[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 36287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14744]
[[Page 36287]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R8-ES-2012-N112: FXES11120800000F2-123-FF08ECAR00]
Receipt of Application for the Amendment of the Incidental Take
Permit for the Multiple Species Conservation Program County of San
Diego Subarea Plan, County of San Diego, California
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit amendment application; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intend to
amend the incidental take permit (PRT-840414) issued for the Multiple
Species Conservation Program County of San Diego Subarea Plan (MSCP
Subarea Plan). The County of San Diego (Applicant) has requested an
amendment to the incidental take permit. The amendment would modify the
MSCP Subarea Plan boundary to add approximately 210 acres of land
solely for conservation purposes. If amended, no additional incidental
take will be authorized. The Applicant will follow all other existing
habitat conservation plan conditions. We also announce a public comment
period.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
July 18, 2012.
ADDRESSES: To request further information or submit written comments,
please use one of the following methods and note that your information
request or comment is in reference to the MSCP Subarea Plan:
Email: Karen_Goebel@fws.gov. Include ``MSCP Subarea
Plan'' in the subject line of the message.
U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, Fish and Wildlife Service,
Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office, 6010 Hidden Valley Road, Suite 101,
Carlsbad, California 92011.
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 760-431-9440
to make an appointment during regular business hours to drop off
comments or view received comments at this location:
Fax: Field Supervisor, 760-918-0638, Attn. MSCP Subarea
Plan.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Goebel, Assistant Field
Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES);
telephone: 760-431-9440. If you use a telecommunications device for the
deaf, please call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800-877-
8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the Service, have made a preliminary
determination that amendment of the permit is neither a major Federal
action that will significantly affect the quality of the human
environment within the meaning of section 102(2)(C) of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), nor will it individually or
cumulatively have more than a negligible effect on the species covered
in the MSCP Subarea Plan. Therefore, the permit amendment qualifies as
a categorical exclusion under NEPA as provided by the Department of
Interior Manual (516 DM 2, Appendix 1 and 516 DM 6, Appendix 1).
Background
On March 17, 1998, the Service issued an incidental take permit
(PRT-840414), pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) for 85 species covered by the MSCP Subarea
Plan. The MSCP Subarea Plan boundary encompasses 252,132 acres of
unincorporated land in south San Diego County, California. Opportunity
for public review of the original permit application and the habitat
conservation plan was provided in the Federal Register on March 28,
1997 (62 FR 14938) and November 14, 1997 (62 FR 61140).
The Applicant is seeking an amendment to their incidental take
permit, consistent with section 1.14.2 of the MSCP Subarea Plan
Implementing Agreement, to modify the MSCP Subarea Plan boundary to add
210.6 acres of land for conservation purposes (i.e., a ``hardline
preserve'') in contemplation of establishing a privately-owned
mitigation bank. Establishment of the bank would be a future action
that would require a formalized conservation banking agreement
consistent with section 9.13 of the MSCP Subarea Plan Implementing
Agreement.
The conservation lands are located in an unincorporated portion of
northern San Diego County in the community of Ramona, approximately 1
mile north of the existing MSCP Subarea Plan boundary. The conservation
land consists of 4 parcels; a single 63-acre parcel (Assessor's Parcel
Number [APN] 277-050-32), and 3 parcels totaling 147.6 acres (APN 277-
121-05, 277-111-09, and 277-121-08) (i.e., unsectioned lands within
Township 13 South, Range 1 West of the U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-
minute San Pasqual quadrangle). The parcels are contiguous with other
conserved lands and support vernal pool, riparian, and nonnative
grassland habitats. Sensitive species documented on the parcels include
the federally listed endangered San Diego fairy shrimp (Branchinecta
sandiegonensis) and the burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), an MSCP
Subarea Plan covered species. More details on the specific parcels and
their locations are available in the permit amendment application (see
ADDRESSES).
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 comments, 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(c) the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) and by NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Jim A. Bartel,
Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-14744 Filed 6-15-12; 8:45 am]
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