30-Day Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 121 / Thursday, June 23, 2016 / Notices
Required Determinations
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA)
We have prepared a draft
Environmental Assessment (EA) (see
ADDRESSES) in accordance with the
NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). We have
preliminarily concluded that approval
and issuance of an authorization for the
nonlethal, incidental, unintentional take
by Level B harassment of small numbers
of Pacific walruses in Alaska during
cable-laying activities conducted by
Quintillion would not significantly
affect the quality of the human
environment, and that the preparation
of an environmental impact statement
for these actions is not required by
section 102(2) of NEPA or its
implementing regulations.

asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Endangered Species Act
Under the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.) all Federal agencies are required to
ensure the actions they authorize are not
likely to jeopardize the continued
existence of any threatened or
endangered species or result in
destruction or adverse modification of
critical habitat. The range-wide status of
Pacific walruses was reviewed in
response to a 2008 petition to list this
species. On February 10, 2011 (76 FR
7634), the listing of walruses was found
to be warranted, but precluded due to
higher priority listing actions (i.e.,
walrus is a candidate species).
Consistent with established agency
policy, the Service’s Ecological Service
program will evaluate whether the
effects of the proposed activities will
jeopardize the continued existence of
the Pacific walrus prior to issuance of
an IHA. Our evaluation and finding will
be made available on the Service’s Web
site at http://www.fws.gov/alaska/
fisheries/mmm/iha.htm.
Government-to-Government Relations
With Native American Tribal
Governments
In accordance with the President’s
memorandum of April 29, 1994,
‘‘Government to Government Relations
with Native American Tribal
Governments’’ (59 FR 22951), Executive
Order 13175, Department of the Interior
Secretarial Order 3225 of January 19,
2001 (Endangered Species Act and
Subsistence Uses in Alaska
(Supplement to Secretarial Order 3206)),
Department of the Interior Secretarial
Order 3317 of December 1, 2011 (Tribal
Consultation and Policy), Department of
the Interior Memorandum of January 18,
2001 (Alaska Government-toGovernment Policy), the Department of

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the Interior’s manual at 512 DM 2, and
the Native American Policy of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, dated January
20, 2016, we acknowledge our
responsibility to communicate and work
directly on a Government-toGovernment basis with federally
recognized Alaska Natives Tribes in
developing programs for healthy
ecosystems, to seek their full and
meaningful participation in evaluating
and addressing conservation concerns
for listed species, to remain sensitive to
Alaska Native culture, and to make
information available to Alaska Natives.
Furthermore, and in accordance with
Department of the Interior Policy on
Consultation with Alaska Native Claims
Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA)
Corporations, dated August 10, 2012, we
likewise acknowledge our responsibility
to communicate and work directly with
ANCSA Corporations in evaluating and
addressing conservation concerns for
listed species, to remain sensitive to
Alaska Native culture, and to make
information available to ANSCA
Corporations.
We have evaluated possible effects of
the proposed activities on federally
recognized Alaska Native Tribes.
Through the IHA process identified in
the MMPA, the applicant presented a
communication process, culminating in
a POC with the Native communities
most likely to be affected, and engaged
these communities in numerous
informational meetings.
To facilitate co-management
activities, the Service maintains
cooperative agreements with the EWC
and the Qayassiq Walrus Commission
(QWC). The cooperative agreements
fund a wide variety of management
issues, including co-management
operations, biological sampling
programs, harvest monitoring, collection
of Native knowledge in management,
international coordination on
management issues, cooperative
enforcement of the MMPA, and
development of local conservation
plans. To help realize mutual
management goals, the Service, EWC,
and QWC hold meetings to discuss
future expectations and outline a shared
vision of co-management.
Through various interactions and
partnerships, we have determined that
the issuance of this proposed IHA is
appropriate. We invite continued
discussion about improving our
coordination and information exchange,
including through the IHA/POC process,
as may be requested by Tribes or other
Native groups.

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40915

Proposed Authorization
The Service proposes to issue an IHA
for the nonlethal, incidental,
unintentional take by Level B
harassment of small numbers of Pacific
walruses during cable-laying activities
in the marine waters of Alaska and
impacted coastal communities, as
described in this document and in the
applicant’s petition. We neither
anticipate nor propose authorization for
intentional take or take by injury or
death. The final IHA would be effective
immediately after the date of issuance
through November 15, 2016.
The final IHA would also incorporate
the mitigation, monitoring, and
reporting requirements described in this
proposal. The applicant would be
expected and required to implement
and fully comply with those
requirements. If the nature or level of
activity changes or exceeds that
described in this proposal and in the
IHA petition, or the nature or level of
take exceeds that projected in this
proposal, the Service will reevaluate its
findings. The Secretary may modify,
suspend, or revoke the authorization if
the findings are not accurate or the
mitigation, monitoring, and reporting
requirements described herein are not
being met.
Dated: June 3, 2016.
Brian S. Glaspell,
Acting Regional Director, Alaska Region.
[FR Doc. 2016–14847 Filed 6–22–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R7–MB–2016–N0109; FF09M21200–
156–FXMB1231099BPP0]

Information Collection Request Sent to
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for Approval; Alaska Migratory
Bird Subsistence Harvest Household
Survey
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice; request for comments.
AGENCY:

We (U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service) have sent an Information
Collection Request (ICR) to OMB for
review and approval. We summarize the
ICR below and describe the nature of the
collection and the estimated burden and
cost. This information collection is
scheduled to expire on June 30, 2016.
We may not conduct or sponsor and a
person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it
displays a currently valid OMB control

SUMMARY:

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40916

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 121 / Thursday, June 23, 2016 / Notices

number. However, under OMB
regulations, we may continue to
conduct or sponsor this information
collection while it is pending at OMB.
DATES: You must submit comments on
or before July 25, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments and
suggestions on this information
collection to the Desk Officer for the
Department of the Interior at OMB–
OIRA at (202) 395–5806 (fax) or OIRA_
[email protected] (email).
Please provide a copy of your comments
to the Service Information Collection
Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275

Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041–
3803 (mail), or [email protected]
(email). Please include ‘‘1018–0124’’ in
the subject line of your comments.
To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Hope Grey at hope_
[email protected] (email) or 703–358–2482
(telephone). You may review the ICR
online at http://www.reginfo.gov. Follow
the instructions to review Department of
the Interior collections under review by
OMB.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Number of
respondents

asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Activity

Information Collection Request
OMB Control Number: 1018–0124.
Title: Alaska Migratory Bird
Subsistence Harvest Household Survey.
Service Form Number(s): 3–2380, 3–
2381–1, 3–2381–2, 3–2381–3, and 3–
2381–4.
Type of Request: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Description of Respondents:
Households within subsistence eligible
areas of Alaska.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually for
Tracking Sheet and Household Consent;
three times annually for Harvest Report.
Number of
responses

Completion
time per
response
(minutes)

Total annual
burden hours

3–2380, Tracking Sheet and Household Consent ..........................................
3–2381–1 thru 3–2381–4, Harvest Report (three seasonal sheets) ...............

2,553
2,300

2,553
6,900

5
5

213
575

Totals ........................................................................................................

4,853

9,453

........................

788

Abstract: The Migratory Bird Treaty
Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703–712) and the
Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C.
742d) designate the Department of the
Interior as the key agency responsible
for managing migratory bird populations
that frequent the United States and for
setting harvest regulations that allow for
the conservation of those populations.
These responsibilities include gathering
accurate geographical and temporal data
on various characteristics of migratory
bird harvest. We use harvest data to
review regulation proposals and to issue
harvest regulations.
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Protocol Amendment (1995)
(Amendment) provides for the
customary and traditional use of
migratory birds and their eggs for
subsistence use by indigenous
inhabitants of Alaska. The Amendment
states that its intent is not to cause
significant increases in the take of
species of migratory birds relative to
their continental population sizes. A
submittal letter from the Department of
State to the White House (May 20, 1996)
accompanied the Amendment and
specified the need for harvest
monitoring. The submittal letter stated
that the Service, the Alaska Department
of Fish and Game (ADF&G), and Alaska
Native organizations would collect
harvest information cooperatively
within the subsistence eligible areas.
Harvest survey data help to ensure that
customary and traditional subsistence
uses of migratory birds and their eggs by
indigenous inhabitants of Alaska do not
significantly increase the take of species

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of migratory birds relative to their
continental population sizes.
Between 1989 and 2004, we
monitored subsistence harvest of
migratory birds using annual household
surveys in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta,
which is the region of highest
subsistence bird harvest in the State of
Alaska. In 2004, we began monitoring
subsistence harvest of migratory birds in
subsistence eligible areas Statewide.
The Statewide harvest assessment
program helps to track trends and
changes in levels of harvest. The harvest
assessment program relies on
collaboration among the Service, the
ADF&G, and a number of Alaska Native
organizations.
We gather information on the annual
subsistence harvest of about 60 bird
species/species categories (ducks, geese,
swans, cranes, upland game birds,
seabirds, shorebirds, and grebes and
loons) in the subsistence eligible areas
of Alaska. The survey covers 11 regions
of Alaska, which are further divided
into subregions. We survey the regions
and villages in a rotation schedule to
accommodate budget constraints and to
minimize respondent burden. The
survey covers spring, summer, and fall
harvest in most regions.
In collaboration with Alaska Native
organizations, we hire local resident
surveyors to collect the harvest
information. The surveyors list all
households in the villages to be
surveyed and provide survey
information and harvest report forms to
randomly selected households that have
agreed to participate in the survey. To

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ensure anonymity of harvest
information, we identify households by
a numeric code. The surveyor visits
households three times during the
survey year. At the first household visit,
the surveyor explains the survey
purposes and invites household
participation. The surveyor returns at
the end of the season of most harvest
and at the end of the two other seasons
combined to help the household
complete the harvest report form.
We have designed the survey methods
to streamline procedures and reduce
respondent burden. We use the
following forms for household
participation:
• FWS Form 3–2380 (Tracking Sheet
and Household Consent). The surveyor
visits each household selected to
participate in the survey to provide
information on the objectives and to
obtain household consent to participate.
The surveyor uses this form to record
consent and track subsequent visits for
completion of harvest reports.
• FWS Forms 3–2381–1, 3–2381–2,
3–2381–3, and 3–2381–4 (Harvest
Report). The Harvest Report has
drawings of bird species most
commonly available for harvest in the
different regions of Alaska, with fields
for writing down the numbers of birds
and eggs taken. There are four versions
of this form: Interior Alaska, North
Slope, Southern Coastal Alaska, and
Western Alaska. This form has a sheet
for each season surveyed, and each
sheet has fields for the household code,
community name, harvest year, date of
completion, and comments.

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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 121 / Thursday, June 23, 2016 / Notices
Comments Received and Our Responses
Comments: On December 3, 2015, we
published in the Federal Register (80
FR 75685) a notice of our intent to
request that OMB renew approval for
this information collection. In that
notice, we solicited comments for 60
days, ending on February 1, 2016. We
did not receive any comments.
Request for Public Comments
We again invite comments concerning
this information collection on:
• Whether or not the collection of
information is necessary, including
whether or not the information will
have practical utility;
• The accuracy of our estimate of the
burden for this collection of
information;
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be
collected; and
• Ways to minimize the burden of the
collection of information on
respondents.
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 can ask OMB and us in your
comment to withhold your personal
identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that it will
be done.
Dated: June 17, 2016.
Tina A. Campbell,
Chief, Division of Policy, Performance, and
Management Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2016–14843 Filed 6–22–16; 8:45 am]

an application from Renee and Kurt
Mammen for a 10-year incidental take
permit (ITP) under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended. The
application addresses the potential for
‘‘take’’ of the federally endangered
Morro shoulderband snail likely to
result incidental to the construction and
maintenance of a single-family
residence on an existing legal parcel,
associated infrastructure, and use of an
existing access road in the
unincorporated community of Los Osos,
San Luis Obispo County, California. We
invite comments from the public on the
application package, which includes a
draft low-effect habitat conservation
plan (HCP) and draft low-effect
screening form and environmental
action statement, which constitutes our
proposed National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) compliance.
To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by July 25,
2016.

DATES:

You may download a copy
of the draft HCP and draft low-effect
screening form and environmental
action statement on the internet at
http://www.fws.gov/ventura/, or you
may request copies of the documents by
U.S. mail to our Ventura office, or by
phone (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT). Please address written
comments to Stephen P. Henry, Field
Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife
Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
2493 Portola Road, Suite B, Ventura, CA
93003. You may alternatively send
comments by facsimile to (805) 644–
3958.
ADDRESSES:

Julie
M. Vanderwier, Senior Fish and
Wildlife Biologist, at the Ventura office
address or by phone at (805) 644–1766.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P

We have
received an application for an incidental
take permit (ITP) pursuant to section
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species
Act (Act; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The
application addresses take of the
federally endangered Morro
shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta
walkeriana) likely to occur incidental to
the construction and maintenance of a
single-family residence and associated
infrastructure and use of an existing
access road. The requested permit term
is 10 years and the permit would be
subject to renewal. We invite comments
from the public on the application
package. Issuance of an ITP pursuant to
this HCP has been determined to be
eligible for a categorical exclusion under
NEPA.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

[FWS–R8–ES–2016–N079;
FXES11120800000–156–FF08EVEN00]

Low-Effect Habitat Conservation Plan
for the Morro Shoulderband Snail;
Mammen Parcel, Community of Los
Osos, San Luis Obispo County,
California
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request
for comment.
AGENCY:

We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), have received

SUMMARY:

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Background
The Morro shoulderband snail was
listed as endangered on December 15,
1994 (59 FR 64613). Section 9 of the Act
and its implementing regulations (16
U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) prohibit the take of
fish or wildlife species listed as
endangered or threatened. Under the
Act, ‘‘take’’ is defined to include the
following activities: ‘‘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). Under section 10(a)(1)(B) of the
Act, we may issue permits to authorize
take of listed species if it is incidental
to other lawful activities and not the
purpose of carrying out that activity.
The Code of Federal Regulations
provides those regulations governing
incidental take permits for threatened
and endangered species at 50 CFR 17.32
and 17.22. Issuance of an incidental take
permit must not jeopardize the
existence of any federally listed fish,
wildlife or plant species.
The Applicant’s Proposed Project
The project involves the construction
and maintenance of a single-family
residence and associated infrastructure
along with use of an existing access road
to a legal parcel in the Bayview Heights
subdivision of Los Osos, County of San
Luis Obispo, California. The HCP
provides the support necessary for the
Service to issue an incidental take
permit (ITP) that would authorize take,
in this instance, of the Morro
shoulderband snail (Helminthoglypta
walkeriana). The County of San Luis
Obispo requires demonstration that the
property owner is in compliance with
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (Act) as part of their
permitting requirements.
The draft HCP contains two
alternatives to the proposed action: ‘‘No
Action’’ and ‘‘Project Redesign.’’ Under
the ‘‘No Action’’ alternative, an ITP for
the Mammen single-family residence
would not be issued. The Mammen
single-family residence could not legally
be built and the mitigation fee would
not be available to contribute to
recovery actions for Morro
shoulderband snail. Since the property
is privately owned, there are ongoing
economic considerations (e.g., payment
of property taxes) associated with
continued ownership of a property and
its intended use. The sale of the
property for purposes (e.g., as a
conservation easement) other than the
identified activity is not economically
feasible. For these reasons, the ‘‘No
Action’’ alternative has been rejected.

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