Federal Register/Vol. 85, No. 138/Friday, July 17, 2020/Notices
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 138 / Friday, July 17, 2020 / Notices 43597 B. Solicitation of Public Comment non-Federal land in California. We have permit application, draft SHA, and the This notice is soliciting comments prepared a draft environmental action draft EAS. statement (EAS) for our preliminary from members of the public and affected Background Information parties concerning the collection of determination that the SHA and permit SHAs are intended to encourage information described in Section A on decision may be eligible for categorical private or other non-Federal property the following: exclusion under the National (1) Whether the proposed collection Environmental Policy Act. We invite the owners to implement beneficial of information is necessary for the public to review and comment on the conservation actions for species listed proper performance of the functions of permit application, draft SHA, and the under the ESA. SHA permit holders are the agency, including whether the draft EAS. assured that they will not be subject to information will have practical utility; DATES: To ensure consideration, please increased property use restrictions as a (2) The accuracy of the agency’s send your written comments on or result of their proactive actions to estimate of the burden of the proposed before August 17, 2020. benefit listed species. Incidental take of collection of information; ADDRESSES: You may view or download listed species is authorized under a (3) Ways to enhance the quality, copies of the draft SHA and draft EAS permit pursuant to the provisions of utility, and clarity of the information to and obtain additional information on section 10(a)(1)(A) of the ESA. For an be collected; and the internet at https://www.fws.gov/ applicant to receive a permit through an (4) Ways to minimize the burden of carlsbad/, or obtain hard copies or a SHA, the applicant must submit an the collection of information on those CD–ROM by calling the phone number application form that includes the who are to respond; including through listed below. You may submit following: the use of appropriate automated comments or requests for more (1) The common and scientific names collection techniques or other forms of information by any of the following of the listed species for which the information technology, e.g., permitting methods: applicant requests incidental take electronic submission of responses. • Email: [email protected]. authorization; HUD encourages interested parties to Include ‘‘Amargosa vole SHA’’ in the (2) A description of how incidental submit comment in response to these subject line of the message. take of the listed species pursuant to the questions. • U.S. Mail: Assistant Field SHA is likely to occur, both as a result Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife of management activities and as a result C. Authority Service, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife of the return to baseline; and Section 3507 of the Paperwork Office, 777 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, (3) A description of how the SHA Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. Suite 208, Palm Springs, CA 92262. complies with the requirements of the Chapter 35. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Service’s Safe Harbor policy. Scott Hoffmann, Palm Springs Fish and For the Service to issue a permit, we Dated: June 30, 2020. must determine that: Anna P. Guido, Wildlife Office (see ADDRESSES); by telephone at 760–322–2070 or by (1) The take of listed species will be Department Reports Management Officer, _ incidental to an otherwise lawful Office of the Chief Information Officer. electronic mail at scott hoffmann@ fws.gov. If you use a activity and will be in accordance with [FR Doc. 2020–15438 Filed 7–16–20; 8:45 am] telecommunications device for the deaf the terms of the SHA; (2) The implementation of the terms BILLING CODE 4210–67–P (TDD), please call the Federal Information Relay Service at 800–877– of the SHA is reasonably expected to 8339. provide a net conservation benefit to the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR covered species by contributing to its SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Susan recovery, and the SHA otherwise Fish and Wildlife Service Sorrells, hereafter referred to as the complies with the Service’s Safe Harbor applicant, has applied to the U.S. Fish Policy (64 FR 32717, June 17, 1999); [FWS–R8–ES–2020–N073; and Wildlife Service for permit (3) The probable direct and indirect FXES11140800000–201–FF08ECAR00] pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the effects of any authorized take will not Endangered Species Act of 1973, as appreciably reduce the likelihood of Safe Harbor Agreement for the amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Reintroduction of the Amargosa Vole survival and recovery in the wild of any The permit application includes a draft listed species; (Microtus californicus scirpensis) in safe harbor agreement (SHA), which Shoshone, CA, and Draft (4) Implementation of the terms of the covers 467 acres owned by the applicant SHA is consistent with applicable Environmental Action Statement, Inyo in Inyo County, California. The County, CA Federal, State, and Tribal laws and proposed term of the permit and the regulations; AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, SHA is 30 years. The permit would (5) Implementation of the terms of the Interior. authorize incidental take of the SHA will not be in conflict with any ACTION: Notice of availability; request endangered Amargosa vole (Microtus ongoing conservation or recovery for comments. californicus scirpensis) in exchange for programs for listed species covered by habitat conservation actions that are the permit; and SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and expected to provide a net conservation (6) The applicant has shown Wildlife Service (Service), have received benefit for the species. We have capability for and commitment to an application from Susan Sorrells prepared a draft environmental action implementing all of the terms of the (applicant) for an enhancement of statement (EAS) for our preliminary SHA. survival permit (permit) under the determination that the SHA and permit The Service’s Safe Harbor Policy (64 Endangered Species Act. The decision may be eligible for categorical FR 32717) and the Safe Harbor application includes a draft safe harbor exclusion under the National Regulations (68 FR 53320, 69 FR 24084) agreement (SHA) to facilitate Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 43 provide important terms and concepts reintroduction and recovery of the U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). We invite the for developing SHAs. The Service’s Safe federally endangered Amargosa vole on public to review and comment on the Harbor policy and regulations are VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:12 Jul 16, 2020 Jkt 250001 PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 43598 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 138 / Friday, July 17, 2020 / Notices available at the following website: stochastic events (e.g., wildfire and fully consider all comments we receive http://www.fws.gov/endangered/laws- disease) within the species’ limited during the comment period. policies/regulations-and-policies.html. existing occupied habitat. Public Availability of Comments Proposed Action Species Information Written comments we receive become The applicant has submitted a draft The current range of the Amargosa part of the public record associated with SHA for the Amargosa vole that covers vole is confined to 36 marshes in the this action. Before including your approximately 467 acres of land Lower Amargosa River Valley in the address, phone number, email address, (enrolled property) in Inyo County, vicinity of Tecopa Hot Springs and the or other personal identifying California, within historical but northern end of the Amargosa Canyon. information in your comment, you currently unoccupied habitat of the The Amargosa vole obligately depends should be aware that the entire Amargosa vole. The enrolled property upon, and is closely associated with, comment, including your personal comprises marsh habitat in areas wetland vegetation dominated by identifying information, may be made irrigated by water from Shoshone Spring Olney’s three-square bulrush available at any time. While you can ask or other sources, interspersed trees of (Schoenoplectus americanus), where it us in your comment to withhold your various species, open meadow, various generally occurs in isolated and disjunct personal identifying information from degrees of undisturbed and disturbed marshes surrounded by saltgrass- public review, we cannot guarantee that salt scrub desert, and developed areas. dominated habitats or more xeric desert we will be able to do so. Development within the enrolled scrub or barren areas. Although not all Authority property includes the Shoshone Trailer of the mechanisms that drive habitat RV Park (camping sites, picnic areas, selection are fully understood, plausible We provide this notice under section walking trails, and a swimming pool), explanations for habitat preference may 10(c) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) various parking areas, and unpaved include the presence of standing and and its implementing regulations (50 trails and roads. The broader Enrolled flowing water, reliance on Olney’s CFR 17.22 and 17.32), and NEPA (42 Property is bisected by Old State three-square bulrush as a vital food U.S.C. 4371 et seq.) and its Highway CA 127 and State Highway CA source, and utilization of bulrush litter implementing regulations (40 CFR 127, and lies adjacent to land owned by layers (up to 3.3 feet in depth) for 1506.6; 43 CFR part 46). the Death Valley Unified School thermoregulation, nesting, and predator District. Within the enrolled property is Scott Sobiech, avoidance. a core area comprising three connected Field Supervisor, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife marsh sites where intensive habitat National Environmental Policy Act Office, Pacific Southwest Region. restoration activities have been Compliance [FR Doc. 2020–15437 Filed 7–16–20; 8:45 am] implemented by the applicant, the BILLING CODE 4333–15–P The development of the draft SHA Service, and other cooperators.