Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 242 / Wednesday, December 17, 2014 / Notices 75173 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, invite the public to 

comment on the following applications 

to conduct certain activities with 

endangered or threatened species. With 

some exceptions, the Endangered 

Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), 

prohibits activities with endangered and 

threatened species unless a Federal 

permit allows such activity. The Act 

requires that we invite public comment 

before issuing these permits. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by January 

16, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

or requests for copies or more 

information by any of the following 

methods. Alternatively, you may use 

one of the following methods to request 

hard copies or a CD–ROM of the 

documents. Please specify the permit 

you are interested in by number (e.g., 

Permit No. TE–XXXXXX). 

• Email: permitsR6ES@fws.gov. 

Please refer to the respective permit 

number (e.g., Permit No. TE–XXXXXX) 

in the subject line of the message. 

• U.S. Mail: Ecological Services, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 

25486–DFC, Denver, CO 80225. 

• In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or 

Pickup: Call (303) 236–4212 to make an 

appointment during regular business 

hours at 134 Union Blvd., Suite 645, 

Lakewood, CO 80228. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kathy Konishi, Permit Coordinator, 

Ecological Services, (307) 772–2374 x 

248 (phone); permitsR6ES@fws.gov 

(email). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 

prohibits activities with endangered and 

threatened species unless a Federal 

permit allows such activity. Along with 

our implementing regulations at 50 CFR 

17, the Act provides for permits and 

requires that we invite public comment 

before issuing these permits. 

A permit granted by us under section 

10(a)(1)(A) of the Act authorizes the 

permittees to conduct activities with 

U.S. endangered or threatened species 

for scientific purposes, enhancement of 

propagation or survival, or interstate 

commerce (the latter only in the event 

that it facilitates scientific purposes or 

enhancement of propagation or 

survival). Our regulations implementing 

section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are 

found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered 

wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for 

threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR 

17.62 for endangered plant species, and 

50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant 

species. 

Applications Available for Review and 

Comment 

We invite local, State, and Federal 

agencies and the public to comment on 

the following applications. Documents 

and other information the applicants 

have submitted with their applications 

are available for review, subject to the 

requirements of the Privacy Act (5 

U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of 

Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). 

Permit Application Number TE49168B 

Applicant: Catherine Ortega, Durango, 

CO. 

The applicant requests a permit to 

conduct presence/absence surveys for 

the southwestern willow flycatcher 

(Empidonax traillii extimus) in Arizona, 

New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado for the 

purpose of enhancing the species’ 

survival. 

Permit Application Number TE50643B 

Applicant: Vaughn Weaver, Wichita, 

KS. 

The applicant requests a permit to 

conduct presence/absence surveys for 

the American burying beetle 

(Nicrophorus americanus), Hine’s 

emerald dragonfly (Somatochlora 

hineana), Ozark hellbender 

(Cryptobranchus allenganiensis 

bishopi), Higgins eye pearlymussel 

(Lampsilis higginsii), winged mapleleaf 

mussel (Quadrula fragosa), Neosho 

mucket (Lampsilis rafinesquenana), 

pink mucket pearlymussel (Lampsilis 

abrupta), scaleshell mussel (Leptodea 

leptodon), sheepnose mussel 

(Plethobasus cyphyus), snuffbox mussel 

(Epioblasma triquetra), Curtis’ 

pearlymussel (Epioblasma florentina 

curtisii), fat pocketbook (Potamilus 

capax), Topeka shiner (Notropis 

Topeka), spectaclecase mussel 

(Cumberlandia monodonta, pallid 

sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus), 

Quachita rock pocketbook (Arkansia 

wheeleri) in Kansas, Arkansas, 

Oklahoma, Nebraska, Missouri, and 

Iowa for the purpose of enhancing the 

species’ survival. 

Permit Application Number TE00670B 

Applicant: South Dakota Game, Fish 

and Parks, Foss Building, 523 East 

Capitol, Pierre, SD. 

The applicant requests a permit to 

conduct presence/absence surveys for 

the Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) in 

South Dakota for the purpose of 

enhancing the species’ survival. 

National Environmental Policy Act 

In compliance with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 

4321 et seq.), we have made an initial 

determination that the proposed 

activities in these permits are 

categorically excluded from the 

requirement to prepare an 

environmental assessment or 

environmental impact statement (516 

DM 6 Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)). 

Public Availability of Comments 

All comments and materials we 

receive in response to these requests 

will be available for public inspection, 

by appointment, during normal business 

hours at the address listed in the 

ADDRESSES section of this notice. 

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 review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Authority 

We provide this notice under section 

10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). 

Michael G. Thabault, 

Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie 

Region. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29490 Filed 12–16–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[LLNMA00000 L12200000.DF0000 15X 

L1010BP] 

Notice of Public Meeting, Albuquerque 

District Resource Advisory Council 

Meeting, New Mexico 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Public Meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Land Policy and Management 

Act and the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act, the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) Albuquerque 

District Resource Advisory Council 

(RAC) will meet as indicated below. 

DATES: The RAC will meet on Friday, 

January 16, 2015, at the Albuquerque 

District Office, 435 Montano Rd., 

Albuquerque, NM, 87107, from 9 a.m.– 

4 p.m.. The public may send written 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

75174 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 242 / Wednesday, December 17, 2014 / Notices 

comments to the RAC at the BLM 

Albuquerque District Office, 435 

Montano Rd., Albuquerque, NM, 87107. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Martı ́n Visarraga, BLM Albuquerque 

District Office, 435 Montano Rd., 

Albuquerque, NM 87107, 505–761– 

8902. Persons who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8229 

to contact the above individual during 

normal business hours. The FIRS is 

available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 

to leave a message or question with the 

above individual. You will receive a 

reply during normal business hours. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 10- 

member Albuquerque District RAC 

advises the Secretary of the Interior, 

through the BLM, on a variety of 

planning and management issues 

associated with public land 

management in New Mexico’s 

Albuquerque District. 

Planned agenda items include a 

welcoming and introduction of new 

Council members; election of chair and 

vice chair; an update on the Rio Puerco 

Management Plan, Sun Zia Southwest 

Transmission Project, Kinder Morgan 

Lobos CO2 Pipeline Project, Mobile 

Workforce, Force Account Crew, law 

enforcement, Rio Puerco Management 

Committee, and a discussion on estray 

horses. 

A half-hour comment period during 

which the public may address the RAC 

will begin at 11 a.m. All RAC meetings 

are open to the public. Depending on 

the number of individuals wishing to 

comment and time available, the time 

for individual oral comments may be 

limited. 

Michael H. Tupper, 

Deputy State Director, Lands and Resources. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29523 Filed 12–16–14; 8:45 a.m.] 

BILLING CODE 4310–FB–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

[OMB Number 1010–0048] 

Information Collection: Geological and 

Geophysical Explorations of the Outer 

Continental Shelf; Submitted for OMB 

Review; Comment Request 

MMAA104000 

ACTION: 30-day notice. 

SUMMARY: To comply with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 

(PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM) is notifying the 

public that we have submitted an 

information collection request (ICR) to 

the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) for review and approval. The ICR 

concerns the paperwork requirements in 

the regulations under 30 CFR 551, 

Geological and Geophysical (G&G) 

Explorations of the Outer Continental 

Shelf. This notice provides the public a 

second opportunity to comment on the 

paperwork burden of this collection. 

DATES: Submit written comments by 

January 16, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments on this 

ICR to the Desk Officer for the 

Department of the Interior at OMB– 

OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_

submission@omb.eop.gov (email). Please 

provide a copy of your comments to the 

BOEM Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, 381 Elden Street, HM– 

3127, Herndon, Virginia 20170 (mail) or 

boemcmts@gmail.com (email). Please 

reference ICR 1010–0048 in your 

comment and include your name and 

return address. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Office of Policy, Regulations, and 

Analysis at boemcmts@gmail.com 

(email) or (202) 513–7672. You may 

review the ICR and form online at 

http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow the 

instructions to review Department of the 

Interior collections under review by 

OMB. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

OMB Control Number: 1010–0048. 

Title: 30 CFR 551, Geological and 

Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the 

Outer Continental Shelf. 

Form: BOEM–0327, Requirements for 

G&G Explorations or Scientific Research 

on the Outer Continental Shelf. 

Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 

1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), 

authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 

to prescribe rules and regulations to 

administer leasing of mineral resources 

on the OCS. The OCS Lands Act (43 

U.S.C. 1340) states that ‘‘any person 

authorized by the Secretary may 

conduct geological and geophysical 

explorations in the outer Continental 

Shelf, which do not interfere with or 

endanger actual operations under any 

lease maintained or granted pursuant to 

this subchapter, and which are not 

unduly harmful to aquatic life in such 

area.’’ The section further requires that 

permits to conduct such activities may 

only be issued if it is determined that 

the applicant is qualified; the activities 

do not result in pollution or create 

hazardous or unsafe conditions; the 

activities do not unreasonably interfere 

with other uses of the area or disturb 

any site, structure, or object of historical 

or archaeological significance. 

Applicants for permits are required to 

submit form BOEM–0327 to provide the 

information necessary to evaluate their 

qualifications, and upon approval, 

respondents are issued a permit. 

Also, as a Federal agency, we have a 

continuing affirmative duty to comply 

with the National Environmental Policy 

Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act 

(ESA), and Marine Mammal Protection 

Act (MMPA). This includes a 

substantive duty not to take agency 

actions that are likely to jeopardize 

protected species as well as a 

procedural duty to consult with the Fish 

and Wildlife Service (FWS) and 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration Fisheries (NOAA 

Fisheries) before engaging in a 

discretionary action that may affect a 

protected species. 

The Independent Offices 

Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the 

Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 

104–133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 

1996), and the OMB Circular A–25 

authorize Federal agencies to recover 

the full cost of services that confer 

special benefits. All G&G permits are 

subject to cost recovery, and BOEM 

regulations specify service fees for these 

requests. 

Regulations to carry out these 

responsibilities are contained in 30 CFR 

551 and are the subject of this 

information collection renewal. BOEM 

uses the information to ensure there is 

no environmental degradation, personal 

harm or unsafe operations and 

conditions, damage to historical or 

archaeological sites, or interference with 

other uses; to analyze and evaluate 

preliminary or planned drilling 

activities; to monitor progress and 

activities in the OCS; to acquire G&G 

data and information collected under a 

Federal permit offshore; and to 

determine eligibility for reimbursement 

from the government for certain costs. 

Information on the G&G characteristics 

of oil- and gas-bearing physiographic 

regions aids the Secretary in obtaining 

a proper balance among the potentials 

for environmental damage, the 

discovery of oil and gas, and associated 

impacts on affected coastal States. 

In this renewal, we are including the 

estimated G&G permit applications and 

information that will be submitted for 

the Atlantic OCS. As a result of the 

BOEM Record of Decision regarding 

G&G survey activities on the Mid- and 

South Atlantic OCS Planning Areas 

(issued on July 23, 2014 (79 FR 42815)), 

BOEM will now consider G&G permit 

applications for this area. 

Also in this renewal, BOEM is 

updating form BOEM–0327 to clarify 

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