83_FR_4696 83 FR 4674 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit Application, Habitat Conservation Plan for Skink Species, and Environmental Assessment for Roadway Relocation in Polk County, FL

83 FR 4674 - Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit Application, Habitat Conservation Plan for Skink Species, and Environmental Assessment for Roadway Relocation in Polk County, FL

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 22 (February 1, 2018)

Page Range4674-4675
FR Document2018-02015

Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), we, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the receipt and availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan and environmental assessment related to an application for a permit associated with relocation of a 1.3-mile segment of Dude Ranch Road (project) located in Polk County, Florida. If issued, the permit would authorize take of the threatened sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to project construction. We invite the public to comment on these documents.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4674-4675]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02015]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R4-ES-2017-N148; FXES11140400000-178-FF04E00000]


Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Incidental Take Permit 
Application, Habitat Conservation Plan for Skink Species, and 
Environmental Assessment for Roadway Relocation in Polk County, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), 
we, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the receipt and 
availability of a proposed habitat conservation plan and environmental 
assessment related to an application for a permit associated with 
relocation of a 1.3-mile segment of Dude Ranch Road (project) located 
in Polk County, Florida. If issued, the permit would authorize take of 
the threatened sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink incidental to 
project construction. We invite the public to comment on these 
documents.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by 
March 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining Documents: Documents are available for public inspection 
by appointment during regular business hours at either of the following 
locations:
     Atlanta Regional Office, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.
     South Florida Ecological Services Office, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960.
    Submitting Comments: Submit comments by one of the following 
methods. Please reference TE21091C-0 in all comments. For additional 
guidance, please see Public Comments under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    U.S. mail: You may mail comments to the Fish and Wildlife Service's 
Atlanta Regional Office.
    Hand-delivery: You may hand-deliver comments to the Atlanta or the 
Vero Beach Offices.
    Email: You may email comments to [email protected]. Please include 
your name and email address in your email message. If you do not 
receive an email confirmation from us that we have received your email 
message, contact us directly at either telephone number in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Dell, Regional HCP 
Coordinator, at the Atlanta Regional Office (see ADDRESSES); or Mr. 
John Wrublik, Project Manager, at the South Florida Ecological Services 
Office (see ADDRESSES); telephone: 772-469-4282. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal 
Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., ESA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, announce the receipt and availability of a proposed habitat 
conservation plan (HCP), accompanying incidental take permit (ITP) 
application, and environmental assessment (EA) related to an 
application from Cemex Construction Materials Florida, LLC (applicant) 
for a permit to take sand skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed 
mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus) (covered species), incidental to 
the relocation of a 1.3-mile segment of Dude Ranch Road in Polk County, 
Florida. We invite the public to comment on these documents.
    The applicants' proposed HCP describes the mitigation and 
minimization measures proposed to address the impacts to the covered 
species. Per the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq.; NEPA), the EA analyzes the take of the covered species and impact 
to the environment. The applicant requests a 5-year ITP under section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

Environmental Assessment

    The EA assesses the likely environmental impacts associated with 
the implementation of the activities, including the environmental 
consequences of the no-action alternative, relocation of the roadway 
segment outside of the proposed footprint, and the proposed action. The 
proposed action alternative is issuance of the ITP and implementation 
of the HCP as submitted by the applicant. The applicant anticipates 
destroying approximately 12.1 acres of occupied sand skink and blue-
tailed mole skink habitat incidental to relocation and construction of 
a 1.3-mile section of Dude Ranch Road in Polk County, Florida. The 
existing paved two-lane county roadway is being relocated, per 
permission of Polk County, to allow for sand mining within the existing 
Dude Ranch Road footprint and lands adjacent to this footprint. The 
applicant indicates that sand mining in this area would not be 
financially feasible without relocation of the roadway. Polk County 
requires the applicant to relocate the roadway segment to maintain 
access for local residents and the public to the areas adjacent to the 
project site.

Habitat Conservation Plan

    The HCP includes measures to minimize and mitigate impacts to the 
sand skink and the blue-tailed mole skink resulting from the roadway 
relocation. To minimize impacts to these species and their habitat, the 
footprint of the relocated roadway was reduced to the greatest extent 
practicable. The mitigation proposed by the applicant consists of the 
purchase of 24.2 credits (equaling 12.1 acres of skink habitat) from 
the Scrub Conservation Bank (SCB) in Highlands County, Florida. The 
SCB, which is a Service approved conservation bank, will preserve and 
manage skink habitat in perpetuity.

Public Comments

    We specifically request information, views, and opinions from the 
public on our proposed Federal action, including identification of any 
other aspects of or impacts to the human environment not already 
identified in the EA prepared pursuant to the NEPA regulations at 40 
CFR 1506.6. Further, we specifically solicit information regarding the 
adequacy of the HCP per 50 CFR parts 13 and 17.
    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.

Covered Area

    Sand skinks and blue-tailed mole skinks historically occurred 
within xeric uplands throughout the sandy ridges of central Florida. 
The area encompassed by the ITP application and HCP consists of 12.1 
acres of privately owned lands

[[Page 4675]]

currently leased by the applicant in Polk County, Florida.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the ITP application, including the HCP, and any 
comments we receive to determine whether the application meets the 
requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. We will also evaluate 
whether a section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP should be issued, as well as conduct 
an intra-Service consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA. We will 
use the results of this consultation and the above findings in our 
final analysis to determine whether to issue the ITP. If we determine 
that the requirements are met, we will issue the ITP number TE21091C-0 
for the incidental take of the sand skink and the blue-tailed mole 
skink to the applicant.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Mike Oetker,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-02015 Filed 1-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P

4674 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2018 / Notices Dated: January 29, 2018. Hand-delivery: You may hand-deliver habitat incidental to relocation and Madonna L. Baucum, comments to the Atlanta or the Vero construction of a 1.3-mile section of Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Beach Offices. Dude Ranch Road in Polk County, Fish and Wildlife Service. Email: You may email comments to Florida. The existing paved two-lane [FR Doc. 2018–01968 Filed 1–31–18; 8:45 am] david_dell@fws.gov. Please include your county roadway is being relocated, per BILLING CODE 4333–15–P name and email address in your email permission of Polk County, to allow for message. If you do not receive an email sand mining within the existing Dude confirmation from us that we have Ranch Road footprint and lands DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR received your email message, contact us adjacent to this footprint. The applicant directly at either telephone number in indicates that sand mining in this area Fish and Wildlife Service FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. would not be financially feasible FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. without relocation of the roadway. Polk [FWS–R4–ES–2017–N148; David Dell, Regional HCP Coordinator, County requires the applicant to FXES11140400000–178–FF04E00000] at the Atlanta Regional Office (see relocate the roadway segment to ADDRESSES); or Mr. John Wrublik, maintain access for local residents and Endangered and Threatened Wildlife; Project Manager, at the South Florida the public to the areas adjacent to the Incidental Take Permit Application, Ecological Services Office (see project site. Habitat Conservation Plan for Skink ADDRESSES); telephone: 772–469–4282. Species, and Environmental Habitat Conservation Plan If you use a telecommunications device Assessment for Roadway Relocation The HCP includes measures to for the deaf (TDD), please call the in Polk County, FL minimize and mitigate impacts to the Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. sand skink and the blue-tailed mole AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the skink resulting from the roadway Interior. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as relocation. To minimize impacts to ACTION: Notice of availability; request amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., ESA), these species and their habitat, the for comments. we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, footprint of the relocated roadway was announce the receipt and availability of reduced to the greatest extent SUMMARY: Under the Endangered a proposed habitat conservation plan practicable. The mitigation proposed by Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), (HCP), accompanying incidental take the applicant consists of the purchase of we, the Fish and Wildlife Service permit (ITP) application, and 24.2 credits (equaling 12.1 acres of skink (Service), announce the receipt and environmental assessment (EA) related habitat) from the Scrub Conservation availability of a proposed habitat to an application from Cemex Bank (SCB) in Highlands County, conservation plan and environmental Construction Materials Florida, LLC Florida. The SCB, which is a Service assessment related to an application for (applicant) for a permit to take sand approved conservation bank, will a permit associated with relocation of a skink (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue- preserve and manage skink habitat in 1.3-mile segment of Dude Ranch Road tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius perpetuity. (project) located in Polk County, lividus) (covered species), incidental to Florida. If issued, the permit would the relocation of a 1.3-mile segment of Public Comments authorize take of the threatened sand Dude Ranch Road in Polk County, We specifically request information, skink and blue-tailed mole skink Florida. We invite the public to views, and opinions from the public on incidental to project construction. We comment on these documents. our proposed Federal action, including invite the public to comment on these The applicants’ proposed HCP identification of any other aspects of or documents. describes the mitigation and impacts to the human environment not DATES: To ensure consideration, please minimization measures proposed to already identified in the EA prepared send your written comments by March address the impacts to the covered pursuant to the NEPA regulations at 40 5, 2018. species. Per the National Environmental CFR 1506.6. Further, we specifically Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; solicit information regarding the ADDRESSES: NEPA), the EA analyzes the take of the adequacy of the HCP per 50 CFR parts Obtaining Documents: Documents are covered species and impact to the 13 and 17. available for public inspection by environment. The applicant requests a Before including your address, phone appointment during regular business 5-year ITP under section 10(a)(1)(B) of number, email address, or other hours at either of the following the ESA, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et personal identifying information in your locations: seq.). comment, you should be aware that • Atlanta Regional Office, Ecological your entire comment—including your Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Assessment personal identifying information—may 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA The EA assesses the likely be made publicly available at any time. 30345. environmental impacts associated with While you can ask us in your comment • South Florida Ecological Services the implementation of the activities, to withhold your personal identifying Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including the environmental information from public review, we 1339 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960. consequences of the no-action cannot guarantee that we will be able to Submitting Comments: Submit alternative, relocation of the roadway do so. comments by one of the following segment outside of the proposed sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES methods. Please reference TE21091C–0 footprint, and the proposed action. The Covered Area in all comments. For additional proposed action alternative is issuance Sand skinks and blue-tailed mole guidance, please see Public Comments of the ITP and implementation of the skinks historically occurred within xeric under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. HCP as submitted by the applicant. The uplands throughout the sandy ridges of U.S. mail: You may mail comments to applicant anticipates destroying central Florida. The area encompassed the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Atlanta approximately 12.1 acres of occupied by the ITP application and HCP consists Regional Office. sand skink and blue-tailed mole skink of 12.1 acres of privately owned lands VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Jan 31, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 22 / Thursday, February 1, 2018 / Notices 4675 currently leased by the applicant in Polk FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Josh publicly available in their entirety at County, Florida. Alexander, BLM Chief Cadastral any time. While you can ask us to Surveyor for Montana; telephone: (406) withhold your personal identifying Next Steps 896–5123; email: jalexand@blm.gov. information from public review, we We will evaluate the ITP application, Persons who use a telecommunications cannot guarantee that we will be able to including the HCP, and any comments device for the deaf (TDD) may call the do so. we receive to determine whether the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800) Authority: 43 U.S.C. Chapter 3. application meets the requirements of 877–8339 to contact the above section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. We will individual during normal business Joshua F. Alexander, also evaluate whether a section hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Montana. 10(a)(1)(B) ITP should be issued, as well day, 7 days a week, to leave a message [FR Doc. 2018–02022 Filed 1–31–18; 8:45 am] as conduct an intra-Service consultation or question with the above individual. BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P pursuant to section 7 of the ESA. We You will receive a reply during normal will use the results of this consultation business hours. and the above findings in our final SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lands DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR analysis to determine whether to issue surveyed are: the ITP. If we determine that the Bureau of Land Management Fifth Principal Meridian, North Dakota requirements are met, we will issue the T. 145 N, R. 102 W [18XL1109AF LLUT920000 L13100000 ITP number TE21091C–0 for the FI0000 25–7A] Secs. 34 and 35. incidental take of the sand skink and the blue-tailed mole skink to the applicant. A person or party who wishes to Notice of Proposed Class II protest an official filing of a plat of Reinstatement of Terminated Oil and Authority survey identified above must file a Gas Lease UTU77328, Utah We provide this notice under section written notice of protest with the BLM 10 of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Montana at AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). the address listed in the ADDRESSES Interior. section of this notice. The notice of ACTION: Notice of reinstatement. Mike Oetker, protest must identify the plat(s) of Acting Regional Director. survey that the person or party wishes SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 31 [FR Doc. 2018–02015 Filed 1–31–18; 8:45 am] to protest. The notice of protest must be of the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as BILLING CODE P received in the BLM Montana State amended, Berry Petroleum Company Office no later than the scheduled date timely filed a petition for reinstatement of the proposed official filing for the of oil and gas lease UTU77328 for lands DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR plat(s) of survey being protested; if in Duchesne County, Utah, along with received after regular business hours, a all required rentals and royalties Bureau of Land Management notice of protest will be considered filed accruing from July 1, 2014, the date of [LLMT926000–18X–L14400000.BJ0000; the next business day. A written termination. The BLM proposes to MO #4500118138] statement of reasons in support of the reinstate the lease. protest, if not filed with the notice of DATES: The BLM is proposing to Notice of Proposed Filing of Plats of protest, must be filed with the BLM reinstate the lease on March 5, 2018. Survey: Montana Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Montana FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kent AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, within 30 calendar days after the notice Hoffman, Deputy State Director, Lands Interior. of protest is received. If a notice of protest of the plat(s) of and Minerals, Utah State Office, Bureau ACTION: Notice of proposed official survey is received prior to the of Land Management, 440 West 200 filing. scheduled date of official filing or South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah, during the 10 calendar day grace period 84101, phone: 801–539–4063, email: SUMMARY: The plats of surveys for the khoffman@blm.gov. Persons who use a lands described in this notice are provided in 43 CFR 4.401(a) and the delay in filing is waived, the official telecommunications device for the deaf scheduled to be officially filed 30 (TDD) may call the Federal Relay calendar days after the date of this filing of the plat(s) of survey identified in the notice of protest will be stayed Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to publication in the BLM Montana State contact the above individual during pending consideration of the protest. A Office, Billings, Montana. The surveys, normal business hours. The FRS is plat of survey will not be officially filed which were executed at the request of available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until the next business day after all the BLM, are necessary for the to leave a message or question with the timely protests have been dismissed or management of these lands. above individual. You will receive a otherwise resolved. DATES: A person or party who wishes to If a notice of protest is received after reply during normal business hours. protest this decision must file a notice the scheduled date of official filing and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee of protest in time for it to be received the 10 calendar day grace period has agreed to new lease terms for rental in the BLM Montana State Office no provided in 43 CFR 4.401(a), the notice and royalty. The rental for UTU77328 later than 30 days after the date of this of protest will be untimely, may not be will increase to $5 per acre or fraction publication. thereof and the royalty will increase to sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES considered, and may be dismissed. ADDRESSES: A copy of the plats may be Before including your address, phone 162⁄3 percent. The $500 administrative obtained from the Public Room at the number, email address, or other fee for the leases has been paid, and the BLM Montana State Office, 5001 personal identifying information in a lessee has reimbursed the Bureau of Southgate Drive, Billings, Montana notice of protest or statement of reasons, Land Management (BLM) for the cost of 59101, upon required payment. The you should be aware that the documents publishing this notice. plats may be viewed at this location at you submit—including your personal The following-described lands in no cost. identifying information—may be made Duchesne County, Utah, include: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:34 Jan 31, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01FEN1.SGM 01FEN1


Document Created: 2018-10-26 13:46:50
Document Modified: 2018-10-26 13:46:50
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability; request for comments.
DatesTo ensure consideration, please send your written comments by March 5, 2018.
ContactMr. David Dell, Regional HCP
FR Citation83 FR 4674 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR