83 FR 30191 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake, County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 124 (June 27, 2018)

Page Range		30191-30191
FR Document		2018-13799

We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The City of Groveland is requesting a 10-year ITP for take of the sand skink. We request public comment on the permit application, which includes the proposed habitat conservation plan, as well as 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 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 30191]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13799]



[[Page 30191]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2018-N046; FXES11130400000EA-123-FF04EF1000]


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

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comment/information.

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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received an 
application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered 
Species Act of 1973, as amended. The City of Groveland is requesting a 
10-year ITP for take of the sand skink. We request public comment on 
the permit application, which includes the proposed habitat 
conservation plan, as well as 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 
July 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the application, including the HCP, as 
well as our environmental action statement or low-effect screening 
form, you may request the documents by email, U.S. mail, or phone. 
These documents are also available for public inspection by appointment 
during normal business hours at the office below. Send your comments or 
requests by any one of the following methods.
    Email: [email protected]. Use ``Attn: TE69161C-0.''
    Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731-3191, ``Attn: TE69161C-0.''
    U.S. mail: Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Ecological Services Field 
Office, Attn: TE69161C-0, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 7915 
Baymeadows Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
    In-person drop-off: You may drop off information during regular 
business hours at the above office 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 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 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. In 
addition to meeting other criteria, an incidental take permit's 
proposed actions must not jeopardize the existence of federally listed 
fish, wildlife, or plants.

Applicant's Proposal

    The City of Groveland is requesting a 10-year ITP to take 
approximately 1.57 acres (ac) of occupied sand skink (Neoseps 
reynoldsi) foraging and sheltering habitat incidental to construction 
of a fire station. The 5.0-ac project site is parcel Number 19-22-25-
000100005200, located within Section 19, Township 22 South, Range 25 
East in Lake County, Florida. The project includes the clearing, 
infrastructure building, and landscaping associated with construction. 
The applicant proposes to mitigate for the take of the threatened sand 
skink by purchasing 3.14 mitigation credits within Backbone 
Conservation Bank or another Service-approved sand skink conservation 
bank.

Our Preliminary Determination

    We have determined that the applicant's proposal, including the 
proposed mitigation and minimization measures, would have minor or 
negligible effects on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, we 
have determined that the incidental take permit for this project would 
be ``low effect'' and qualify for categorical exclusion under the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as provided by 43 CFR 46.205 
and 43 CFR 46.210. 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.

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 
whether issuance of the ITP would comply with section 7 of the ESA. We 
will use the results of this consultation, in combination with the 
above findings, in our final analysis to determine whether or not to 
issue the ITP. If the requirements are met, we will issue ITP number 
TE69161C-0 to the applicant.

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.

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. 2018-13799 Filed 6-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 43133-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 124 / Wednesday, June 27, 2018 / Notices 30191

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR our implementing regulations in the ESA. We will also conduct an intra-
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 50 Service consultation to evaluate
Fish and Wildlife Service CFR part 17 prohibit the ‘‘take’’ of fish whether issuance of the ITP would
[FWS–R4–ES–2018–N046; and wildlife species listed as comply with section 7 of the ESA. We
FXES11130400000EA–123–FF04EF1000] endangered or threatened. Take of listed will use the results of this consultation,
fish or wildlife is defined under the ESA in combination with the above findings,
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife as ‘‘to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, in our final analysis to determine
and Plants; Availability of Proposed wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or whether or not to issue the ITP. If the
Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan to attempt to engage in any such requirements are met, we will issue ITP
for the Sand Skink, Lake, County, FL conduct’’ (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). number TE69161C–0 to the applicant.
However, under limited circumstances,
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, we issue permits to authorize incidental Public Availability of Comments
Interior. take, i.e., take that is incidental to, and Before including your address, phone
ACTION: Notice of availability; request not the purpose of, the carrying out of number, email address, or other
for comment/information. an otherwise lawful activity. personal identifying information in your
Regulations governing incidental take comment, you should be aware that
SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife permits for endangered and threatened your entire comment—including your
Service (Service), have received an species are at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, personal identifying information—may
application for an incidental take permit respectively. In addition to meeting be made publicly available at any time.
(ITP) under the Endangered Species Act other criteria, an incidental take While you can ask us in your comment
of 1973, as amended. The City of permit’s proposed actions must not to withhold your personal identifying
Groveland is requesting a 10-year ITP jeopardize the existence of federally information from public review, we
for take of the sand skink. We request listed fish, wildlife, or plants. cannot guarantee that we will be able to
public comment on the permit do so.
application, which includes the Applicant’s Proposal
proposed habitat conservation plan, as The City of Groveland is requesting a Authority
well as on our preliminary 10-year ITP to take approximately 1.57 We provide this notice under section
determination that the plan qualifies as acres (ac) of occupied sand skink 10 of the ESA and NEPA regulation 40
low-effect under the National (Neoseps reynoldsi) foraging and CFR 1506.6.
Environmental Policy Act. To make this sheltering habitat incidental to
determination, we used our construction of a fire station. The 5.0-ac Jay B. Herrington,
environmental action statement and project site is parcel Number 19–22–25– Field Supervisor, Jacksonville Field Office,
low-effect screening form, which are 000100005200, located within Section Southeast Region.
also available for review. 19, Township 22 South, Range 25 East [FR Doc. 2018–13799 Filed 6–26–18; 8:45 am]

DATES: To ensure consideration, please in Lake County, Florida. The project BILLING CODE 43133–15–P

send your written comments by July 27, includes the clearing, infrastructure
2018. building, and landscaping associated
with construction. The applicant DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
ADDRESSES: If you wish to review the
application, including the HCP, as well proposes to mitigate for the take of the Bureau of Land Management
as our environmental action statement threatened sand skink by purchasing
3.14 mitigation credits within Backbone [18X.LLID957000
or low-effect screening form, you may
Conservation Bank or another Service- .L14400000.BJ0000.241A.X.4500121930]
request the documents by email, U.S.
mail, or phone. These documents are approved sand skink conservation bank.
Filing of Plats of Survey: Idaho
also available for public inspection by Our Preliminary Determination
appointment during normal business AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
We have determined that the Interior.
hours at the office below. Send your
applicant’s proposal, including the
comments or requests by any one of the ACTION: Notice.
proposed mitigation and minimization
following methods.
measures, would have minor or SUMMARY: The plats of survey of the
Email: northflorida@fws.gov. Use
negligible effects on the species covered following described lands are scheduled
‘‘Attn: TE69161C–0.’’
in the HCP. Therefore, we have to be officially filed in the Bureau of
Fax: Field Supervisor, (904) 731–
determined that the incidental take Land Management, Idaho State Office,
3191, ‘‘Attn: TE69161C–0.’’
permit for this project would be ‘‘low Boise, Idaho, in 30 days from the date
U.S. mail: Field Supervisor,
effect’’ and qualify for categorical of this publication.
Jacksonville Ecological Services Field
exclusion under the National
Office, Attn: TE69161C–0, U.S. Fish and Boise Meridian, Idaho
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as
Wildlife Service, 7915 Baymeadows T. 3 N., R. 18 E., Sections 10, 15 and 22,
provided by 43 CFR 46.205 and 43 CFR
Way, Suite 200, Jacksonville, FL 32256. accepted May 24, 2018
46.210. A low-effect HCP is one
In-person drop-off: You may drop off T. 8 N., R. 5 W., Section 12, accepted May
involving (1) minor or negligible effects
information during regular business 24, 2018
on federally listed or candidate species
hours at the above office address. ADDRESSES: A copy of the plats may be
and their habitats, and (2) minor or
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin negligible effects on other obtained from the Public Room at the
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731–3121; environmental values or resources. Bureau of Land Management, Idaho
email: erin_gawera@fws.gov. State Office, 1387 S. Vinnell Way, Boise,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Next Steps Idaho 83709, upon required payment.
We will evaluate the HCP and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Background comments we receive to determine Timothy A. Quincy, 208–373–3981
Section 9 of the Endangered Species whether the ITP application meets the Branch of Cadastral Survey, Bureau of
Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and requirements of section 10(a) of the Land Management, 1387 South Vinnell

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:58 Jun 26, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00097 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM 27JNN1

Document Created: 2018-11-06 09:52:34
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 09:52:34

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 comment/information.
Dates		To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by July 27, 2018.
Contact		Erin M. Gawera, telephone: (904) 731- 3121; email: [email protected]
FR Citation		83 FR 30191

83 FR 30191 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Availability of Proposed Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan for the Sand Skink, Lake, County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORFish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 124 (June 27, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service