[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45841-45842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18590]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R3-ES-2014-N122; FXES11120300000-145-FF03E00000]
Notice of Availability of Draft Habitat Conservation Plan;
Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Pioneer Trail Wind
Farm, LLC
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), have received an incidental take permit (ITP) application,
draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), and a draft Implementing
Agreement (IA) from Pioneer Trail Wind Farm, LLC (applicant), located
in Ford and Iroquois Counties, Illinois. If approved, the ITP would
authorize incidental take of two species of bats (covered species): the
Indiana bat, a federally endangered species, and northern long-eared
bat, proposed for Federal listing under the ESA. In accordance with the
NEPA, the Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in
response to the permit application. We
[[Page 45842]]
invite public comment on the ITP application, draft HCP, draft IA, and
draft EA.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments on or
before September 22, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments via U.S. mail to the Field Supervisor,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock Island Field Office, 1511 47th
Avenue, Moline, IL 61265; by facsimile to 309-757-5807; or by
electronic mail to RockIsland@fws.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Schorg, 309-757-5800, extension
222.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA;
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service), have received an application from Pioneer Trail Wind Farm,
LLC (applicant), located in Ford and Iroquois Counties, Illinois, for
an incidental take permit (ITP) under the ESA. If approved, the ITP
would authorize incidental take of two species of bats (covered
species): the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and
northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), a species proposed
for Federal listing under the ESA. The application includes a draft
habitat conservation plan (HCP) and a draft Implementing Agreement
(IA). Those documents describe the actions and measures the applicant
will take to minimize, mitigate, and monitor take of covered species,
and the assurances the applicant will provide should the ITP be issued.
In accordance with the NEPA, the Service has prepared a draft
Environmental Assessment (EA) in response to the ITP application. We
invite public comment on the application, draft HCP, draft IA, and
draft EA.
Background
Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations prohibit the
``take'' of animal species listed as endangered or threatened. Take is
defined under the ESA as to ``harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound,
kill, trap, capture, or collect listed animal species, or to attempt to
engage in such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1538). However, under section 10(a)
of the ESA, the Service may issue permits to authorize incidental take
of listed species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by the ESA as take
that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an
otherwise lawful activity.
Requested Permit
The applicant is seeking a permit for incidental take of three
individual Indiana bats and two individual northern long-eared bats
(hereafter, ``covered species'') per year; such take may result from
operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of an existing 94-turbine
wind facility over a 43-year period. The ITP would also cover potential
impacts associated with species mitigation, which would include gating
and stabilization of high-priority Indiana bat hibernacula, and
protection, restoration, enhancement, and long-term management of
summer habitat for both species. While the exact location of land
proposed as summer habitat mitigation has yet to be finalized, it is
likely to occur in Alexander, Champaign, Ford, Hardin, and/or
Vermillion Counties, Illinois.
Before the Service can issue a permit to the applicant, it must
first confirm that:
Take will be incidental to an otherwise lawful activity.
The applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable,
minimize and mitigate the impacts of such taking.
The applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the
plan will be provided.
The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of
the survival and recovery of the overall species in the wild.
Other measures required by the Service in the plan will be
met, and there are assurances that the plan will be implemented.
Request for Comments
The Service invites comments and suggestions from all interested
parties on the draft documents associated with the permit application.
In particular, comments and suggestions regarding whether the draft HCP
sufficiently minimizes and mitigates potential impacts associated with
take of covered species and any additional information pertinent to
evaluation of NEPA alternatives and impacts associated with the
proposed federal action, would be appreciated.
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 the entire comment, including
your personal identifying information, may be made 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) of the ESA (16 U.S.C.
1531 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22), and NEPA
(42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR
1506.6; 43 CFR Part 46).
Dated: June 25, 2014.
Lynn Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-18590 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
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