[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 149 (Friday, August 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51849-51851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-16663]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R2-ES-2023-N055; FXES11140200000-234-FF02ENEH00]


Salt River Project Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan Amendment 
and Draft Environmental Assessment; Maricopa and Gila Counties, Arizona

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, as the lead Federal 
agency, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as a 
cooperating agency, announce the availability of a draft environmental 
assessment (EA) for the proposed Salt River Project Roosevelt Habitat 
Conservation Plan (RHCP) Amendment which includes a proposed planned 
deviation to the Corps' Water Control Manual (WCM) in Gila and Maricopa 
Counties, Arizona. Salt River Project (applicant) submitted the RHCP 
amendment, also available for public review, in support of an 
application for an amended incidental take permit (permit) under the 
Endangered Species Act. Prepared in accordance with the requirements of 
the National Environmental Policy Act, the draft EA evaluates the 
impacts of, and alternatives to, amending the existing permit for the 
operation of the Modified Roosevelt Dam and Lake. If approved, the 
requested permit amendment would authorize incidental take of the 
northern Mexican gartersnake and expand the permit area for existing 
authorized incidental take for the yellow-billed cuckoo, southwestern 
willow flycatcher, and bald eagle. We invite comments from the public 
and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

DATES: We will accept comments received on or before September 5, 2023.

ADDRESSES: 
    Obtaining documents: You may obtain copies of the RHCP amendment 
and draft EA on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/office/arizona-ecological-services.
    Submitting comments: You may submit written comments by email to 
[email protected]. Please note which document(s) your comment 
references. For more information, see Public Availability of Comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Heather Whitlaw, Field Supervisor, 
Arizona Ecological Services Office; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 
telephone (602) 242-0210. Individuals in the United States who are 
deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 
711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay 
services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay 
services offered within their country to make international calls to 
the point-of-contact in the United States.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(Service), as the lead Federal agency, in conjunction with the U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), as a cooperating agency, announce the 
availability of a draft environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed 
Salt River Project Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan (RHCP) Amendment 
in Gila and Maricopa Counties, Arizona. Salt River Project (SRP; 
applicant) submitted the proposed RHCP amendment in support of an 
application for an amended incidental take permit (permit) under 
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq.). The draft EA evaluates the impacts of, and alternatives to, 
amending the existing permit for the operation of the Modified 
Roosevelt Dam and Lake, and addresses both the Service and Corps' 
responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). The proposed RHCP amendment is a combined ESA 
section 10(a)(1)(B) and ESA section 7 approach to ESA compliance for 
implementation of covered activities for non-Federal (section 10) and 
Federal (section 7) participants. The RHCP amendment addresses effects 
from SRP's Modified Roosevelt Dam conservation storage actions to newly 
listed species, and adds SRP's flood control operations, which includes 
a proposed planned deviation to the Corps' Water Control Manual (WCM). 
The planned deviation to the Corps' WCM, guiding Roosevelt Lake's flood 
control space (FCS) operations, is a Federal action, as is the 
Service's approval of an amended permit. The planned deviation, if 
approved, could extend water's occurrence in the FCS for 100 days (120 
days total) in 3 out of 5 consecutive years. SRP's current permit is 
for 50 years, expiring in 2053, and the amendment does not change the 
permit duration. If the amendment is approved, the permit would have a 
remaining duration of 30 years.
    If the Service approves the amended RHCP and the Corps approves the 
planned deviation, the requested permit amendment would authorize 
incidental take of the northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques 
megalops; gartersnake) and expand the permit area for existing 
authorized incidental take for the federally listed threatened yellow-
billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; cuckoo), endangered southwestern 
willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus; flycatcher), and 
unlisted bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus).
    SRP and the Service evaluated and improved the incidental take 
exceedance language for the bald eagle for conservation storage and 
additional flood control activities, addressing the bald eagle's 
dynamic distribution and abundance. SRP is amending their existing RHCP 
under ESA for the bald eagle in case the Service lists the bald eagle 
as threatened or endangered in the future. We also included the bald 
eagle to address compliance during the remaining life of the permit 
under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act) (16 U.S.C. 
668-668d, 54 Stat. 250, as amended) and its governing regulations at 50 
CFR 22.80.
    Authorized incidental take of the covered species would result from 
Modified Roosevelt Dam's conservation storage and flood control 
activities, including the proposed deviation to the Corps' WCM.

Background

    Section 9 of the ESA and its implementing regulations at 50 CFR 
part 17.21 prohibit the ``take'' of fish or wildlife species listed as 
endangered. Additionally, per 50 CFR part 17.31, most of the provisions 
of 50 CFR part 17.21 for endangered species, including prohibition of 
``take'', apply to species listed as threatened, provided the species 
was added to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife on or prior 
to September 26, 2019. ``Take'' is defined under the ESA as to 
``harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or 
collect listed animal species, or to attempt to engage in such 
conduct'' (16 U.S.C. 1532(19)).

[[Page 51850]]

However, under section 10(a) of the ESA, we may issue permits to 
authorize incidental take of listed species. Valid ESA permits under 
10(a)(1)(B) constitute a valid permit under the Eagle Act, if the 
activity is compatible with bald eagle preservation. ESA defines 
``incidental take'' as take that is incidental to, and not the purpose 
of, carrying out an otherwise lawful activity. Regulations governing 
incidental take permits of endangered and threatened species are in 50 
CFR 17.21-22 and 50 CFR 17.31-32, respectively.

Proposed Actions

Service's Proposed Action

    The Service's proposed action involves the issuance of an amended 
10(a)(1)(B) permit to SRP in association with SRP's RHCP Amendment in 
Maricopa and Gila Counties, Arizona. The RHCP amendment is a combined 
ESA section 10(a)(1)(B) and ESA section 7 approach to ESA compliance 
for implementation of covered activities for non-Federal (section 10) 
and Federal (section 7) participants. SRP's permit is for 50 years, 
expiring in 2053, and the amendment does not change the permit 
duration.
    In 2002, SRP developed the original RHCP to address effects to the 
flycatcher, cuckoo, Yuma Ridgway's rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis), 
and bald eagle resulting from SRP's conservation storage operations at 
Modified Roosevelt Dam and Lake. The 2002 RHCP and 2003 permit area 
address Roosevelt Lake's conservation space (CS), which extends to the 
reservoir's water surface at elevation 2,151 feet (ft). In February 
2003, the Service signed its RHCP record of decision on the 
environmental impact statement under NEPA, completed a section 7 ESA 
biological opinion on the issuance of the permit, and issued a permit 
to SRP.
    The proposed RHCP amendment addresses effects from Modified 
Roosevelt Dam's conservation storage actions to species (gartersnake) 
listed since completion of the original 2002 RHCP.
    SRP is adding flood control operations to the RHCP and its effects 
to covered species (gartersnake, flycatcher, cuckoo, and bald eagle). 
Flood control operations include normal flood control operations and a 
proposed ``3 in 5-year planned deviation'' to the Corps' WCM.
    SRP's RHCP amendment includes and addresses the effects to listed 
species from the proposed WCM deviation. The proposed planned deviation 
to the Corps' WCM, which guides Roosevelt Lake's FCS operations is a 
Federal action, which we fully analyze under NEPA in the draft EA, 
along with ESA compliance.
    As part of the RHCP amendment's proposed action, SRP would 
implement a gartersnake conservation program for impacts associated 
with CS, normal FCS activities, and the planned deviation, to achieve a 
level of conservation benefit that fully offsets the impacts of the 
anticipated incidental take. SRP's conservation program is integral to 
meeting the amended RHCP's standard to mitigate to the maximum extent 
practicable. SRP's conservation program requires actions for the 
remaining 30-year permit duration. SRP would implement the following 
gartersnake conservation measures associated with conservation and 
normal flood control activities: (1) suppression of nonnative predatory 
fish by electrofishing in two separate sections of lower Tonto Creek 
downstream of the Town of Gisela; (2) stocking of native fishes in two 
separate sections of lower Tonto Creek downstream of the Town of Gisela 
and the FCS; (3) possible stocking of lowland leopard frogs (Lithobates 
yavapaiensis) in the Gisela section of lower Tonto Creek and the FCS; 
and (4) potential funding of a lowland leopard frog breeding facility. 
To offset impacts of gartersnake take from the planned deviation, SRP 
would stock native fish in the FCS. SRP would monitor and adaptively 
manage gartersnake conservation measures to achieve effective and 
efficient conservation.
    The proposed RHCP amendment would expand the permit area for 
cuckoo, flycatcher, and bald eagle to include the FCS. For all three 
birds, existing RHCP conservation measures are comprehensive enough to 
fully mitigate effects anticipated for ongoing conservation storage and 
the additional flood control operations proposed in the RHCP amendment. 
Therefore, SRP's current existing 2002 permit surrogate and exceedance 
measures are robust enough to address additional minor effects to the 
cuckoo and flycatcher from flood control activities.
    In the proposed RHCP amendment, SRP and the Service improved the 
surrogate and exceedance metrics for the bald eagle for ongoing 
conservation and additional flood control activities to address the 
bald eagle's dynamic distribution and abundance. Since completion of 
the original RHCP in 2002, the Service removed the bald eagle from the 
list of threatened and endangered species. SRP is amending their 
existing RHCP under ESA for the bald eagle should we list the bald 
eagle as threatened or endangered in the future. Valid section 
10(a)(1)(B) permits under the ESA constitute a valid permit under the 
Eagle Act, if the activity is compatible with bald eagle preservation. 
The draft EA includes our analysis under the Eagle Act of the RHCP 
amendment and conservation actions. Similar to the flycatcher and 
cuckoo, SRP's existing conservation measures are robust enough to fully 
mitigate additional minor effects to bald eagles.
    SRP's amended RHCP permit, which includes the effects of the Corps' 
proposed planned deviation, will require ESA section 7 compliance.

Corps' Proposed Action

    The Corps is the Federal participant for combined non-Federal 
(section 10) and Federal (section 7) ESA compliance under section 
10(a)(1)(B). The Corps' proposed action is the review of a planned 
deviation from the WCM, as requested by SRP. SRP addresses the effects 
to listed species from the proposed planned deviation in the proposed 
RHCP amendment. SRP's proposed deviation request would extend the 
maximum acceptable release period for water held within the first five 
(5) ft of the FCS (elevations 2,151 to 2,156 ft) from 20 days to 120 
days. The planned deviation could occur in three years out of a five-
consecutive year period and begin immediately, should the Corps approve 
of the deviation.
    The U.S. Government owns Modified Roosevelt Dam, and a 1917 
contract between the Secretary of the Interior, SRP, and the Bureau of 
Reclamation (Reclamation) delegates to SRP the responsibility for the 
care, operation, and maintenance of Modified Roosevelt Dam.
    In 1996, Reclamation, in coordination with SRP, structurally 
modified Roosevelt Dam to include (1) additional water conservation 
space (up to elevation 2,151 ft); (2) flood control space (2,151 to 
2,175 ft in elevation) to help manage flood releases to reduce 
downstream flood damage; (3) flood surcharge space to protect the dam 
from overtopping (Safety of Dams); and (4) new outlet works and 
spillway.
    In 1997, the Corps issued the Water Control Manual for Modified 
Roosevelt Dam. The Corps, Reclamation, and SRP entered into a water 
control agreement, determining that SRP would comply with the WCM's 
flood control operating criteria.
    Modified Roosevelt Dam's WCM operational objective is to minimize 
downstream flood damage along the Salt and Gila Rivers. The WCM 
identifies operational releases within the FCS to draw down Roosevelt 
Reservoir within 20 days of initial inundation while

[[Page 51851]]

working to maintain combined flows at the Salt and Verde River 
confluence below 180,000 cubic ft per second.
    Modified Roosevelt Dam's WCM identifies when it may be necessary to 
temporarily deviate from the established flood control plan. Planned 
deviations are one of three categories identified in the WCM. 
Regulations and agreements establish the process and requirements for 
approval of a planned WCM deviation.

National Environmental Policy Act Compliance

    Issuance of the RHCP amendment permit is a Federal action that 
triggers the need for compliance with NEPA. Additionally, as noted 
above, the proposed RHCP amendment is a combined ESA section 
10(a)(1)(B) and ESA section 7 approach to ESA compliance for 
implementation of covered activities for non-Federal (section 10) and 
Federal (section 7) participants. In accordance with the requirements 
of NEPA, we advise the public that:
    1. We have prepared a draft EA to evaluate SRP's RHCP amendment, 
which addresses Modified Roosevelt Dam's effects from conservation 
storage actions on newly listed species and adds effects to covered 
species from flood control operations, including the Corps' evaluation 
of the planned deviation to the WCM, and potential permit issuance. We 
are accepting comments on the RHCP amendment and draft EA.
    2. The applicant, Service, and Corps have developed the RHCP 
amendment, which describes the measures the applicant has volunteered 
to take to meet the issuance criteria for a permit associated with the 
RHCP amendment. The issuance criteria are found at 50 CFR 
17.22(b)(2)(i) and 50 CFR 17.32(b)(2).
    3. The applicant would implement the RHCP amendment, including its 
conservation program, and the amended permit would remain effective 
until the expiration of the RHCP in 2053.
    4. As described in the RHCP amendment, anticipated incidental take 
of the gartersnake (in the CS, FCS, and lower Tonto Creek), flycatcher, 
cuckoo, and bald eagle (in the FCS) could result from otherwise lawful 
activities covered by the RHCP amendment.

Alternatives

    As part of this process, we are considering two additional 
alternatives to the proposed action, the No Action and No Planned 
Deviation alternatives. Under the No Action Alternative, the Service 
would not issue the amended permit, and SRP would not implement the 
RHCP amendment. Under the No Planned Deviation Alternative, the Corps 
would not approve the planned deviation to the WCM, and SRP would 
implement the RHCP amendment with the addition of normal flood control 
activities.

Next Steps

    We will evaluate the RHCP amendment permit application, amended 
RHCP, draft EA, and comments we receive to determine whether the RHCP 
amendment application meets the requirements of the ESA, NEPA, and 
implementing regulations. If we determine that all requirements are 
met, we will approve the RHCP amendment and issue the amended permit 
under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) to the 
applicant. We will not make our final decision until after the 30-day 
comment period ends and we have fully considered all comments received 
during the public comment period.

Public Availability of Comments

    All comments we receive become part of the public record associated 
with this action. The Service will handle requests for copies of 
comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and 
Service and Department of the Interior policies and procedures. Before 
including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal 
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that the 
Service may make your entire comment--including your personal 
identifying information--publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us to withhold your personal identifying information from public 
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The Service 
will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of 
organizations or businesses, available for public disclosure in their 
entirety.

Authority

    We provide this notice under the authority of section 10(c) of the 
ESA and its implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32) and NEPA 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its implementing regulations (40 CFR 
1506.6).

Amy L. Lueders,
Regional Director, Southwest Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-16663 Filed 8-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P