82 FR 46828 - Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the San Antonio Water System's Micron and Water Resources Integration Program Water Pipelines; Bexar County, Texas
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 193 (October 6, 2017)
| Page Range | 46828-46829 | |
| FR Document | 2017-21563 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 193 (Friday, October 6, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 46828-46829] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-21563] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R2-ES-2017-N092; FXES11120200000-178-FF02ENEH00] Draft Environmental Assessment and Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the San Antonio Water System's Micron and Water Resources Integration Program Water Pipelines; Bexar County, Texas AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for public comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make available the draft Environmental Assessment (dEA) for the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP) for construction of two water pipelines (Micron and Water Resources Integration Program (WRIP)) in Bexar County, Texas. SAWS (applicant) has applied to the Service for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or postmarked on or before November 6, 2017. ADDRESSES: Availability of Documents: Internet: You may obtain copies of the all documents at the Service's Web site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas/. U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies of the draft EA and draft HCP are available, by request, from Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758-4460; telephone 512-490-0057; fax 512-490- 0974. Please note that your request is in reference to the SAWS dHCP (TE 36242C-0). The ITP application is available by mail from the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103.In-Person: Copies of the dEA and dHCP 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, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758. Comment submission: You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: Electronically: Submit electronic comments to [email protected]. Please note that your request is in reference to the SAWS dHCP (TE 36242C-0). By hard copy: Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758- 4460; telephone 512-490-0057; fax 512-490-0974. Please note that your request is in reference to the SAWS dHCP (TE 36242C-0). We request that you send comments by only the methods described above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758 or (512) 490-0057. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Introduction We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make available the draft Environmental Assessment (dEA) for the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) draft Habitat Conservation Plan (dHCP) for construction of two water pipelines (Micron and Water Resources Integration Program (WRIP)) in Bexar County, Texas. SAWS (applicant) has applied to the Service for an incidental take permit (ITP; TE 36242C-0) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA). The applicant requests a 15-year term permit to authorize incidental take of the following five federally listed karst invertebrates: Madla's Cave meshweaver (Cicurina madla) Robber Baron Cave meshweaver (Cicurina baronia) Braken Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina venii) ground beetles with no common name (R Rhadine exilis and Rhadine infernalis). [[Page 46829]] The proposed take would occur within SAWS's rights-of-way (permit area) during construction of two water pipelines (by Micron and WRIP) in Bexar County, Texas, as a result of vegetation disturbance; excavation; temporary placement of excavated material; permanent placement of pipe, casings, and stabilizing materials; backfilling of excavated trenches; and restoration of surface conditions (covered activities). The permit area is 160.4 acres. Documents Available for Review In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), we advise the public that: 1. We have gathered the information necessary to determine impacts and formulate alternatives for the dEA related to potential issuance of an ITP to the applicant; and 2. The applicant has developed a dHCP as part of the application for an ITP, which describes the measures the applicant has agreed to take to minimize and mitigate the effects of incidental take of the covered species to the maximum extent practicable pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. As described in the dHCP, the proposed incidental take would occur within the rights-of-way of two proposed water pipelines in Bexar County, Texas, and would result from activities associated with otherwise lawful activities. Proposed Action The proposed action involves the issuance of an ITP by the Service for the covered activities in the permit area, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. The ITP would cover incidental take of the covered species associated with construction of the Micron and WRIP water pipelines within the permit area. To meet the requirements of a section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP, the applicant has developed and proposes to implement its dHCP, which describes the conservation measures the applicant has agreed to undertake to minimize and mitigate for the impacts of the proposed incidental take of the covered species to the maximum extent practicable, and ensures that incidental take will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of these species in the wild. The applicant proposes to mitigate with the perpetual protection, management, and monitoring of 57.6 acres of the undeveloped portion of SAWS's Anderson Pump Station, which is adjacent to the proposed pipelines. Alternatives Two alternatives to the proposed action we are considering as part of this process are: 1. No Action: No ITP would be issued. Under a No Action alternative, the Service would not issue the requested ITP, and SAWS would not construct the Micron and WRIP water pipelines. Therefore, the applicant would not implement the conservation measures described in the dHCP. 2. Reduced Take and Reduced Mitigation: The Reduced Take and Reduced Mitigation alternative is similar to the Proposed Action in that the Service would issue an ITP for the proposed projects. However, the HCP under this alternative would be modified to cover a reduced area of karst zone impacts and thus would subsequently reduce the amount of conservation to offset the impacts. All other aspects of the proposed project and the HCP would remain the same. 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. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives 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 ESA and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Joy E. Nicholopoulos, Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico. [FR Doc. 2017-21563 Filed 10-5-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![46828 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices
percentage of the FMRs in effect at the Regulation Description The ITP application is available by
time of the request. I understand that mail from the Regional Director, U.S.
any approved exception payment Example: 24 Example: A waiver of this regu- Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
standard will remain in effect until HUD CFR lation will facilitate our agen-
revises the FMRs for the area. I also
1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM
982.54. cy’s capacity to participate in 87103.
understand that increased per-family relief and recovery efforts by
costs resulting from the use of such . . . • In-Person: Copies of the dEA and
exception payment standard may result dHCP are also available for public
in a reduction in the number of families inspection and review at the following
assisted or may require my agency to
locations, by appointment and written
adopt other cost-saving measures.
llL. 24 CFR 982.401(d) (Housing quality request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
standards; Space and security). Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500
(Housing Voucher Management and Gold Avenue SW., Room 6034,
Operations) Albuquerque, NM 87102.
My agency requests a waiver of 24 CFR
982.401(d) so that we may allow families Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
to occupy units that are smaller than our 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,
occupancy standards would otherwise [FR Doc. 2017–21600 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am] TX 78758.
dictate. I understand that this waiver is BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
Comment submission: You may
in effect only for HAPs entered into submit written comments by one of the
during the 12-month period following the
date of HUD approval, and then only following methods:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
with the written consent of the family. • Electronically: Submit electronic
llM. 24 CFR 982.633(a) (Occupancy of Fish and Wildlife Service comments to FW2_AUES_Consult@
home). (Housing Voucher Management fws.gov. Please note that your request is
and Operations) [FWS–R2–ES–2017–N092;
FXES11120200000–178–FF02ENEH00] in reference to the SAWS dHCP (TE
My agency requests a waiver of 24 CFR
982.633(a) so that we may continue HAP
36242C–0).
for homeownership for families Draft Environmental Assessment and • By hard copy: Mr. Adam Zerrenner,
displaced from their homes if needed to Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the Austin Ecological Services Field Office,
comply with mortgage terms or make San Antonio Water System’s Micron 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin,
necessary repairs. We have determined and Water Resources Integration TX 78758–4460; telephone 512–490–
that the family is not receiving assistance Program Water Pipelines; Bexar 0057; fax 512–490–0974. Please note
from another source. I understand that County, Texas
such payments must cease if the family that your request is in reference to the
remains absent from their home for more AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, SAWS dHCP (TE 36242C–0).
than 180 consecutive calendar days. Interior. We request that you send comments
llN. 24 CFR 984.303(d) (Contract of ACTION: Notice of availability; request by only the methods described above.
participation; contract extension). for public comments.
(Public Housing Management and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Occupancy; Housing Voucher SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S.
Management and Operations) Wildlife Service (Service), make Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet
My agency requests a waiver of 24 CFR available the draft Environmental Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758 or
984.303(d) so that a family’s contract of Assessment (dEA) for the San Antonio (512) 490–0057.
participation may be extended for up to Water System (SAWS) draft Habitat
3 years. I understand that such Conservation Plan (dHCP) for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
extensions may be made only during the
construction of two water pipelines Introduction
12-month period following the date of
HUD approval. (Micron and Water Resources
llO. 24 CFR 985.101(a) (Section 8 Integration Program (WRIP)) in Bexar We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Management Assessment Program County, Texas. SAWS (applicant) has Service (Service), make available the
(SEMAP)). (Housing Voucher applied to the Service for an incidental draft Environmental Assessment (dEA)
Management and Operations) take permit (ITP) under the Endangered for the San Antonio Water System
My agency requests a waiver of 24 CFR Species Act (ESA). (SAWS) draft Habitat Conservation Plan
985.101(a) so that our SEMAP score from DATES: To ensure consideration, written (dHCP) for construction of two water
the previous year may be carried over.
My agency has a fiscal year end of 9/30/
comments must be received or pipelines (Micron and Water Resources
17, 12/31/17, or 3/31/18. postmarked on or before November 6, Integration Program (WRIP)) in Bexar
llP. Notice PIH 2012–10, Section 8(c) 2017. County, Texas. SAWS (applicant) has
(Verification of the Social Security ADDRESSES: Availability of Documents: applied to the Service for an incidental
Number (SSN)) (REAC) Internet: You may obtain copies of the take permit (ITP; TE 36242C–0) under
My agency requests a waiver of section all documents at the Service’s Web site section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered
8(c) of Notice PIH 2012–10 to allow for at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/ Species Act of 1973, as amended (16
the submission of Form HUD–50058 90
AustinTexas/. U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA). The applicant
calendars days from receipt of an
U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD– requests a 15-year term permit to
applicant’s or participant’s SSN
ROM and printed copies of the draft EA authorize incidental take of the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
documentation. I understand that this
waiver will be in effect for a period not and draft HCP are available, by request, following five federally listed karst
to exceed 12 months from the date of from Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Austin invertebrates:
HUD approval. Ecological Services Field Office, 10711
llQ. Waivers not identified in FR–6050– Madla’s Cave meshweaver (Cicurina madla)
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX
N–01. Robber Baron Cave meshweaver (Cicurina
78758–4460; telephone 512–490–0057;
My agency seeks waivers of the HUD baronia)
fax 512–490–0974. Please note that your Braken Bat Cave meshweaver (Cicurina venii)
requirements listed below. I have
request is in reference to the SAWS ground beetles with no common name (R
included documentation justifying the
need for the waivers. dHCP (TE 36242C–0). Rhadine exilis and Rhadine infernalis).
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 193 / Friday, October 6, 2017 / Notices 46829
The proposed take would occur management, and monitoring of 57.6 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
within SAWS’s rights-of-way (permit acres of the undeveloped portion of
area) during construction of two water SAWS’s Anderson Pump Station, which Fish and Wildlife Service
pipelines (by Micron and WRIP) in is adjacent to the proposed pipelines.
Bexar County, Texas, as a result of Alternatives [Docket No. FWS–HQ–IA–2017–0059;
vegetation disturbance; excavation; FXIA16710900000–156–FF09A30000]
temporary placement of excavated Two alternatives to the proposed
material; permanent placement of pipe, action we are considering as part of this Foreign Endangered Species Issuance
casings, and stabilizing materials; process are: of Permits
backfilling of excavated trenches; and 1. No Action: No ITP would be issued.
restoration of surface conditions Under a No Action alternative, the AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
(covered activities). The permit area is Service would not issue the requested Interior.
160.4 acres. ITP, and SAWS would not construct the
Micron and WRIP water pipelines. ACTION: Notice of issuance of permits.
Documents Available for Review Therefore, the applicant would not
In accordance with the requirements implement the conservation measures SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
of the National Environmental Policy described in the dHCP. Wildlife Service (Service), have issued
Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; 2. Reduced Take and Reduced the following permits to conduct certain
NEPA), we advise the public that: Mitigation: The Reduced Take and activities with endangered species,
1. We have gathered the information Reduced Mitigation alternative is marine mammals, or both. We issue
necessary to determine impacts and similar to the Proposed Action in that these permits under the Endangered
formulate alternatives for the dEA the Service would issue an ITP for the
Species Act (ESA) and the Marine
related to potential issuance of an ITP proposed projects. However, the HCP
under this alternative would be Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
to the applicant; and
2. The applicant has developed a modified to cover a reduced area of ADDRESSES: Documents and other
dHCP as part of the application for an karst zone impacts and thus would information submitted with these
ITP, which describes the measures the subsequently reduce the amount of applications are available for review,
applicant has agreed to take to minimize conservation to offset the impacts. All subject to the requirements of the
and mitigate the effects of incidental other aspects of the proposed project Privacy Act and Freedom of Information
take of the covered species to the and the HCP would remain the same. Act, by any party who submits a written
maximum extent practicable pursuant to Public Availability of Comments request for a copy of such documents to
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Written comments we receive become
As described in the dHCP, the Division of Management Authority,
part of the public record associated with
proposed incidental take would occur Branch of Permits, MS: IA, 5275
this action. Before including your
within the rights-of-way of two Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041;
address, phone number, email address,
proposed water pipelines in Bexar fax (703) 358–2281. To locate the
or other personal identifying
County, Texas, and would result from Federal Register notice that announced
information in your comment, you
activities associated with otherwise should be aware that your entire our receipt of the application for each
lawful activities. comment—including your personal permit listed in this document, go to
Proposed Action identifying information—may be made www.regulations.gov and search on the
The proposed action involves the publicly available at any time. While permit number provided in the tables in
issuance of an ITP by the Service for the you can request in your comment that SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
we withhold your personal identifying
covered activities in the permit area, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
information from public review, we
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Joyce Russell, (703) 358–2023
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
ESA. The ITP would cover incidental (telephone); (703) 358–2281 (fax); or
do so. All submissions from
take of the covered species associated DMAFR@fws.gov (email).
organizations or businesses, and from
with construction of the Micron and
individuals identifying themselves as SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On the
WRIP water pipelines within the permit
representatives or officials of dates below, as authorized by the
area.
organizations or businesses, will be provisions of the ESA, as amended (16
To meet the requirements of a section
made available for public disclosure in
10(a)(1)(B) ITP, the applicant has U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA), we issued
their entirety.
developed and proposes to implement requested permits subject to certain
its dHCP, which describes the Authority conditions set forth therein. For each
conservation measures the applicant has We provide this notice under section permit for an endangered species, we
agreed to undertake to minimize and 10(c) of the ESA and its implementing found that (1) the application was filed
mitigate for the impacts of the proposed regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) in good faith, (2) the granted permit
incidental take of the covered species to and NEPA and its implementing would not operate to the disadvantage
the maximum extent practicable, and regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). of the endangered species, and (3) the
ensures that incidental take will not granted permit would be consistent with
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES
appreciably reduce the likelihood of the Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
the purposes and policy set forth in
survival and recovery of these species in Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region,
Albuquerque, New Mexico. section 2 of the ESA.
the wild.
The applicant proposes to mitigate [FR Doc. 2017–21563 Filed 10–5–17; 8:45 am]
with the perpetual protection, BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:40 Oct 05, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00077 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06OCN1.SGM 06OCN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_47021/page/2.svg)
Document Created: 2017-10-06 00:09:12
Document Modified: 2017-10-06 00:09:12
| 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 public comments. | |
| Dates | To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or postmarked on or before November 6, 2017. | |
| Contact | Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758 or (512) 490-0057. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 46828 |
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