1380 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Notices 

notice, we will publish a notice in the 

Federal Register. You may locate the 

Federal Register notice announcing the 

permit issuance date by searching 

regulations.gov under the permit 

number listed in this document (e.g., 

PRT–12345C). 

V. Authority 

The authority for this action is the 

Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Joyce Russell, 

Government Information Specialist, Branch 

of Permits, Division of Management 

Authority. 

[FR Doc. 2018–00321 Filed 1–10–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R8–ES–2017–N115; 

FRES48020810360–XXX] 

Draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the 

California Department of Parks and 

Recreation Oceano Dunes District, San 

Luis Obispo County, California; Notice 

of Intent To Prepare Environmental 

Assessment or Environmental Impact 

Statement; Initiation of Public Scoping 

Process 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), intend to 

prepare draft environmental analysis 

(either an environmental assessment or 

an environmental impact statement) 

under the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA) for the proposed 

habitat conservation plan for the 

California Department of Parks and 

Recreation Oceano Dunes District 

(HCP). The HCP is a conservation plan 

as required under the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA), 

for issuance of an incidental take permit 

(ITP). The draft environmental analysis 

will evaluate the impacts of several 

alternatives related to the proposed 

issuance of an ITP to the California 

Department of Parks and Recreation 

Oceano Dunes District (CDPR, 

applicant) for incidental take of 

threatened and endangered wildlife 

species that could result from activities 

covered under the HCP. The HCP would 

also include conservation measures for 

endangered plants. We also are 

announcing the initiation of a public 

scoping process to engage Federal, 

Tribal, State, and local governments and 

the public in the identification of issues 

and concerns, potential impacts, and 

possible alternatives to the proposed 

action. 

DATES: In order to be included in the 

analysis, all comments must be received 

or postmarked on or before March 12, 

2018. We will hold public scoping 

meetings at a location in the vicinity of 

the proposed plan area. At least one 

week prior to the meeting dates, we will 

announce exact meeting locations, 

dates, and times in local newspapers 

and on the internet at https://

www.fws.gov/ventura/. 

ADDRESSES: Please provide comments in 

writing by one of the following 

methods: 

• Email: lena_chang@fws.gov. Please 

include Oceano Dunes HCP in the 

subject line of the message. 

• Facsimile: 805–644–3958, Attn: 

Oceano Dunes HCP. 

• U.S. Mail: Field Supervisor, 

Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, 2493 Portola 

Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA 93003. 

Please specify that your information 

request or comments concern the 

Oceano Dunes HCP. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Lena Chang, by U.S. mail (see 

ADDRESSES), or by phone at 805–677– 

3305. If you use a telecommunications 

device for the deaf, please call the 

Federal Relay Service at 800–877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), 

intend to prepare an environmental 

analysis under the National 

Environmental Policy Act, as amended 

(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.; NEPA), for the 

proposed habitat conservation plan 

(HCP) for the California Department of 

Parks and Recreation Oceano Dunes 

District. The HCP is a conservation plan 

as required under the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 

U.S.C. 1531 et seq.; ESA), for issuance 

of a section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take 

permit (ITP). The proposed ITP would 

authorize the incidental take of 

threatened and endangered wildlife 

species that could result from ongoing 

activities associated with the public use, 

recreation management, natural 

resources management, and park and 

beach management in two coastal 

Oceano Dunes District park units and an 

associated inland lake located in San 

Luis Obispo County, California. The 

HCP would also include conservation 

measures to protect endangered plant 

species. We also are announcing the 

initiation of a public scoping process to 

engage Federal, Tribal, State, and local 

governments and the public in the 

identification of issues and concerns, 

potential impacts, and possible 

alternatives to the proposed action. 

Upon completion of the public scoping 

process and completion of our review of 

the applicant’s proposed HCP, we may 

determine that an environmental 

assessment rather than an 

environmental impact statement is 

sufficient to support potential issuance 

of the ITP. 

Background 

Section 9 of the ESA and its 

implementing regulations prohibit 

‘‘take’’ of fish and wildlife species listed 

as endangered or threatened (16 U.S.C. 

1538; 50 CFR 17.21 and 17.31). Under 

section 3 of the ESA, the term ‘‘take’’ 

means 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(19)). The 

term ‘‘harm’’ is further defined by 

regulation as an act that actually kills or 

injures wildlife. Such acts may include 

significant habitat modification or 

degradation where it actually kills or 

injures wildlife by significantly 

impairing essential behavioral patterns, 

including breeding, feeding, or 

sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). The term 

‘‘harass’’ is also further defined in the 

regulations as an intentional or 

negligent act or omission that creates 

the likelihood of injury to wildlife by 

annoying it to such an extent as to 

significantly disrupt normal behavioral 

patterns, which include, but are not 

limited to, breeding, feeding, or 

sheltering (50 CFR 17.3). 

Under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the ESA, 

the Secretary of the Interior may 

authorize the taking of federally listed 

species if such taking occurs incidental 

to otherwise legal activities and where 

a conservation plan has been developed 

under section 10(a)(2)(A) that describes: 

(1) The impact that will likely result 

from such taking; (2) the steps an 

applicant will take to minimize and 

mitigate that take to the maximum 

extent practicable and the funding that 

will be available to implement such 

steps; (3) the alternative actions to such 

taking that an applicant considered and 

the reasons why such alternatives are 

not being utilized; and (4) other 

measures that the Service may require 

as being necessary or appropriate for the 

purposes of the plan. Issuance criteria 

under section 10(a)(2)(B) for an 

incidental take permit require the 

Service to find that: (1) The taking will 

be incidental to otherwise lawful 

activities; (2) an applicant will, to the 

maximum extent practicable, minimize 

and mitigate the impacts of such taking; 

(3) an applicant has ensured that 

adequate funding for the plan will be 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Notices 1381 

provided; (4) the taking will not 

appreciably reduce the likelihood of the 

survival and recovery of the species in 

the wild; and (5) the measures, if any, 

we require as necessary or appropriate 

for the purposes of the plan will be met. 

Regulations governing permits for 

endangered and threatened species are 

at 50 CFR 17.22 and 17.32, respectively. 

Public Scoping 

A primary purpose of the scoping 

process is to receive suggestions and 

information on the scope of issues and 

alternatives to consider when drafting 

the environmental documents and to 

identify significant issues and 

reasonable alternatives related to the 

Service’s proposed action (issuance of 

an ITP under the HCP). In order to 

ensure that we identify a range of issues 

and alternatives related to the proposed 

action, we invite comments and 

suggestions from all interested parties. 

We will conduct a review of this project 

according to the requirements of NEPA 

and its regulations, other relevant 

Federal laws, regulations, policies, and 

guidance, and our procedures for 

compliance with applicable regulations. 

Once the environmental documents are 

completed, we will offer further 

opportunities for public comment. 

Proposed Action 

The proposed action is the issuance of 

an incidental take permit (ITP) for the 

covered species for the recreational and 

management activities within the 

proposed permit area for a period of 25 

years. The proposed HCP, which must 

meet the requirements of section 

10(a)(2)(A) of the ESA by providing 

measures to minimize and mitigate the 

effects of the potential incidental take of 

covered species to the maximum extent 

practicable, would be developed and 

implemented by the applicant. This 

alternative could allow for a 

comprehensive mitigation approach for 

unavoidable impacts and reduce permit 

processing times and efforts for the 

applicant and the Service. 

Activities proposed for coverage 

under the proposed ITP would be 

otherwise lawful activities that could 

occur consistent with the HCP, include, 

but are not limited to: 

1. Park Visitor Activities: Motorized 

recreation, including off highway 

vehicle use (i.e., 4x4, all-terrain vehicle, 

quad, motorcycle, and sandrail); 

camping; pedestrian activities including 

picnicking, sunbathing, swimming, 

hiking; bicycling and golfing; fishing; 

dog walking (on leash only); equestrian 

recreation; boating/surfing; and aerial/ 

wind driven activities, including 

kiteboarding; and holiday or special 

events. 

2. Natural Resources and Covered 

Species Management: Management for 

bird species (habitat protections, habitat 

enhancement, monitoring, banding, 

tracking, predator control, and other 

ongoing programs, salvaging abandoned 

eggs and chicks; fish surveys; 

amphibian surveys and associated 

management; plant monitoring, 

propagation, and habitat enhancement; 

habitat restoration program, including 

seed collection, propagation, planting, 

monitoring, and minor grading to access 

work areas; exotic pest plant and animal 

control, including prescribed fire, 

herbicide application, and hand clearing 

of paths to access work areas; Habitat 

Monitoring System implementation, 

including small mammal trapping, point 

counts, shorebird counts, and 

coverboards; and water quality 

monitoring and improvement projects. 

3. Park Maintenance: Campground 

maintenance, including mowing, 

hazardous tree program, restroom 

upkeep, and housekeeping; general 

facilities maintenance; trash control; 

wind fence installation, maintenance, 

and removal; sand ramp and other 

vehicular access maintenance, including 

roadway resurfacing; street sweeping; 

routine riparian maintenance; spillway 

and culvert maintenance; vegetation 

management along trails and roads; 

emergent vegetation control; minor 

flood control maintenance; perimeter 

and vegetation island fence installation, 

maintenance, and removal; cable fence 

maintenance and sand movement; 

heavy equipment response in all areas 

of Oceano Dunes State Vehicular 

Recreation Area; minor grading (less 

than 50 cubic yards); and boardwalk 

and other pedestrian access 

maintenance. 

4. Visitor Services: Ranger, lifeguard, 

and park aide patrols; emergency 

response, including accidents, injuries, 

distressed vessels, search and rescue; 

access by non-CDPR vehicles; American 

Safety Institute courses, including allterrain vehicles and recreational utility 

vehicle courses; concessions; Pismo 

Beach Golf Course operations; Grover 

Beach Lodge and Conference Center; 

natural history and interpretation 

programs, including stationary 

programs, roving interpretation, 

interpretive walks, and driving tours. 

5. Other HCP Covered Activities: 

Motorized vehicle crossing of Arroyo 

Grande Creek; Pismo Creek estuary 

seasonal (floating) bridge; recreational 

riding in 40 acres; replacement of the 

Safety and Education Center; dust 

control activities; cultural resources 

management; management of 

agricultural lands; maintenance of 

bioreactor on agricultural lands; Oso 

Flaco Lake causeway culvert 

replacement; special projects; and 

reduction of the Boneyard and 6 

exclosures. 

We anticipate that the following 10 

Federal and State listed species will be 

included as covered species in the 

applicant’s proposed HCP. *The 

applicant is seeking incidental take 

authorization for the four covered 

animal species. 

Federally Endangered: *California 

least tern (Sternula antillarum browni), 

*tidewater goby (Eucyclogobius 

newberryi), Gambel’s watercress 

(Rorippa gambelii), La Graciosa thistle 

(Cirsium scariosum var. loncholepis), 

marsh sandwort (Arenaria paludicola), 

Nipomo Mesa lupine (Lupinus 

nipomensis) 

Federally Threatened: *western 

snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus 

nivosus), *California red-legged frog 

(Rana draytonii) 

Not Federally Listed: surf thistle 

(Cirsium rhothophilum), beach 

spectaclepod (Dithyrea maritime) 

Candidate and federally listed species 

not likely to be taken by the covered 

activities and therefore not covered by 

the proposed ITP may also be addressed 

in the proposed HCP to explain why the 

applicant believes these species will not 

be taken. 

Other Alternatives 

The proposed action presented in the 

environmental analysis will be 

compared to the no-action alternative. 

The no-action alternative compares 

estimated future conditions without 

implementation of the proposed HCP to 

the estimated future conditions with the 

HCP in place. The no action and one 

other alternative, including their 

potential impacts, will be addressed and 

are outlined below. 

No-Action Alternative 

Because the proposed covered 

activities are integral to CDPR’s 

operational mission, these activities 

would continue regardless of whether 

this 10(a)(1)(B) ITP is issued. Without a 

10(a)(1)(B) ITP, the applicant should 

avoid impacts to protected species’ 

habitat. Where potential impacts to 

federally protected species within the 

proposed permit area could not be 

avoided, the applicant should seek an 

individual section 10(a)(1)(B) ITP on a 

project-by-project basis. Although future 

activities by the applicant would be 

similar to those covered by the HCP, not 

all activities would necessitate an 

incidental take permit. Thus, under the 

no-action alternative, the applicant 


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1382 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 8 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 / Notices 

would likely have to file numerous 

separate section 10(a)(1)(B) permit 

applications over the 25-year project 

period. This activity-by-activity 

approach would be more time 

consuming and less efficient than 

authorizing activities under this 

comprehensive incidental take permit, 

and could result in a fragmented 

mitigation approach. 

Proposed Action Without Reduction of 

Exclosure Boundaries 

This alternative is the proposed action 

without reductions in exclosure 

boundaries in the Boneyard and 6 

exclosure areas. With this alternative, 

the boundaries of the Boneyard and 6 

exclosures would not be reduced in size 

to increase areas for recreation. Off 

highway vehicle and camping 

opportunities in this area would remain 

as they are under the current 

management program. 

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 the 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 review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. Comments and materials we 

receive, as well as supporting 

documentation we use in preparing the 

environmental analysis, will be 

available for public inspection, by 

appointment, during normal business 

hours at the Service’s Ventura Fish and 

Wildlife Office in Ventura, California 

(see ADDRESSES, above). 

Scoping Meetings 

See DATES for the date and times of 

our public meetings. The purpose of 

scoping meetings is to provide the 

public with a general understanding of 

the background of the proposed HCP 

and activities it would cover, alternative 

proposals under consideration, and the 

Service’s role and steps to be taken to 

develop the draft environmental 

analysis for the proposed HCP. 

Additionally, the purpose of these 

meetings and public comment period is 

to solicit suggestions and information 

on the scope of issues and alternatives 

for the Service to consider when 

preparing the draft environmental 

documents. Oral and written comments 

will be accepted at the meetings. 

Comments can also be submitted by 

methods listed in the ADDRESSES

section. Once the draft environmental 

documents and proposed HCP are 

complete and made available for review, 

there will be additional opportunity for 

public comment on the content of these 

documents through an additional 

comment period. 

Meeting Location Accommodations 

Please note that the meeting location 

will be accessible to wheelchair users. If 

you require additional accommodations, 

please notify us at least 1 week in 

advance of the meeting. 

Authority 

We publish this notice in compliance 

with the NEPA and its implementing 

regulations (40 CFR 1501.7, 1506.6, and 

1508.22), and section 10(c) of the ESA. 

Dated: December 28, 2017. 

Stephen P. Henry, 

Field Supervisor, Pacific Southwest Region, 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–28489 Filed 1–10–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

U.S. Geological Survey 

[GX17RB00CMFCA00; OMB Control Number 

1028–New] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Submission to the Office of 

Management and Budget for Review 

and Approval; Current and Future 

Landsat User Requirements 

AGENCY: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: We (the USGS) will ask the 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) to approve the information 

collection (IC) described below. As 

required by the Paperwork Reduction 

Act (PRA) of 1995, and as part of our 

continuing efforts to reduce paperwork 

and respondent burden, we invite the 

general public and other Federal 

agencies to take this opportunity to 

comment on this IC. 

DATES: To ensure that your comments 

are considered, we must receive them 

on or before February 12, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on 

this information collection request (ICR) 

to the Office of Management and 

Budget’s Desk Officer for the 

Department of the Interior by email at 

OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov; or via 

facsimile to (202) 395–5806. Please 

provide a copy of your comments to 

USGS, Information Collections 

Clearance Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley 

Drive, MS 159, Reston, VA 20192; or by 

email to gs-info_collections@usgs.gov. 

Please reference OMB Control Number 

1028–NEW in the subject line of your 

comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rudy Schuster, Branch Chief, at (970) 

226–9230 or schusterr@usgs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the 

U.S.G.S., in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 

provide the general public and other 

Federal agencies with an opportunity to 

comment on proposed, revised, and 

continuing collections of information. 

This helps us assess the impact of our 

information collection requirements and 

minimize the public’s reporting burden. 

It also helps the public understand our 

information collection requirements and 

provide the requested data in the 

desired format. 

A Federal Register notice with a 60- 

day public comment period soliciting 

comments on this collection of 

information was published on June 19, 

2017, 82 FR 27867. No comments were 

received. 

We are again soliciting comments on 

the proposed IC that is described below. 

We are especially interested in public 

comment addressing the following 

issues: (1) Is the collection necessary to 

the proper functions of the USGS; (2) 

will this information be processed and 

used in a timely manner; (3) is the 

estimate of burden accurate; (4) how 

might the USGS enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and (5) how might the 

USGS minimize the burden of this 

collection on the respondents, including 

through the use of information 

technology. 

Comments that you submit in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. 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 may ask us in your comment to 

withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Abstract: The USGS Land Remote 

Sensing (LRS) Program is currently 

planning for the next generation of 

Landsat satellites. These satellites will 

continue the multi-decadal continuous 

collection of moderate-resolution, 


srobinson on DSK9F5VC42PROD with NOTICES