands. Additionally, the Service received a draft candidate conservation agreement (CCA) for the Texas hornshell and the other covered species from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that would address threats to these species on Federal land in southeastern New Mexico. The CCAAs, and associated permits, would authorize incidental take resulting from voluntary activities to restore, maintain, enhance, or create habitat for the covered species. The Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) that has been prepared to evaluate the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act. We are making the permit application packages, including the draft CCA, draft CCAAs, and draft EA, available for public review and comment.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 129 (Friday, July 7, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 129 (Friday, July 7, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31625-31627]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14235]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2017-N083; FXES11140200000-178-FF02ENEH00]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Candidate Conservation 
Agreement, Draft Candidate Conservation Agreements With Assurances, and 
Draft Environmental Assessment for Activities Within Eddy County, New 
Mexico, and Culberson County, Texas

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Center of Excellence 
in Hazardous Material Management (CEHMM; applicant) and the New Mexico 
State Land Office (NMSLO, applicant) have applied to the Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service) for two separate enhancement of survival 
permits pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended 
(Act). The permit application includes draft programmatic candidate 
conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for the Texas hornshell 
and other covered species (the Rio Grande River cooter, gray redhorse, 
blue sucker, and Pecos springsnail) in west Texas and southeast New 
Mexico. A separate permit application includes a draft programmatic 
candidate conservation agreement with assurances (CCAA) for the Texas 
hornshell and other covered species (the Rio Grande River cooter, gray 
redhorse, blue sucker, and Pecos springsnail) that is valid only on New 
Mexico State trust lands. Additionally, the Service received a draft 
candidate conservation agreement (CCA) for the Texas hornshell and the 
other covered species from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that 
would address threats to these species on Federal land in southeastern 
New Mexico. The CCAAs, and associated permits, would authorize 
incidental take resulting from voluntary activities to restore, 
maintain, enhance, or create habitat for the covered species. The 
Service also announces the availability of a draft environmental 
assessment (EA) that has been prepared to evaluate the permit 
application in accordance with the requirements of the National 
Environmental Policy Act. We are making the permit application 
packages, including the draft CCA, draft CCAAs, and draft EA, available 
for public review and comment.

DATES: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 
August 7, 2017. Any comments we receive after the closing date or not 
postmarked by the closing date may not be considered in the final 
decision on this action.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy 
by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P.O. Box 1306, Room 4012, Albuquerque, NM 87103, or by emailing 
fw2_hcp_permits@fws.gov.
    Obtaining Documents:
     Internet: You may obtain copies of the draft EA, draft 
CCA, and draft CCAA on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) 
Web site at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/newmexico.
     U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies 
of the draft EA, draft CCA, and draft CCAA are available, by request, 
from the Field Supervisor, by mail at New Mexico Ecological Services 
Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87113; by phone at 505-346-2525; or by fax at 505-346-
2542. Please note that your request is in reference to the draft 
Candidate

[[Page 31626]]

Conservation Agreement and Candidate Conservation Agreement with 
Assurances for the Texas Hornshell.
     In-Person: Copies of the draft EA, draft CCA, and draft 
CCAA are also available for public inspection and review at the 
following locations, by appointment and written request only, 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m.:
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room 
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological 
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87113.
    Comment submission: You may submit comments by one of the following 
methods.
     U.S. Mail: New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113; 
by phone at 505-346-2525; or by fax at 505-346-2542.
     Email: fw2_nm_es@fws.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Debra Hill, New Mexico Ecological 
Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., 
Albuquerque, NM 87113; by telephone 505-346-2525; or by facsimile 505-
346-2542. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf 
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice advises the public that the 
Center of Excellence in Hazardous Material Management (CEHMM; 
applicant) and the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO, applicant) have 
each applied to the Service for enhancement of survival permits 
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; Act). The permit applications 
include draft CCAAs for the Texas hornshell (a mussel species) and 
other covered species (the Rio Grande River cooter, a turtle species; 
gray redhorse and blue sucker, two fish species; and the Pecos 
springsnail) in west Texas and southeast New Mexico. The CCAAs and 
associated permits would authorize incidental take resulting from 
voluntary activities to restore, maintain, enhance, or create habitat 
for these species. Additionally, the Service received a draft CCA for 
the Texas hornshell and the other covered species from the Bureau of 
Land Management (BLM). The Service also announces the availability of a 
draft EA that has been prepared to evaluate the permit application in 
accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA). We are making the permit 
application packages, including the draft CCA, draft CCAAs, and draft 
EA, available for public review and comment.

Background

    Private and non-Federal property owners are encouraged to enter 
into the CCAA through CEHMM; participants with leased acres on NMSLO 
lands are encouraged to enter into the CCAA through the NMSLO; and 
Federal agencies, permittees, and lessees are encouraged to enter into 
the CCA. Through the CCAAs and CCA the participants voluntarily 
undertake management activities on their properties to enhance, 
restore, or maintain habitat benefiting species that are proposed for 
listing under the ESA, candidates for listing, or species that may 
become candidates or proposed for listing. Enhancement of survival 
(EOS) permits are issued to the applicants in association with approved 
CCAAs to authorize incidental take of the covered species from covered 
activities, should the species become listed. Through the CCAAs and 
their associated EOS permits, the Service provides assurances to 
property owners that they will not be subjected to increased land use 
restrictions if the covered species become listed under the ESA in the 
future, provided certain conditions are met. Although there are no 
assurances associated with the CCA, enrollees have a high degree of 
certainty that they will not be subject to increased land use 
restrictions by the Service if the covered species become listed under 
the ESA in the future.
    Application requirements and issuance criteria for EOS permits for 
CCAAs are found in the Code of Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 
17.22(d)(2)(ii) and 17.32(d)(2)(ii), respectively. See also the joint 
policy on CCAAs, which was published in the Federal Register with the 
Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (80 FR 95164; 
December 27, 2016).

Proposed Action

    The proposed action involves the issuance of two section 
10(a)(1)(A) EOS permits by the Service to the applicants and approval 
of the proposed programmatic CCA and CCAAs to facilitate recovery 
activities on Federal and non-Federal lands in west Texas and 
southeastern New Mexico for the benefit of the proposed endangered 
species candidate Texas hornshell and other covered sensitive species 
(the Rio Grande River cooter, gray redhorse, blue sucker, and Pecos 
springsnail). The other covered species inhabit the same habitat and 
benefit from similar conservation measures as the Texas hornshell. The 
proposed term of the permits is 30 years.
    The proposed CCAAs would implement conservation measures that 
contribute to the recovery of the Texas hornshell and the other covered 
species. The proposed agreements would include the Service, CEHMM, and 
participants in the private lands CCAA, or the Service, NMSLO, and 
participants in the State lands office CCAA. CEHMM or NMSLO would hold 
separate EOS permits and enroll participants, who would hold individual 
certificates of inclusion (CI). Participants in the CCAAs may include 
landowners, oil and gas operators, commercial/agricultural water 
withdrawers, and livestock producers that hold leases, permits, or 
other authorizations on private or State lands. The EOS permits' 
authorization of ``take'' would become effective if any of the species 
become listed, as long as the enrolled landowner is in compliance with 
the terms and conditions of the respective CCAA, their CI, and the EOS 
permit. The CCAAs, the EOS permits, and the CIs would provide 
incentives for non-Federal property owners to participate in 
conservation efforts for the Texas hornshell and the other covered 
species.
    The CCAAs are part of a larger conservation effort for the Texas 
hornshell and the covered species within New Mexico that includes the 
CCA among the Service, the Bureau of Land Management, CEHMM, and 
participants that address conservation measures for the same species on 
Federal land. Participants in the CCA each hold an individual 
certificate of participation (CP) and include oil and gas operators, 
commercial/agricultural water withdrawers, livestock producers, 
Carlsbad Irrigation District, and other interested stakeholders that 
hold Federal leases, permits, or other authorizations. The CCA cannot 
include an EOS permit, and therefore, any enrolled Federal land 
management agency is not authorized for incidental take of the covered 
species in the event a listing occurs, and no assurances are provided 
by the Service to Federal land management agencies. Instead, if any of 
the covered species are listed under the Act, incidental take will be 
provided under a biological opinion, granting the participants a high 
degree of certainty that additional conservation measures or 
limitations, above those contained in the CCA and individual CPs, will 
not be imposed upon them should one or more

[[Page 31627]]

of the species become listed in the future.
    We have worked with the applicants to design conservation 
activities expected to have a net conservation benefit to the covered 
species within the covered area; however, landowners and enrollees 
would not have to conduct every activity in this list in order for 
their actions to have a net conservation benefit on the covered 
species. Each participant will need to follow their individual CIs or 
CPs and the conservation measures included within. Some examples of 
these conservation actions include the following: (1) Prevent new 
surface disturbance in habitat occupied by the Texas hornshell within 
the Black and Delaware Rivers; (2) Avoid new development within the 
Black and Delaware Rivers, Blue Springs, and their associated U.S. 
Geological Survey (USGS) 100-year floodplain; (3) Site new projects to 
take advantage of existing and available infrastructure; (4) Avoid 
obstructing or disrupting the natural flow of ephemeral drainages to 
the Black and Delaware Rivers; (5) Implement erosion control measures; 
(6) Avoid water withdrawal in habitat occupied by the Texas hornshell 
within the Black and Delaware Rivers; (7) Maintain minimal stream flows 
and cease withdrawal of water within the Black and Delaware Rivers if 
stream flows reach minimum levels; (8) Avoid using low-water crossings 
when other routes are available; (9) Clear invasive shrubs and replant 
with native plants in areas adjacent to occupied sites; and (10) Buy or 
lease water rights during periods of low flow to maintain minimal 
stream flows.

Alternatives

    We considered four alternatives to the proposed action as part of 
the environmental assessment process--the No Action Alternative; 
Development of a CCA only Alternative; Development of a CCAA only 
Alternative; and, Development of a CCA and CCAA (covering both private 
and State lands). Under the No Action Alternative, a coordinated effort 
to conserve the covered species on non-Federal properties using a 
programmatic CCA and CCAA would not occur. Under the CCA only and the 
CCAA only alternatives, conservation would only be coordinated on 
either non-Federal or Federal lands rather than having a coordinated 
effort across the Black and Delaware Rivers. Under the CCA and CCAA 
alternative, conservation would be the same as the proposed action; 
however, State lands and private lands would be enrolled in the same 
CCAA.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the permit applications, associated documents, and 
comments we receive to determine whether the permit application meets 
the requirements of the Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 
and implementing regulations. If we determine that all requirements are 
met, we will sign the proposed CCAAs, issue EOS permits under section 
10(a)(1)(A) of the Act to CEHMM and the NMSLO for take of Texas 
hornshell and the other covered species in accordance with the terms of 
the CCAAs and specific terms and conditions of the authorizing permits, 
and sign the proposed CCA with BLM. We will not make our final decision 
until after the end of the 30-day public comment period, and we will 
fully consider all comments we receive during the public comment 
period.

Public Availability of Comments

    Written comments we receive become part of the public record 
associated with this action. Before including your address, phone 
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in 
your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including 
your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can request in your comment that we withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous 
comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representative or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
disclosure in their entirety.

Authority

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

Benjamin N. Tuggle,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2017-14235 Filed 7-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P



                                                                                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 129 / Friday, July 7, 2017 / Notices                                                                  31625

                                                    Semi-annual reporting is required to                                     Estimated Number of Respondents:                                 Frequency of Response: 1.
                                                    monitor grant management.                                              50.                                                                Average Hours per Response: .76.
                                                      Respondents (i.e. affected public):50.                                 Estimated Number of Responses: 50.                               Total Estimated Burdens: 527.5.

                                                                                                                                              ESTIMATED BURDEN
                                                                                                                        Annual                      Total                Burden per       Total annual                        Burden cost
                                                           Instruments                   Respondents                                                                                                        Hourly rate **
                                                                                                                      responses                  responses                response           hours                           per instrument

                                                    HUD–424CB ................                              50                          1                         50              2.60             130.00          $31.82        $4,136.60
                                                    HUD–424CBW–I ..........                                 50                          1                         50              3.20             160.00           31.82         5,091.20
                                                    HUD–2990 ...................                            50                          1                         50              0.00               0.00           00.00            00.00
                                                    HUD–2991 ...................                            50                          1                         50              0.00               0.00           00.00            00.00
                                                    HUD–2993 ...................                            50                          1                         50              0.00               0.00           00.00            00.00
                                                    HUD–2994A .................                             50                          1                         50              0.50              25.00           31.82           790.50
                                                    HUD–27061 .................                             50                          1                         50              1.25              62.50           31.82         1,975.25
                                                    HUD–27300 .................                             50                          1                         50              3.00             150.00           31.82         4,773.00

                                                         Total ......................   ........................   ........................   ........................            1.32             527.50            31.82       16,766.82



                                                    B. Solicitation of Public Comment                                      DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                      Management (BLM) that would address
                                                                                                                                                                                           threats to these species on Federal land
                                                       This notice is soliciting comments                                  Fish and Wildlife Service                                       in southeastern New Mexico. The
                                                    from members of the public and affected                                                                                                CCAAs, and associated permits, would
                                                    parties concerning the collection of                                   [FWS–R2–ES–2017–N083;
                                                                                                                           FXES11140200000–178–FF02ENEH00]                                 authorize incidental take resulting from
                                                    information described in Section A on                                                                                                  voluntary activities to restore, maintain,
                                                    the following:                                                         Notice of Availability of a Draft                               enhance, or create habitat for the
                                                       (1) Whether the proposed collection                                 Candidate Conservation Agreement,                               covered species. The Service also
                                                    of information is necessary for the                                    Draft Candidate Conservation                                    announces the availability of a draft
                                                    proper performance of the functions of                                 Agreements With Assurances, and                                 environmental assessment (EA) that has
                                                    the agency, including whether the                                      Draft Environmental Assessment for                              been prepared to evaluate the permit
                                                                                                                           Activities Within Eddy County, New                              application in accordance with the
                                                    information will have practical utility;
                                                                                                                           Mexico, and Culberson County, Texas                             requirements of the National
                                                       (2) The accuracy of the agency’s                                                                                                    Environmental Policy Act. We are
                                                    estimate of the burden of the proposed                                 AGENCY:   Fish and Wildlife Service,                            making the permit application packages,
                                                    collection of information;                                             Interior.                                                       including the draft CCA, draft CCAAs,
                                                       (3) Ways to enhance the quality,                                    ACTION: Notice of availability; request                         and draft EA, available for public review
                                                    utility, and clarity of the information to                             for comments.                                                   and comment.
                                                    be collected; and                                                                                                                      DATES: We will accept comments
                                                                                                                           SUMMARY:   This notice advises the public                       received or postmarked on or before
                                                       (4) Ways to minimize the burden of                                  that the Center of Excellence in                                August 7, 2017. Any comments we
                                                    the collection of information on those                                 Hazardous Material Management                                   receive after the closing date or not
                                                    who are to respond; including through                                  (CEHMM; applicant) and the New                                  postmarked by the closing date may not
                                                    the use of appropriate automated                                       Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO,                                be considered in the final decision on
                                                    collection techniques or other forms of                                applicant) have applied to the Fish and                         this action.
                                                    information technology, e.g., permitting                               Wildlife Service (Service) for two                              ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review
                                                    electronic submission of responses.                                    separate enhancement of survival                                the application may obtain a copy by
                                                       HUD encourages interested parties to                                permits pursuant to the Endangered                              writing to the Regional Director, U.S.
                                                    submit comment in response to these                                    Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).                          Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
                                                                                                                           The permit application includes draft                           1306, Room 4012, Albuquerque, NM
                                                    questions.
                                                                                                                           programmatic candidate conservation                             87103, or by emailing fw2_hcp_
                                                      Authority: Section 3507 of the Paperwork                             agreement with assurances (CCAA) for                            permits@fws.gov.
                                                    Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.                           the Texas hornshell and other covered                              Obtaining Documents:
                                                      Dated: June 21, 2017.                                                species (the Rio Grande River cooter,                              • Internet: You may obtain copies of
                                                    Anna P. Guido,
                                                                                                                           gray redhorse, blue sucker, and Pecos                           the draft EA, draft CCA, and draft CCAA
                                                                                                                           springsnail) in west Texas and southeast                        on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
                                                    Department Reports Management Officer,
                                                                                                                           New Mexico. A separate permit                                   (Service) Web site at https://
                                                    Office of the Chief Information Officer.
                                                                                                                           application includes a draft                                    www.fws.gov/southwest/es/newmexico.
                                                    [FR Doc. 2017–14298 Filed 7–6–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                           programmatic candidate conservation                                • U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD–
                                                    BILLING CODE 4210–67–P                                                 agreement with assurances (CCAA) for                            ROM and printed copies of the draft EA,
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                           the Texas hornshell and other covered                           draft CCA, and draft CCAA are
                                                                                                                           species (the Rio Grande River cooter,                           available, by request, from the Field
                                                                                                                           gray redhorse, blue sucker, and Pecos                           Supervisor, by mail at New Mexico
                                                                                                                           springsnail) that is valid only on New                          Ecological Services Field Office, U.S.
                                                                                                                           Mexico State trust lands. Additionally,                         Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna
                                                                                                                           the Service received a draft candidate                          NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113; by phone
                                                                                                                           conservation agreement (CCA) for the                            at 505–346–2525; or by fax at 505–346–
                                                                                                                           Texas hornshell and the other covered                           2542. Please note that your request is in
                                                                                                                           species from the Bureau of Land                                 reference to the draft Candidate


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                                                    31626                             Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 129 / Friday, July 7, 2017 / Notices

                                                    Conservation Agreement and Candidate                     Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.                   Grande River cooter, gray redhorse, blue
                                                    Conservation Agreement with                              4321 et seq.; NEPA). We are making the                sucker, and Pecos springsnail). The
                                                    Assurances for the Texas Hornshell.                      permit application packages, including                other covered species inhabit the same
                                                       • In-Person: Copies of the draft EA,                  the draft CCA, draft CCAAs, and draft                 habitat and benefit from similar
                                                    draft CCA, and draft CCAA are also                       EA, available for public review and                   conservation measures as the Texas
                                                    available for public inspection and                      comment.                                              hornshell. The proposed term of the
                                                    review at the following locations, by                                                                          permits is 30 years.
                                                                                                             Background                                               The proposed CCAAs would
                                                    appointment and written request only, 8
                                                    a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:                                          Private and non-Federal property                   implement conservation measures that
                                                       Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500                 owners are encouraged to enter into the               contribute to the recovery of the Texas
                                                    Gold Avenue SW., Room 6034,                              CCAA through CEHMM; participants                      hornshell and the other covered species.
                                                    Albuquerque, NM 87102.                                   with leased acres on NMSLO lands are                  The proposed agreements would
                                                       Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,                     encouraged to enter into the CCAA                     include the Service, CEHMM, and
                                                    New Mexico Ecological Services Field                     through the NMSLO; and Federal                        participants in the private lands CCAA,
                                                    Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,                  agencies, permittees, and lessees are                 or the Service, NMSLO, and participants
                                                    2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM                          encouraged to enter into the CCA.                     in the State lands office CCAA. CEHMM
                                                    87113.                                                   Through the CCAAs and CCA the                         or NMSLO would hold separate EOS
                                                       Comment submission: You may                           participants voluntarily undertake                    permits and enroll participants, who
                                                    submit comments by one of the                            management activities on their                        would hold individual certificates of
                                                    following methods.                                       properties to enhance, restore, or                    inclusion (CI). Participants in the
                                                       • U.S. Mail: New Mexico Ecological                    maintain habitat benefiting species that              CCAAs may include landowners, oil
                                                    Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and                     are proposed for listing under the ESA,               and gas operators, commercial/
                                                    Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE.,                        candidates for listing, or species that               agricultural water withdrawers, and
                                                    Albuquerque, NM 87113; by phone at                       may become candidates or proposed for                 livestock producers that hold leases,
                                                    505–346–2525; or by fax at 505–346–                      listing. Enhancement of survival (EOS)                permits, or other authorizations on
                                                    2542.                                                    permits are issued to the applicants in               private or State lands. The EOS permits’
                                                       • Email: fw2_nm_es@fws.gov.                           association with approved CCAAs to                    authorization of ‘‘take’’ would become
                                                                                                             authorize incidental take of the covered              effective if any of the species become
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                             species from covered activities, should               listed, as long as the enrolled landowner
                                                    Debra Hill, New Mexico Ecological
                                                                                                             the species become listed. Through the                is in compliance with the terms and
                                                    Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and
                                                                                                             CCAAs and their associated EOS                        conditions of the respective CCAA, their
                                                    Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE.,
                                                                                                             permits, the Service provides assurances              CI, and the EOS permit. The CCAAs, the
                                                    Albuquerque, NM 87113; by telephone
                                                                                                             to property owners that they will not be              EOS permits, and the CIs would provide
                                                    505–346–2525; or by facsimile 505–
                                                                                                             subjected to increased land use                       incentives for non-Federal property
                                                    346–2542. Persons who use a
                                                                                                             restrictions if the covered species                   owners to participate in conservation
                                                    telecommunications device for the deaf
                                                                                                             become listed under the ESA in the                    efforts for the Texas hornshell and the
                                                    (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
                                                                                                             future, provided certain conditions are               other covered species.
                                                    Service at 800–877–8339.
                                                                                                             met. Although there are no assurances                    The CCAAs are part of a larger
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This                          associated with the CCA, enrollees have               conservation effort for the Texas
                                                    notice advises the public that the Center                a high degree of certainty that they will             hornshell and the covered species
                                                    of Excellence in Hazardous Material                      not be subject to increased land use                  within New Mexico that includes the
                                                    Management (CEHMM; applicant) and                        restrictions by the Service if the covered            CCA among the Service, the Bureau of
                                                    the New Mexico State Land Office                         species become listed under the ESA in                Land Management, CEHMM, and
                                                    (NMSLO, applicant) have each applied                     the future.                                           participants that address conservation
                                                    to the Service for enhancement of                           Application requirements and                       measures for the same species on
                                                    survival permits pursuant to section                     issuance criteria for EOS permits for                 Federal land. Participants in the CCA
                                                    10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species                    CCAAs are found in the Code of                        each hold an individual certificate of
                                                    Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531                  Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR                           participation (CP) and include oil and
                                                    et seq.; Act). The permit applications                   17.22(d)(2)(ii) and 17.32(d)(2)(ii),                  gas operators, commercial/agricultural
                                                    include draft CCAAs for the Texas                        respectively. See also the joint policy on            water withdrawers, livestock producers,
                                                    hornshell (a mussel species) and other                   CCAAs, which was published in the                     Carlsbad Irrigation District, and other
                                                    covered species (the Rio Grande River                    Federal Register with the Department of               interested stakeholders that hold
                                                    cooter, a turtle species; gray redhorse                  Commerce’s National Oceanic and                       Federal leases, permits, or other
                                                    and blue sucker, two fish species; and                   Atmospheric Administration, National                  authorizations. The CCA cannot include
                                                    the Pecos springsnail) in west Texas and                 Marine Fisheries Service (80 FR 95164;                an EOS permit, and therefore, any
                                                    southeast New Mexico. The CCAAs and                      December 27, 2016).                                   enrolled Federal land management
                                                    associated permits would authorize                                                                             agency is not authorized for incidental
                                                    incidental take resulting from voluntary                 Proposed Action                                       take of the covered species in the event
                                                    activities to restore, maintain, enhance,                   The proposed action involves the                   a listing occurs, and no assurances are
                                                    or create habitat for these species.                     issuance of two section 10(a)(1)(A) EOS               provided by the Service to Federal land
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    Additionally, the Service received a                     permits by the Service to the applicants              management agencies. Instead, if any of
                                                    draft CCA for the Texas hornshell and                    and approval of the proposed                          the covered species are listed under the
                                                    the other covered species from the                       programmatic CCA and CCAAs to                         Act, incidental take will be provided
                                                    Bureau of Land Management (BLM).                         facilitate recovery activities on Federal             under a biological opinion, granting the
                                                    The Service also announces the                           and non-Federal lands in west Texas                   participants a high degree of certainty
                                                    availability of a draft EA that has been                 and southeastern New Mexico for the                   that additional conservation measures
                                                    prepared to evaluate the permit                          benefit of the proposed endangered                    or limitations, above those contained in
                                                    application in accordance with the                       species candidate Texas hornshell and                 the CCA and individual CPs, will not be
                                                    requirements of the National                             other covered sensitive species (the Rio              imposed upon them should one or more


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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 129 / Friday, July 7, 2017 / Notices                                         31627

                                                    of the species become listed in the                      Next Steps                                            DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                    future.
                                                       We have worked with the applicants                      We will evaluate the permit                         Bureau of Land Management
                                                    to design conservation activities                        applications, associated documents, and
                                                                                                                                                                   [LLORN00100.L63340000.PH0000.
                                                    expected to have a net conservation                      comments we receive to determine                      17XL1116AF.LXSSH1020000.HAG 17–0116]
                                                    benefit to the covered species within the                whether the permit application meets
                                                    covered area; however, landowners and                    the requirements of the Act, National                 Public Meeting for the Northwest
                                                    enrollees would not have to conduct                      Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and                  Oregon Resource Advisory Council
                                                    every activity in this list in order for                 implementing regulations. If we
                                                    their actions to have a net conservation                 determine that all requirements are met,              AGENCY:   Bureau of Land Management,
                                                    benefit on the covered species. Each                     we will sign the proposed CCAAs, issue                Interior.
                                                    participant will need to follow their                    EOS permits under section 10(a)(1)(A)                 ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
                                                    individual CIs or CPs and the                            of the Act to CEHMM and the NMSLO
                                                    conservation measures included within.                                                                         SUMMARY:   In accordance with the
                                                                                                             for take of Texas hornshell and the other             Federal Land Policy and Management
                                                    Some examples of these conservation                      covered species in accordance with the
                                                    actions include the following: (1)                                                                             Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory
                                                                                                             terms of the CCAAs and specific terms                 Committee Act of 1972, the U.S.
                                                    Prevent new surface disturbance in
                                                                                                             and conditions of the authorizing                     Department of the Interior, Bureau of
                                                    habitat occupied by the Texas hornshell
                                                    within the Black and Delaware Rivers;                    permits, and sign the proposed CCA                    Land Management’s (BLM) Northwest
                                                    (2) Avoid new development within the                     with BLM. We will not make our final                  Oregon Resource Advisory Council
                                                    Black and Delaware Rivers, Blue                          decision until after the end of the 30-               (RAC) will meet as indicated below.
                                                    Springs, and their associated U.S.                       day public comment period, and we                     DATES: The Northwest Oregon RAC will
                                                    Geological Survey (USGS) 100-year                        will fully consider all comments we                   hold a public meeting on Wednesday,
                                                    floodplain; (3) Site new projects to take                receive during the public comment                     July 26, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
                                                    advantage of existing and available                      period.                                               Pacific Daylight Time.
                                                    infrastructure; (4) Avoid obstructing or                                                                       ADDRESSES: The Northwest Oregon RAC
                                                                                                             Public Availability of Comments
                                                    disrupting the natural flow of ephemeral                                                                       will meet at the BLM Springfield
                                                    drainages to the Black and Delaware                        Written comments we receive become                  Interagency Office, 3106 Pierce
                                                    Rivers; (5) Implement erosion control                    part of the public record associated with             Parkway, Springfield, OR 97477.
                                                    measures; (6) Avoid water withdrawal                     this action. Before including your                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                    in habitat occupied by the Texas                         address, phone number, email address,                 Jennifer Velez, Public Affairs Officer,
                                                    hornshell within the Black and                           or other personal identifying                         1717 Fabry Road SE., Salem, OR 97306;
                                                    Delaware Rivers; (7) Maintain minimal                                                                          541–222–9241; jvelez@blm.gov. Persons
                                                                                                             information in your comment, you
                                                    stream flows and cease withdrawal of                                                                           who use a telecommunications device
                                                                                                             should be aware that your entire
                                                    water within the Black and Delaware                                                                            for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
                                                    Rivers if stream flows reach minimum                     comment, including your personal
                                                                                                             identifying information, may be made                  Relay Service (FRS) at 1(800) 877–8339
                                                    levels; (8) Avoid using low-water                                                                              to contact the above individuals during
                                                    crossings when other routes are                          publicly available at any time. While
                                                                                                             you can request in your comment that                  normal business hours. The FRS is
                                                    available; (9) Clear invasive shrubs and
                                                                                                             we withhold your personal identifying                 available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
                                                    replant with native plants in areas
                                                                                                             information from public review, we                    to leave a message or question with the
                                                    adjacent to occupied sites; and (10) Buy
                                                                                                             cannot guarantee that we will be able to              above individuals. You will receive a
                                                    or lease water rights during periods of
                                                                                                             do so. We will not consider anonymous                 reply during normal business hours.
                                                    low flow to maintain minimal stream
                                                    flows.                                                   comments. All submissions from                        SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15-
                                                                                                             organizations or businesses, and from                 member Northwest Oregon RAC was
                                                    Alternatives                                                                                                   chartered to serve in an advisory
                                                                                                             individuals identifying themselves as
                                                       We considered four alternatives to the                representative or officials of                        capacity concerning the planning and
                                                    proposed action as part of the                           organizations or businesses, will be                  management of the public land
                                                    environmental assessment process—the                                                                           resources located within the BLM’s
                                                                                                             made available for public disclosure in
                                                    No Action Alternative; Development of                                                                          Northwest Oregon District. Members
                                                                                                             their entirety.
                                                    a CCA only Alternative; Development of                                                                         represent an array of stakeholder
                                                    a CCAA only Alternative; and,                            Authority                                             interests in the land and resources from
                                                    Development of a CCA and CCAA                                                                                  within the local area and statewide. All
                                                    (covering both private and State lands).                   We provide this notice under section                advisory council meetings are open to
                                                    Under the No Action Alternative, a                       10(c) of the Act and its implementing                 the public. Persons wishing to make
                                                    coordinated effort to conserve the                       regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32)                  comments during the public comment
                                                    covered species on non-Federal                           and NEPA and its implementing                         period should register in person with
                                                    properties using a programmatic CCA                      regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).                          the BLM, at the meeting location,
                                                    and CCAA would not occur. Under the                                                                            preceding that meeting day’s comment
                                                                                                             Benjamin N. Tuggle,
                                                    CCA only and the CCAA only                                                                                     period. At the July 26 meeting, members
                                                                                                             Regional Director, Southwest Region,
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES




                                                    alternatives, conservation would only be                                                                       will consider and make
                                                    coordinated on either non-Federal or                     Albuquerque, New Mexico.                              recommendations on the reallocation of
                                                    Federal lands rather than having a                       [FR Doc. 2017–14235 Filed 7–6–17; 8:45 am]            Secure Rural Schools Title II funds.
                                                    coordinated effort across the Black and                  BILLING CODE 4333–15–P                                Other topics will include general
                                                    Delaware Rivers. Under the CCA and                                                                             updates, a review of subcommittee and
                                                    CCAA alternative, conservation would                                                                           future field trip opportunities, and
                                                    be the same as the proposed action;                                                                            likely a presentation by the Association
                                                    however, State lands and private lands                                                                         of Oregon Counties pertaining to the
                                                    would be enrolled in the same CCAA.                                                                            Oregon and California Railroad


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Document Created: 2017-07-07 02:20:12
Document Modified: 2017-07-07 02:20:12
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 comments.
DatesWe will accept comments received or postmarked on or before August 7, 2017. Any comments we receive after the closing date or not postmarked by the closing date may not be considered in the final decision on this action.
ContactDebra Hill, New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2105 Osuna NE., Albuquerque, NM 87113; by telephone 505-346-2525; or by facsimile 505- 346-2542. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
FR Citation82 FR 31625 

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