Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 123 / Monday, June 26, 2000 / Notices 39421

Affairs of the Office of the Solicitor. The

Immediate Office of the Solicitor will

provide legal advice to the Secretary.

Therefore, ex parte communication on

this matter with the Office of the

Secretary or the Immediate Office of the

Solicitor is prohibited. Any

communication with the Office of the

Secretary or the attorneys in the

Immediate Office of the Solicitor

regarding this review must be in writing

and a copy of the communication must

be served on all participants in the

review as noted above.

Dated: June 19, 2000.

John D. Leshy,

Solicitor.

[FR Doc. 00–16093 Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–10–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Endangered Species Permit

Applications

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of receipt of permit

applications.

SUMMARY: The following applicants have

applied for a scientific research permit

to conduct certain activities with

endangered species pursuant to section

10 (a)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.).

Permit No. TE–028876

Applicant: The Nature Conservancy,

Portland, Oregon.

The applicant requests a permit to

take (capture, handle, and release) the

Lost River sucker (Deltistes luxatus) and

shortnose sucker (Chasmistes

brevirostris) in conjunction with

restoration actions in the Williamson

River and Agency Lake, Oregon, for the

purpose of enhancing their survival.

Permit No. TE–026227

Applicant: Joseph Silveira, Willows,

California.

The applicant requests a permit to

take (harass by survey, collect and

sacrifice) the Conservancy fairy shrimp

(Branchinecta conservatio), longhorn

fairy shrimp (Branchinecta

longiantenna), vernal pool tadpole

shrimp (Lepidurus packardi), San Diego

fairy shrimp (Brachinecta

sandiegonensis), and the Riverside fairy

shrimp (Streptocephalus woottoni), and

remove and reduce to possession

specimens of Cordylanthus palmatus,

Cordylanthus mollis ssp. mollis,

Orcuttia californica, Orcuttia pilosa,

Orcuttia viscida, Tuctoria greenei, and

Tuctoria mucronata in conjunction with

surveys and the collection of voucher

specimens throughout each species’

range in California for the purpose of

enhancing their survival.

Permit No. TE–002716

Applicant: Kenneth J. Halama,

Riverside, California.

The applicant requests a permit to

take (capture and handle) the arroyo

southwestern toad (Bufo microscaphus

californicus) in conjunction with

conducting natural history research

throughout the species’ range for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.

Permit No. TE–839213

Applicant: David Philip Muth, Jr.,

Martinez, California.

The permittee requests an amendment

to take (harass by survey, collect and

sacrifice) the San Diego fairy shrimp

(Brachinecta sandiegonensis) and the

Riverside fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus

woottoni) in conjunction with surveys

throughout each species’ range in

California for the purpose of enhancing

their survival.

Permit No. TE–839480

Applicant: Richard Zembal, Laguna

Hills, California.

The applicant requests a permit to

take (harass by survey, locate and

monitor nests) the southwestern willow

flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus)

and take (monitor nests, capture, mark,

band, and release) the least Bell’s vireo

(Vireo bellii pusillus) in conjunction

with scientific research throughout each

species range in California for the

purpose of enhancing their survival.

Permit No. TE–028810

Applicant: Althouse and Meade, Inc.,

Paso Robles, California.

The applicant requests a permit to

take (capture and handle) the California

tiger salamander (Ambystoma

californiense) in conjunction with

presence or absence surveys in Santa

Barbara County, California for the

purpose of enhancing its survival.

DATES: Written comments on these

permit applications must be received on

or before July 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written data or comments

should be submitted to the Chief—

Endangered Species, Ecological

Services, Fish and Wildlife Service, 911

NE. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon

97232–4181; Fax: (503) 231–6243.

Please refer to the respective permit

number for each application when

submitting comments. All comments

received, including names and

addresses, will become part of the

official administrative record and may

be made available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Documents and other information

submitted with these applications are

available for review, subject to the

requirements of the Privacy Act and

Freedom of Information Act, by any

party who submits a written request for

a copy of such documents within 20

days of the date of publication of this

notice to the address above; telephone:

(503) 231–2063. Please refer to the

respective permit number for each

application when requesting copies of

documents.

Dated: June 19, 2000.

Don Weathers,

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland,

Oregon.

[FR Doc. 00–16033 Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of a ‘‘Lost Pines’’

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan for Assigned Permit

Number TE–025997–0. For Issuance of

an Endangered Species Act Section

10(a)(1)(B) Permit for the Incidental

Take of the Endangered Houston Toad

(Bufo houstonensis). During the

Construction and Occupation of Single

Family Residences (each on homesites of 0.5 acres or less) in 45

subdivisions in Bastrop County, TX

SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service Office has prepared an

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan for assigned permit

number TE–025997–0 for issuance of an

Endangered Species Act Section

10(a)(1)(B) permit for the incidental take

of the Endangered Houston Toad. The

Service proposes issuing endangered

species permits to individual lot owners

under an EA/HCP, where each permit

would authorize the incidental take of

the endangered Houston toad, directly

or indirectly, from the construction and

occupation of a single-family residence

on an undeveloped lot in the 45

subdivisions covered under this EA/

HCP. This alternative was selected as

the Preferred Alternative as it will allow

for responsible development of the lots

while minimizing and offsetting impacts

to the Houston toad by providing for onsite and off-site conservation measures

that will be used to promote the longterm survival of the species. It is also

considered to provide the most

simplified, expeditious, and effective

39422 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 123 / Monday, June 26, 2000 / Notices

process by which landowners can

comply with the provisions of the

Endangered Species Act in a more

efficient manner. The Service has

divided the 45 subdivisions into two

categories, those in low/marginal

quality Houston toad habitat, and those

in medium quality Houston toad

habitat. The EA/HCP requires the same

avoidance, minimization, and

mitigation efforts from every lot owner,

within their respective category. This

negates the need and cost in both time

and money to prepare individual HCPs

and go through separate public review

processes. Since this EA/HCP will have

already gone out for public review and

comment (through this Notice in the

Federal Register), and been finalized, it

would cover 8,476 undeveloped lots,

covering a maximum of 4,238 acres of

sub-optimal Houston toad habitat, as

noted in the EA/HCP in the 45 listed

subdivisions, and endangered species

permits could be issued in a matter of

days as opposed to months under the

current permitting process.

The EA/HCP has been assigned

permit number TE–025997–0. The

requested permit issuance, which will

be for a period of 5 years, would

authorize the incidental take of the

endangered Houston toad (Bufo

houstonensis). The proposed take would

occur as a result of the possible

construction and occupation on 8,476

remaining undeveloped lots, covering a

maximum of 4,238 acres of sub-optimal

Houston toad habitat, in 45 subdivisions

in Bastrop County, Texas.

A determination of jeopardy to the

species or a Finding of No Significant

Impact (FONSI) will not be made until

at least 30 days from the date of

publication of this notice. This notice is

provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of

the Act and National Environmental

Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the

application should be received on or

before July 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the EA/HCP may obtain a copy by

contacting: Austin Office of the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet

Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758

(512/490–0057). Documents will be

available for public inspection by

written request, or by appointment only,

during normal business hours (8 to 4:30)

at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Austin, Texas. Written data or

comments concerning the EA/HCP

should be submitted to the Field

Supervisor, Austin Field Office of the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at the

above address. Please refer to permit

number TE–025997–0 when submitting

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact the Austin Office of the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service at the above

address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the Houston

toad. However, the Service, under

limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take endangered wildlife

species incidental to, and not the

purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.

Regulations governing permits for

endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.

Applicant

This action will permanently disturb

a maximum of 0.5 acres of Houston toad

habitat within each eligible lot and

result in indirect impacts within the

subdivision. Each applicant will

compensate for this incidental take of

the Houston toad by providing

mitigation funds to the National Fish

and Wildlife Foundation for the specific

purpose of land acquisition, protection,

and management within Houston toad

habitat, as identified by the Service.

Bryan Arroyo,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2,

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 00–16032 Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

Technology Transfer Act of 1986;

Cooperative Research and

Development Agreement With Rio

Algom Exploration

AGENCY: Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed cooperative

research and development agreement

(CRADA) negotiations.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) is contemplating entering into a

Cooperative Research and Development

Agreement (CRADA) with Rio Algom

Exploration to conduct aerial surveys in

Alaska.

INQUIRIES: If any other parties are

interested in studying other areas with

the USGS, please contact: Fredric

Wilson, USGS-Alaska Section, 4200

University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508–

4667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is to meet the USGS requirement

stipulated in the Survey Manual.

Dated: May 23, 2000.

Linda C. Gundersen,

Associate Chief Geologist for Program

Operations.

[FR Doc. 00–15995 Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–Y7–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ–040–00–1040–AE]

Gila Box Riparian National

Conservation Area Advisory

Committee; Meeting Notice

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Gila Box Riparian National

Conservation Area Advisory Committee

Meeting.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is

to announce the next meeting of the Gila

Box Riparian National Conservation

Area Advisory Committee Meeting. The

purpose of the Advisory Committee is to

provide informed advice to the Safford

Field Office Manager on Management of

public lands in the Gila Box Riparian

National Conservation Area (RNCA).

The committee meets as needed,

generally between two and four times a

year.

The meeting will take place at the

Bureau of Land Management, Safford

Field Office on September 15, 2000

commencing at 9 a.m. and ending at 4

p.m. The meeting’s agenda will consist

of updates on livestock management,

transportation system, public affairs,

monitoring, and Lee Trail Headquarters

relocation within the Gila Box RNCA. In

addition, the meeting will include a

update on the National Landscape

Conservation System as it relates to the

Gila Box RNCA. A public comment

period will be provided from 9:45 a.m.

to 10 a.m. for the public to address the

committee on management of the Gila

Box RNCA.

DATES: Meeting will be held on

September 15, 2000 starting at 9 a.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon

Collins, Gila Box NCA Project

Coordinator, Safford Field Office, 711

14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546;

telephone number (520) 384–4400.

Dated: June 15, 2000.

William T. Civish,

Field Office Manager.

[FR Doc. 00–15996 Filed 6–15–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–32–M