83 FR 24487 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of Survival Permit Application; Centennial Valley Arctic Grayling Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances, and Draft Environmental Assessment
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 103 (May 29, 2018)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 103 (May 29, 2018)
| Page Range | 24487-24488 | |
| FR Document | 2018-11367 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 24487-24488] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-11367] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [FWS-R6-ES-2017-N031; FF06E11000-178-FXES111606C0000] Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Enhancement of Survival Permit Application; Centennial Valley Arctic Grayling Candidate Conservation Agreement With Assurances, and Draft Environmental Assessment AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are announcing the availability of the following documents for review and comment by the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments:Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Arctic Grayling in the Centennial Valley, Montana (Centennial Valley CCAA), and Draft Environment Assessment of the Centennial Valley CCAA (EA). The Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), and local partners prepared the draft Centennial Valley CCAA to give non-Federal landowners the opportunity to voluntarily conserve Arctic grayling (a fish species) and its habitat in the Centennial Valley, Montana. The MFWP is applying for an enhancement of survival permit under the ESA to enroll landowners in the Centennial Valley CCAA. To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Service prepared the draft EA. DATES: Written comments must be submitted by June 28, 2018. ADDRESSES: To request further information or send written comments, please use one of the following methods, and note that your information request or comments are in reference to the Centennial Valley CCAA. [cir] Internet: Documents may be viewed on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/ea/newsAndReleases.php. [cir] U.S. Mail: James Boyd, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, Montana Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 585 Shepard Way, Suite 1, Helena, MT 59601. [cir] Email: [email protected]. Include ``Centennial Valley CCAA'' in the subject line of the message. [cir] In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Documents will be available for public inspection by appointment (406-547-5225, ext. 216) during normal business hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana Field Office, 585 Shepard Way, Suite 1, Helena, MT 59601. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Boyd, Montana Ecological Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 406-547-6008; or email: [email protected]. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are announcing the availability of the following documents for review and comment by the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments: Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for Arctic Grayling in the Centennial Valley, Montana (Centennial Valley CCAA), and Draft Environment Assessment of the Centennial Valley CCAA (EA). The Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP), and local partners prepared the Centennial Valley CCAA to give non-Federal landowners the opportunity to voluntarily conserve Arctic grayling (a fish species) and its habitat in the Centennial Valley, Montana. Participating landowners would implement certain conservation measures to reduce or eliminate threats to the Arctic grayling on their property related to ranching activities and associated water uses. In return, the Service would give participating landowners regulatory assurances that it will not impose land or water use restrictions or conservation requirements beyond those in the CCAA, if the Arctic grayling becomes listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). MFWP is applying for an enhancement of survival permit under the ESA, to enroll landowners in the Centennial Valley CCAA with certificates of inclusion. To comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we prepared a draft EA that analyzes potential impacts to the human environment from the proposed Centennial Valley CCAA and a no-action alternative. We determined that the Upper Missouri River Distinct Population Segment of the Arctic grayling was not warranted for listing under the ESA, and announced that finding in the Federal Register on August 20, 2014 (79 FR 49384). However, Federal and State resource agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and private landowners are continuing conservation efforts for the Arctic grayling in Montana. Although the Arctic grayling is not currently a candidate species, our regulations at 50 CFR 17.22(d)(1) and [[Page 24488]] our CCAA policy (December 27, 2016; 81 FR 95169) encourage the conservation of at-risk species. The population of Arctic grayling in the Centennial Valley in Beaverhead County, Montana, is increasing in distribution in and around Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). However, reduced stream flows, degraded and non-functioning instream and riparian habitats, barriers to Arctic grayling movement, and entrainment of Arctic grayling in irrigation ditches on non-Federal lands surrounding the Refuge are likely inhibiting further increases in distribution and abundance in the Centennial Valley. Thus, the Service and MFWP developed the programmatic Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for Arctic Grayling in the Centennial Valley, to encourage landowners to voluntarily implement conservation measures to alleviate these limiting factors on their properties. A CCAA is an agreement between the Service, partners, and landowners for voluntary management of non-Federal lands to remove or reduce threats to species that may become listed under the ESA. In return for implementing conservation measures in a CCAA, the Service gives participants assurances that, should the covered species become listed, the Service would not impose land, water, or resource use restrictions or conservation requirements beyond those agreed to in the CCAA. Under the Centennial Valley CCAA, the Service would issue MFWP an Enhancement of Survival Permit (permit) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA effective for 20 years. MFWP would enroll interested non- Federal landowners under the permit with Certificates of Inclusion (CI) contingent on development of a site-specific conservation plan for the enrolled property. The CI would convey to the enrolled landowner a specified level of authorized take of Arctic grayling that may result from implementation of the conservation measures in the site-specific plan, if and when the species becomes listed. National Environmental Policy Act Compliance The proposed issuance of a permit with its associated CCAA is a Federal action that requires us to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Therefore, we prepared a draft environmental assessment that evaluates the potential impacts of issuing the permit and implementing the Centennial Valley CCAA on the human environment. We are requesting a 30-day public review and comment on drafts of the EA and CCAA (see DATES and ADDRESSES). Public Comments You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. We request data, comments, new information, or suggestions from the public, other concerned governmental agencies, the scientific community, Tribes, industry, or any other interested party on our proposed Federal action. Public Availability of Comments All comments and materials we receive become part of the public record associated with this action. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in your comments, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your PII--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your PII from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting documentation we use in preparing the EA, will be available for public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at our Montana Field Office (see ADDRESSES). Next Steps After reviewing public comments, we will evaluate whether the proposed action in the draft EA is adequate to support a finding of no significant impact under NEPA or we should prepare an environmental impact statement. As part of the basis for that determination, we will conduct an intra-Service consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the ESA to determine whether the proposed permit action and CCAA would jeopardize the continued existence of the Arctic grayling or any other candidate, proposed, or listed species that may be affected. We will then determine whether implementation of the proposed CCAA would meet the requirements for issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(A) permit (50 CFR 17.22(d)(2)). 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. Authority We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of section 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and their implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32; 40 CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR 46, respectively). Marjorie Nelson, Chief--Ecological Services, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Lakewood, Colorado. [FR Doc. 2018-11367 Filed 5-25-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 29, 2018 / Notices 24487
are to respond, including through the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Service, Montana Field Office, 585
use of appropriate automated, Shepard Way, Suite 1, Helena, MT
electronic, mechanical, or other Fish and Wildlife Service 59601.
technological collection techniques or [FWS–R6–ES–2017–N031; FF06E11000– FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
other forms of information technology, 178–FXES111606C0000] James Boyd, Montana Ecological
e.g., permitting electronic submission of Services Field Office (see ADDRESSES),
responses. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife telephone: 406–547–6008; or email:
Overview of This Information and Plants; Enhancement of Survival james_boyd@fws.gov. If you use a
Collection Permit Application; Centennial Valley telecommunications device for the deaf,
Arctic Grayling Candidate please call the Federal Relay Service at
(1) Type of Information Collection: Conservation Agreement With
Revision of a Currently Approved 800–877–8339.
Assurances, and Draft Environmental SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
Collection. Assessment
(2) Title of the Form/Collection: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service),
Request for Certification of Military or AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, are announcing the availability of the
Naval Service. Interior. following documents for review and
(3) Agency form number, if any, and ACTION: Notice of availability; request comment by the public and Federal,
the applicable component of the DHS for comments. Tribal, State, and local governments:
sponsoring the collection: N–426; • Candidate Conservation Agreement
USCIS. SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and with Assurances for Arctic Grayling in
(4) Affected public who will be asked Wildlife Service (Service), are the Centennial Valley, Montana
or required to respond, as well as a brief announcing the availability of the (Centennial Valley CCAA), and
abstract: Primary: Individuals or following documents for review and • Draft Environment Assessment of
households. The Form N–426 is used by comment by the public and Federal, the Centennial Valley CCAA (EA).
naturalization applicants to document Tribal, State, and local governments: The Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife
honorable service in the U.S. Armed • Candidate Conservation Agreement and Parks (MFWP), and local partners
Forces. The form is filed with U.S. with Assurances for Arctic Grayling in prepared the Centennial Valley CCAA to
Citizenship and Immigration Services the Centennial Valley, Montana give non-Federal landowners the
(USCIS) when the respondent applies (Centennial Valley CCAA), and opportunity to voluntarily conserve
for naturalization with USCIS Form N– • Draft Environment Assessment of Arctic grayling (a fish species) and its
400, Application for Naturalization the Centennial Valley CCAA (EA). habitat in the Centennial Valley,
(OMB Control Number 1615–0052). The The Service, Montana Fish, Wildlife Montana. Participating landowners
Department of Defense (DOD) record and Parks (MFWP), and local partners would implement certain conservation
centers or personnel offices verify and prepared the draft Centennial Valley measures to reduce or eliminate threats
certify the applicant’s military or naval CCAA to give non-Federal landowners to the Arctic grayling on their property
service information provided on Form the opportunity to voluntarily conserve related to ranching activities and
N–426. USCIS reviews the form as part Arctic grayling (a fish species) and its associated water uses. In return, the
of the process to determine the habitat in the Centennial Valley, Service would give participating
applicant’s eligibility for naturalization. Montana. The MFWP is applying for an landowners regulatory assurances that it
USCIS also collects biometric enhancement of survival permit under will not impose land or water use
information from respondents to verify the ESA to enroll landowners in the restrictions or conservation
their identity and check or update their Centennial Valley CCAA. To comply requirements beyond those in the
background information. with the National Environmental Policy CCAA, if the Arctic grayling becomes
(5) An estimate of the total number of Act, the Service prepared the draft EA. listed under the Endangered Species Act
respondents and the amount of time DATES: Written comments must be (ESA). MFWP is applying for an
estimated for an average respondent to submitted by June 28, 2018. enhancement of survival permit under
respond: The estimated total number of ADDRESSES: To request further the ESA, to enroll landowners in the
respondents for the information information or send written comments, Centennial Valley CCAA with
collection N–426 is 10,000 and the please use one of the following certificates of inclusion. To comply with
estimated hour burden per response is methods, and note that your information the National Environmental Policy Act
.75 hours. request or comments are in reference to (NEPA), we prepared a draft EA that
(6) An estimate of the total public analyzes potential impacts to the human
the Centennial Valley CCAA.
burden (in hours) associated with the Æ Internet: Documents may be viewed environment from the proposed
collection: The total estimated annual on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/ Centennial Valley CCAA and a no-
hour burden associated with this mountain-prairie/ea/ action alternative.
collection is 7,500 hours. newsAndReleases.php. We determined that the Upper
(7) An estimate of the total public Æ U.S. Mail: James Boyd, Fish and Missouri River Distinct Population
burden (in cost) associated with the Wildlife Biologist, Montana Ecological Segment of the Arctic grayling was not
collection: The estimated total annual Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and warranted for listing under the ESA, and
cost burden associated with this Wildlife Service, 585 Shepard Way, announced that finding in the Federal
collection of information is $245,000. Suite 1, Helena, MT 59601. Register on August 20, 2014 (79 FR
Dated: May 22, 2018. Æ Email: james_boyd@fws.gov. 49384). However, Federal and State
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Samantha L. Deshommes, Include ‘‘Centennial Valley CCAA’’ in resource agencies, nongovernmental
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, the subject line of the message. conservation organizations, and private
Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship Æ In-Person Viewing or Pickup: landowners are continuing conservation
and Immigration Services, Department of Documents will be available for public efforts for the Arctic grayling in
Homeland Security. inspection by appointment (406–547– Montana. Although the Arctic grayling
[FR Doc. 2018–11380 Filed 5–25–18; 8:45 am] 5225, ext. 216) during normal business is not currently a candidate species, our
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P hours at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife regulations at 50 CFR 17.22(d)(1) and
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![24488 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 103 / Tuesday, May 29, 2018 / Notices
our CCAA policy (December 27, 2016; a 30-day public review and comment on and 17.32; 40 CFR 1506.6 and 43 CFR
81 FR 95169) encourage the drafts of the EA and CCAA (see DATES 46, respectively).
conservation of at-risk species. and ADDRESSES).
The population of Arctic grayling in Marjorie Nelson,
the Centennial Valley in Beaverhead Public Comments Chief—Ecological Services, Mountain-Prairie
County, Montana, is increasing in Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
You may submit your comments and Lakewood, Colorado.
distribution in and around Red Rock materials by one of the methods listed [FR Doc. 2018–11367 Filed 5–25–18; 8:45 am]
Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). in the ADDRESSES section. We request
However, reduced stream flows, BILLING CODE 4333–15–P
data, comments, new information, or
degraded and non-functioning instream suggestions from the public, other
and riparian habitats, barriers to Arctic concerned governmental agencies, the
grayling movement, and entrainment of DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
scientific community, Tribes, industry,
Arctic grayling in irrigation ditches on or any other interested party on our Bureau of Land Management
non-Federal lands surrounding the proposed Federal action.
Refuge are likely inhibiting further [17X.LLAZA01000.L54400000.EQ0000.
increases in distribution and abundance Public Availability of Comments LVCLA17ZNAA0; AZA–024176]
in the Centennial Valley. Thus, the All comments and materials we
Service and MFWP developed the Notice of Realty Action: Proposed
receive become part of the public record Mesquite, Nevada Airport Lease
programmatic Candidate Conservation associated with this action. Before
Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) for Renewal/Amendment
including your address, phone number,
Arctic Grayling in the Centennial email address, or other personally AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Valley, to encourage landowners to identifiable information (PII) in your Interior.
voluntarily implement conservation comments, you should be aware that ACTION: Notice of realty action.
measures to alleviate these limiting your entire comment—including your
factors on their properties. PII—may be made publicly available at SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
A CCAA is an agreement between the Management (BLM) has examined and
any time. While you can ask us in your
Service, partners, and landowners for found suitable for lease to the City of
comment to withhold your PII from
voluntary management of non-Federal Mesquite, Nevada, for airport purposes
public review, we cannot guarantee that
lands to remove or reduce threats to under the Act of May 24, 1928, as
we will be able to do so. Comments and
species that may become listed under amended, a parcel of public land
materials we receive, as well as
the ESA. In return for implementing located in Mohave County, Arizona,
supporting documentation we use in
conservation measures in a CCAA, the totaling approximately 6.005 acres. The
Service gives participants assurances preparing the EA, will be available for
public inspection by appointment, City of Mesquite has applied for a
that, should the covered species become renewal lease and to amend its lease to
listed, the Service would not impose during normal business hours, at our
Montana Field Office (see ADDRESSES). bring it into Federal Aviation
land, water, or resource use restrictions Administration (FAA) safety
or conservation requirements beyond Next Steps compliance standards.
those agreed to in the CCAA. DATES: Interested parties may submit
Under the Centennial Valley CCAA, After reviewing public comments, we
will evaluate whether the proposed written comments regarding the
the Service would issue MFWP an proposed lease renewal and amendment
Enhancement of Survival Permit action in the draft EA is adequate to
support a finding of no significant to the existing lease on or before July 13,
(permit) under section 10(a)(1)(A) of the 2018.
ESA effective for 20 years. MFWP impact under NEPA or we should
prepare an environmental impact ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this
would enroll interested non-Federal
statement. As part of the basis for that notice should be addressed to Lorraine
landowners under the permit with
determination, we will conduct an intra- M. Christian, Field Manager, BLM
Certificates of Inclusion (CI) contingent
Service consultation under section Arizona Strip Field Office, 345 East
on development of a site-specific
7(a)(2) of the ESA to determine whether Riverside Dr., St. George, UT 84790.
conservation plan for the enrolled
property. The CI would convey to the the proposed permit action and CCAA FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
enrolled landowner a specified level of would jeopardize the continued Amanda Harrington, Assistant Field
authorized take of Arctic grayling that existence of the Arctic grayling or any Office Manager, at the above address;
may result from implementation of the other candidate, proposed, or listed phone 435–688–3271; or by email at
conservation measures in the site- species that may be affected. We will asharrin@blm.gov. Persons who use a
specific plan, if and when the species then determine whether implementation telecommunications device for the deaf
becomes listed. of the proposed CCAA would meet the (TDD) may call the Federal Relay
requirements for issuance of a section Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
National Environmental Policy Act 10(a)(1)(A) permit (50 CFR 17.22(d)(2)). contact the above individual during
Compliance We will not make our final decision normal business hours. The FRS is
The proposed issuance of a permit until after the end of the 30-day public available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
with its associated CCAA is a Federal comment period, and we will fully to leave a message or question for the
action that requires us to comply with consider all comments we receive above individual. You will receive a
the National Environmental Policy Act during the public comment period. reply during normal business hours.
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
Authority
Therefore, we prepared a draft has examined and found the following
environmental assessment that We provide this notice in accordance described public land in Mohave
evaluates the potential impacts of with the requirements of section 10(c) of County, Arizona, suitable for lease
issuing the permit and implementing the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and under the Act of May 24, 1928, as
the Centennial Valley CCAA on the NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and their amended (49 U.S.C. Appendix 211–
human environment. We are requesting implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 213), and 43 CFR 2911:
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Document Created: 2018-05-26 00:48:18
Document Modified: 2018-05-26 00:48:18
| 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 must be submitted by June 28, 2018. | |
| Contact | James Boyd, Montana Ecological | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 24487 |
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