Federal Register/Vol. 84, No. 154/Friday, August 9, 2019/Notices
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39264 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2019 / Notices TABLE 1—AUTHORIZED TAKE AMOUNT BY SPECIES Species Level A Level B Total take Harbor seal .................................................................................................................................. 93 1,860 1,953 California sea lion ........................................................................................................................ 0 868 868 Northern elephant seal ................................................................................................................ 0 7 7 Killer whale (West coast transient) .............................................................................................. 0 19 19 Steller sea lion ............................................................................................................................. 0 154 154 Gray whale ................................................................................................................................... 0 2 2 Humpback whale ......................................................................................................................... 0 6 6 Dall’s porpoise ............................................................................................................................. 39 163 202 Harbor porpoise ........................................................................................................................... 39 784 823 Minke whale ................................................................................................................................. 0 7 7 Bottlenose dolphin ....................................................................................................................... 0 49 49 Long-beaked common dolphin .................................................................................................... 0 49 49 A description of the methods and affected marine mammal species or effects of this proposed federal action inputs used to estimate take anticipated stocks; (3) the authorized takes were adequately analyzed in NMFS’ to occur and, ultimately, the take that represent small numbers of marine Biological Opinion for the Mukilteo was authorized is found in the previous mammals relative to the affected stock Multimodal Project, dated August 1, documents referenced above. The abundances; and (4) WSDOT’s activities 2017, which concluded that the take methods of estimating take are identical will not have an unmitigable adverse NMFS proposes to authorize through to those used in the previous IHA, as is impact on taking for subsistence this IHA would not jeopardize the the density of marine mammals. NMFS purposes as no relevant subsistence uses continued existence of any endangered has reviewed recent Stock Assessment of marine mammals are implicated by or threatened species or destroy or Reports, information on relevant this action. adversely modify any designated critical Unusual Mortality Events, and recent National Environmental Policy Act habitat. scientific literature, and determined that no new information affects our original To comply with the National Authorization analysis of impacts or take estimate Environmental Policy Act of 1969 NMFS has issued an IHA to WSDOT under the original IHA. (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and for in-water construction activities We refer to the documents related to NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) associated with the Mukilteo the previously issued IHA, which 216–6A, NMFS must review our Multimodal Project from August 1, 2019 include the Federal Register notice of proposed action with respect to through July 31, 2020. All previously the issuance of the 2018 IHA for environmental consequences on the described mitigation, monitoring, and WSDOT’s construction work (83 FR human environment. reporting requirements from the 2018 43849), WSDOT’s application, the Accordingly, NMFS has determined IHA are incorporated. that the issuance of the IHA qualifies to Federal Register notice of the proposed Dated: August 6, 2019. IHA (83 FR 30421, June 28, 2018), and be categorically excluded from further Donna S. Wieting, all associated references and NEPA review. This action is consistent documents. with categories of activities identified in Director, Office of Protected Resources, CE B4 of the Companion Manual for National Marine Fisheries Service. Determinations NOAA Administrative Order 216–6A, [FR Doc. 2019–17068 Filed 8–8–19; 8:45 am] WSDOT will conduct activities which do not individually or BILLING CODE 3510–22–P identical to those analyzed in the cumulatively have the potential for previous 2018 IHA. As described above, significant impacts on the quality of the the number of authorized takes of the human environment and for which we DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE same species and stocks of marine have not identified any extraordinary mammals are identical to the numbers circumstances that would preclude this Department of the Army, Corps of that were found to meet the negligible categorical exclusion. Engineers impact and small numbers standards Endangered Species Act (ESA) Intent To Prepare a Draft Integrated and authorized under the 2018 IHA and no new information has emerged that Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Feasibility Report-Environmental would change those findings. The re- Species Act of 1973 (ESA: 16 U.S.C. Impact Statement for the Memphis issued 2019 IHA includes identical 1531 et seq.) requires that each Federal Metropolitan Stormwater Management required mitigation, monitoring, and agency insure that any action it Project: North DeSoto County, reporting measures as the 2018 IHA, and authorizes, funds, or carries out is not Mississippi Feasibility Study there is no new information suggesting likely to jeopardize the continued AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, that our analysis or findings should existence of any endangered or Department of Defense. change. threatened species or result in the ACTION: Notice of intent. Based on the information contained destruction or adverse modification of here and in the referenced documents, designated critical habitat. To ensure SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National NMFS has determined the following: (1) ESA compliance for the issuance of Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the The required mitigation measures will IHAs, NMFS consults internally, in this U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), effect the least practicable impact on case with the West Coast Region Memphis District, as the lead agency marine mammal species or stocks and Protected Resources Division, whenever intends to prepare a Draft Integrated their habitat; (2) the authorized takes we propose to authorize take for Feasibility Report and Environmental will have a negligible impact on the endangered or threatened species. The Impact Statement (DIFR–EIS) for the VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:34 Aug 08, 2019 Jkt 247001 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09AUN1.SGM 09AUN1 khammond on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2019 / Notices 39265 Memphis Metropolitan Stormwater as House Document Numbered 76, occurred in the area in May 2010, May Management Project: North DeSoto Eighty-fifth Congress, and other 2011, September 2014, and March 2016. County, Mississippi Feasibility Study. pertinent reports, to determine whether The area received a Presidential Disaster The DIFR–EIS seeks to evaluate the any modifications of the Declaration in 2011. In DeSoto County, effectiveness of existing Federal and recommendations contained therein are the U.S. Small Business Administration non-Federal improvements; to advisable at this time, with particular provided federal assistance in the area determine the need for additional reference to the need for improvements after the 2014 flood. Flooding inundates improvements to reduce the risk of for flood control, environmental major transportation corridors and flooding from storm water, restore restoration, water quality, and related several neighborhoods, isolates environmental resources, and improve purposes associated with storm water communities, damages public the quality of water entering the runoff and management in the infrastructure and development Mississippi River and its tributaries; and metropolitan Memphis, Tennessee, area (residential, commercial and industrial), to determine if such improvements are and tributary basins including Shelby, and threatens life safety. In the area, technically feasible, environmentally Tipton, and Fayette counties, unstable channels, lack of suitable acceptable, and economically justified. Tennessee, and DeSoto and Marshall riparian cover, altered flow regime, and DATES: This Notice of Intent commences counties, Mississippi. This area loss of wetlands and floodplains all the formal public scoping comment includes the Hatchie River, degrade habitat in the area. Commercial period. No later than August 16, 2019, Loosahatchie River, Wolf River, and residential development has a scoping meeting notice announcing Nonconnah Creek, Horn Lake Creek, reduced floodplain and aquatic habitat. the location, date, and time for a and Coldwater River basins. The review Wetland habitat and bottomland scoping meeting will be posted on the shall evaluate the effectiveness of hardwoods have been isolated and project website (https:// existing Federal and non-Federal degraded. Increased runoff is causing www.mvm.usace.army.mil/Missions/ improvements and determine the need channel instability, scouring and Projects/North-DeSoto-County-