[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69977-69979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28794]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-ES-2015-N194; FXES11130200000-167-FF02ENEH00]
Draft Screening Form and Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation
Plan for the San Rafael Ranch; Santa Cruz County, AZ
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make
available the draft National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) screening
form and draft San Rafael Ranch low-effect habitat conservation plan
(dHCP). The San Rafael Cattle Company (applicant) has applied to the
Service for an incidental take permit (ITP, TE12133A-0) under the
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If approved, the ITP
would be in force for a period of 30 years, and would authorize
incidental take of three species currently listed under the Act, and
one species that may become listed under the Act. The proposed
incidental take would occur as a result of specified actions conducted
under the authority of the San Rafael Cattle Company.
This is the second notice regarding the dHCP. An earlier notice of
Availability was published on July 22, 2010 (75 FR 35504). After that
notice was published, processing of the permit application was
suspended by mutual agreement of the San Rafael Cattle Company and the
Service.
DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or
postmarked on or before December 14, 2015. Any comments that we receive
after the closing date may not be considered.
ADDRESSES: Availability of Documents: The draft NEPA screening form and
draft San Rafael Ranch low-effect habitat conservation plan (dHCP) are
available by the following methods:
Internet: Documents are available on the Internet at the
Service's Web site, at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/.
U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies
of both documents are available, by request, from Mr. Steve Spangle,
Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West
Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-
0210; fax:
[[Page 69978]]
602-242-2513. Please note that your request is in reference to the San
Rafael Ranch dHCP (TE-12133A-0).
In-Person: Copies of both documents are also available for
public inspection and review at the following locations, by written
request and appointment only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological
Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix,
AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-0210; fax: 602-242-2513.
The ITP application is available by mail from the Regional
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Room 6034,
Albuquerque, NM 87103, Attn: Environmental Review Division.
Comment submission: We request that you send comments only by one
of the methods described below. Comments submitted by any other means
may not be considered. Please note that your request is in reference to
the San Rafael Ranch dHCP (TE-12133A-0).
Electronically: Send comments to fw2_hcp_permits@fws.gov.
By hard copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail or hand-
delivery to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological
Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix,
AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-0210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan, Arizona Ecological
Services Field Office--Tucson Sub-Office, 201 N. Bonita Avenue, Suite
141, Tucson, AZ 85745; telephone (520/670-6150; extension 236); or by
email (Doug_Duncan@fws.gov).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce that:
(1) We have gathered the information necessary to determine the
impacts to the human environment under NEPA related to the potential
issuance of an ITP to the applicant; and
(2) The applicant has developed a dHCP as part of the application
for an ITP, which describes the measures the applicant has agreed to
take to minimize and mitigate the effects of incidental take of covered
species to the maximum extent practicable, pursuant to section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act.
Take of listed plant species is not defined in the Act, although
the Act does identify several prohibitions. However, because covered
species in the dHCP include both plants and animals, in the following
discussion we use the term ``incidental take'' when discussing impacts
to covered plants, as well as actual incidental take of covered
animals. Plant species may be included on an ITP in recognition of the
conservation benefits provided to them under an HCP.
If approved, the ITP would authorize incidental take of five listed
species, including Sonoran tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium
[=tigrinum] stebbinsi), Gila chub (Gila intermedia), northern Mexican
gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops), Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses
(Spiranthes delitescens), and Huachuca water umbel (Lilaeopsis
schaffneriana ssp. recurva), as well as a species that may become
listed under the Act in the future, and Huachuca springsnail
(Pyrgulopsis thompsoni).
Also occurring on the Ranch is the endangered Gila topminnow
(Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis) and potentially, the threatened
Chiricahua leopard frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis). Both species are
covered under safe harbor agreements held by the Arizona Game and Fish
Department.
The proposed incidental take would occur as a result of ranch
management activities on 18,440 acres of the San Rafael Ranch and 3,560
acres of grazing preference on the Arizona State Parks, San Rafael
State Natural Area (consistent with lease terms) in Santa Cruz County,
Arizona. The applicant has completed a dHCP as part of the application
package, as required by the Act.
A categorical exclusion for an HCP is based on the following three
criteria: (1) Implementation of the proposed plan would result in minor
or negligible effects on federally-listed, proposed, and candidate
species and their habitats; (2) implementation of the proposed HCP
would result in minor or negligible effects on other environmental
values or resources; and (3) impacts of the HCP, considered together
with the impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable
similarly situated projects, would not result, over time, in cumulative
effects to environmental values or resources that would be considered
significant. Based upon the preliminary determination made in our draft
NEPA screening document, we believe this action qualifies as a
categorical exclusion. We will consider public comments when making the
final determination on whether to prepare an additional NEPA document
on the proposed action.
Background
Since purchasing the San Rafael Ranch in 2000, the applicant has
been implementing grazing practices that have improved range and
habitat conditions on private lands within the San Rafael Valley of
Santa Cruz County, Arizona. These improved habitat conditions provide
opportunities for conservation actions that may enhance the status and
distribution of covered species on the San Rafael Ranch. The applicant
would like to continue ranch management activities while working with
agencies to conduct conservation actions on the San Rafael Ranch, such
as introduction of covered species or other species not covered, and
removal of aquatic invasive species. The covered ranch management
activities would consist of watering cattle in stock tanks and cattle
grazing all habitats, including herding cattle within and between
pastures; maintenance of stock ponds, wells, waterlines, fences, roads,
and utility lines supporting these facilities; and brush and invasive
plant management to reduce shrub invasion of upland grasslands. All of
these activities have short-term impacts on species and their habitats,
and incidental take of some covered species may occur. However, a long-
term benefit is anticipated for the watershed and habitats of the
covered species. In addition, the applicant proposes actions to
minimize the impacts of the activities and assist in recovery of
covered species. These actions are also proposed to be covered by the
associated section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
The biological goal of the San Rafael Ranch HCP is to provide long-
term protection for multiple species of concern and key natural
communities through maintenance or improvement of the habitat
conditions and ecosystem functions necessary for their survival, and to
ensure that any incidental take of listed species will not appreciably
reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of those species in
the wild.
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 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.
[[Page 69979]]
Authority
We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (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).
Dated: November 5, 2015.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28794 Filed 11-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P