[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45841-45842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18590]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-ES-2014-N122; FXES11120300000-145-FF03E00000]


Notice of Availability of Draft Habitat Conservation Plan; 
Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Pioneer Trail Wind 
Farm, LLC

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), have received an incidental take permit (ITP) application, 
draft habitat conservation plan (HCP), and a draft Implementing 
Agreement (IA) from Pioneer Trail Wind Farm, LLC (applicant), located 
in Ford and Iroquois Counties, Illinois. If approved, the ITP would 
authorize incidental take of two species of bats (covered species): the 
Indiana bat, a federally endangered species, and northern long-eared 
bat, proposed for Federal listing under the ESA. In accordance with the 
NEPA, the Service has prepared a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) in 
response to the permit application. We

[[Page 45842]]

invite public comment on the ITP application, draft HCP, draft IA, and 
draft EA.

DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments on or 
before September 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments via U.S. mail to the Field Supervisor, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rock Island Field Office, 1511 47th 
Avenue, Moline, IL 61265; by facsimile to 309-757-5807; or by 
electronic mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Schorg, 309-757-5800, extension 
222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 
16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), have received an application from Pioneer Trail Wind Farm, 
LLC (applicant), located in Ford and Iroquois Counties, Illinois, for 
an incidental take permit (ITP) under the ESA. If approved, the ITP 
would authorize incidental take of two species of bats (covered 
species): the federally endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) and 
northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), a species proposed 
for Federal listing under the ESA. The application includes a draft 
habitat conservation plan (HCP) and a draft Implementing Agreement 
(IA). Those documents describe the actions and measures the applicant 
will take to minimize, mitigate, and monitor take of covered species, 
and the assurances the applicant will provide should the ITP be issued. 
In accordance with the NEPA, the Service has prepared a draft 
Environmental Assessment (EA) in response to the ITP application. We 
invite public comment on the application, draft HCP, draft IA, and 
draft EA.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations prohibit the 
``take'' of animal species listed as endangered or threatened. Take is 
defined under the ESA as to ``harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, 
kill, trap, capture, or collect listed animal species, or to attempt to 
engage in such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1538). However, under section 10(a) 
of the ESA, the Service may issue permits to authorize incidental take 
of listed species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by the ESA as take 
that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out an 
otherwise lawful activity.

Requested Permit

    The applicant is seeking a permit for incidental take of three 
individual Indiana bats and two individual northern long-eared bats 
(hereafter, ``covered species'') per year; such take may result from 
operation, maintenance, and decommissioning of an existing 94-turbine 
wind facility over a 43-year period. The ITP would also cover potential 
impacts associated with species mitigation, which would include gating 
and stabilization of high-priority Indiana bat hibernacula, and 
protection, restoration, enhancement, and long-term management of 
summer habitat for both species. While the exact location of land 
proposed as summer habitat mitigation has yet to be finalized, it is 
likely to occur in Alexander, Champaign, Ford, Hardin, and/or 
Vermillion Counties, Illinois.
    Before the Service can issue a permit to the applicant, it must 
first confirm that:
     Take will be incidental to an otherwise lawful activity.
     The applicant will, to the maximum extent practicable, 
minimize and mitigate the impacts of such taking.
     The applicant will ensure that adequate funding for the 
plan will be provided.
     The taking will not appreciably reduce the likelihood of 
the survival and recovery of the overall species in the wild.
     Other measures required by the Service in the plan will be 
met, and there are assurances that the plan will be implemented.

Request for Comments

    The Service invites comments and suggestions from all interested 
parties on the draft documents associated with the permit application. 
In particular, comments and suggestions regarding whether the draft HCP 
sufficiently minimizes and mitigates potential impacts associated with 
take of covered species and any additional information pertinent to 
evaluation of NEPA alternatives and impacts associated with the 
proposed federal action, would be appreciated.

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 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.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the ESA (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; 43 CFR Part 46).

    Dated: June 25, 2014.
Lynn Lewis,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, Midwest Region.
[FR Doc. 2014-18590 Filed 8-5-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P