[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64001-64002]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25167]
[[Page 64001]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2013-0061]; [FXES11120200000F2-145-FF02ENEH00]
Finding of No Significant Impact for the Renewal and Amendment to
the Barton Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan, City of Austin,
Travis County, Texas
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability and final decision.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), make
available the final Environmental Assessment (EA), Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI), and the final amendment to the Barton
Springs Pool Habitat Conservation Plan (BSP HCP) under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The City of Austin (applicant)
applied for a renewal of their existing Endangered Species Act
incidental take permit, with a major amendment to add the Austin blind
salamander as an additional covered species; to increase the amount of
take for Barton Springs salamander; and to extend the permit term for
an additional 20 years.
DATES: We are issuing the Finding of No Significant Impact with this
notice.
ADDRESSES: Reviewing Documents:
You may obtain copies of the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP at
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (search
for Docket No. FWS-R2-ES-2013-0061), as well as on the Service's Web
site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas. The BSP HCP is
also available on the City of Austin's ftp site at ftp://ftp.ci.austin.tx.us/wre/BSHCP.
Alternatively, you may obtain a CD-ROM with electronic copies of
the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP by writing to Mr. Adam
Zerrenner, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711
Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758; calling 512-490-0057; or
faxing 512-490-0974. A limited number of printed copies of the final
documents are also available, by request, from Mr. Zerrenner. Copies of
the FONSI, final EA, and final BSP HCP are also available for public
inspection and review at the following locations, by appointment and
written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library,
1849 C. St. NW., Washington, DC 20240.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite
200, Austin, TX 78758.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Adam Zerrenner, Field Supervisor,
by U.S. mail at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological
Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758-
4460; or by telephone at 512-490-0057.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.), we advise the public that:
1. We gathered the information necessary to determine impacts and
formulate alternatives for the EA related to potential issuance of a
renewed incidental take permit (ITP) with a major amendment to the
applicant;
2. The applicant developed an amended habitat conservation plan
(BSP HCP) 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 Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (Act), as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); and,
3. We have a finding of no significant impact; therefore,
4. We issued the ITP to the applicant on September 12, 2013.
The applicant applied for a renewed ITP (TE-839031), with a major
amendment that will be in effect for an additional 20 years, and
authorizes incidental take of two animal species (covered species), the
endangered Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) and the Austin
Blind salamander (Eurycea waterlooensis). As described in the BSP HCP,
the anticipated incidental take will occur in four spring sites within
Zilker Park, Travis County, Texas (permit area), and will result from
activities associated with otherwise lawful activities, including the
operations and maintenance of Barton Springs Pool (covered activities).
The final EA considers the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of
implementation of the HCP, including the measures that will be
implemented to minimize and mitigate such impacts to the maximum extent
practicable.
Background
The applicant originally held an ITP (TE-839031) for the Barton
Springs salamander that would have expired on October 2, 2013.
Opportunity for public review of the original permit application, the
environmental assessment, and the habitat conservation plan was
provided in the Federal Register on March 16, 1998 (63 FR 12817), and
July 15, 1998 (63 FR 38191). Activities included in the existing and
2013 BSP HCP include, but are not limited to, recreation, operations,
maintenance, and restoration at Barton Springs Pool, Old Mill Spring,
Eliza Spring, and Upper Barton Spring.
The application for amendment to the ITP included adding Austin
Blind salamander as a covered species, increasing the amount of take
authorized for Barton Springs salamander, and an extension of the
permit term for an additional 20 years to 2033.
Other Alternatives Considered
We considered one alternative to the proposed action.
1. No Action--No renewal of the ITP with a major amendment would be
issued. Under this alternative, maintenance of the Barton Springs Pool
would continue only until the current permit expires. When the current
permit expires, the applicant would halt all maintenance activities
that may cause take of listed species. As routine and post-flood
cleaning is critical to maintaining Barton Springs Pool for
recreational activities, use of the Pool would likely be restricted
until a new incidental take permit could be issued. The applicant would
continue to be subject to the take prohibitions of the Act. Where
potential impacts could not be avoided, and where a Federal nexus
exists, measures designed to minimize and mitigate for the impacts
would be addressed through individual formal or informal consultation
with the Service.
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 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
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organizations or businesses, will be made available for public
disclosure in their entirety.
Decision
We issued an ITP to the City of Austin for implementation of the
preferred alternative as it is described in the BSP HCP. Our decision
is based on a thorough review of the alternatives and their
environmental consequences. Implementation of this decision entails
issuance of the ITP by the Service and full implementation of the BSP
HCP by the City of Austin, including minimization and mitigation
measures, monitoring and adaptive management, and complying with all
terms and conditions in the ITP.
Authority
We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and its
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2013-25167 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
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