[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 29916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13770]



[[Page 29916]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2017-N046; FXES11130800000-178-FF08EVEN00]


Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Low-Effect 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Curletti Farm Employee Housing 
Project, Santa Barbara County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit application; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have received an 
application from Betteravia Farms, LLC, for an incidental take permit 
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. The permit would 
authorize take of the federally endangered California tiger salamander 
(Santa Barbara distinct population segment) incidental to otherwise 
lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farm Employee Housing 
Project Habitat Conservation Plan. We invite public comment.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before July 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may download a copy of the draft habitat conservation 
plan and draft low-effect screening form and environmental action 
statement on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you may 
request copies of the documents by U.S. mail to our Ventura office, or 
by phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT). Please address written 
comments to Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and 
Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola Road, 
Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. You may alternatively send comments by 
facsimile to (805) 644-3958.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above address or by calling (805) 644-1766.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), have received an application from Betteravia Farms, LLC 
(applicant), for an incidental take permit under the Endangered Species 
Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; Act). The applicant 
has agreed to follow all of the conditions in the habitat conservation 
plan for the project. The permit would authorize take of the Santa 
Barbara distinct population segment of the federally endangered 
California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) incidental to 
otherwise lawful activities associated with the Curletti Farm Employee 
Housing Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). We invite public 
comment on the application, the draft habitat conservation plan, draft 
low-effect screening form, and environmental action statement.

Background

    The Santa Barbara distinct population segment of the California 
tiger salamander was listed by the Service as endangered on January 19, 
2000 (65 FR 3096). Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and 
its implementing regulations prohibit the ``take'' of fish or wildlife 
species listed as endangered or threatened. ``Take'' is defined under 
the Act to include the following activities: ``[T]o harass, harm, 
pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to 
attempt to engage in any such conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1532); however, 
under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act, we may issue permits to authorize 
incidental take of listed species. ``Incidental take'' is defined by 
the Act as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying 
out of an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing incidental 
take permits for threatened and endangered species are in the Code of 
Federal Regulations at 50 CFR 17.32 and 17.22, respectively. Under the 
Act, protections for federally listed plants differ from the 
protections afforded to federally listed animals. Issuance of an 
incidental take permit also must not jeopardize the existence of 
federally listed fish, wildlife, or plant species. All species included 
in the incidental take permit would receive assurances under our ``No 
Surprises'' regulations (50 CFR 17.22(b)(5) and 17.32(b)(5)).
    The applicants have applied for a permit for incidental take of the 
California tiger salamander. The potential taking would occur as a 
result of activities associated with the construction of the farm labor 
camp in suitable habitat for the covered species.

Our Preliminary Determination

    The Service has made a preliminary determination that issuance of 
the permit is neither a major Federal action that will significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of 
section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq.; NEPA), nor will it individually or cumulatively have more 
than a negligible effect on the species covered in the HCP. Therefore, 
the permit qualifies for a categorical exclusion under NEPA.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the permit application, plan, and 
associated documents, you may submit comments by any one of the methods 
in ADDRESSES.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your 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 view, we cannot guarantee that we will be able 
to do so.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

    Dated: June 26, 2017.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2017-13770 Filed 6-29-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P