Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Notices 47827

piping plover (Charadrius melodus)

red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis)

southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax

traillii extimus)

Houston toad (Bufo houstonensis)

Big Bend gambusia (Gambusia gaigei)

Comanche Springs pupfish (Cyprinodon

elegans)

Permittee also requests authorization

to collect the minimal amounts

necessary for identification of the

following plants from existing or new

highway rights-of-way:

Navasota ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes parksii)

Nellie cory cactus (Coryphantha minima)

slender rush pea (Hoffmannseggia tenella)

Sneed’s pincushion cactus (Coryphantha

sneedii var. Sneedii)

star cactus (Astrophylum asterias)

Terlingua Creek cat’s-eye (Cryptantha

crassipes)

Texas ambrosia (Ambrosia cheiranthifolia)

Texas ayenia (Ayenia limitaris)

Texas poppy-mallow (Callirhoe scabriuscula)

Texas prairie dawn (Hymenoxys texana)

Texas snowbells (Styrax texana)

Texas trailing phlox (Phlox nivalis var.

texensis)

Tobusch fishhook cactus (Ancistrocactus

tobuschii)

Walker’s manioc (Manihot walkerae)

white bladderpod (Lesquerella pallida)

ashy dogweed (Thymophylla tephroleuca)

black lace cactus (Echinocereus

reichenbachii var. albertii)

bunched cory cactus (Coryphantha

ramillosa)

Davis’ green pitaya (Echinocereus viridiflorus

var. Davisii)

Hinckley’s oak (Quercus hinckleyi)

Johnston’s frankenia (Frankenia johnstonii)

large-fruited sand verbena (Abronia

macrocarpa)

Little Aguja pondweed (Potamogeton

clystocarpus)

Lloyd’s mariposa cactus (Neolloydia

mariposensis)

Permit No. PRT–820283

Applicant: Dr. David M. Leslie, Stillwater,

Oklahoma

Applicant requests authorization to

collect by seine and freeze 30 specimens

of Pecos Gambusia (Gambusia nobilis)

at each of 10 sites in the Diamond Y

Draw Preserve of the Texas Nature

Conservancy, Pecos County, Texas.

Permit No. PRT–833851

Applicant: Robert Hansen, Austin, Texas

Applicant requests authorization for

scientific monitoring, enhancement of

propagation or survival, and incidental

taking of the Barton Springs salamander

(Eurycea sosorum).

Permit No. PRT–833866

Applicant: Donna Work, Lufkin, Texas

Applicant requests authorization to

conduct presence/absence surveys for

red-cockaded woodpeckers (Picoides

borealis); monitor populations, cavity

trees, and stand conditions; midstory

and understory removal/control; install

artificial cavity inserts, restrictor plates,

hardware cloth, and snake exclusion

devices; banding and sexing of

juveniles; and capturing, handling and

possible banding of adults.

Permit No. PRT–833867

Applicant: Juan Valera-Lema, Austin, Texas

Applicant requests authorization hold

4 Barton Springs salamanders (Eurycea

sosorum) and to collect and/or receive

25 additional species for educational

display purposes at the Austin Nature

and Science Center.

Permit No. PRT—833868

Applicant: E. Linwood Smith, Tucson,

Arizona

Applicant requests authorization to

conduct presence/absence surveys for

the cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl

(Glaucidium brasilianum cactorum) on

the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range

in Arizona.

Permit No. PRT—822998

Applicant: John M. McGee, Tucson, Arizona

Applicant request authorization for

scientific research and recovery

purposes to survey for the Sonora tiger

salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum

stebbinsi), Huachuca water umbel

(Lilaeopsis schaffneriana ssp recurva),

Pima pineapple cactus (Coryphantha

scheeri robustispina), New Mexican

ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus

willardi obscurus), Gila topminnow

(Poeciliopsis occidentalis occidentals),

Sonora chub (Gila ditaenia), American

peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus

anatum), and Canelo Hills ladies’

tresses (Spiranthes delitescens).

DATES: Written comments on these

permit applications must be by October

14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written data or comments

should be submitted to the Legal

Instruments Examiner, Division of

Endangered Species/Permits, Ecological

Services, P.O. Box 1306, Albuquerque,

New Mexico 87103. 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: U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological

Services, Division of Endangered

Species/Permits, P.O. Box 1306,

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103.

Please refer to the respective permit

number for each application when

requesting copies of documents.

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 30

days of the date of publication of this

notice, to the address above.

Jerome M. Butler,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 97–24115 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Receipt of an Application for

an Incidental Take Permit by

Langboard, Inc. for Construction of a

Fiberboard Manufacturing Facility Near

Willacoochee, Atkinson County, GA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Langboard, Inc. (Applicant)

seeks an incidental take permit (ITP)

from the Fish and Wildlife Service

(Service) pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B)

of the Endangered Species Act of 1973

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as amended

(Act). The Applicant proposes to

construct a fiberboard manufacturing

facility and associated infrastructure on

sandhill habitat near Willacoochee,

Atkinson County, Georgia. The

threatened Eastern indigo snake

(Drymarchon corais couperi) is known

to occur on the property. The ITP would

authorize incidental take of snakes

throughout the life of the facility. To

minimize impacts associated with the

proposed project, Langboard proposes to

implement conservation measures to

restore degraded snake habitat on 59

acres adjacent to the proposed facility.

The Service also announces the

availability of the HCP for the incidental

take application. Copies of the HCP may

be obtained by making a request to the

Regional Office (see ADDRESSES).

Requests must be in writing to be

processed. This notice also advises the

public that the Service has made a

preliminary determination that issuing

the ITP is available through the

Categorical Exemption process outlined

in the Service’s Departmental Manual

governing implementation of the

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA). This notice is provided

pursuant to Section 10 of the Act and

NEPA regulations (40 CFR 1506.6). The

Service specifically requests comment

on the appropriateness of the ‘‘No

Surprises’’ assurances should the

Service determine that an ITP will be
47828 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Notices

granted and based upon the submitted

HCP. Although not explicitly stated in

the HCP, the Service has, since August

1994, announced its intention to honor

a ‘‘No Surprises’’ Policy for applicants

seeking ITPs. Copies of the Service’s

‘‘No Surprises’’ Policy may be obtained

by making a written request to the

Regional Office (see ADDRESSES). The

Service is soliciting public comments

and review of the applicability of the

‘‘No Surprises’’ Policy to this

application and HCP.

DATES: Written comments on the permit

application and HCP should be sent to

the Service’s Regional Office (see

ADDRESSES) and should be received on

or before October 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the application and HCP may obtain a

copy by writing the Service’s Southeast

Regional Office, Atlanta, Georgia.

Documents will also be available for

public inspection by appointment

during normal business hours at the

Regional Office, 1875 Century

Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia

30345 (Attn: Endangered Species

Permits), or Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, Brunswick,

Georgia Field Office, 4270 Norwich

Street, Brunswick, Georgia 31520.

Written data or comments concerning

the application or HCP should be

submitted to the Regional Office.

Requests for the documentation must be

in writing to be processed. Comments

must be submitted in writing to be

processed. Please reference permit

number PRT–833793 in such comments,

or in requests of the documents

discussed herein.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Rick G. Gooch, Regional Permit

Coordinator, (see ADDRESSES above),

telephone: 404/679–7110; or Ms. Robin

Goodloe, Fish and Wildlife Biologist,

Brunswick, Georgia Field Office, (see

ADDRESSES above), telephone: 912/265–

9336.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Eastern indigo snake (snake) is a large,

docile, non-venomous snake reaching

more than 7 feet in length. The snake

once was a common southeastern

Coastal Plain species found from South

Carolina to Louisiana. Now it occurs in

significant numbers only in Georgia and

Florida and is believed to be declining

throughout its range. Declines in snake

populations are primarily due to habitat

loss. Sandhill habitats within the range

of the snake have been severely

impacted by silviculture, farming, and

urbanization. A reduction in numbers

and extent of wildfires and prescribed

burns has resulted in adverse

modification of sandhill habitats. Snake

collections for the pet trade and deaths

related to rattlesnake hunting also

reduced numbers. Additional mortality

may result from bioaccumulation of

pesticides and herbicides.

In Georgia, the primary habitat of the

snake is dry sandhills (longleaf pineturkey oak-wiregrass association)

interspersed with wetland habitats such

as drainageways, river swamps, and

cypress ponds. The majority of snake

winter dens in Georgia are located in

gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)

burrows. Snakes are quiescent during

winter, and the availability of deep dens

that do not flood (e.g., gopher tortoise

burrows on the sandhills) is essential for

winter survival. Snakes move from

winter habitat in the sandhills to stream

bottoms and agricultural fields from

May through November. Seasonal range

from May through July is estimated at

17 acres and increases to 39 acres from

August to November.

Snakes forage in a variety of forest

types including wetlands and upland

pine-hardwoods up to a mile from their

winter dens. The snake feeds on other

snakes, frogs, toads, small mammals,

birds, turtles, fish, and other vertebrates.

Mating activity (recorded in a captive

colony at Auburn) begins in November,

peaks in December, and continues into

March. Nests tend to be located in

abandoned gopher tortoise burrows and

rotting pine stumps.

The current status and future survival

of the snake is likely linked directly to

the status of sandhill habitat. Density of

gopher tortoise populations, and

therefore, snake habitat, is closely

related to available biomass of

herbaceous food plants; this in turn is

dependent on a sparse tree canopy and

relatively open (litter free) ground

conditions. Frequent fires that remove

some, but not all, scrub hardwood and

most brush are essential in maintaining

habitat quality.

Langboard, Inc. proposes to construct

a fiberboard manufacturing facility, with

associated infrastructure, on a 723-acre

site near Willacoochee, Atkinson

County, Georgia. The majority of the

property is flatwood wetlands, which

will be avoided during construction.

The northern 200 acres primarily is

sandhill habitat planted in pine. Two

federally threatened snakes, as well as

88 active and 713 inactive or abandoned

gopher tortoise burrows, were located in

upland habitats on the property during

1996 surveys. The fiberboard

manufacturing facility will be

constructed on 45.29 acres of sandhill

habitat that currently supports four

active and 94 inactive/abandoned

gopher tortoise burrows.

Construction and operation of the

fiberboard manufacturing facility may

directly injure or kill snakes that utilize

the site or indirectly cause death or

injury by destroying gopher tortoise

burrows that provide snakes with winter

dens, refugia, and egg-laying habitat. To

minimize impacts associated with the

proposed project, the Applicant

proposes to implement conservation

measures to restore 59 acres of sandhill

habitat adjacent to the proposed facility.

Conservation measures on different

areas managed under the HCP will

include prescribed warm season burns

on a regular basis throughout the

lifetime of the facility, replanting with

longleaf pine (Pinus palustris),

maintenance of overstory at a 30–40

percent open canopy, thinning other

areas to stimulate growth of herbaceous

vegetation, and maintaining a buffer

along a county road and the property’s

north boundary.

The Service will evaluate whether the

issuance of the Section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP

complies with Section 7 of the Act by

conducting an intra-Service Section 7

consultation. The results of the

biological opinion, in combination with

the above findings, will be used in the

final analysis to determine whether or

not to issue the ITP.

On Thursday, January 16, 1997, the

Service published a notice in the

Federal Register announcing the Final

Revised Procedures for implementation

of NEPA (NEPA Revisions), (62 FR

2375–2382). The NEPA revisions update

the Service’s procedures, originally

published in 1984, based on changing

trends, laws, and consideration of

public comments. Most importantly, the

NEPA revisions reflect new initiatives

and Congressional mandates for the

Service, particularly involving new

authorities for land acquisition

activities, expansion of grant programs

and other private land activities, and

increased Endangered Species Act

permit and recovery activities. The

revisions promote cooperating agency

arrangements with other Federal

agencies; early coordination techniques

for streamlining the NEPA process with

other Federal agencies, Tribes, the

States, and the private sector; and

integrating the NEPA process with other

environmental laws and executive

orders. Section 1.4 of the NEPA

Revisions identify actions that may

qualify for Categorical Exclusion.

Categorical exclusions are classes of

actions which do not individually or

cumulatively have a significant effect on

the human environment. Categorical

exclusions are not the equivalent of

statutory exemptions. If exceptions to

categorical exclusions apply, under 516
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Notices 47829

DM 2, Appendix 2 of the Departmental

Manual, the departmental categorical

exclusions cannot be used. Among the

types of actions available for a

Categorical Exclusion is for a ‘‘low

effect’’ HCP/incidental take permit

application. A ‘‘low effect’’ HCP is

defined as an application that,

individually or cumulatively, has a

minor or negligible effect on the species

covered in the HCP [Section 1.4(C)(2)].

The Service considers the Applicant’s

project and HCP such a Categorical

Exclusion, since the impacts of issuing

the ITP involve only a small area of the

affected species’ range and the

anticipated level of incidental take is

minimal. The Service is soliciting for

public comments on this determination.

Dated: September 4, 1997.

H. Dale Hall,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 97–24114 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of an

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan and Receipt of

Application for Incidental Take Permit

for Construction and Operation of

Approximately 143.6 Acres of Light

Industrial Development on the

Approximately 440-Acre Schlumberger

Property (PRT–827597), in Austin,

Travis County, TX

SUMMARY: The Schlumberger

Technology Corporation (applicant) has

applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) for an incidental take

permit pursuant to Section 10(a) of the

Endangered Species Act (Act). The

applicant has been assigned permit

number PRT–827597. The requested

permit, which is for a period of 30 years,

would authorize the incidental take of

the endangered golden-cheeked warbler

(Dendroica chrysoparia). The proposed

take on the 440-acre parcel would occur

as a result of 143.6 acres of light

industrial development. A minimum of

approximately 195 acres will be

preserved in its natural state as a

conservation easement. All construction

will occur on the 440-acre Schlumberger

Property located in Austin, Travis

County, Texas.

The Service has prepared the

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the

incidental take application. A

determination of whether jeopardy to

the species will occur, or a Finding of

No Significant Impact (FONSI), will not

be made before 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 by

October 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: 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, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103.

Persons wishing to review the EA/HCP

may obtain a copy by contacting Sybil

Vosler, Austin Ecological Services Field

Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200,

Austin, Texas 78758 (512/490–0063).

Documents will be available for public

inspection by written request, by

appointment only, during normal

business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m)

at the Austin Ecological Services Field

Office. Written data or comments

concerning the application(s) and EA/

HCPs should be submitted to the Field

Supervisor, Austin Ecological Services

Field Office. Please refer to permit

number PRT-827597 when submitting

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sybil Vosler at the above Austin

Ecological Services Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the goldencheeked warbler. However, the Service,

under limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take endangered wildlife

species, when such taking is incidental

to, and not the purpose of, otherwise

lawful activities. Regulations governing

permits for endangered species are at 50

CFR 17.22.

APPLICANT: Schlumberger Technology

Corporation plans to construct a light

industrial development on

approximately 143.6 acres and preserve

a minimum of 195 acres within the 440-

acre tract. The construction will be at

the Schlumberger property located east

of R.M. 620, approximately 1 mile north

of RM 2222 on the northwest side of the

City of Austin, roughly 12 miles from

the downtown area. The preserved area

will be maintained in its natural state

and a conservation easement will be

granted in perpetuity and held by a nonprofit conservation organization or

governmental agency approved by the

Service.

Alternatives to this action were

rejected because selling with federallylisted species present or not developing

the subject property were not

economically feasible.

Jerome M. Butler,

Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque,

New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 97–24116 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Issuance of Permit for Marine

Mammals

On July 10, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 132, Page 37072, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by James Y. Jones,

Dublin, GA, for a permit (PRT–831722)

to import a sport-hunted polar bear for

personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on August

14, 1997, as authorized by the

provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

On June 26, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 123, Page 34482, that

applications had been filed with the

Fish and Wildlife Service by Hossein

Golabchi, Augusta, GA (PRT–830486)

and Dennis Schlegel, Ione, WA (PRT–

830807) for a permit to each applicant

for import of a sport-hunted polar bear

for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on August

18, 1997, as authorized by the

provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permits subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

Documents and other information

submitted for these applications are

available for review by any party who

submits a written request to the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Rm 430, Arlington,

Virginia 22203. Phone (703) 358–2104

or Fax (703) 358–2281.

Dated: September 5, 1997.

Mary Ellen Amtower,

Acting Chief, Branch of Permits, Office of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 97–24012 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P