83 FR 31170 - Environmental Impact Statement for the American Electric Power American Burying-Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 128 (July 3, 2018)
Fish and Wildlife Service
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 128 (July 3, 2018)
| Page Range | 31170-31172 | |
| FR Document | 2018-14254 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 3, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 31170-31172] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-14254] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Fish and Wildlife Service [Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2017-0105; FXES11140200000-189-FF02ENEH00] Environmental Impact Statement for the American Electric Power American Burying-Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability: Notice of receipt of a permit application; and announcement of public meetings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the availability of the environmental impact statement (EIS) and habitat conservation [[Page 31171]] plan (HCP) for incidental take permit (ITP) application under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. American Electric Power (AEP) requested a 30-year American burying beetle (ABB) ITP in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. If granted, the ITP would authorize ABB take resulting from AEP's electrical lines and support facilities repair, maintenance, and construction, as well as activities carried out as part of the HCP's conservation strategy. DATES: Comments: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before August 17, 2018. Comments submitted electronically at http://www.regulations.gov (see Public Participation under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the closing date. Any comments we receive after the closing date may not be considered in the final decision on these actions. ADDRESSES: See Public Participation under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for how to obtain documents for review and submit comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor, via U.S. mail at Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 E 21st St., Tulsa, OK 74129; or via phone at 918-581-7458. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the availability of several documents related to an incidental take permit (ITP) application under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). American Electric Power (AEP) requested a 30-year American burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus; ABB) ITP in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. If granted, the ITP would authorize ABB incidental take resulting from AEP's electrical lines and support facilities repair, maintenance, and construction, as well as activities carried out as part of the HCP's conservation strategy. In addition to this notice of the environmental impact statement (EIS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a notice announcing the EIS, as required under the Clean Air Act, section 309 (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.; see EPA's Role in the EIS Process below). Background Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations prohibit ``take'' of fish and wildlife species listed as threatened or endangered. However, section 10(a) authorizes us to issue permits to take listed wildlife species where take is incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities and where the applicant meets certain statutory requirements. We prepared a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare a EIS for American Electric Power's (AEP) habitat conservation plan (HCP), which was published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 6625). We held four public scoping meetings throughout the Plan Area in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas in February 2017. We incorporated issues identified during the initial scoping meetings into the EIS, dated March 2018. You can find a summary of the comments we received during the scoping period in the EIS, Appendix D. Proposed Action Our proposed Federal action evaluated in the EIS is approving AEP's HCP and issuing an incidental take permit (ITP) under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. The ITP would authorize ABB incidental take that may result from covered activities in the plan area over the 30- year ITP term. EPA's Role in the EIS Process In addition to our publication of this notice, EPA is publishing a notice in the Federal Register announcing the EIS for American Electric Power's American-burying Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas, as required under the Clean Air Act, section 309. The EPA's publication date of the notice of availability is the official beginning of the public comment period. The EPA is charged with reviewing all Federal agencies' EISs and commenting on the adequacy and acceptability of the environmental impacts of proposed actions in EISs. The EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs which Federal agencies prepare. All EISs must be filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of availability on Fridays in the Federal Register. For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/nepa. You may search for EPA comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search. Public Participation Public Meetings We will hold four public meetings, one each in McAlester, OK; Texarkana, TX; Little Rock, AR; and Tulsa, OK, during the public comment period. The dates, times, and specific locations of the meetings will be announced in local newspapers at least two weeks before the meetings and will also be posted on our Oklahoma website, at https://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Oklahoma/. The public meetings will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Please direct requests for reasonable accommodations (e.g., auxiliary aids or sign language interpretation) to Larry Levesque, by phone at 918-382-4509 or via email at [email protected], at least 5 working days prior to the date of the meeting you wish to attend. Obtaining Documents for ReviewEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP): You may obtain copies of the EIS and HCP by any of the following methods. Internet: http://www.regulations.gov (search for Docket No. FWS-R2- ES-2017-0105). http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Oklahoma (search for permit number TE81211C-0). U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor (at the address in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT; reference ``OKES HCP EIS; TE81211C-0''). In-Person: Copies of the EIS and HCP are also available for public inspection and review at the following locations, by appointment and written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office (at the address in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 500 Gold Avenue SW, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (telephone: 505-248-6920). Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 C St. NW, Washington, DC 20240. Incidental Take Permit Application: You may obtain copies of the incidental take permit application by any of the following methods. U.S. Mail: Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103 (attention: Environmental Review Branch). Email: [email protected]. Public Comments: View submitted comments on http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2017-0105. Comments on the EIS from the Environmental Protection Agency: For how to view comments on the EIS from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), or for information on EPA's role in the EIS process, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. Submitting Comments You may submit written comments by one of the following methods: Internet: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the [[Page 31172]] instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2017-0105. Hard Copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2017-0105; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. Public Meetings: We will also accept written and oral comments at four public meetings, to be announced. We request that you submit comments by only the methods described above. We will post all information received on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means we will post any personal information you provide us (see Public Availability of Comments). Public Availability of Comments Written comments we receive become part of the public record associated with this action. 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 request in your comment that we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public disclosure in their entirety. Authority: We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). Amy L. Lueders, Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [FR Doc. 2018-14254 Filed 7-2-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
![31170 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 3, 2018 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 4. Establishes that HUD will Housing Notice 2015–04, but the PHA
William A. Lavy, Director, Program disapprove a proposed conversion must ensure that the Utility Allowance
Administration Division, Office of where a PHA is using 24 CFR 970.17(b) is calculated correctly.
Recapitalization, Office of Multifamily or 970.17(c) to dispose of other units at
IV. Revised Program Notice
Programs, Department of Housing and a proposed project and HUD determines
Availability
Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street that the PHA’s use of both RAD and
SW, Room 6230, Washington, DC 20410; disposition under those sections The RAD Supplemental Notice (PIH
telephone 202–708–0614. (This is not a undermines the unit replacement 2018–11/H 2018–05) can be found on
toll-free number.) Individuals with requirements of the RAD program. RAD’s website, www.hud.gov/RAD.
speech or hearing impairments may 5. Creates a streamlined conversion
option for PHAs that have a very small V. Finding of No Significant Impact
access this number through TTY by
calling the toll-free Federal Relay public housing portfolio of 50 units or A Finding of No Significant Impact
Service at 1–800–877–8339. To assure a less that will not involve any (FONSI) with respect to the
timely response, HUD recommends that rehabilitation, new construction, or environment has been made in
requests for further information be relocation. accordance with HUD regulations in 24
submitted electronically to the email CFR part 50, which implemented
III. New Waivers and Alternative
address rad@hud.gov. section 102(2)(C) of the National
Requirements
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The RAD Statute provides that U.S.C. 4332(2)(C)). The FONSI is
I. Background waivers and alternative requirements available for public inspection during
authorized under the First Component regular business hours in the
RAD, authorized by the Consolidated must be published by notice in the
and Further Continuing Appropriations Regulations Division, Office of General
Federal Register no later than 10 days Counsel, Department of Housing and
Act, 2012 (Pub. L. 122–55, signed before the effective date of such notice.
November 18, 2011) (2012 Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW,
Under the Second Component of RAD, Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410–
Appropriations Act), allows for the HUD is authorized to waive or alter the
conversion of assistance under the 0500. Due to security measures at the
provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (D) HUD Headquarters building, please
public housing, Rent Supplement (Rent of section 8(o)(13) of the United States
Supp), Rental Assistance (RAP), schedule an appointment to review the
Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f) FONSI by calling the Regulations
Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab), (the 1937 Act).
and Mod Rehab Single Room Division at (202) 708–3055 (this is not
HUD has previously published its a toll-free number). Individuals with
Occupancy (SRO) programs waivers and alternative requirements for
(collectively, ‘‘covered programs’’) to speech or hearing impairments may
RAD, on July 26, 2012 (77 FR 43850), access this number via TTY by calling
long-term, renewable assistance under July 2, 2013 (78 FR 39759), June 26,
Section 8. The most recent version of the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877–
2015 (80 FR 36830), and January 19, 8339.
the RAD program notice is PIH 2012– 2017 (82 FR 6615). This notice only
32/Housing 2017–03, REV–3, located at includes waivers and alternative Dated: June 22, 2018.
https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/ requirements not previously published Dominique Blom,
RAD_Notice_Rev3_Final.docx. or that have changed from previous General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public
publications. Although waivers or and Indian Housing.
II. Key Changes
alternative requirements under the Brian Montgomery,
The following highlights key changes Second Component are not subject to a Assistant Secretary for Housing, Federal
to the RAD program that are included in Federal Register publication Housing Commissioner.
the Supplemental Program Notice: requirement, the new Second [FR Doc. 2018–14210 Filed 7–2–18; 8:45 am]
First Component (Public Housing Component waivers and alternative BILLING CODE 4210–67–P
Conversions) requirements are included in this notice
as a matter of convenience.
1. Expands the rent setting flexibility The new waiver and alternative
referred to as Rent Bundling in the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
requirement is:
current RAD program notice PIH 2012– 1. PBV Site-Specific Utility Fish and Wildlife Service
32/Housing 2017–03 to permit PHAs to Allowances. Provisions affected: 24 CFR
rent bundle between RAD Project-Based 983.301(f)(2)(ii), 24 CFR 983.2(c)(6)(iii) [Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2017–0105;
Voucher (PBV) and non-RAD PBV and 24 CFR 982.517; RAD FXES11140200000–189–FF02ENEH00]
projects. Under this provision, rents of Implementation Notice, Attachment 1C:
non-RAD PBV contracts are reduced by Environmental Impact Statement for
Calculation of HAP Contract Rents for
the equivalent increase to the RAD PBV the American Electric Power American
Conversions of Assistance from Public
initial contract rents. Burying-Beetle Habitat Conservation
Housing to PBRA or PBV. Waiver: HUD
Plan in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and
2. Permits PHAs to establish project- has determined that the specified
Texas
specific utility allowances for Covered sections of its regulations will not apply
Projects. When a RAD conversion to RAD conversions to Project Based AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
results in the reduction of one or more Vouchers (PBV). Alternative Interior.
utility components used to establish the requirements: The Utility Allowance
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
ACTION: Notice of availability: Notice of
utility allowance, HUD will permit the shall be calculated in the manner receipt of a permit application; and
RAD contract rent to be increased by a specified in Housing Notice H–2015–04 announcement of public meetings.
portion of the utility savings. (June 22, 2015) unless PIH promulgates
3. Provides alternative developer fee utility allowance guidance specific to SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
limits when a PHA adopts a waiting list the PBV program. The Project Owner Wildlife Service (FWS), announce the
preference for households exiting may carry out all activities of owners availability of the environmental impact
homelessness. and management agents associated with statement (EIS) and habitat conservation
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![31172 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 3, 2018 / Notices
instructions for submitting comments membership on the Sport Fishing and among government, industry, anglers,
on Docket No. FWS–R2–ES–2017–0105. Boating Partnership Council (Council). boaters, and the public.
• Hard Copy: Submit by U.S. mail or DATES: Written nominations must be g. Providing recommendations for
hand-delivery to Public Comments postmarked by July 24, 2018. implementation of Secretary’s Order
Processing, Attn: FWS–R2–ES–2017– ADDRESSES: Please address your 3347—Conservation Stewardship and
0105; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service nomination letters to Mr. Greg Sheehan, Outdoor Recreation, and Secretary’s
Headquarters, MS: BPHC; 5275 Leesburg Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Order 3356—Hunting, Fishing,
Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–3803. Wildlife Service. Submit your Recreational Shooting, and Wildlife
• Public Meetings: We will also Conservation Opportunities and
nomination letters via U.S. mail or
accept written and oral comments at Coordination with States, Tribes, and
hand-delivery to Linda Friar, Designated
four public meetings, to be announced. Territories.
We request that you submit comments Federal Officer; Sport Fishing and
Boating Partnership Council; U.S. Fish h. Providing recommendations for
by only the methods described above. implementation of regulatory reform
We will post all information received on and Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg
Pike, Mailstop 3C016A–FAC; Falls initiatives and policies specified in
http://www.regulations.gov. This section 2 of Executive Order 13777—
generally means we will post any Church, VA 22041–3803.
Reducing Regulation and Controlling
personal information you provide us FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Regulatory Costs; Executive Order
(see Public Availability of Comments). Linda Friar, at the above address, via 12866—Regulatory Planning and
email at linda_friar@fws.gov, or by Review, as amended; and section 6 of
Public Availability of Comments telephone at (703) 358–2056. Executive Order 13563—Improving
Written comments we receive become SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Regulation and Regulatory Review.
part of the public record associated with Secretary seeks nominations for
this action. Before including your individuals to be considered for Council Makeup
address, phone number, email address, membership on the Council. The The Director of the U.S. Fish and
or other personal identifying Council advises the Secretary, through Wildlife Service, and the President of
information in your comment, you the Director, on aquatic conservation the Association of Fish and Wildlife
should be aware that your entire endeavors that benefit recreational Agencies are ex officio members. The
comment—including your personal fishery resources and recreational Council may consist of no more than 18
identifying information—may be made boating and that encourage partnerships members and up to 16 alternates
publicly available at any time. While among industry, the public, and appointed by the Secretary for a term
you can request in your comment that government. The Council conducts its not to exceed 3 years. Appointees will
we withhold your personal identifying operations in accordance with the be selected from among, but not limited
information from public review, we provisions of the Federal Advisory to, the following national interest
cannot guarantee that we will be able to Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). The groups:
do so. All submissions from Council functions solely as an advisory a. State fish and wildlife resource
organizations or businesses, and from body. Current members’ terms expire management agencies (two members—
individuals identifying themselves as August 29, 2018. one a Director of a coastal State, and one
representatives or officials of a Director of an inland State);
organizations or businesses, will be Council Duties
b. Saltwater and freshwater
made available for public disclosure in The Council’s duties and recreational fishing organizations;
their entirety. responsibilities, where applicable, are as c. Recreational boating organizations;
Authority: We provide this notice under follows: d. Recreational fishing and boating
section 10(c) of the ESA and its a. Providing advice that will assist the industries;
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and Secretary in carrying out the authorities e. Recreational fishery resources
17.32) and NEPA and its implementing of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956. conservation organizations;
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). b. Fulfilling responsibilities f. Tribal resource management
established by Executive Order 12962: organizations;
Amy L. Lueders,
(1) Monitoring specific Federal g. Aquatic resource outreach and
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. activities affecting aquatic systems and education organizations; and
Fish and Wildlife Service.
the recreational fisheries they support. h. The tourism industry.
[FR Doc. 2018–14254 Filed 7–2–18; 8:45 am] (2) Reviewing and evaluating the
Nomination Method and Eligibility
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P relation of Federal policies and
activities to the status and conditions of Members will be senior-level
recreational fishery resources. representatives of recreational fishing,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR c. Recommending policies or boating, and aquatic resources
programs to increase public awareness conservation organizations, and must
Fish and Wildlife Service have the ability to represent their
and support for the Sport Fish
[FWS–HQ–FAC–2018–N074; FF09F42300– Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. designated constituencies. Nominations
FVWF97920900000–XXX] d. Recommending policies or should include a resume that provides
programs that foster conservation and contact information and a description of
Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership ethics in recreational fishing and the nominee’s qualifications that would
Council; Call for Nominations enable the Department of the Interior to
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
boating.
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, e. Recommending policies or make an informed decision regarding
Interior. programs to stimulate angler and boater the candidate’s suitability to serve on
ACTION: Call for nominations. participation in the conservation and the Council. Current members are
restoration of aquatic resources through eligible to be renominated and
SUMMARY: The Secretary of the Interior outreach and education. reappointed to the Council. Individuals
(Secretary) seeks nominations for f. Advising how the Secretary can who are federally registered lobbyists
individuals to be considered for foster communication and coordination are ineligible to serve on all FACA and
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Document Created: 2018-07-02 23:56:23
Document Modified: 2018-07-02 23:56:23
| 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: Notice of receipt of a permit application; and announcement of public meetings. | |
| Dates | Comments: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or before August 17, 2018. Comments submitted electronically at http:// www.regulations.gov (see Public Participation under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on the closing date. Any comments we receive after the closing date may not be considered in the final decision on these actions. | |
| Contact | Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor, via U.S. mail at Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 E 21st St., Tulsa, OK 74129; or via phone at 918-581-7458. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 31170 |
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