[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34928-34929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14996]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-ES-2015-N079; FXES11120100000-156-FF01E00000]


Receipt of Enhancement of Survival Permit Applications Developed 
in Accordance With the Template Safe Harbor Agreement for the Columbia 
Basin Pygmy Rabbit

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces the receipt 
of nine Enhancement of Survival Permit applications that were developed 
in accordance with the Template Safe Harbor Agreement (Template SHA) 
for the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) and 
pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (Act). The nine permit applicants are: (1) Morris Farms; (2) 
Overen Living Trust; (3) North Ranches, LLC; (4) Baird Springs 
Environmental; (5) Buster Boruff, LLC; (6) Ms. Susan Chace; (7) Mr. 
Garey Clements; (8) Mr. Greg Lehr and Ms. Christine Lehr; and (9) 
Sandygren Properties Limited Partnership. Issuance of permits to these 
applicants would exempt incidental take of the Columbia Basin pygmy 
rabbit, which would otherwise be prohibited by section 9 of the Act, 
that is above the baseline conditions of properties enrolled under the 
Template SHA and that may result from the permittees' otherwise lawful 
land-use activities. The Service requests comments from the public 
regarding the proposed issuance of permits to these nine applicants.

DATES: To be fully considered, written comments from interested parties 
must be received on or before July 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: To request further information or submit written comments, 
please use one of the following methods, and note that your information 
request or comments are in reference to the ``Pygmy Rabbit SHAA.''
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Pygmy Rabbit SHAA'' 
in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 509-891-6748, Attn: Russ MacRae, Assistant Project 
Leader. Include ``Pygmy Rabbit SHAA'' in the subject line of the 
message.
     U.S. Mail: Russ MacRae, Assistant Project Leader, Eastern 
Washington Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 11103 East 
Montgomery Drive, Spokane, Washington 99206.
    Document availability: Copies of the current permit applications, 
the Template SHA, and other relevant decision documents addressing the 
Service's proposed issuance of permits are available for review, 
subject to the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) 
and Freedom of Information Act, by any of the following methods.
     Internet: You may access electronic copies on the Internet 
at http://www.fws.gov/wafwo/index.html.
     In-Person: Printed copies are available for public 
inspection, by appointment, during normal business hours at the Eastern 
Washington Field Office (see ADDRESSES).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Eames, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (see ADDRESSES); by telephone 509-893-8010. If you use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), please call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 800-877-8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On September 7, 2006, the Service announced the availability for 
public review and comment of a draft Template SHA, which was jointly 
developed by the Service and the Washington Department of Fish and 
Wildlife (WDFW), and a draft Environmental Assessment, which was 
developed by the Service pursuant to Federal responsibilities under the 
National Environmental Policy Act. The Service's September 7, 2006, 
notice also announced the receipt of three initial permit applications 
that were developed in accordance with the Template SHA. The final 
Template SHA, which contained only minor modifications from the draft 
released for public review, was signed by the Service and WDFW on 
October 24, 2006. To date, the Service has issued 17 permits under the 
Template SHA, which cover 137,626 acres that fall within the historic 
distribution of the Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit. The nine new 
applicants have requested to enroll an additional 11,446 acres of 
privately owned lands under the Template SHA.
    The primary objective of the Template SHA is to facilitate 
collaboration between the Service, WDFW, and prospective participants 
to voluntarily implement conservation measures to benefit the Columbia 
Basin pygmy rabbit. Another objective of the Template SHA is to 
facilitate a process to provide incidental take coverage to 
participants through issuance of Enhancement of Survival Permits, which 
will relieve participants of additional section 9 liability under the 
Act if implementation of their conservation measures results in 
increased numbers or distribution of Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits on 
their enrolled properties.
    The Service previously determined that implementation of the 
Template SHA, to include issuance of permits developed in accordance 
with the Template SHA, would result in conservation benefits to the 
Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit and would not result in significant effects 
to the human environment. The Service will evaluate any new 
information, the current permit applications, related documents, and 
any comments submitted thereon to determine whether they are consistent 
with the measures prescribed by the Template SHA and other relevant 
decision documents and permit issuance criteria. If it is determined 
that the requirements are met, permits to exempt incidental take of the 
Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit will be issued to the applicants. The final 
permit determinations will not be completed until after the end of the 
30-day comment period, following our full consideration of all comments 
received.

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,

[[Page 34929]]

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. Comments and materials we 
receive, as well as supporting documentation we use in preparing the 
permits, will be available for public inspection by appointment, during 
normal business hours, at our Eastern Washington Field Office (see 
ADDRESSES).
    The Service is furnishing this notice to provide the public, other 
Federal and State agencies, and interested Tribes an opportunity to 
review and comment on the Service's proposed issuance of permits to 
these applicants.

Authority

    We provide this notice in accordance with the requirements of 
section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).

    Dated: May 22, 2015.
Richard Hannan,
Deputy Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2015-14996 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
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