82 FR 47243 - Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the California Tiger Salamander and the California Red-Legged Frog; Curletti Farming Project, Santa Barbara County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 195 (October 11, 2017)

Page Range		47243-47243
FR Document		2017-21915

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application from Betteravia Ranches, LLC for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would authorize take of the federally endangered California tiger salamander (Santa Barbara distinct population segment) and the federally threatened California red-legged frog, incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farming Project draft low-effect habitat conservation plan. We invite public comment.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 195 (Wednesday, October 11, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 11, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 47243]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21915]



[[Page 47243]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2017-N122; FXES11130800000-178-FF08EVEN00]


Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Draft Low-
Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the California Tiger Salamander 
and the California Red-Legged Frog; Curletti Farming Project, Santa 
Barbara County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received an application from Betteravia Ranches, LLC for an incidental 
take permit under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The 
permit would authorize take of the federally endangered California 
tiger salamander (Santa Barbara distinct population segment) and the 
federally threatened California red-legged frog, incidental to 
otherwise lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farming 
Project draft low-effect habitat conservation plan. We invite public 
comment.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before November 13, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: 
    To obtain documents: You may download a copy of the draft habitat 
conservation plan and draft low-effect screening form and environmental 
action statement at http://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you may request 
copies of the documents by sending U.S. mail to our Ventura office, or 
by phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    To submit written comments: Please send us your written comments 
using one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail: Send your comments to: Stephen P. Henry, Field 
Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, 2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003.
     Facsimile: Fax your comments to 805-644-3958.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, 805-677-3312 (phone), or at the Ventura address in 
ADDRESSES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have received an application from 
Betteravia Ranches, LLC (applicant) for an incidental take permit under 
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; 
ESA). The applicant has agreed to follow all of the conditions in the 
draft habitat conservation plan for the project. The permit would 
authorize take of the Santa Barbara distinct population segment of the 
federally endangered California tiger salamander (Ambystoma 
californiense) and the federally threatened California red-legged frog 
(Rana draytonii) incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated 
with the draft Curletti Farming Project Habitat Conservation Plan 
(HCP). We invite public comment on the application, the draft HCP, 
draft low-effect screening form, and environmental action statement.

Background

    The Santa Barbara distinct population segment (DPS) of the 
California tiger salamander was listed by the Service as endangered on 
September 21, 2000 (65 FR 57242). The California red-legged frog was 
listed by the Service as threatened on May 23, 1996 (61 FR 25813). 
Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations prohibit the 
``take'' of fish or wildlife species listed as endangered or 
threatened. ``Take'' is defined under the ESA to include the following 
activities: ``[T]o 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 section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
ESA, we may issue permits to authorize incidental take of listed 
species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by the ESA as take that is 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out of an otherwise 
lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental take permits for 
threatened and endangered species are in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. Under the 
ESA, protections for federally listed plants differ from the 
protections afforded to federally listed animals. Issuance of an 
incidental take permit also must not jeopardize the existence of 
federally listed fish, wildlife, or plant species. All species included 
in the incidental take permit would receive assurances under our ``No 
Surprises'' regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)).

Applicant's Proposed Activities

    The applicant has applied for a permit for incidental take of the 
California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog. The 
potential take will occur in association with activities necessary for 
the implementation of the installation, operation and maintenance of 
row crop agriculture. The HCP includes avoidance and minimization 
measures for the covered species and mitigation for unavoidable loss of 
occupied upland habitat through establishment of a conservation 
easement on applicant-owned land.

Our Preliminary Determination

    The Service has made a preliminary determination that issuance of 
the incidental take permit is neither a major Federal action that will 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment within the 
meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), nor will it individually or 
cumulatively have more than a negligible effect on the species covered 
in the HCP. Therefore, the permit qualifies for a categorical exclusion 
under NEPA.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, draft HCP, and 
associated documents, you may submit comments by 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 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 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

    Dated: September 27, 2017.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2017-21915 Filed 10-10-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 195 / Wednesday, October 11, 2017 / Notices 47243

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR the conditions in the draft habitat for unavoidable loss of occupied upland
conservation plan for the project. The habitat through establishment of a
Fish and Wildlife Service permit would authorize take of the conservation easement on applicant-
[FWS–R8–ES–2017–N122; Santa Barbara distinct population owned land.
FXES11130800000–178–FF08EVEN00] segment of the federally endangered
Our Preliminary Determination
California tiger salamander (Ambystoma
Receipt of Application for Incidental californiense) and the federally The Service has made a preliminary
Take Permit; Draft Low-Effect Habitat threatened California red-legged frog determination that issuance of the
Conservation Plan for the California (Rana draytonii) incidental to otherwise incidental take permit is neither a major
Tiger Salamander and the California lawful activities associated with the Federal action that will significantly
Red-Legged Frog; Curletti Farming draft Curletti Farming Project Habitat affect the quality of the human
Project, Santa Barbara County, Conservation Plan (HCP). We invite environment within the meaning of
California public comment on the application, the section 102(2)(C) of the National
draft HCP, draft low-effect screening Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C.
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, form, and environmental action 4321 et seq.; NEPA), nor will it
Interior. statement. individually or cumulatively have more
ACTION: Notice of availability; request than a negligible effect on the species
for comments. Background
covered in the HCP. Therefore, the
The Santa Barbara distinct population permit qualifies for a categorical
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and segment (DPS) of the California tiger exclusion under NEPA.
Wildlife Service (Service), have received salamander was listed by the Service as
an application from Betteravia Ranches, endangered on September 21, 2000 (65 Public Comments
LLC for an incidental take permit under FR 57242). The California red-legged If you wish to comment on the permit
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as frog was listed by the Service as application, draft HCP, and associated
amended. The permit would authorize threatened on May 23, 1996 (61 FR documents, you may submit comments
take of the federally endangered 25813). Section 9 of the ESA and its by one of the methods in ADDRESSES.
California tiger salamander (Santa implementing regulations prohibit the
Barbara distinct population segment) ‘‘take’’ of fish or wildlife species listed Public Availability of Comments
and the federally threatened California as endangered or threatened. ‘‘Take’’ is Before including your address, phone
red-legged frog, incidental to otherwise defined under the ESA to include the number, email address, or other
lawful activities associated with the following activities: ‘‘[T]o harass, harm, personal identifying information in your
Curletti Farming Project draft low-effect pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, comment, you should be aware that
habitat conservation plan. We invite capture, or collect, or to attempt to your entire comment, including your
public comment. engage in any such conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. personal identifying information, may
DATES: Written comments should be 1532); however, under section be made publicly available at any time.
received on or before November 13, 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, we may issue While you can ask us in your comment
2017. permits to authorize incidental take of to withhold your personal identifying
listed species. ‘‘Incidental take’’ is information from public view, we
ADDRESSES:
defined by the ESA as take that is cannot guarantee that we will be able to
To obtain documents: You may
incidental to, and not the purpose of, do so.
download a copy of the draft habitat
carrying out of an otherwise lawful
conservation plan and draft low-effect Authority
activity. Regulations governing
screening form and environmental
incidental take permits for threatened We provide this notice under section
action statement at http://www.fws.gov/ and endangered species are in the Code
ventura/, or you may request copies of 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.)
of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
the documents by sending U.S. mail to 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. Under the
our Ventura office, or by phone (see FOR ESA, protections for federally listed
Dated: September 27, 2017.
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Stephen P. Henry,
plants differ from the protections
To submit written comments: Please Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
afforded to federally listed animals.
send us your written comments using Office, Ventura, California.
Issuance of an incidental take permit
one of the following methods: [FR Doc. 2017–21915 Filed 10–10–17; 8:45 am]
also must not jeopardize the existence of
• U.S. mail: Send your comments to:
federally listed fish, wildlife, or plant BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor,
species. All species included in the
Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S.
incidental take permit would receive
Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
assurances under our ‘‘No Surprises’’
Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003.
regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and
• Facsimile: Fax your comments to Fish and Wildlife Service
17.32(b)(5)).
805–644–3958.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicant’s Proposed Activities [FWS–R8–ES–2017–N110;
Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife The applicant has applied for a permit FXES11130800000–178–FF08EVEN00]
Biologist, 805–677–3312 (phone), or at
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with NOTICES

for incidental take of the California tiger Receipt of Application for Incidental
the Ventura address in ADDRESSES. salamander and California red-legged Take Permit; Draft Low-Effect Habitat
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have frog. The potential take will occur in Conservation Plan for the California
received an application from Betteravia association with activities necessary for Tiger Salamander; Campbell Home
Ranches, LLC (applicant) for an the implementation of the installation, Ranch, Santa Barbara County,
incidental take permit under the operation and maintenance of row crop California
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as agriculture. The HCP includes
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA). avoidance and minimization measures AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
The applicant has agreed to follow all of for the covered species and mitigation Interior.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:58 Oct 10, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\11OCN1.SGM 11OCN1

Document Created: 2018-10-25 09:58:43
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 09:58:43

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.
Dates		Written comments should be received on or before November 13, 2017.
Contact		Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife
FR Citation		82 FR 47243

82 FR 47243 - Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the California Tiger Salamander and the California Red-Legged Frog; Curletti Farming Project, Santa Barbara County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 195 (October 11, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service