Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 2014 / Notices 74111 

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
74112 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 2014 / Notices 

for the purposes of recreational target 

shooting to protect public safety, 

property and resources. This closure 

does not restrict other public activities 

or access to the Lake Mountains area. 

DATES: This notice reestablishes the 

temporary target shooting closure order 

within the described area for no longer 

than two years from December 15, 2014, 

or earlier if a land use planning decision 

is completed. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rebecca Hotze, Field Manager; Phone: 

801–977–4300; Salt Lake Field Office; 

2370 South Decker Lake Boulevard, 

West Valley City, Utah 84119; email: 

blm_ut_sl_mail@blm.gov. 

Persons who use a 

telecommunications device for the deaf 

(TDD) may call the Federal Information 

Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 

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 hours. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

temporary closure affects public lands 

on the Lake Mountains, Utah County, 

Utah. The legal description of the 

affected public lands is: 

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah 

T. 7 S., R. 1 E. 

Sec. 6, lot 1, NE1⁄4SE1⁄4; 

Sec. 7, lot 1. 

T. 7 S., R. 1 W. 

Sec. 13, lots 2, 11, 12 and portions of lots 

3, 4, 9, and 10, and the SE1⁄4SW1⁄4 lying 

east of the 345 KV power line*; 

Sec. 24, portions of lots 1–3, 10, 13, 17, 18, 

and portions of lots 11 and 12, and the 

NW1⁄4 lying east of the 345 KV power 

line*; 

Sec. 26, NW1⁄4NE1⁄4, NW1⁄4SW1⁄4, and 

portions of the N1⁄2NW1⁄4 lying east of 

the 345 KV power line*; 

*BLM right-of-way UTU 0115794. 

The area described contains approximately 

900 acres more or less. 

The Salt Lake Field Office hereby 

closes a portion of the Lake Mountains, 

Utah County, Utah, to all target shooting 

for public safety reasons. The area will 

be closed under the authority of 43 CFR 

8364.1—Closures and Restrictions and 

in conformance with BLM Washington 

Office Instruction Memorandum 2013– 

035, Requirements for Processing and 

Approving Temporary Public Land 

Closure and Restriction Orders. Due to 

unsafe conditions and danger to the 

public, it is imperative for the BLM to 

reestablish the closure on the area. 

The Lake Mountains are a small 

mountain range located on the west side 

of Utah Lake. The range is only about 

8 miles wide and 12 miles long. The city 

of Saratoga Springs borders the north 

side of the mountains and Eagle 

Mountain City is along the west side. 

State Highway 68 runs along the eastern 

bench of the Lake Mountains; it is a 

main arterial road and is used by 

residential, agricultural and recreational 

traffic. There are a number of 

communication sites on the top of the 

mountain, as well as a major power line 

that runs along a lower elevation ridge. 

Across Highway 68, there are private 

residences along the lake shore. Utah 

Lake is a popular area for recreationists, 

boaters, and anglers. A lake access point 

known as ‘‘the Knolls’’ is one of the few 

public access points on the western 

shoreline and is located just off 

Highway 68. The Lake Mountains are 

comprised of a mixed ownership pattern 

of lands managed by the BLM, Utah 

School and Institutional Trust Lands 

Administration (SITLA), and several 

private property owners. The area 

encompassed by the closure is primarily 

used by residents of Utah County and 

southern Salt Lake County for target 

shooting. 

Prior to the 2012 closure, the Lake 

Mountains received about 4,000 target 

shooters each month; and on weekends, 

as many as 400 shooters concentrated 

into 5 areas, and other dispersed 

locations. The slopes of the Lake 

Mountains provide a natural backstop 

ideal for target shooting; however, some 

shooters chose to target practice in the 

relatively flat terrain on the lower 

slopes. Given the topography of the area 

and the number of people who visit it, 

the area subject to this Order is not 

conducive to safe target shooting. Target 

shooting in the area has resulted in 

nearby private residences being shot 

and near-misses of automobiles and 

people. An additional danger is the 

annual threat from target shootingrelated wildfires adjacent to private 

residences, a major power line located 

on the eastern bench, communication 

towers on the ridge top, and public land 

resources. 

The previous two-year closure proved 

effective in redirecting target shooting to 

safer locations, allowing cleanup of the 

area, eliminating illegal dumping and 

significantly reducing target shootingrelated wildfires. Since the 

implementation of the closure in August 

2012, no near-misses from errant gunfire 

have been reported to law enforcement. 

Since the implementation of the 

original 2012 target shooting safety 

closure, several additional actions have 

been taken by private landowners, other 

agency partners and the BLM to 

augment the closure. Regular patrols 

have been conducted by the Utah 

County Sheriff’s Office, BLM law 

enforcement rangers and private 

property owners. Barricades have been 

installed to identify the closure 

boundary, especially along private 

property and in areas receiving 

recurring violations, such as the Little 

Cove area. Utah County is completing 

the construction of a fence along the 

west side of Highway 68 with gates to 

allow public access on a few controlled 

routes. Utah County also has started 

planning for development of a nearby 

managed target shooting range. In April 

2014, SITLA closed approximately 

1,500 acres of state lands adjacent to 

and near the BLM closure to 

recreational access. Additionally, the 

BLM is initiating an amendment to its 

land use plan to develop a more 

permanent solution for the target 

shooting issues in this area. With the 

closure and these subsequent actions, 

volunteers have been able to clean up 

the large amounts of trash and 

household appliances in these areas. 

This closure is made under the 

authority of the regulations in 43 CFR 

8364.1—Closures and Restrictions, and 

is in conformance with BLM 

Washington Office Instruction 

Memorandum 2013–035, Requirements 

for Processing and Approving 

Temporary Public Land Closure and 

Restriction Orders. 43 CFR 8364.1(a) 

states: ‘‘To protect persons, property, 

and public lands and resources, the 

authorized officer may issue an order to 

close or restrict use of designated public 

lands.’’ The closure only applies to the 

discharge or use of firearms or 

dangerous weapons for the purposes of 

recreational target shooting and does not 

affect legal hunting. Any person who 

violates the above restriction may be 

tried before a United States Magistrate 

and fined no more than $1,000, 

imprisoned for no more than 12 months, 

or both. Such violations also may be 

subject to the enhanced fines provided 

for in 18 U.S.C. 3571. 

Authority: 43 CFR 8364.1 

Jenna Whitlock, 

Associate State Director. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29277 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P 

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 

National Park Service 

[NPS–SERO–BICY–16765; PPSESEROC3, 

PMP00UP05.YP0000] 

Assessment of Eligible and Ineligible 

Lands for Consideration as Wilderness 

Areas, Big Cypress National Preserve 

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior. 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES