[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40783-40784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17668]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-ES-2018-N076; FXES11140100000-189-FF01E00000]
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Yelm Subspecies of the Mazama
Pocket Gopher, Thurston County, Washington
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), received an
application from Mr. Todd Tveten for an incidental take permit (ITP)
pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The
ITP would authorize ``take'' of the Yelm pocket gopher, incidental to
otherwise lawful activities during construction of a single-family home
and agricultural shop in Thurston County, Washington. The application
includes a habitat conservation plan (HCP) with measures to minimize
and mitigate the impacts of the taking on the covered species. We have
also prepared a draft environmental action statement (EAS) for our
preliminary determination that the HCP and permit decision may be
eligible for categorical exclusion under the National Environmental
Policy Act. We provide this notice to open a public comment period and
invite comments from all interested parties regarding the documents.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please submit written comments by
September 17, 2018.
ADDRESSES: To request further information or submit written comments,
please use one of the following methods:
Internet: You may view or download copies of the HCP and
obtain additional information on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/wafwo/.
Email: wfwocomments@fws.gov. Include ``Tveten HCP'' in the
subject line of the message.
U.S. Mail: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R1-ES-
2018-N076; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Washington Fish and Wildlife
Office; 510 Desmond Drive SE, Suite 102; Lacey, WA 98503.
[[Page 40784]]
In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or Pickup: Call 360-753-5823
to make an appointment (necessary for viewing or picking up documents
only) during regular business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tim Romanski, Conservation Planning
and Hydropower Branch Manager, Washington Fish and Wildlife Office,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see ADDRESSES), telephone: 360-753-
5823. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf, please call
the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Service received an application for an
ITP pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA. The applicant requests
a 3-year permit term that would authorize ``take'' of the threatened
Yelm pocket gopher (Thomomys mazama yelmensis), hereafter referred to
as Yelm pocket gopher, incidental to construction of one single-family
home on land the applicant owns in Thurston County, Washington. The
application includes a HCP that describes actions the applicant will
take to minimize and mitigate the impacts of the taking on the covered
species.
Background
Section 9 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531)
prohibits ``take'' of fish and wildlife species listed as endangered or
threatened. Under the ESA, the term ``take'' means to harass, harm,
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to
attempt to engage in any such conduct (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)). The term
``harm,'' as defined in our regulations, includes significant habitat
modification or degradation that results in death or injury to listed
species by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns,
including breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term
``harass'' is defined in our regulations as to intentional or negligent
actions that create the likelihood of injury to listed species to such
an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavioral patterns, which
include, but are not limited to, breeding, feeding, or sheltering (50
CFR 17.3).
Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA contains provisions that authorize
the Service to issue permits to non-Federal entities for the take of
endangered and threatened species caused by otherwise lawful
activities, provided the following criteria are met: (1) The taking
will be incidental; (2) the applicant will, to the maximum extent
practicable, minimize and mitigate the impact of such taking; (3) the
applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the plan will be
provided; (4) the taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of
the survival and recovery of the species in the wild; and (5) the
applicant will carry out any other measures that the Service may
require as being necessary or appropriate for the purposes of the plan.
Regulations governing permits for endangered and threatened species are
found in 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively.
Proposed Action
The Service proposes to issue the requested 3-year ITP based on the
applicant's commitment to implement the HCP, if permit issuance
criteria are met. Covered activities include construction of a single-
family home and an agricultural building. The area covered under the
HCP consists of an approximately one-half acre project development site
and an approximately one acre conservation site on land owned by the
applicant. Take of the Yelm pocket gopher would occur within the half-
acre development site and will be offset by granting Thurston County a
perpetual conservation easement over an acre of occupied habitat, for
the purpose of ensuring that it is perpetually managed for the benefit
of the covered species. Funding for management of the conservation
easement would be assured. The applicant may have the conservation
easement released in the future if it purchases credits from a Service-
approved conservation bank for the Yelm pocket gopher, which would
provide equivalent or greater conservation benefits to the species. At
present, no such conservation bank exists.
Public Comments
You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods
listed in ADDRESSES. We specifically request information, views, and
suggestions from interested parties regarding our proposed Federal
action, including adequacy of the HCP pursuant to the requirements for
permits at 50 CFR parts 13 and 17 and adequacy of the EAS pursuant to
NEPA.
Public Availability of Comments
All comments and materials we receive become part of the public
record associated with this action. Before including your address,
phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable
information in your comments, you should be aware that your entire
comment--including your personally identifiable information--may be
made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your
comment to withhold your personally identifiable information from
public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 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. Comments and materials we receive will be available for
public inspection by appointment, during normal business hours, at our
Washington Fish and Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES).
Authority
We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of
section 10 of the ESA and NEPA and their implementing regulations (50
CFR 17.32 and 40 CFR 1506.6, respectively).
Theresa E. Rabot,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-17668 Filed 8-15-18; 8:45 am]
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