83_FR_5294 83 FR 5269 - American Burying Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan and Low-Effect Screening Form; Fixico Point-of-Delivery to Weleetka, Hughes, Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, OK

83 FR 5269 - American Burying Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan and Low-Effect Screening Form; Fixico Point-of-Delivery to Weleetka, Hughes, Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, OK

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 25 (February 6, 2018)

Page Range5269-5270
FR Document2018-02340

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of several documents related to an incidental take permit (ITP) application under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. American Electric Power applied for the requested ITP, which would be in effect for a three-year period in Hughes, Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, Oklahoma. If granted, the permit would authorize American burying beetle incidental take resulting from rebuilding two portions of the Fixico point of delivery to Weleetka electric transmission line. The documents available for comment include the low-effect screening form that supports a categorical exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, a draft low-effect habitat conservation plan, and the ITP application.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2018) 
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 6, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5269-5270]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02340]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2017-N159; FXES11140200000-189-FF02ENEH00]


American Burying Beetle Habitat Conservation Plan and Low-Effect 
Screening Form; Fixico Point-of-Delivery to Weleetka, Hughes, Okfuskee, 
and Seminole Counties, OK

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of documents and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the 
availability of several documents related to an incidental take permit 
(ITP) application under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. 
American Electric Power applied for the requested ITP, which would be 
in effect for a three-year period in Hughes, Okfuskee, and Seminole 
Counties, Oklahoma. If granted, the permit would authorize American 
burying beetle incidental take resulting from rebuilding two portions 
of the Fixico point of delivery to Weleetka electric transmission line. 
The documents available for comment include the low-effect screening 
form that supports a categorical exclusion under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, a draft low-effect habitat 
conservation plan, and the ITP application.

DATES: Comments: We are accepting comments on the documents listed 
above in the SUMMARY section. To ensure consideration, written comments 
must be received or postmarked on or before March 8, 2018. Any comments 
we receive after the closing date may not be considered in this 
action's final decisions.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining documents:
     Internet: You may obtain copies of the documents related 
to this ITP application on the internet from the Service's website at 
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Oklahoma/.
     U.S. mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies 
of the draft documents are available, by request, from the Field 
Supervisor, Oklahoma Ecological Services Field Office, 9014 East 21st 
Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; telephone 918-382-4500. Please note that your 
request is in reference to the AEP LEHCP (TE55026C-0).
     In-person: Copies of the draft low-effect screening form 
and draft habitat conservation plan also are available for public 
inspection and review at the following locations, by appointment and 
written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
    [cir] Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 
C. Street NW, Washington, DC 20240.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW, Room 
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 East 21st Street, Tulsa, 
OK 74129; by calling 918-382-4500; or faxing 918-581-7467.
    Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy by 
writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. 
Box 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103, Attention: Branch Chief, 
Environmental Review.

[[Page 5270]]

    Comment submission: You may submit written comments on the low-
effect screening form, the draft low-effect habitat conservation plan, 
and the ITP application by one of the following methods:
     Electronically: fw2_hcp_permits@fws.gov.
     By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-deliver to: U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; or 
faxing 918-581-7467.
    We request that you send comments by only the methods described 
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; or 
by telephone at 918-382-4500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), we advise the public that:
    1. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have gathered 
the information necessary to determine impacts related to potentially 
issuing an incidental take permit (ITP) and have determined the 
proposed action qualifies as a low-effect habitat conservation plan 
(HCP) and is categorically excluded from the NEPA process; and
    2. American Electric Power (AEP; the Applicant) has developed and 
proposes to implement its draft HCP, as part of the ITP application, 
which describes the measures the Applicant has agreed to take to 
minimize and mitigate the effects of American burying beetle incidental 
take to the maximum extent practicable under the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973 (ESA), section 10(a)(1)(B), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531, et 
seq.).
    The requested permit, which would be in effect for a three-year 
period, if granted, would authorize American burying beetle 
(Nicrophorus americanus) incidental take as a result of rebuilding two 
portions of the Fixico point of delivery (POD) to Weleetka electric 
transmission line. The proposed incidental take may occur along 21.5 
miles of the existing Fixico POD to Weleetka transmission line in 
Hughes, Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, OK, as a result of activities 
associated with the Applicant's construction (existing pole removal and 
new pole installation) and maintenance activities. Such actions may 
require disturbance within potential American burying beetle habitat. 
American Electric Power has proposed to mitigate the impacts to 124.416 
acres of suitable American burying beetle habitat, including 124.4 
acres of temporary impacts and 0.016 acres of permanent change. These 
habitat acres will be mitigated in perpetuity according to Service-
approved mitigation ratios through purchasing credits at an approved 
conservation bank. Additionally, avoidance and minimization measures, 
including limiting clearing in temporary work areas, relieving soil 
compaction, and revegetating temporary and permanent cover change 
impacts with native vegetation will be implemented after construction 
is completed.
    The ESA, section 9 and its implementing regulations prohibit taking 
fish and wildlife species listed as threatened or endangered under the 
ESA, section 4. However, the ESA, section 10(a) authorizes us to issue 
permits to take listed wildlife species where such take is incidental 
to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities and where the 
applicant meets certain statutory requirements.

Comments Publicly Availability

    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. We will not consider anonymous 
comments. 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 the ESA, section 10(c) 
(16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 
17.22) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.) and its implementing 
regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2018-02340 Filed 2-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 6, 2018 / Notices 5269 Trade Relations, U.S. Customs and the establishment of the Regulation availability of several documents related Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Modernization Working Group and its to an incidental take permit (ITP) Avenue NW, Room 3.5A, Washington, efforts to identify and prioritize areas of application under the Endangered DC 20229; telephone (202) 344–1440; regulations administered by CBP that Species Act of 1973, as amended. facsimile (202) 325–4290; or Mr. can be reformed. In addition, the American Electric Power applied for the Bradley Hayes, Executive Director and subcommittee will discuss the requested ITP, which would be in effect Designated Federal Officer at (202) 344– establishment of the Trade Facilitation for a three-year period in Hughes, 1440. and Trade Enforcement Act (TFTEA) Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of Educational Mandate Working Group Oklahoma. If granted, the permit would this meeting is given under the Federal that will identify educational authorize American burying beetle Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. opportunities as referenced in Section incidental take resulting from rebuilding Appendix. The Commercial Customs 104 of TFTEA. Finally, the two portions of the Fixico point of Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) subcommittee will discuss the progress delivery to Weleetka electric provides advice to the Secretary of being made in the e-Commerce Working transmission line. The documents Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Group. available for comment include the low- Treasury, and the Commissioner of U.S. 5. The Global Supply Chain effect screening form that supports a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Subcommittee will present the status of categorical exclusion under the National matters pertaining to the commercial a pilot that will test the utilization of Environmental Policy Act of 1969, a operations of CBP and related functions existing Automated Commercial draft low-effect habitat conservation within the Department of Homeland Environment (ACE) automation in the plan, and the ITP application. Security and the Department of the pipeline mode of transportation. The DATES: Comments: We are accepting Treasury. committee will also discuss the progress comments on the documents listed Agenda of the Global Supply Chain above in the SUMMARY section. To ensure Subcommittee’s Emerging Technologies consideration, written comments must The COAC will hear from the Working Group. The subcommittee will following subcommittees on the topics be received or postmarked on or before discuss the activities of the newly March 8, 2018. Any comments we listed below and then will review, formed In-Bond Working Group that deliberate, provide observations, and receive after the closing date may not be will focus on identifying issues within considered in this action’s final formulate recommendations on how to the scope of the ‘‘Changes to the In- proceed: decisions. Bond Process’’ final rule published in 1. The Trusted Trader Subcommittee the Federal Register on September 28, ADDRESSES: Obtaining documents: will present an update from the C– 2017 regarding their implementation. • Internet: You may obtain copies of TPAT Minimum Security Criteria 6. The Trade Enforcement & Revenue the documents related to this ITP Working Group on its recommendations Collection (TERC) Subcommittee will application on the internet from the regarding CBP’s plans to roll out new C– provide necessary updates from the Service’s website at http://www.fws.gov/ TPAT criteria. The subcommittee will Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duty, southwest/es/Oklahoma/. also provide an update on the progress Bond, Forced Labor and Intellectual • U.S. mail: A limited number of CD– on the Trusted Trader Strategy. ROM and printed copies of the draft Property Rights Working Groups. 2. The One U.S. Government documents are available, by request, Meeting materials will be available by Subcommittee will continue discussions from the Field Supervisor, Oklahoma February 23, 2018 at: http://www.cbp. on the progress of the Fish & Wildlife gov/trade/stakeholder-engagement/ Ecological Services Field Office, 9014 Service Working Group and will present coac/coac-public-meetings. East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; the white paper on the Harmonized Dated: January 31, 2018. telephone 918–382–4500. Please note Tariff Schedule project. The that your request is in reference to the subcommittee will also discuss an Bradley F. Hayes, AEP LEHCP (TE55026C–0). update from CBP’s Trade Executive Director, Office of Trade Relations. Transformation Office on ACE • In-person: Copies of the draft low- [FR Doc. 2018–02297 Filed 2–5–18; 8:45 am] Deployment G Release 4 and also from effect screening form and draft habitat BILLING CODE 9111–14–P conservation plan also are available for the Technical and Operational Outages Working Group. public inspection and review at the 3. The Exports Subcommittee will following locations, by appointment and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: discuss the final work of the Export Manifest Working Group, which has Æ Department of the Interior, Natural Fish and Wildlife Service been developing comprehensive Resources Library, 1849 C. Street NW, recommendations on the following [FWS–R2–ES–2017–N159; Washington, DC 20240. topics: Timelines, filing regime, FXES11140200000–189–FF02ENEH00] Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 targeting regime, hold issuance and Gold Avenue SW, Room 6034, American Burying Beetle Habitat Albuquerque, NM 87102. shipment interception process, and an Conservation Plan and Low-Effect account-based penalties regime. There Æ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Screening Form; Fixico Point-of- 9014 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; will also be an update on the automated Delivery to Weleetka, Hughes, export manifest pilots, and on progress by calling 918–382–4500; or faxing 918– Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, OK 581–7467. in implementing a post-departure filing daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES pilot as part of the ocean pilot. AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Persons wishing to review the 4. The Trade Modernization Interior. application may obtain a copy by Subcommittee will discuss the ACTION: Notice of availability of writing to the Regional Director, U.S. International Engagement and Trade documents and request for comments. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box Facilitation Working Group’s efforts to 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM prioritize the recommendations it made SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 87103, Attention: Branch Chief, in 2017. The subcommittee will discuss Wildlife Service, announce the Environmental Review. VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Feb 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM 06FEN1

5270 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 25 / Tuesday, February 6, 2018 / Notices Comment submission: You may acres of permanent change. These DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR submit written comments on the low- habitat acres will be mitigated in effect screening form, the draft low- perpetuity according to Service- Bureau of Land Management effect habitat conservation plan, and the approved mitigation ratios through [LLNM920000 18X L51040000.RB0000] ITP application by one of the following purchasing credits at an approved methods: conservation bank. Additionally, Notice of Proposed Reinstatement of • Electronically: fw2_hcp_permits@ avoidance and minimization measures, Terminated Oil and Gas Lease fws.gov. including limiting clearing in temporary NMNM111949, New Mexico • By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail work areas, relieving soil compaction, or hand-deliver to: U.S. Fish and AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, and revegetating temporary and Interior. Wildlife Service, 9014 East 21st Street, permanent cover change impacts with ACTION: Notice of reinstatement. Tulsa, OK 74129; or faxing 918–581– native vegetation will be implemented 7467. SUMMARY: In accordance with the We request that you send comments after construction is completed. The ESA, section 9 and its Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, Cimarex by only the methods described above. Energy Company timely filed a petition FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: implementing regulations prohibit for reinstatement of competitive oil and Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish taking fish and wildlife species listed as gas lease NMNM 11949, Eddy County, and Wildlife Service, 9014 East 21st threatened or endangered under the New Mexico. The lessee paid the Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; or by telephone ESA, section 4. However, the ESA, required rentals accruing from July 1, at 918–382–4500. section 10(a) authorizes us to issue 2014, the date of termination. No leases SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the permits to take listed wildlife species were issued that affect these lands. The National Environmental Policy Act of where such take is incidental to, and not Bureau of Land Management proposes 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), the purpose of, otherwise lawful to reinstate this lease. we advise the public that: activities and where the applicant meets FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 1. We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife certain statutory requirements. Julieann Serrano, Supervisory Land Law Service (Service), have gathered the Examiner, Branch of Adjudication, Comments Publicly Availability information necessary to determine Bureau of Land Management New impacts related to potentially issuing an Written comments we receive become Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, incidental take permit (ITP) and have part of the public record associated with Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508, (505) determined the proposed action this action. Before including your 954–2149, jserrano@blm.gov. Persons qualifies as a low-effect habitat address, phone number, email address, who use a telecommunications device conservation plan (HCP) and is or other personal identifying for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal categorically excluded from the NEPA Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 information in your comment, you process; and to contact the above individual during should be aware that your entire 2. American Electric Power (AEP; the normal business hours. The FRS is Applicant) has developed and proposes comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to implement its draft HCP, as part of to leave a message or question with the the ITP application, which describes the publicly available at any time. While you can request in your comment that above individual. You will receive a measures the Applicant has agreed to reply during normal business hours. take to minimize and mitigate the effects we withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The lessee of American burying beetle incidental agrees to new lease terms for rentals and take to the maximum extent practicable cannot guarantee that we will be able to royalties of $10 per acre, or fraction under the Endangered Species Act of do so. We will not consider anonymous thereof, per year, and 16–2/3 percent, 1973 (ESA), section 10(a)(1)(B), as comments. All submissions from respectively. The lessee agrees to amended (16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.). organizations or businesses, and from additional or amended stipulations. The The requested permit, which would individuals identifying themselves as lessee paid the $500 administration fee be in effect for a three-year period, if representatives or officials of for the reinstatement of the lease and granted, would authorize American organizations or businesses, will be $159 cost for publishing this Notice. burying beetle (Nicrophorus made available for public disclosure in The lessee met the requirements for americanus) incidental take as a result their entirety. reinstatement of the lease per Sec. 31(d) of rebuilding two portions of the Fixico and (e) of the Mineral Leasing Act of Authority: We provide this notice under point of delivery (POD) to Weleetka 1920. The BLM is proposing to reinstate the ESA, section 10(c) (16 U.S.C. 1531, et electric transmission line. The proposed the lease, effective the date of seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 incidental take may occur along 21.5 termination subject to the: CFR 17.22) and NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321, et miles of the existing Fixico POD to seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 • Original term and conditions of the Weleetka transmission line in Hughes, CFR 1506.6). lease; Okfuskee, and Seminole Counties, OK, • Additional and amended as a result of activities associated with Joy E. Nicholopoulos, stipulations; the Applicant’s construction (existing Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, • Increased rental of $10 per acre; pole removal and new pole installation) Albuquerque, New Mexico. • Increased royalty of 16–2/3 percent; and maintenance activities. Such [FR Doc. 2018–02340 Filed 2–5–18; 8:45 am] and daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES actions may require disturbance within • $159 cost of publishing this Notice. BILLING CODE 4333–15–P potential American burying beetle Authority: 43 CFR 3108.2–3 habitat. American Electric Power has proposed to mitigate the impacts to Julieann Serrano, 124.416 acres of suitable American Supervisory, Land Law Examiner. burying beetle habitat, including 124.4 [FR Doc. 2018–02349 Filed 2–5–18; 8:45 am] acres of temporary impacts and 0.016 BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:02 Feb 05, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM 06FEN1


Document Created: 2018-02-06 00:30:44
Document Modified: 2018-02-06 00:30:44
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 of documents and request for comments.
DatesComments: We are accepting comments on the documents listed above in the SUMMARY section. To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or postmarked on or before March 8, 2018. Any comments we receive after the closing date may not be considered in this action's final decisions.
ContactJonna Polk, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9014 East 21st Street, Tulsa, OK 74129; or by telephone at 918-382-4500.
FR Citation83 FR 5269 
2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR