[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 135 (Monday, July 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32719-32720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14926]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2017-N087; FXES11130800000-178-FF08EVEN00]


Receipt of Application for Incidental Take Permit; Low-Effect 
Habitat Conservation Plan for the Laguna County Sanitation District, 
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 (Service), have 
received an application from Laguna County Sanitation District, 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) 
and the federally threatened California red-legged frog incidental to 
otherwise lawful activities associated with the Laguna County 
Sanitation District Project Habitat Conservation Plan. We invite public 
comment.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before August 16, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: 
    To obtain documents: 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).
    To submit written comments: Please send us your written comments 
using one of the following methods:
     U.S. mail: Send your comments to: Stephen P. Henry, Field 
Supervisor,

[[Page 32720]]

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 
Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003.
     Facsimile (fax): Fax your comments to (805) 644-3958.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Henry, Fish and Wildlife 
Biologist, at the above address or by calling (805) 677-3312.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We have received an application from Laguna 
County Sanitation District (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) and the federally threatened California red-legged frog 
(Rana draytonii) incidental to otherwise lawful activities associated 
with the Laguna County Sanitation District 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 September 
21, 2000 (65 FR 57242). The California red-legged frog was listed by 
the Service as threatened on May 23, 1996 (61 FR 25813). Section 9 of 
the Act 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 applicant has applied for a permit for incidental take of the 
California tiger salamander and California red-legged frog. 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 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: July 11, 2017.
Stephen P. Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2017-14926 Filed 7-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4333-15-P