83 FR 17838 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Orange County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 79 (April 24, 2018)

Page Range		17838-17839
FR Document		2018-08494

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Orange County Public Schools (applicant) is requesting a 3-year ITP for take of the federally listed sand skink. We request public comment on the permit application, which includes a proposed habitat conservation plan, and on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as low effect under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this determination, we used our environmental action statement and low- effect screening form, which are also available for review.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 24, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17838-17839]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08494]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N029; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of 
Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, 
Orange County, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have 
received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. Orange County Public 
Schools (applicant) is requesting a 3-year ITP for take of the 
federally listed sand skink. We request public comment on the permit 
application, which includes a proposed habitat conservation plan, and 
on our preliminary determination that the plan qualifies as low effect 
under the National Environmental Policy Act. To make this 
determination, we used our environmental action statement and low-
effect screening form, which are also available for review.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
May 24, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments and request copies of the 
application, including the HCP, as well as our environmental action 
statement or low-effect screening form, by any one of the following 
methods:
    Email: [email protected]. Use ``Attn: Permit number TE74732C-0'' 
as your subject line.
    Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731-3191, ``Attn: Permit number 
TE74732C-0.''
    U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field 
Office, Attn: Permit number TE74732C-0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
7915 Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
    In-person: You may deliver comments during regular business hours 
at the office address listed above under U.S. mail. You may inspect the 
application, HCP, environmental action statement, or low-effect 
screening form by appointment during normal business hours at the same 
address.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 
16 U.S.C. et seq.) and our implementing regulations in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17 prohibit the ``take'' of 
fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or threatened. Take of 
listed fish or wildlife is defined under the ESA as ``to harass, harm, 
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to 
attempt to engage in any such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). However, 
under limited circumstances, we issue permits to authorize incidental 
take, i.e., take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, the 
carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity.
    Regulations governing incidental take permits for endangered and 
threatened species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. The 
ESA's take prohibitions do not apply to federally listed plants on 
private lands unless such take would violate State law. In addition to 
meeting other criteria, the take authorized by an incidental take 
permit must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed fish, 
wildlife, or plants.

Applicant's Proposal

    Orange County Public Schools is requesting an incidental take 
permit (ITP) to take sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) through the 
permanent destruction of approximately 5.3 acres (ac) of occupied 
foraging and sheltering habitat. The take would be incidental to the 
construction of a school and associated facilities in Orange County, 
Florida. The 26.0-ac habitat conservation plan (HCP) project site is 
located on Orange County Parcel No. 27232500000004, within Section 25, 
Township 23 South, Range 27 East. The project activities also include 
clearing, infrastructure building, and landscaping associated with 
constructing a school and associated facilities. The applicant proposes 
to mitigate for the take of the species by purchasing 10.6 mitigation 
credits within a Service-approved sand skink conservation bank.

Our Preliminary Determination

    A low-effect HCP is one involving (1) minor or negligible effects 
on federally listed or candidate species and their habitats, and (2) 
minor or negligible effects on other environmental values or resources. 
We have determined that the applicant's proposed HCP, including the 
proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or 
negligible effects on the covered species and the environment so as to 
be ``low effect'' and qualify for categorical exclusion under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as 
provided by Department of the Interior implementing regulations in part 
46 of title 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations (43 CFR 46.205, 
46.210, and 46.215).

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the HCP and comments we receive to determine 
whether the ITP application meets the requirements of section 10(a) of 
the ESA. We will also conduct an intra-Service consultation to evaluate 
take of the sand skink in accordance with section 7 of the ESA. We will 
use the results of the consultation, in combination with the above 
findings, in our analysis of whether or not to issue the ITP. If the 
requirements are met, we will issue ITP number TE74732C-0 to the 
applicant.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, HCP, or 
associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods 
listed 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 review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

[[Page 17839]]

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA and NEPA 
regulation 40 CFR 1506.6.

Jay B. Herrington,
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2018-08494 Filed 4-23-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

17838 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices

be made publicly available at any time. Office, Attn: Permit number TE74732C– proposes to mitigate for the take of the
While you can ask us in your comment 0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 species by purchasing 10.6 mitigation
to withhold your personal identifying Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, credits within a Service-approved sand
information from public view, we Jacksonville, FL 32256. skink conservation bank.
cannot guarantee that we will be able to In-person: You may deliver comments
do so. during regular business hours at the Our Preliminary Determination
Authority office address listed above under U.S. A low-effect HCP is one involving (1)
mail. You may inspect the application,
We provide this notice under section minor or negligible effects on federally
HCP, environmental action statement, or
10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). listed or candidate species and their
low-effect screening form by
habitats, and (2) minor or negligible
Dated: April 18, 2018. appointment during normal business
hours at the same address. effects on other environmental values or
Stephen P. Henry,
resources. We have determined that the
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Office, Ventura, California.
applicant’s proposed HCP, including the
M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731–3121;
proposed mitigation and minimization
[FR Doc. 2018–08499 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am] email: erin_gawera@fws.gov.
measures, would have minor or
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
negligible effects on the covered species
Background and the environment so as to be ‘‘low
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Section 9 of the Endangered Species effect’’ and qualify for categorical
Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 exclusion under the National
Fish and Wildlife Service Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42
U.S.C. et seq.) and our implementing
[FWS–R4–ES–2018–N029; regulations in the Code of Federal U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), as provided by
FXES11130400000EA–123–FF04EF1000] Regulations (CFR) at 50 CFR part 17 Department of the Interior
prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish and wildlife implementing regulations in part 46 of
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife species listed as endangered or title 43 of the Code of Federal
and Plants; Availability of Proposed threatened. Take of listed fish or Regulations (43 CFR 46.205, 46.210, and
Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan wildlife is defined under the ESA as ‘‘to 46.215).
for the Sand Skink, Orange County, FL harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot,
Next Steps
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or
Interior. to attempt to engage in any such We will evaluate the HCP and
ACTION: Notice of availability; request conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). comments we receive to determine
for comments. However, under limited circumstances, whether the ITP application meets the
we issue permits to authorize incidental requirements of section 10(a) of the
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and take, i.e., take that is incidental to, and ESA. We will also conduct an intra-
Wildlife Service (Service), have received not the purpose of, the carrying out of Service consultation to evaluate take of
an application for an incidental take an otherwise lawful activity. the sand skink in accordance with
permit (ITP) under the Endangered Regulations governing incidental take
Species Act of 1973, as amended. section 7 of the ESA. We will use the
permits for endangered and threatened
Orange County Public Schools results of the consultation, in
species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32,
(applicant) is requesting a 3-year ITP for respectively. The ESA’s take combination with the above findings, in
take of the federally listed sand skink. prohibitions do not apply to federally our analysis of whether or not to issue
We request public comment on the listed plants on private lands unless the ITP. If the requirements are met, we
permit application, which includes a such take would violate State law. In will issue ITP number TE74732C–0 to
proposed habitat conservation plan, and addition to meeting other criteria, the the applicant.
on our preliminary determination that take authorized by an incidental take Public Comments
the plan qualifies as low effect under permit must not jeopardize the
the National Environmental Policy Act. existence of federally listed fish, If you wish to comment on the permit
To make this determination, we used wildlife, or plants. application, HCP, or associated
our environmental action statement and documents, you may submit comments
low-effect screening form, which are Applicant’s Proposal
by any one of the methods listed in
also available for review. Orange County Public Schools is ADDRESSES.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please requesting an incidental take permit
send your written comments by May 24, (ITP) to take sand skink (Neoseps Public Availability of Comments
2018. reynoldsi) through the permanent
destruction of approximately 5.3 acres Before including your address, phone
ADDRESSES: You may submit written number, email address, or other
comments and request copies of the (ac) of occupied foraging and sheltering
habitat. The take would be incidental to personal identifying information in your
application, including the HCP, as well comment, you should be aware that
as our environmental action statement the construction of a school and
associated facilities in Orange County, your entire comment—including your
or low-effect screening form, by any one
Florida. The 26.0-ac habitat personal identifying information—may
of the following methods:
Email: northflorida@fws.gov. Use conservation plan (HCP) project site is be made publicly available at any time.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

‘‘Attn: Permit number TE74732C–0’’ as located on Orange County Parcel No. While you can ask us in your comment
your subject line. 27232500000004, within Section 25, to withhold your personal identifying
Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731– Township 23 South, Range 27 East. The information from public review, we
3191, ‘‘Attn: Permit number TE74732C– project activities also include clearing, cannot guarantee that we will be able to
0.’’ infrastructure building, and landscaping do so.
U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, associated with constructing a school
Jacksonville Ecological Services Field and associated facilities. The applicant

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 79 / Tuesday, April 24, 2018 / Notices 17839

Authority companies, shall advise the Director of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
We provide this notice under section the U.S. Geological Survey on planning
and implementation of the geologic Bureau of Land Management
10 of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40
CFR 1506.6. mapping and data preservation [LLWO310000.L13100000.PP0000.18X; OMB
programs. Control Number 1004–0034]
Jay B. Herrington,
Agenda: Introductions/Update on
Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office, Agency Information Collection
Southeast Region. NGGDPP/Future Planning for NGGDPP
Activities; Submission to the Office of
and discussion/Update on NCGMP/
[FR Doc. 2018–08494 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am] Management and Budget for Review
Future Planning for NCGMP and and Approval; Oil and Gas, or
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
discussion/other topics to be Geothermal Resources; Transfers and
determined. Assignments
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Meeting Accessibility/Special
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Accommodations: The meeting is open
Geological Survey Interior.
to the public on both days from
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
[GX18GC009PLFM00] approximately 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
request for comment.
and seating is on a first-come basis.
Public Meeting of the National Members of the public wishing to attend SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Cooperative Geologic Mapping the meeting or wanting to receive call- Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Program (NCGMP) and National in information or a link to the live Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is
Geological and Geophysical Data stream webcast should contact Michael proposing to renew an information
Preservation Program (NGGDPP) J. Marketti by email at mmarketti@ collection.
Advisory Committee usgs.gov to register no later than five (5) DATES: Interested persons are invited to
AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey, business days prior to the meeting. submit comments on or before May 24,
Interior. Individuals requiring special 2018.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting. accommodations to access the public ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
meeting should contact Michael J. this information collection request (ICR)
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Marketti at the email stated above or by to the Office of Management and
Federal Advisory Committee Act of telephone at 703–648–6976 at least five Budget’s Desk Officer for the
1972, the U.S. Geological Survey (5) business days prior to the meeting so Department of the Interior by email at
(USGS) is publishing this notice to that appropriate arrangements can be OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via
announce that a Federal Advisory made. facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please
Committee meeting of the NCGMP and provide a copy of your comments to the
NGGDPP will take place. Public Disclosure of Comments: Time
will be allowed at the meeting for any BLM at U.S. Department of the Interior,
DATES: The meeting will be held on Bureau of Land Management, 1849 C
individual or organization wishing to
Tuesday and Wednesday, May 1st and Street NW, Room 2134LM, Washington,
2nd, 2018, from approximately 9:00 a.m. make formal oral comments. To allow
DC 20240, Attention: Jean Sonneman; or
EST to 4:00 p.m. EST. for full consideration of information by
by email to jesonnem@blm.gov. Please
the committee members, written notice
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at reference OMB Control Number 1004–
must be provided to Michael J. Marketti, 0034 in the subject line of your
the USGS National Center, 12201
U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise comments.
Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192.
Valley Drive, Mail Stop 908, Reston, VA
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
20192; by email at mmarketti@usgs.gov;
Michael J. Marketti, U.S. Geological request additional information about
or by telephone at 703–648–6976, at
Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, this ICR, contact Jennifer Spencer by
least five (5) business days prior to the
Mail Stop 908, Reston, VA 20192, by email at j35spenc@blm.gov, or by
meeting. Any written comments
email at mmarketti@usgs.gov, or by telephone at 202–912–7146. You may
telephone at 703–648–6976. received will be provided to the
also view the ICR at http://
committee members. www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
meeting is being held under the Before including your address, phone SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
provisions of the Federal Advisory number, email address, or other accordance with the Paperwork
Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C., personal identifying information in your Reduction Act of 1995, we provide the
Appendix, as amended), the comment, you should be aware that general public and other Federal
Government in the Sunshine Act of your entire comment—including your agencies with an opportunity to
1976 (5 U.S.C. 552B, as amended), and personal identifying information—may comment on new, proposed, revised,
41 CFR 102–3.140 and 102–3.150. be made publicly available at any time. and continuing collections of
Purpose of the Meeting: The NCGMP While you can ask us in your comment information. This helps us assess the
and NGGDPP Federal Advisory to withhold your personal identifying impact of our information collection
Committee will meet to hear updates on information from public review, we requirements and minimize the public’s
progress of the NCGMP towards cannot guarantee that we will be able to reporting burden. It also helps the
fulfilling the purposes of the National do so. public understand our information
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, as well collection requirements and provide the
as updates on the NGGDPP towards Michael Marketti, requested data in the desired format. A
fulfilling the purposes of the Energy NCGMP Program Analyst, NCGMP/NGGDPP Federal Register notice with a 60-day
Policy Act of 2005. The Committee, Federal Advisory Committee Administrative public comment period soliciting
comprised of representatives from Officer. comments on this collection of
Federal agencies, State agencies, [FR Doc. 2018–08458 Filed 4–23–18; 8:45 am] information was published on January
academic institutions, and private BILLING CODE 4311–AM–P 26, 2018 (83 FR 3765), and the comment

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Document Created: 2018-04-24 00:39:32
Document Modified: 2018-04-24 00:39:32

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		To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by May 24, 2018.
Contact		Erin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731- 3121; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 17838

83 FR 17838 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Orange County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 79 (April 24, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service