Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 2014 / Notices 74107 

Information collection 

Number of 

respondents 

Frequency 

of 

response 

Responses 

per annum 

Burden 

minutes 

per 

response 

Total burden 

hours 

Annual 

burden 

hours 

Hourly 

cost per 

response 

Annual 

cost 

Loan origination and performance 

data: Lenders ............................... 3 6 2 60 18 6 35 630 

Service tracking information: Housing counseling agencies ............... 3,450 2 1 10 1,150 1,150 25 28,750 

Tracking Letter ................................. 6,000 9 3 5 4,500 1,500 5 270,000 

Total .......................................... 18,117 21 10 .................. 9,666 6,654 .................. 521,830 

B. Solicitation of Public Comment 

This notice is soliciting comments 

from members of the public and affected 

parties concerning the collection of 

information described in Section A on 

the following: 

(1) Whether the proposed collection 

of information is necessary for the 

proper performance of the functions of 

the agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) The accuracy of the agency’s 

estimate of the burden of the proposed 

collection of information; 

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and 

(4) Ways to minimize the burden of 

the collection of information on those 

who are to respond; including through 

the use of appropriate automated 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology, e.g., permitting 

electronic submission of responses. 

HUD encourages interested parties to 

submit comment in response to these 

questions. 

C. Authority: Section 3507 of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 

Chapter 35. 

Date: December 9, 2014 

Colette Pollard, 

Department Reports Management Officer, 

Office of the Chief Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29308 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–5800–FA–07] 

Announcement of Funding Awards 

HOPE VI Main Street Grant Program 

Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 

AGENCY: Office of the Acting Assistant 

Secretary for Public and Indian 

Housing, HUD 

ACTION: Announcement of funding 

awards. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 

102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of 

Housing and Urban Development 

Reform Act of 1989, this announcement 

notifies the public of funding decisions 

made by the Department in a 

competition for funding under the FY 

2014 Notice of Funding Availability 

(NOFA) for the HOPE VI Main Street 

Program. This announcement contains 

the name and address of the award 

recipient under said NOFA. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

questions concerning the HOPE VI Main 

Street Program awards, contact 

Lawrence Gnessin, HOPE VI Main Street 

Program Manager, Office of Public and 

Indian Housing, Department of Housing 

and Urban Development, 451 7th Street 

SW., Washington, DC 20410, email 

lawrence.gnessin@hud.gov, and 

telephone (202) 402–2676. Hearing or 

speech-impaired individuals may access 

this number via TTY by calling the tollfree Federal Information Relay Service 

at (800) 877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

purpose of the HOPE VI Main Street 

program is to provide grants to small 

communities to assist in the 

rejuvenation of an historic or traditional 

central business district or ‘‘Main 

Street’’ area by replacing unused 

commercial space in buildings with 

affordable housing units. The objectives 

of the program are to redevelop Main 

Street areas; preserve historic or 

traditional architecture or design 

features in Main Street areas; enhance 

economic development efforts in Main 

Street areas; and provide affordable 

housing in Main Street areas. 

The FY 2014 award announced in this 

Notice was selected for funding in a 

NOFA competition posted on the http:// 

www.grants.gov Web site on July 4, 

2014. Applicants to this Notice were 

eligible for awards in FY 2014, but HUD 

reserved the right to award one FY 2015 

grant to applicants from this FY 2014 

NOFA. In addition, HUD intends to 

award FY 2015 funds to an FY 2014 

applicant if funding becomes available. 

That process will be announced 

separately. 

The amount allotted to fund the 

HOPE VI Main Street grant were from 

appropriations for Section 24 of the 

Housing Act of 1937, as amended. The 

amount allotted for FY2014 was 

$500,000. The HOPE VI Main Street 

grantee information is as follows: 

Town of Kit Carson 

301 Main Street 

Kit Carson, CO 80825–0375 

In accordance with Section 102 

(a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing 

and Urban Development Reform Act of 

1989 (103 Stat.1987, 42 U.S.C. 3545), 

the Department is publishing the name, 

address, and amount of the award made 

under FY 2014 HOPE VI Main Street 

NOFA. 

Dated: December 5, 2014. 

Jemine Bryon, 

Acting Assistant Secretary for Public and 

Indian Housing. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29309 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R8–ES–2014–N209; FF08ESMF00– 

FXES11120800000F2–145] 

Proposed Habitat Conservation Plan/

Natural Community Conservation Plan 

for the Counties of Yuba and Sutter, 

CA; Scoping for Environmental Impact 

Statement 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of intent; notice of public 

scoping meeting; request for comments. 

SUMMARY: Under the National 

Environmental Policy Act, we, the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, intend to 

prepare a draft environmental impact 

statement (EIS) for the proposed habitat 

conservation plan/natural community 

conservation plan for the Counties of 

Yuba and Sutter, hereafter referred to as 

the Yuba-Sutter Regional Conservation 

Plan (YSRCP). The YSRCP would 

provide a regional approach for the 

long-term conservation of covered 

species plan area, while allowing for 

compatible future land use and 

development under county and city 


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general plan updates and the regional 

transportation plans. The draft EIS is 

being prepared under the Federal 

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as 

amended, and the California Natural 

Community Conservation Planning Act. 

We announce meetings and invite 

comments. 

DATES: To ensure consideration, please 

send your written comments by January 

29, 2015. The public scoping meeting is 

on Tuesday, January 6th, from 3–5 and 

6–8, at the Yuba County Government 

Center, Wheatland room, 915 8th St, 

Marysville, CA 95901. 

ADDRESSES: To request further 

information or submit written 

comments, please use one of the 

following methods, and note that your 

information request or comment is in 

reference to the Yuba-Sutter Regional 

Conservation Plan: 

• U.S. Mail: U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife 

Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W– 

2605, Sacramento, CA 95825. 

• In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or 

Pickup: Call (916) 414–6600 to make an 

appointment during regular business 

hours to drop off comments or view 

received comments at the above 

location. 

• Fax: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

(916) 414–6713, Attn.: Ellen McBride. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Ellen McBride, Senior Biologist, or Mike 

Thomas, Chief Conservation Planning 

Division, Sacramento Fish and Wildlife 

Office, by phone at (916) 414–6600 or by 

U.S. mail at the above address. If you 

use a telecommunications device for the 

deaf, please call the Federal Information 

Relay Service at (800) 877–8339. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction 

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (Service), intend to prepare a 

draft environmental impact statement 

(EIS) to evaluate the impacts of several 

alternatives related to the potential 

issuance of an incidental take permit 

(ITP), as well as impacts of the 

implementation of the supporting 

proposed habitat conservation plan/

natural community conservation plan, 

which we will refer to as the YubaSutter Regional Conservation Plan 

(YSRCP). The EIS will be a joint EIS/

environmental impact report (EIS/EIR), 

for which the Service, Yuba and Sutter 

Counties, and the California Department 

of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) intend to 

gather information necessary for 

preparation. 

The YSRCP is designed to be a 

comprehensive regional plan that will 

provide long-term conservation and 

management of natural communities, 

sensitive species, and the habitats upon 

which those species depend, while 

accommodating other important uses of 

the land. It is intended to serve as a 

habitat conservation plan pursuant to 

the Federal Endangered Species Act of 

1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

seq.), and as a natural community 

conservation plan under the California 

Natural Community Conservation 

Planning Act. 

The YSRCP will address State and 

Federal endangered species compliance 

requirements for the Counties of Yuba 

and Sutter (Counties); the Cities of 

Wheatland, Yuba City, and Live Oak; 

and the YSRCP implementing entity 

that will be established to implement 

the YSRCP (permit applicants) for 

activities and projects in the YSRCP 

plan area that they conduct or approve. 

The California Department of 

Transportation (Caltrans), while not 

directly a permit applicant because of 

limited discretionary authority over 

projects, may participate in the YSRCP 

by contributing conservation lands to 

the overall conservation strategy 

established by the YSRCP. The plan area 

generally includes the Counties of 

Sutter and Yuba; however, the plan area 

does not include the Sutter Buttes, 

portions of Southern Sutter County 

within the Natomas Basin HCP, portions 

of Eastern Yuba County that are 

dominated by oak woodlands, and the 

City of Marysville. The permit 

applicants are currently preparing a 

complete draft of the YSRCP as an HCP/ 

NCCP and the permitting agencies 

(Service and CDFW) are assisting and 

will be proceeding with agency review 

and finalization in the coming months. 

The permit applicants intend to apply 

for a 50-year incidental take permit 

(ITP) from the Service. The permittees 

are seeking authorized incidental take of 

threatened and endangered species that 

could result from activities covered 

under the YSRCP. We announce 

meetings and invite comments. 

The Service will serve as the 

administrative lead for all actions 

related to this Federal Register notice 

for the EIS component of the EIS/EIR. 

Sutter County will serve as the State 

lead agency under the California 

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for 

the EIR component. Sutter County, in 

accordance with CEQA, is publishing a 

similar notice. 

Project Summary 

In 2001, Caltrans began the planning 

process for improvements to State 

Routes 70 and 99 in Yuba and Sutter 

Counties. Early environmental review 

indicated that the roadway 

improvement projects would affect 

federally listed species and would lead 

to additional cumulative effects, 

because the roadway improvements 

would prompt additional urban 

development within these corridors. In 

order to ensure compliance with the 

Act, the Service recommended 

preparation of an HCP, to which the 

Counties and Caltrans agreed. The 

parties agreed to interim planning 

guidelines during preparation of the 

HCP, which allowed the Service to issue 

a biological opinion to allow the 

roadway projects to proceed. The 

Counties, Service, CDFW, and Caltrans 

formed a working group in accordance 

with the provisions of the biological 

opinion. The working group evaluated 

conservation planning approaches, and 

the Counties pursued grant funding. The 

working group agreed to address the 

California Endangered Species Act 

(CESA), as well as the federal Act, by 

preparing a combined HCP/NCCP. Work 

on the YSRCP began in 2004 and 

resulted in delineation of the plan area 

boundaries, determination of the 

covered species, and identification of 

the permit applicants. Development of 

the YSRCP is still in progress. In 2012, 

the the permit applicants, CDFG, and 

the Service entered into the YSRCP 

Planning Agreement. The planning 

agreement set out the initial scope of the 

program and defined the roles and 

responsibilities of the parties in the 

development of the YSRCP. The 

planning agreement has helped guide 

the YSRCP planning process and to 

define the initial scope of the effort. 

Sutter County served as the lead in 

coordination of the process and 

preparation of the YSRCP. 

The YSRCP’s conservation strategy 

proposes to provide a regional approach 

for the long-term conservation of 

covered species (see Covered Species) 

and natural communities within the 

YSRCP plan area, while allowing for 

compatible future land use and 

development under county and city 

general plan updates and the regional 

transportation plans. The YSRCP 

identifies and addresses the covered 

activities that would be carried out by 

the permittees that could result in take 

of covered species within the YSRCP 

plan area. The proposed YSRCP is 

intended to be consistent with and 

support compliance with other Federal 

and State wildlife-related laws and 

regulations, other local conservation 

planning efforts, and county and city 

general plans. 

The YSRCP is being designed to 

streamline and coordinate existing 

processes for review and permitting of 

public and private activities that 


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potentially affect protected species. To 

meet this goal, the YSRCP sets out a 

conservation strategy that includes 

measures that are intended to ensure 

that impacts on covered species and 

their habitat related to covered activities 

are avoided, minimized, or mitigated, as 

appropriate. These covered activities 

encompass the range of existing and 

future activities that are associated with 

much of the regional economy (see 

Covered Activities). 

Background 

Section 9 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 

et seq.) prohibits the ‘‘take’’ of wildlife 

species listed as endangered or 

threatened. The Act defines the term 

‘‘take’’ as: to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, 

shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or 

collect listed species, or to attempt to 

engage in such conduct (16 U.S.C. 

1532). Harm includes significant habitat 

modifications or degradation that 

actually kills or injures listed wildlife 

by significantly impairing essential 

behavioral patterns, including breeding, 

feeding, and sheltering [50 CFR 17.3(c)]. 

Pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 

Act, we may issue permits to authorize 

‘‘incidental take’’ of listed species. 

‘‘Incidental take’’ is defined by the Act 

as take that is incidental to, and not the 

purpose of, carrying out an otherwise 

lawful activity. Service regulations 

governing permits for threatened species 

and endangered species, respectively, 

are promulgated in 50 CFR 17.22 and 

17.32. 

Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act contains 

provisions for issuing such ITPs to nonFederal entities for the take of 

endangered and threatened species, 

provided the following criteria are met: 

• The take will be incidental; 

• The applicants will, to the 

maximum extent practicable, minimize 

and mitigate the impact of such taking; 

• The applicants will develop a 

proposed HCP and ensure that adequate 

funding for the plan will be provided; 

• The taking will not appreciably 

reduce the likelihood of the survival 

and recovery of the species in the wild; 

and 

• The applicants will carry out any 

other measures that the Service may 

require as being necessary or 

appropriate for the purposes of the HCP. 

Thus, the purpose of issuing an ITP is 

to allow the applicants, under their 

respective regional authority, to 

authorize development while 

conserving the covered species and their 

habitat. Implementation of a 

multispecies HCP, rather than a speciesby-species or project-by-project 

approach, will maximize the benefits of 

conservation measures for covered 

species and eliminate expensive and 

time-consuming efforts associated with 

processing individual ITPs for each 

project within the applicants’ proposed 

plan area. The Service expects that the 

permit applicants will request ITP 

coverage for a period of 50 years. 

Plan Area 

The proposed YSRCP plan area (or 

permit area) includes approximately 

469,271 acres, including 141,644 acres 

in Yuba County and 327,627 acres in 

Sutter County. This area includes the 

Cities of Wheatland, Yuba City, and 

Live Oak, and the spheres of influence 

of each jurisdiction. The plan area 

excludes the areas listed below: 

• The Sutter Buttes, because their 

ecological characteristics are distinct 

from surrounding areas and because the 

Buttes are largely protected from future 

development; 

• Portions of southern Sutter County 

within the Natomas Basin HCP area; 

• Portions of eastern Yuba County 

dominated by oak woodlands; and 

• Marysville, because of lack of 

funding and no future growth plans. 

The YSRCP plan area is bounded on 

the west by Yolo and Colusa Counties, 

on the north by Butte County, on the 

east by Placer County and portions of 

Yuba County outside the Plan Area, and 

on the south by Yolo and Sacramento 

Counties and by the portion of Sutter 

County that is located within the 

Natomas Basin HCP Area. 

The boundary of the YSRCP plan area 

is based on political, ecological, and 

hydrologic factors. The geographic 

scope focuses on valley bottom lands. 

Areas chosen for inclusion were 

selected on the basis of their likelihood 

to experience future growth; need to 

expand and maintain infrastructure; 

ability to provide connectivity to 

adjacent conservation efforts; and 

feasibility of contributing to a plan that 

is scientifically defensible, flexible, and 

amenable to analysis and 

implementation. The plan area is broad 

enough to accommodate changes in 

jurisdictional boundaries over time, 

provided the boundaries do not extend 

beyond the boundaries of the plan area 

and project impacts do not exceed the 

take authorization provided by the final 

ITP. 

Covered Activities 

The proposed section 10 ITP may 

allow take of Covered Species resulting 

from proposed Covered Activities on 

non-Federal land in the YSRCP Plan 

Area. The Permit Applicants intend to 

request incidental take authorization for 

Covered Species that could be affected 

by activities identified in the YSRCP. 

The proposed activities within the 

YSRCP Plan Area for which ITP 

coverage is requested include 

construction and maintenance of 

facilities and infrastructure, both public 

and private, that are consistent with 

local general plans and local, State, and 

Federal laws. The following list is not 

intended to be exhaustive; rather, it 

provides an overview of the types of 

activities that would be expected to 

occur. Covered Activities fall into nine 

general categories, which are further 

described below: 

1. Residential, commercial, industrial, 

and commercial agricultural facilities; 

2. Recreational facilities; 

3. Transportation facilities; 

4. Public and private utilities; 

5. Mining and mineral extraction; 

6. Groundwater supply and delivery 

facilities; 

7. Flood control maintenance and 

other stream-related facilities; 

8. Wastewater and waste management 

facilities; and 

9. Monitoring and management 

activities within the YSRCP reserves. 

These categories were created to help 

organize Covered Activities into 

groupings that would have similar 

impacts on Covered Species. Covered 

Activities, which would normally be 

implemented or carried out in 

accordance with all other Federal, State, 

and local laws and regulations, are 

described in greater detail below. In 

addition to the description of Covered 

Activities below, the YSRP also contains 

a list of specific projects that are 

currently proposed and that would be 

covered by the Plan. 

1. Residential, Commercial, Industrial, 

and Agricultural Facilities 

This category includes construction, 

operation, maintenance, and use of 

residential, commercial, industrial, and 

agricultural facilities within the Plan 

Area. This category is intended to be as 

inclusive as possible, to accommodate 

both urban growth and public 

infrastructure projects; it includes the 

construction, operation, maintenance, 

and use of typical public and private 

urban and rural facilities. This category 

also includes the construction, 

maintenance, and use of urban and rural 

facilities, including residential, 

commercial, industrial, and other types 

of urban development and 

infrastructure; rural residential 

development and infrastructure; 

agricultural structures, warehouses, and 

processing facilities; and public service 

and community serving and cultural 

facilities, including fire and police 

stations, community and convention 

centers, recreation centers, and similar 


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facilities. Vegetation management and 

control and fuel management activities 

would also be included. 

2. Recreational Facilities 

This category includes construction, 

operation, maintenance, and use of 

recreational facilities in the Plan Area. 

This category is intended to be as 

inclusive as possible, to accommodate 

both urban growth and public 

infrastructure projects, and includes but 

is not limited to the construction, 

maintenance, and use of urban and rural 

facilities, including large recreational 

facilities such as golf courses, parks, and 

ball fields; recreational facilities 

maintenance; and improvements to and 

expansion of existing parks and bicycle 

and pedestrian trails. Trail maintenance 

activities, including vegetation 

management activities, and minor 

remediation projects within recreational 

facilities, are also proposed for 

inclusion. 

3. Transportation Facilities 

This category includes construction of 

transportation facilities in the Plan 

Area, including construction, operation, 

and maintenance of State highways, 

including addition of new lanes and offramps; paved and unpaved roads, 

bridges, culverts, and transit facilities; 

new construction and improvements, 

including road widening, bridges, 

intersection level-of-service 

improvements, grade separations, and 

sound wall installation; and road repair 

and rehabilitation, including 

construction of retaining walls to 

stabilize adjacent embankments. This 

category also includes channel 

modifications incidental to streambank 

stabilization and road restoration and 

vegetation management. 

4. Public and Private Utilities 

This category includes construction, 

operation and maintenance, and use of 

public and private utilities in the Plan 

Area, including transmission lines, 

telecommunication lines, 

telecommunication towers, and gas 

lines; vegetation management activities; 

maintenance of small utility facilities; 

and access and maintenance of 

infrastructure facilities. 

5. Mining and Mineral Extraction 

This category includes mining or 

mineral extraction in the Plan Area, 

including construction, operation, and 

maintenance of operations for mining of 

sand, soil, aggregate, and other mineral 

resources, and mineral extraction, 

including gas wells and gas pipelines. 

6. Groundwater Supply and Delivery 

Facilities 

This category includes construction of 

typical water supply and delivery 

facilities in the Plan Area, including 

water treatment plants, water supply 

pipelines, percolation ponds, and pump 

stations; groundwater recharge sites and 

associated facilities; maintenance of 

water supply facilities; and operation 

and maintenance of pump stations, 

operations yards, utility yards, and 

corporation yards. Surface water 

projects will not be covered under the 

YSRCP. 

7. Flood Control Maintenance and Other 

Stream-Related Facilities 

This category includes detention 

basins and other stream-related facilities 

in the Plan Area, including bank and 

levee stabilization and bank or levee 

improvements, including levee grouting. 

This includes the construction, 

operation and maintenance, and use of 

retention/detention ponds; channel 

modifications incidental to streambank 

stabilization associated with retention/

detention ponds; bridge construction 

and replacement, including vehicular, 

train, and pedestrian bridges; culverts; 

restoration projects outside the reserve 

system; creek-side trail projects; and 

levee maintenance. 

8. Wastewater and Waste Management 

Facilities 

This category includes construction, 

operation and maintenance, and use of 

wastewater and waste management 

facilities in the Plan Area, including 

typical wastewater and waste 

management facilities; stormwater 

management facilities, such as storm 

sewer systems, nonpoint source 

reduction, outfalls, and drainage 

improvements; hazardous materials 

remediation for, and restoration related 

to, abandoned dumps; operation and 

maintenance of pump stations, 

operations yards, utility yards, and 

corporation yards; and sewage treatment 

plants, sanitary sewer systems 

(including rehabilitation of force mains 

and effluent lines, discharge and 

reclamation lines, and pump stations), 

water recycling, recycling centers, 

transfer stations, and landfills. 

9. Monitoring and Management 

Activities Within the YSRCP Reserves 

This includes projects and activities 

associated with implementation of the 

YSRCP’s conservation strategy, most of 

which will take place within the reserve 

system assembled by the Plan. This 

includes construction and maintenance 

of recreational and management and 

maintenance and operational facilities 

and infrastructure; vegetation 

management; relocation of covered 

species from impact sites and within 

reserves as necessary; demolition or 

removal of structures, roads, or artificial 

livestock ponds to increase public safety 

or to restore habitat; control of 

introduced predators; stream 

maintenance for habitat purposes; 

surveys and monitoring for mitigation 

and restoration/enhancement projects; 

travel through reserves by various 

means for management or maintenance 

purposes; fire management hazardous 

materials remediation; repair of existing 

facilities damaged by floods or fire; and 

operations related to water supply for 

reserve management. This category also 

includes limited recreational use of 

YSRCP reserves and activities related to 

habitat enhancement, restoration, and 

creation, and species surveys, 

monitoring, and research. 

Covered Species 

Covered Species are those species 

addressed in the proposed YSRCP for 

which conservation actions will be 

implemented and for which the Permit 

Applicants will seek incidental take 

authorizations for a period of up to 50 

years. Proposed Covered Species are 

expected to include threatened and 

endangered species listed under the Act, 

species listed under the CESA, and 

currently unlisted species that have the 

potential to become listed during the 

life of the YSRCP and have some 

likelihood to occur within the YSRCP 

Plan Area. The YSRCP is currently 

expected to address 18 listed and nonlisted wildlife and plant species. The 

list of proposed Covered Species may 

change as the planning process 

progresses; species may be added or 

removed as more is learned about the 

nature of Covered Activities and their 

impact within the YSRCP Plan Area. 

The following Federally listed 

threatened and endangered wildlife 

species are proposed to be covered by 

the YSRCP. The threatened vernal pool 

fairy shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi), 

endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp 

(Lepidurus packardi), threatened valley 

elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus 

californicus dimorphus), and the 

threatened giant garter snake 

(Thamnophis gigas). 

The following unlisted wildlife 

species are proposed to be covered by 

the YSRCP: western spadefoot toad 

(Spea hammondii), western pond turtle 

(Actinemys marmorata), Swainson’s 

hawk (Buteo swainsoni), western 

yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus 

americanus occidentalis), bank swallow 

(Riparia riparia), California black rail 

(Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus), 


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greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis 

tabida), bald eagle (Haliaeetus 

leucocephalus), western burrowing owl 

(Athene cunicularia hypugaea), and 

tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor). 

‘‘Take’’ as defined under the Act does 

not apply to listed plant species, and 

therefore cannot be authorized under a 

section 10 permit. However, the Permit 

Applicants propose to include plant 

species on the permit in recognition of 

the conservation benefits provided for 

them under an HCP. For the purposes of 

the Plan, certain plant species are 

further included to meet regulatory 

obligations under section 7 of the Act 

and CESA. All species included on an 

ITP would receive assurances under the 

Service’s ‘‘No Surprises’’ regulations 

found in 50 CFRs 17.22(b)(5) and 

17.32(b)(5). The following unlisted plant 

species are proposed for inclusion in the 

YSRCP in recognition of the 

conservation benefits provided for them 

under the YSRCP and the assurances 

permit holders would receive if they are 

included on a permit: Bogg’s Lake 

hedge-hyssop (Gratiola heterosepala), 

Ahart’s dwarf rush (Juncus leiospermus 

var. ahartii), dwarf downingia 

(Downingia pusilla), and legenere 

(Legenere limosa). Bogg’s Lake hedgehyssop is listed as endangered under 

CESA. 

Environmental Impact Statement 

Before deciding whether to issue the 

requested Federal ITP, the Service will 

prepare a draft EIS in order to analyze 

the environmental impacts associated 

with issuance of the ITP. In the EIS 

component of the EIS/EIR, the Service 

will consider the following alternatives: 

(1) The proposed action, which includes 

the issuance of take authorizations 

consistent with the proposed YSRCP 

under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act; (2) 

no action (no permit issuance); and (3) 

a reasonable range of additional 

alternatives. The EIS/EIR will include a 

detailed analysis of the impacts of the 

proposed action and alternatives. The 

range of alternatives could include 

variations in impacts, conservation, 

permit duration, Covered Species, 

Covered Activities, Permit Area, or a 

combination of these elements. 

The EIS/EIR will identify and analyze 

potentially significant direct, indirect, 

and cumulative impacts of our 

authorization of incidental take (permit 

issuance) and the implementation of the 

proposed YSRCP on biological 

resources, land uses, utilities, air 

quality, water resources, cultural 

resources, socioeconomics and 

environmental justice, recreation, 

aesthetics, climate change and 

greenhouse gases, and other 

environmental issues that could occur 

with implementation of each 

alternative. The Service will also 

identify measures to avoid or minimize 

any significant effects of the proposed 

action on the quality of the human 

environment. 

Following completion of the 

environmental review, the Service will 

publish a notice of availability and a 

request for comment on the Draft EIS/ 

EIR and the applicants’ permit 

application, which will include the 

proposed the YSRCP. 

Public Comments 

We request data, comments, new 

information, or suggestions from the 

public, other concerned governmental 

agencies, the scientific community, 

Tribes, industry, or any other interested 

party on this notice. We will consider 

these comments in developing a Draft 

EIS/EIR and in the development of an 

HCP and ITP. We particularly seek 

comments on the following: 

1. Biological information concerning 

species in the proposed Plan Area; 

2. Relevant data concerning these 

species; 

3. Additional information concerning 

the range, distribution, population size, 

and population trends of the species; 

4. Current or planned activities in the 

subject area and their possible impacts 

on the species; 

5. The presence of archaeological 

sites, buildings and structures, historic 

events, sacred and traditional areas, and 

other historic preservation concerns, 

which are required to be considered in 

project planning by the National 

Historic Preservation Act; and 

6. Identification of any other 

environmental issues that should be 

considered with regard to the proposed 

development and permit action. 

You may submit your comments and 

materials by one of the methods listed 

in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments and materials we receive, 

as well as supporting documentation we 

use in preparing the EIS/EIR document, 

will be available for public inspection 

by appointment during normal business 

hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 

4:30 p.m.) at the Service’s Sacramento 

address (see ADDRESSES). 

Scoping Meetings 

See DATES for the date and time of the 

scheduled public meeting. The purpose 

of the scoping meeting 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 for the 

Draft EIS, and the Service’s role and 

steps to be taken to develop the Draft 

EIS for the proposed HCP/NCCP. 

The primary 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 

drafting the EIS. Written comments will 

be accepted at the meeting. Comments 

can also be submitted by methods listed 

in the ADDRESSES section. Once the Draft 

EIS and proposed HCP/NCCP are 

complete and made available for review, 

there will be additional opportunity for 

public comment on the content of these 

documents through additional public 

comment periods. 

Meeting Location Accommodations 

Persons needing reasonable 

accommodations in order to attend and 

participate in the public meetings 

should contact Ellen McBride at (916) 

414–6600 as soon as possible. In order 

to allow sufficient time to process 

requests, please call at least one week 

before the public meeting. Information 

regarding this proposed action is 

available in alternative formats upon 

request. 

Authority 

We publish this notice under the 

National Environmental Policy Act (42 

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and its 

implementing regulations (40 CFR 

1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.22), as well as 

in compliance with section 10(c) of the 

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

Dated: November 25, 2014. 

Alexandra Pitts, 

Deputy Regional Director, U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, Pacific Southwest Region, 

Sacramento, California. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29255 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

[14XL 1109AF LLUTW01100 

L12200000.AL0000 24 1A] 

Notice of Closure: Target Shooting 

Public Safety Closure on the Lake 

Mountains in Utah County, UT 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), pursuant to its 

regulations, is maintaining an existing 

closure of approximately 900 acres of 

public land on the Lake Mountains in 

Utah County, Utah, to the discharge or 

use of firearms or dangerous weapons 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES