[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36413-36414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12929]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-ES-2020-N080; FXES11140800000-201-FF08EVEN00]


Draft Habitat Conservation Plan and Draft Categorical Exclusion 
for the Singh Parcel, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, California

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), announce the 
availability of a draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) and draft 
categorical exclusion for activities described in an application for an 
incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended. The ITP would authorize take of a listed species incidental 
to construction of a single-family residence. The applicant developed 
the draft HCP in support of their application for an ITP. The Service 
prepared a draft categorical exclusion in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the 
natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the 
applicant. We invite public comment on these documents.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before July 16, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To obtain documents: You may download a copy of the draft 
HCP and categorical exclusion screening form at http://www.fws.gov/ventura/, available in ``Latest News Stories'' under the ``News Room'' 
tab, or you may request copies of the documents by sending 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: Stephen P. Henry, Field Supervisor, Ventura 
Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola 
Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003.
     Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amrita Duggal, Biologist, by email at 
[email protected], by phone at 805-677-3346, or via the Federal 
Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 for TTY assistance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), announce the availability of a draft habitat conservation 
plan (HCP) and the

[[Page 36414]]

associated draft categorical exclusion with an application for an 
incidental take permit (ITP) from Stephanie Singh (applicant). The 
permit would authorize take of the federally endangered Morro 
shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta walkeriana) incidental to 
activities described in the HCP for the construction of a single-family 
residence in Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, California. The 
applicant developed a draft HCP as part of her application for an ITP 
under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The Service prepared a draft 
categorical exclusion in accordance with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) to evaluate the 
potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from 
issuing an ITP to the applicant. We invite public comment on these 
documents.

Background

    The Morro shoulderband snail was listed as endangered on December 
15, 1994 (59 FR 64613). Section 9 of the ESA prohibits the ``take'' of 
fish or wildlife species listed as endangered. ``Take'' is defined 
under the ESA to include the following activities: ``to 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 ESA, we may issue permits to authorize 
incidental take of listed species. Incidental take is take that is 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, carrying out of an otherwise 
lawful activity. Issuance of an ITP also must not jeopardize the 
existence of federally listed fish, wildlife, or plant species, 
pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA and 50 CFR 402.02. The permittee would 
receive assurances under our ``No Surprises'' regulations (50 CFR 
17.22(b)(5)).

Applicant's Proposed Activities

    The applicant has applied for a permit for incidental take of the 
Morro shoulderband snail. The take would occur in association with the 
construction of a single-family home and associated activities, such as 
vegetation removal, site grubbing, and grading for proposed 
development. The proposed development, including the home, 
infrastructure, future detached workshop and all associated disturbance 
areas, would be sited on approximately 0.56 acre (ac) of the 4.7-ac 
property. To mitigate the effects of the taking of Morro shoulderband 
snail, the applicant proposes to set aside 2 ac of the 4.7-ac property 
under a conservation easement that would be dedicated, in perpetuity, 
to the County of San Luis Obispo.
    The HCP includes avoidance and minimization measures for the Morro 
shoulderband snail and mitigation for unavoidable loss of habitat. The 
applicant's conservation strategy includes an on-site conservation area 
that will be restored to coastal dune scrub habitat suitable for 
occupation by Morro shoulderband snail through removal of non-native 
plants, natural regeneration of native coastal scrub species, and 
seeding with native species characteristic of coastal dune scrub 
habitat.
    Pursuant to the categorical exclusion determination, FWS concludes 
that neither the permit nor the Federal action is anticipated to 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment, due to the 
small size of the proposed project located within an existing 
residential neighborhood.

Public Comments

    If you wish to comment on the draft HCP and low-effect ITP 
screening form, you may submit comments by one of the methods in 
ADDRESSES.
    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 ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.) and NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Stephen Henry,
Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2020-12929 Filed 6-15-20; 8:45 am]
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