[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69977-69979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28794]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2015-N194; FXES11130200000-167-FF02ENEH00]


Draft Screening Form and Draft Low-Effect Habitat Conservation 
Plan for the San Rafael Ranch; Santa Cruz County, AZ

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), make 
available the draft National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) screening 
form and draft San Rafael Ranch low-effect habitat conservation plan 
(dHCP). The San Rafael Cattle Company (applicant) has applied to the 
Service for an incidental take permit (ITP, TE12133A-0) under the 
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). If approved, the ITP 
would be in force for a period of 30 years, and would authorize 
incidental take of three species currently listed under the Act, and 
one species that may become listed under the Act. The proposed 
incidental take would occur as a result of specified actions conducted 
under the authority of the San Rafael Cattle Company.
    This is the second notice regarding the dHCP. An earlier notice of 
Availability was published on July 22, 2010 (75 FR 35504). After that 
notice was published, processing of the permit application was 
suspended by mutual agreement of the San Rafael Cattle Company and the 
Service.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received or 
postmarked on or before December 14, 2015. Any comments that we receive 
after the closing date may not be considered.

ADDRESSES: Availability of Documents: The draft NEPA screening form and 
draft San Rafael Ranch low-effect habitat conservation plan (dHCP) are 
available by the following methods:
     Internet: Documents are available on the Internet at the 
Service's Web site, at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/.
     U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies 
of both documents are available, by request, from Mr. Steve Spangle, 
Field Supervisor, Arizona Ecological Services Field Office, 2321 West 
Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-
0210; fax:

[[Page 69978]]

602-242-2513. Please note that your request is in reference to the San 
Rafael Ranch dHCP (TE-12133A-0).
     In-Person: Copies of both documents are also available for 
public inspection and review at the following locations, by written 
request and appointment only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., Room 
6034, Albuquerque, NM 87102.
     U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, 
AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-0210; fax: 602-242-2513.
    The ITP application is available by mail from the Regional 
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 1306, Room 6034, 
Albuquerque, NM 87103, Attn: Environmental Review Division.
    Comment submission: We request that you send comments only by one 
of the methods described below. Comments submitted by any other means 
may not be considered. Please note that your request is in reference to 
the San Rafael Ranch dHCP (TE-12133A-0).
     Electronically: Send comments to [email protected].
     By hard copy: Submit comments by U.S. mail or hand-
delivery to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, 
AZ 85021-4951; telephone: 602-242-0210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Doug Duncan, Arizona Ecological 
Services Field Office--Tucson Sub-Office, 201 N. Bonita Avenue, Suite 
141, Tucson, AZ 85745; telephone (520/670-6150; extension 236); or by 
email ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We announce that:
    (1) We have gathered the information necessary to determine the 
impacts to the human environment under NEPA related to the potential 
issuance of an ITP to the applicant; and
    (2) The applicant has developed a dHCP as part of the application 
for an ITP, which describes the measures the applicant has agreed to 
take to minimize and mitigate the effects of incidental take of covered 
species to the maximum extent practicable, pursuant to section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Act.
    Take of listed plant species is not defined in the Act, although 
the Act does identify several prohibitions. However, because covered 
species in the dHCP include both plants and animals, in the following 
discussion we use the term ``incidental take'' when discussing impacts 
to covered plants, as well as actual incidental take of covered 
animals. Plant species may be included on an ITP in recognition of the 
conservation benefits provided to them under an HCP.
    If approved, the ITP would authorize incidental take of five listed 
species, including Sonoran tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium 
[=tigrinum] stebbinsi), Gila chub (Gila intermedia), northern Mexican 
gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops), Canelo Hills ladies'-tresses 
(Spiranthes delitescens), and Huachuca water umbel (Lilaeopsis 
schaffneriana ssp. recurva), as well as a species that may become 
listed under the Act in the future, and Huachuca springsnail 
(Pyrgulopsis thompsoni).
    Also occurring on the Ranch is the endangered Gila topminnow 
(Poeciliopsis o. occidentalis) and potentially, the threatened 
Chiricahua leopard frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis). Both species are 
covered under safe harbor agreements held by the Arizona Game and Fish 
Department.
    The proposed incidental take would occur as a result of ranch 
management activities on 18,440 acres of the San Rafael Ranch and 3,560 
acres of grazing preference on the Arizona State Parks, San Rafael 
State Natural Area (consistent with lease terms) in Santa Cruz County, 
Arizona. The applicant has completed a dHCP as part of the application 
package, as required by the Act.
    A categorical exclusion for an HCP is based on the following three 
criteria: (1) Implementation of the proposed plan would result in minor 
or negligible effects on federally-listed, proposed, and candidate 
species and their habitats; (2) implementation of the proposed HCP 
would result in minor or negligible effects on other environmental 
values or resources; and (3) impacts of the HCP, considered together 
with the impacts of other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable 
similarly situated projects, would not result, over time, in cumulative 
effects to environmental values or resources that would be considered 
significant. Based upon the preliminary determination made in our draft 
NEPA screening document, we believe this action qualifies as a 
categorical exclusion. We will consider public comments when making the 
final determination on whether to prepare an additional NEPA document 
on the proposed action.

Background

    Since purchasing the San Rafael Ranch in 2000, the applicant has 
been implementing grazing practices that have improved range and 
habitat conditions on private lands within the San Rafael Valley of 
Santa Cruz County, Arizona. These improved habitat conditions provide 
opportunities for conservation actions that may enhance the status and 
distribution of covered species on the San Rafael Ranch. The applicant 
would like to continue ranch management activities while working with 
agencies to conduct conservation actions on the San Rafael Ranch, such 
as introduction of covered species or other species not covered, and 
removal of aquatic invasive species. The covered ranch management 
activities would consist of watering cattle in stock tanks and cattle 
grazing all habitats, including herding cattle within and between 
pastures; maintenance of stock ponds, wells, waterlines, fences, roads, 
and utility lines supporting these facilities; and brush and invasive 
plant management to reduce shrub invasion of upland grasslands. All of 
these activities have short-term impacts on species and their habitats, 
and incidental take of some covered species may occur. However, a long-
term benefit is anticipated for the watershed and habitats of the 
covered species. In addition, the applicant proposes actions to 
minimize the impacts of the activities and assist in recovery of 
covered species. These actions are also proposed to be covered by the 
associated section 10(a)(1)(B) permit.
    The biological goal of the San Rafael Ranch HCP is to provide long-
term protection for multiple species of concern and key natural 
communities through maintenance or improvement of the habitat 
conditions and ecosystem functions necessary for their survival, and to 
ensure that any incidental take of listed species will not appreciably 
reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of those species in 
the wild.

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 publicly 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.

[[Page 69979]]

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act (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).

    Dated: November 5, 2015.
Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28794 Filed 11-10-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P