83 FR 18859 - Final Environmental Impact Statement, Final Habitat Conservation Plan; Yolo County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 83 (April 30, 2018)

Page Range		18859-18860
FR Document		2018-09019

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a joint final environmental impact statement and final environmental impact report (final EIS/EIR) under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as amended. We also announce the availability of the final habitat conservation plan (HCP) and California natural community conservation plan. These documents were prepared in support of a permit application submitted to us under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We will use these documents to inform our decision regarding issuance of the permit.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 83 (Monday, April 30, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18859-18860]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09019]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2018-N032; FF08ESMF00-FXES11140800000-189]


Final Environmental Impact Statement, Final Habitat Conservation 
Plan; Yolo County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of final environmental impact statement 
and final habitat conservation plan.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of a joint final environmental impact statement and final 
environmental impact report (final EIS/EIR) under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as amended. We also announce the 
availability of the final habitat conservation plan (HCP) and 
California natural community conservation plan. These documents were 
prepared in support of a permit application submitted to us under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. We will use these documents 
to inform our decision regarding issuance of the permit.

DATES: A record of decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after 
the publication of this notice of availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the HCP and final EIS/EIR are available 
at http://www.fws.gov/sacramento. Copies of these documents are also 
available for public inspection, during regular business hours, at the 
Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, W 2605, 
Sacramento, CA 95825.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Address any questions to Mike Thomas, 
Chief, Conservation Planning Division, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife 
Office, (916) 414-6600, [email protected]; or Eric Tattersall, 
Assistant Field Supervisor, (916) 414-6600, [email protected]. If 
you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call the 
Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The County of Yolo; the Cities of Davis, 
West Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland; and the Yolo Habitat 
Conservancy (collectively, the applicants) have applied for a 50-year 
incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicants prepared the 
final Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation 
Plan (HCP) pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA and the 
California Natural Community Conservation Planning Act of 2002.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and our Federal 
regulations (50 CFR part 17) prohibit the taking of fish and wildlife 
species listed as endangered or threatened under section 4 of the ESA. 
Regulations governing permits for endangered and threatened species are 
at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. For more information about the 
Federal habitat conservation plan program, go to http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/hcp.pdf.

Proposed Action Alternative

    The Service would issue an ITP to the applicants for a period of 50 
years for certain covered activities. The applicants have requested an 
ITP for 12 covered species.

Plan Area

    The HCP includes all lands within Yolo County, approximately 
653,549 acres, and 1,174 acres in Solano County for a total combined 
area of 654,723 acres.

Covered Activities

    The applicants are requesting incidental take authorization for 12 
covered species that could be affected by covered activities identified 
in the HCP. The HCP covers the following five general categories of 
covered activities (collectively, Covered Activities):
    1. Urban projects and activities, which include general urban 
development, urban public services, infrastructure, and utilities, and 
urban projects in rural areas.
    2. Rural projects and activities, which include general rural 
development, rural public services, infrastructure, and utilities, 
agricultural economic development, aggregate mining, and open space.
    3. Public and private operations and maintenance activities.
    4. Conservation strategy implementation, which includes habitat 
restoration, management, and enhancement activities throughout the 
reserve system.
    5. Neighboring landowner agreements.

Covered Species

    Twelve species are included in the HCP as Covered Species. They 
include ESA-listed and non-ESA-listed species.
ESA Threatened
California tiger salamander (Central Valley Distinct Population Segment 
(DPS)) (Ambystoma californiense)
Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus)
Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas)
Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus occidentalis)
ESA Endangered
Least Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus)
Palmate-bracted bird's beak (Cordylanthus palmatus)
Non-ESA-Listed
Western pond turtle (Actinemys marmorata)
Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus)
Western burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea)
Bank swallow (Riparia riparia)
Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

    The final EIS/EIR was prepared to analyze the impacts of issuing an 
ITP based on the HCP and to inform the public of the proposed action, 
alternatives, and associated impacts and to disclose any irreversible 
commitments of resources. The final EIS/EIR analyzes three alternatives 
in addition to the proposed action described above. The other 
alternatives include a no-action (i.e., no ITP) alternative, a reduced 
take alternative, and a reduced development alternative. The final EIS/
EIR includes all comments received on the draft EIS/EIR, draft HCP/
NCCP, and responses to those comments.

[[Page 18860]]

Public Review

    The Service published a notice of intent to prepare a joint 
environmental impact statement and environmental impact report in the 
Federal Register on October 21, 2011 (76 FR 65527), announcing a 45-day 
public scoping period, during which the public was invited to provide 
written comments and attend two public scoping meetings, which were 
held on November 7, 2011, in West Sacramento, California. The Service 
published a notice of availability (NOA) of the draft EIS/EIR and draft 
HCP/NCCP in the Federal Register on June 1, 2017 (82 FR 25302). The NOA 
announced a 90-day public comment period, during which the public was 
invited to provide written comments and attend two public meetings, 
which were held on June 27, 2017, and June 29, 2017. In accordance with 
NEPA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will announce the final 
EIS in the Federal Register.

Next Steps

    Issuance of an ITP is a Federal proposed action subject to 
compliance with NEPA. We will evaluate the application, associated 
documents, and the public comments we received to determine whether the 
requirements of NEPA regulations and section 10(a) of the ESA have been 
met. If we determine that those requirements are met, we will issue a 
Record of Decision no sooner than 30 days after the EPA publishes 
notice of the final EIS in the Federal Register. Subsequently, we will 
issue a permit to the applicant for the incidental take of the Covered 
Species.

Authority

    We publish this notice under the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 et seq.), and its implementing 
regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, as well as in compliance with section 
10(c) of the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its 
implementing regulations at 40 CFR 17.22.

Michael Fris,
Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific 
Southwest Region, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 2018-09019 Filed 4-27-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2018 / Notices 18859

is 373,477 and the estimated hour and Wildlife Office, 2800 Cottage Way, infrastructure, and utilities, and urban
burden per response is 1.17 hours. W 2605, Sacramento, CA 95825. projects in rural areas.
(6) An estimate of the total public FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 2. Rural projects and activities, which
burden (in hours) associated with the Address any questions to Mike Thomas, include general rural development, rural
collection: The total estimated annual Chief, Conservation Planning Division, public services, infrastructure, and
hour burden associated with this Sacramento Fish and Wildlife Office, utilities, agricultural economic
collection is 962,124 hours. (916) 414–6600, mike_thomas@fws.gov; development, aggregate mining, and
(7) An estimate of the total public or Eric Tattersall, Assistant Field open space.
burden (in cost) associated with the Supervisor, (916) 414–6600, eric_ 3. Public and private operations and
collection: The estimated total annual tattersall@fws.gov. If you use a maintenance activities.
cost burden associated with this telecommunications device for the deaf, 4. Conservation strategy
collection of information is please call the Federal Relay Service at implementation, which includes habitat
$48,896,120. 800–877–8339. restoration, management, and
Dated: April 24, 2018. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The enhancement activities throughout the
Samantha Deshommes, County of Yolo; the Cities of Davis, West reserve system.
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Sacramento, Winters, and Woodland; 5. Neighboring landowner
Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and the Yolo Habitat Conservancy agreements.
and Immigration Services, Department of (collectively, the applicants) have
Homeland Security. applied for a 50-year incidental take Covered Species
[FR Doc. 2018–09013 Filed 4–27–18; 8:45 am] permit (ITP) under the Endangered Twelve species are included in the
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; HCP as Covered Species. They include
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The applicants ESA-listed and non-ESA-listed species.
prepared the final Yolo Habitat
Conservation Plan and Natural ESA Threatened
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Community Conservation Plan (HCP) California tiger salamander (Central
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Valley Distinct Population Segment
Fish and Wildlife Service
ESA and the California Natural (DPS)) (Ambystoma californiense)
[FWS–R8–ES–2018–N032; FF08ESMF00– Community Conservation Planning Act Valley elderberry longhorn beetle
FXES11140800000–189] of 2002. (Desmocerus californicus dimorphus)
Background Giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas)
Final Environmental Impact Statement,
Final Habitat Conservation Plan; Yolo Section 9 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 Western yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus
County, California et seq.) and our Federal regulations (50 americanus occidentalis)
CFR part 17) prohibit the taking of fish ESA Endangered
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, and wildlife species listed as
Interior. endangered or threatened under section Least Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii pusillus)
ACTION: Notice of availability of final 4 of the ESA. Regulations governing Palmate-bracted bird’s beak
environmental impact statement and permits for endangered and threatened (Cordylanthus palmatus)
final habitat conservation plan. species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, Non-ESA-Listed
respectively. For more information
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and about the Federal habitat conservation Western pond turtle (Actinemys
Wildlife Service, announce the plan program, go to http://www.fws.gov/ marmorata)
availability of a joint final endangered/esa-library/pdf/hcp.pdf. Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
environmental impact statement and White-tailed kite (Elanus leucurus)
final environmental impact report (final Proposed Action Alternative
Western burrowing owl (Athene
EIS/EIR) under the National The Service would issue an ITP to the cunicularia hypugaea)
Environmental Policy Act of 1967, as applicants for a period of 50 years for Bank swallow (Riparia riparia)
amended. We also announce the certain covered activities. The
availability of the final habitat Tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)
applicants have requested an ITP for 12
conservation plan (HCP) and California covered species. National Environmental Policy Act
natural community conservation plan. Compliance
These documents were prepared in Plan Area
support of a permit application The HCP includes all lands within The final EIS/EIR was prepared to
submitted to us under the Endangered Yolo County, approximately 653,549 analyze the impacts of issuing an ITP
Species Act of 1973, as amended. We acres, and 1,174 acres in Solano County based on the HCP and to inform the
will use these documents to inform our for a total combined area of 654,723 public of the proposed action,
decision regarding issuance of the acres. alternatives, and associated impacts and
permit. to disclose any irreversible
Covered Activities commitments of resources. The final
DATES: A record of decision will be The applicants are requesting EIS/EIR analyzes three alternatives in
signed no sooner than 30 days after the incidental take authorization for 12 addition to the proposed action
publication of this notice of availability covered species that could be affected described above. The other alternatives
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES

in the Federal Register. by covered activities identified in the include a no-action (i.e., no ITP)
ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the HCP. The HCP covers the following five alternative, a reduced take alternative,
HCP and final EIS/EIR are available at general categories of covered activities and a reduced development alternative.
http://www.fws.gov/sacramento. Copies (collectively, Covered Activities): The final EIS/EIR includes all comments
of these documents are also available for 1. Urban projects and activities, received on the draft EIS/EIR, draft
public inspection, during regular which include general urban HCP/NCCP, and responses to those
business hours, at the Sacramento Fish development, urban public services, comments.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:01 Apr 27, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00085 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM 30APN1

18860 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 83 / Monday, April 30, 2018 / Notices

Public Review DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR are subject to all valid rights,
reservations, rights-of-way, and
The Service published a notice of Bureau of Indian Affairs easements of record.
intent to prepare a joint environmental
impact statement and environmental
[189A2100DD/AAKC001030/ This proclamation does not affect title
A0A51010.999900 253G] to the lands described above, nor does
impact report in the Federal Register on
October 21, 2011 (76 FR 65527), it affect any valid existing easements for
Proclaiming Certain Lands as
announcing a 45-day public scoping public roads, highways, public utilities,
Reservation for the Spokane Tribe of
period, during which the public was railroads and pipelines, or any other
the Spokane Reservation
invited to provide written comments valid easements or rights-of-way or
and attend two public scoping meetings, AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, reservations of record.
Interior.
which were held on November 7, 2011, Dated: March 12, 2018.
in West Sacramento, California. The ACTION: Notice.
John Tahsuda,
Service published a notice of SUMMARY: This notice informs the public Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary—Indian
availability (NOA) of the draft EIS/EIR that the Principal Deputy Assistant Affairs, Exercising the Authority of the
and draft HCP/NCCP in the Federal Secretary—Indian Affairs, exercising the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs.
Register on June 1, 2017 (82 FR 25302). authority of the Assistant Secretary— [FR Doc. 2018–08997 Filed 4–27–18; 8:45 am]
The NOA announced a 90-day public Indian Affairs, proclaimed BILLING CODE 4337–15–P
comment period, during which the approximately 145 acres, more or less,
public was invited to provide written an addition to the reservation of the
comments and attend two public Spokane Tribe of the Spokane DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
meetings, which were held on June 27, Reservation on March 12, 2018.
2017, and June 29, 2017. In accordance FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Bureau of Indian Affairs
with NEPA, the Environmental Sharlene M. Round Face, Bureau of
Protection Agency (EPA) will announce Indian Affairs, Division of Real Estate [189A2100DD/AAKC001030/
the final EIS in the Federal Register. Services, 1849 C Street NW, MS–4642– A0A501010.999900]
MIB, Washington, DC 20240, telephone
Next Steps Proclaiming Certain Lands as
(202) 208–3615.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
Reservation for the Pueblo of
Issuance of an ITP is a Federal
notice is published in the exercise of Pojoaque, New Mexico
proposed action subject to compliance
with NEPA. We will evaluate the authority delegated by the Secretary of
the Interior to the Assistant Secretary— AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs,
application, associated documents, and Interior.
the public comments we received to Indian Affairs by part 209 of the
determine whether the requirements of Departmental Manual. ACTION: Notice.
NEPA regulations and section 10(a) of A proclamation was issued according
the ESA have been met. If we determine to the Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 984; SUMMARY: This notice informs the public
that those requirements are met, we will 25 U.S.C. 5110) for the lands described that the Principal Deputy Assistant
below. These lands were proclaimed to Secretary—Indian Affairs, exercising the
issue a Record of Decision no sooner
be part of the reservation for the authority of the Assistant Secretary—
than 30 days after the EPA publishes
Spokane Tribe of the Spokane Indian Affairs, proclaimed
notice of the final EIS in the Federal Reservation in Spokane County,
Register. Subsequently, we will issue a approximately 323.763 acres, more or
Washington.
permit to the applicant for the less, an addition to the reservation of
incidental take of the Covered Species. Spokane Tribe of the Spokane the Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico on
Reservation, 1 Parcel, Willamette March 12, 2018.
Authority Meridian, Spokane County,
Washington, Legal Description FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
We publish this notice under the Sharlene M. Round Face, Bureau of
Containing 145 Acres, More or Less
National Environmental Policy Act of Indian Affairs, Division of Real Estate
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321–4347 West Plains Parcel (Tract 102–T–1368) Services, 1849 C Street NW, MS–4642–
et seq.), and its implementing The Southeast Quarter of Section 22, MIB, Washington, DC 20240, telephone
regulations at 40 CFR 1500–1508, as Township 25 North, Range 41 East, (202) 208–3615.
well as in compliance with section 10(c) W.M., in Spokane County, Washington
of the Endangered Species Act (16 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
EXCEPT that portion conveyed to the
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and its notice is published in the exercise of
State of Washington by deed dated June
implementing regulations at 40 CFR authority delegated by the Secretary of
19, 1929, recorded under Recording No.
17.22. 997235 and dated July 25, 1942, the Interior to the Assistant Secretary—
recorded under Recording No. 557182A; Indian Affairs by part 209 of the
Michael Fris, Departmental Manual. A proclamation
ALSO except that portion conveyed to
Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Spokane County for Craig Road by deed was issued according to the Act of June
Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region, recorded June 7, 1906, under Recording 18, 1934 (48 Stat. 986; 25 U.S.C. 5110)
nshattuck on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES

Sacramento, California. for the lands described below. The land
No. 146192; ALSO except the east 830
[FR Doc. 2018–09019 Filed 4–27–18; 8:45 am] feet of the South 497.5 feet of the was proclaimed to be the Pueblo of
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P Southeast Quarter of said Section 22, Pojoaque, New Mexico Reservation for
containing 145 acres, more or less after the Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico,
all exceptions. Santa Fe County and State of New
The above described lands contain a Mexico.
total of 145 acres, more or less, which

VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:01 Apr 27, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00086 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30APN1.SGM 30APN1

Document Created: 2018-04-28 01:04:15
Document Modified: 2018-04-28 01:04:15

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 of final environmental impact statement and final habitat conservation plan.
Dates		A record of decision will be signed no sooner than 30 days after the publication of this notice of availability in the Federal Register.
FR Citation		83 FR 18859

83 FR 18859 - Final Environmental Impact Statement, Final Habitat Conservation Plan; Yolo County, California

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 83 (April 30, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service