[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32861-32863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15037]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2016-0141; FXES11140200000-178-FF02ENEH00]


Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Barton Springs 
Edwards Aquifer Conservation District Habitat Conservation Plan

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: notice of receipt of a permit 
application; and announcement of a public meeting.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft environmental impact statement (dEIS), which 
evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, the proposed Barton 
Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD) Habitat 
Conservation Plan (dHCP) for federally-listed Barton Springs salamander 
(BSS) and Austin blind salamander (ABS) (collectively, covered species) 
incidental take in portions of Travis and Hays Counties, Texas, where 
pumping withdrawals are implemented, authorized, or permitted by 
BSEACD. We also announce that we will hold a public meeting on this 
project.

DATES: Comments: We will accept comments received or postmarked on or 
before September 18, 2017. Comments submitted electronically using the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES section below) must be 
received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date. Any comments 
that we receive after the closing date may not be considered in the 
final decision on these actions.

ADDRESSES: Obtaining Documents:
     Internet: You may obtain copies of the dEIS and dHCP on 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (Docket 
Number FWS-R2-ES-2016-0141); or
     You may also obtain copies of the dEIS and dHCP on the 
Service's Web site at http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas/ 
(refer to permit number TE10607C).
     U.S. Mail: A limited number of CD-ROM and printed copies 
of the dEIS and dHCP are available, by request, from the Field 
Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 
200, Austin, TX 78758; phone (512) 490-0057; or fax (512) 490-0974. 
Please note that your request is in reference to the HCP for BSS and 
ABS (TE10607C).
     In-Person: Copies of the dEIS and dHCP are also available 
for public

[[Page 32862]]

inspection and review at the following locations, by appointment and 
written request only, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, 
Austin, TX 78758, 512/490-0057.
    [cir] U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Gold Avenue SW., 
Albuquerque, NM 87102, Room 6034, 505/248-6920.
    [cir] Department of the Interior, Natural Resources Library, 1849 
C. St. NW., Washington, DC 20240.
    Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy by 
writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. 
Box 1306, Room 6034, Albuquerque, NM 87103 (Attention: Branch of 
Environmental Review).
    Submitting Comments: You may submit written comments by one of the 
following methods:
     Electronically: Go to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: 
http://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter FWS-R2-ES-2016-
0141, which is the docket number for this notice. On the left side of 
the screen, under the Document Type heading, click on the Notices link 
to locate this document and submit a comment.
     By Hard Copy: Submit by U.S. mail or hand-delivery to 
Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2016-0141; U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service; MS BPHC-PPM; 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 
22041-3803.
     For how to view comments on the EIS from the Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), or for information on EPA's role in the EIS 
process, see EPA's Role in the EIS Process under SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION.
     We will also accept written and oral comments at the 
public meeting (see DATES).
    We request that you send comments by only the methods described 
above. We will post all information received on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any 
personal information you provide us (see the Public Availability of 
Comments section below for more information).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78758 or 
(512) 490-0057.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to this notice of the dEIS, EPA 
is publishing a notice announcing the dEIS, as required under section 
309 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.). The publication of 
EPA's notice is the official start of the comment period for an EIS 
(see EPA's Role in the EIS Process below).

Background

    We initially prepared a notice of intent (NOI) to prepare an 
environmental impact statement (EIS), which was published in the 
Federal Register on August 9, 2005 (70 FR 46186). A scoping meeting was 
held in Austin, Texas, on August 23, 2005. Issues identified during the 
initial scoping meeting were incorporated into a combined dHCP and dEIS 
dated August 2007. Subsequent to preparation of this document, the ABS 
became listed as an endangered species and new information became 
available for the BSS. In 2014 we initiated a process to update the 
scope of issues and concerns concerning the proposed action. We 
prepared a second NOI to prepare an environmental assessment (EA), 
which was published in the Federal Register on March 5, 2014 (79 FR 
12522) and a public scoping meeting was held on April 3, 2014. After 
reviewing the scope and possible controversy on the activities covered 
in the dHCP, the Service determined that an EIS was the appropriate 
NEPA analysis. A summary of comments provided during both scoping 
periods can be found in Appendix A of the dEIS.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action involves the issuance of an ITP by the Service 
for the covered activities in the permit area, pursuant to section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. 
The ITP would cover ``take'' of the covered species associated with 
permitted pumping occurring within the permit area.
    The requested term of the ITP is 20 years. To meet the requirements 
of a section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP, the applicant developed and proposes to 
implement their dHCP, which describes the conservation measures the 
applicant has agreed to undertake to minimize and mitigate for the 
impacts of the proposed incidental take of the covered species to the 
maximum extent practicable, and ensure that incidental take will not 
appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival and recovery of these 
species in the wild.

Alternatives

    Four alternatives to the proposed action we are considering as part 
of this process are:
    No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative BSEACD would 
not seek, and the Service would not issue, an ITP. Under this 
alternative, compliance with the Act would continue to occur only on an 
individual basis through project-specific consultations with the 
Service. BSEACD would notify pumpers of approaching drought and issue 
notices to stop pumping once drought is declared and take of the 
covered species is imminent. Under this Alternative, each pumper would 
be expected to comply with pumping cessation notices issued by BSEACD, 
or would need to seek an individual ITP for the covered species in 
order to continue pumping. Each independent application for an ITP 
would require an analysis of the incidental take and impacts to listed 
species, the identification and implementation of appropriate and 
practicable mitigation measures, and the preparation of appropriate 
documentation to support the permitting action. Mitigation requirements 
would be individually negotiated with the Service on the basis of the 
level of impact to listed species and the conservation value of the 
mitigation options and opportunities available to the individual 
applicant.
    Alternative 2: The preferred alternative. Permitted Pumping Under 
the District HCP. The permitted pumping alternative would involve 
approval of the BSEACD HCP addressing authorized pumping of the Barton 
Springs Segment of the Edwards Aquifer and the issuance of an ITP by 
the Service. Alternative 2 measures could meet state-mandated Desired 
Future Conditions (DFC). These actions would limit Aquifer pumping 
during Drought of Record (DOR)-like conditions to no more than 5.2 
cubic feet per second (cfs), thereby maintaining a minimum average 
Barton Springs monthly springflow of 6.5 cfs. The BSEACD HCP 
incorporates actions to minimize and mitigate unavoidable incidental 
take and, includes demand reduction measures, programs encouraging the 
development and use of new water supplies, greater enforcement 
capabilities, cooperative efforts with other entities, and mechanisms 
to adapt management strategies and respond to emergencies.
    Alternative 3: Water Demand Reduction. Under the water demand 
reduction alternative BSEACD would not seek, and the Service would not 
issue, an ITP. BSEACD's permitting program would control Aquifer 
pumping, both in absolute-use terms and during drought conditions, to 
protect the covered species and avoid incidental take. Alternative 3 
would require mandated pumping reductions during DOR conditions to less 
than 1 cfs to maintain minimum average monthly Barton Springs 
springflow of 11 cfs. These regulatory curtailments, backed with 
effective enforcement to ensure

[[Page 32863]]

compliance, would protect springflow for the covered species. Minimum 
required springflows equivalent to historical conditions would be 
ensured under Alternative 3. However, this alternative would employ the 
most severe regulatory measures to achieve the level of pumping 
reductions needed and would require one or more sources of replacement 
water for some indeterminate fraction of the amount curtailed to meet 
residual demand.
    Alternative 4: Water Supply Augmentation and Substitution. Under 
Alternative 4 BSEACD would propose an HCP and seek a 5 year ITP. 
Alternative 4 would involve the development of other alternative water 
supplies that would augment the amount of water pumped from the 
Aquifer, substitute for Aquifer withdrawals, or involve a combination 
of both to achieve the goal of substantially reducing Aquifer pumping 
to a level below 1 cfs in order to provide for a minimum average 
monthly springflow of 11 cfs during drought of record conditions. As 
additional water supplies become available, the amount of Aquifer 
pumping would be reduced in direct proportion to the amount of water 
augmented or substituted. BSEACD currently does not have the regulatory 
authority to develop alternative water supplies. Use of augmented or 
substituted water supplies would have to be implemented voluntarily as 
is currently being done by some users within the permit area. There are 
also current limitations on the amount of alternative water supplies 
that could economically be made available to groundwater users within 
the region.
    Section 9 of the Act and its implementing regulations prohibit 
``take'' of fish and wildlife species listed as threatened or 
endangered under section 4 of the Act. However, section 10(a) of the 
Act authorizes us to issue permits to take listed wildlife species 
where such take is incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise 
lawful activities and where the applicant meets certain statutory 
requirements.

Public Meeting

    The Service will hold a public meeting during the public comment 
period. The date, time, and location of the meeting will be noticed in 
local newspapers at least two weeks before the meeting and will also be 
posted on the following Web site: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/AustinTexas/. The public meeting will be physically accessible to 
people with disabilities. Requests for reasonable accommodations (e.g., 
auxiliary aids or sign language interpretation) should be directed to 
Charlotte Kuchera, 512/490-0057, ext. 224, at least 5 working days 
prior to the meeting date.

EPA's Role in the EIS Process

    In addition, EPA is publishing a notice announcing the dEIS, as 
required under section 309 of the Clean Air Act. The publication date 
of EPA's notice of availability is the official start of the public 
comment period for the dEIS. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA also must 
subsequently announce the final EIS via the Federal Register. The EPA 
is charged under section 309 of the Clean Air Act to review all Federal 
agencies' EISs and to comment on the adequacy and the acceptability of 
the environmental impacts of proposed actions in the EISs.
    EPA also serves as the repository (EIS database) for EISs prepared 
by Federal agencies and provides notice of their availability in the 
Federal Register. The EIS database provides information about EISs 
prepared by Federal agencies, as well as EPA's comments concerning the 
EISs. All EISs are filed with EPA, which publishes a notice of 
availability on Fridays in the Federal Register.
    The notice of availability is the start of the 60-day public 
comment period for draft EISs. For more information, see http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/eisdata.html. You may search for EPA 
comments on EISs, along with EISs themselves, at https://cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-enepa-public/action/eis/search.

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 your entire comment--including 
your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you can request in your comment that we withhold 
your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot 
guarantee that we will be able to do so. We will not consider anonymous 
comments. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, will be made available for public 
disclosure in their entirety.

Authority

    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act and its 
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA and its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Joy E. Nicholopoulos,
Acting Regional Director, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 2017-15037 Filed 7-17-17; 8:45 am]
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