60-day notice published

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2018 / Notices

permits to make updates to the priors in
the future.
Alternative 1 would mean that for a
similar level of eagle use observed at a
project site, the Service would use
higher fatality estimates for bald eagles
than for golden eagles. Alternative 2
would be a decision by the Service to
be more ‘risk-tolerant’ for bald eagles.
This would mean that initial fatality
predictions would be lower, however it
would also likely mean that more
permits would have to be amended to
increase the permitted take over time
(i.e., the Service would be
underestimating take more often).
Alternative 3 would be a decision by the
Service that more information is needed
to understand the potential variability of
exposure and collision probability for
bald eagles. Such a process could result
in either higher or lower (or more
variable) priors. With this notice, we are
soliciting input from the public on these
three alternatives, and we will take
those comments into consideration in
making a final decision.
Many commenters on the draft 2016
rule urged the Service to adopt changes
to the golden eagle CRM priors based on
a recent peer-reviewed scientific article
by Bay et al. (2016). Service staff
coordinated with authors of the Bay et
al. paper in development of this update,
and all data used in the Bay et al. paper
that were available to us and that met
our criteria were incorporated. The
Service decided not to incorporate the
results of the Bay et al. paper directly,
however, for two main reasons. First,
the Service could access and utilize
more data than were used in the Bay et
al. paper, and so our updated priors
incorporate more recent information
from a wider range of projects and sites
than were used by Bay et al. Second, the
Bay et al. analysis used a fatality
estimator that did not account for the
possibility of undetected eagle deaths
during mortality monitoring when no
dead eagles were found. The Service
uses models in our update that account
for imperfect detection when dead
eagles are not encountered during
monitoring, because there is ample
evidence that finding no dead eagles
does not mean there were no eagle
fatalities. Thus, although the Service’s
updated collision probability for golden
eagles is higher than that reported by
Bay et al., our approach is more accurate
and consistent with our risk-averse
policy with respect to estimating and
managing eagle take.
Public Availability of Comments
Written comments we receive become
part of the public record associated with
this action. Before including your

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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. All submissions from
organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, will be
made available for public disclosure in
their entirety.
Literature Cited
Bay, K., Nasman, K., Erickson, W., Taylor,
K., Kosciuch, K. (2016). Predicting Eagle
Fatalities at Wind Facilities, Journal of
Wildlife Management 80:1000–1010.
New, L., Bjerre, E., Millsap, B., Otto, M.C.,
Runge, M.C. (2015). A Collision Risk Model
to Predict Avian Fatalities at Wind Facilities:
An Example Using Golden Eagles, Aquila
chrysaetos, PLOS ONE,
journal.pone.0130978.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2013. Eagle
conservation plan guidance. Module 1–landbased wind energy. Version 2. Division of
Migratory Bird Management, Washington,
DC. URL http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/
pdf/management/eagleconservationpla
nguidance.pdf.
Dated: April 6, 2018.
Susan Combs,
Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Exercising
the Authority of the Assistant Secretary for
Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2018–13358 Filed 6–20–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Geological Survey
[GX18LC00BM3FD00; OMB Control Number
1028–0079]

Agency Information Collection
Activities; North American Breeding
Bird Survey
U.S. Geological Survey,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:

In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is
proposing to renew an information
collection (IC).
DATES: Interested persons are invited to
submit comments on or before August
20, 2018.
SUMMARY:

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Send your comments on the
information collection request (ICR) by
mail to the U.S. Geological Survey,
Information Collections Clearance
Officer, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS
159, Reston, VA 20192; or by email to
[email protected]. Please
reference OMB Control Number 1028–
0079 in the subject line of your
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
request additional information about
this ICR, contact Keith Pardieck by
email at [email protected] or by
telephone at 301–497–5843.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We, the
U.S. Geological Survey, 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.
We are soliciting comments on the
proposed ICR 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. We will include or
summarize each comment in our request
to OMB to approve this ICR. 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: Respondents supply the
U.S. Geological Survey with avian
population data for more than 600 North
American bird species. The survey data,
resulting population trend estimates,
and relative abundance estimates will
ADDRESSES:

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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 120 / Thursday, June 21, 2018 / Notices
be made available via the internet and
through special publications, for use by
Government agencies, industry,
education programs, and the general
public. We will protect information
from respondents considered
proprietary under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and its’
implementing regulations (43 CFR part
2), and under regulations at 30 CFR
250.197, ‘‘Data and information to be
made available to the public or for
limited inspection.’’ Responses are
voluntary. No questions of a ‘‘sensitive’’
nature are asked.
Title of Collection: North American
Breeding Bird Survey.
OMB Control Number: 1028–0079.
Form Number: None.
Type of Review: Extension of a
currently approved collection.
Respondents/Affected Public:
Individuals.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 1,600.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 2,600.
Estimated Completion Time per
Response: 11 minutes.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 28,600.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency of Collection: Annually.
Total Estimated Annual Non-hour
Burden Cost: $141,700. Mileage costs
are on average $54.50 per response,
based on approximate 100-mile round
trip for data collection per response and
2018 federal mileage rate of $0.545 per
mile.
An agency 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 number.
The authorities for this action are the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44
U.S.C. 3501, et seq.).
John French,
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Director.
[FR Doc. 2018–13274 Filed 6–20–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4338–11–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Reclamation

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[RR01016000; XXXR4524KK;
RX.41129361.1010000]

Notice of Intent To Contract for
Hydroelectric Power Development on
the Bureau of Reclamation’s North Unit
Main Canal, Deschutes Project,
Madras, Oregon
AGENCY:

Bureau of Reclamation,

Interior.

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Notice of intent to accept
proposals, select lessee(s), and contract
for hydroelectric power development.

ACTION:

The Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) has received a proposal to
allow hydroelectric power development
on the North Unit Main Canal (NUMC)
under a Lease of Power Privilege
(LOPP). To ensure fair and open
competition, Reclamation is soliciting
competing proposals at this time.
DATES: Submit the written proposal on
or before November 19, 2018. Late
proposals will not be considered.
Delayed delivery to the Regional Power
Manager’s office due to failures or
misunderstandings of the entity and/or
of mail, overnight, or courier services
will not excuse lateness, and
accordingly, are advised to provide
sufficient time for delivery.
ADDRESSES: Send eight copies of the
written proposal to Mr. Joseph
Summers, Regional Power Manager,
Bureau of Reclamation, 1150 North
Curtis Road, Suite 100, Boise, ID 83706;
telephone (208) 378–5290.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Questions regarding proposal
requirements or technical data available
for the North Unit Main Canal may be
directed to Mr. Jake Nink, Bureau of
Reclamation, 1150 North Curtis Road,
Suite 100, Boise, ID 83706; telephone
(208) 378–5090; email [email protected].
Upon receipt of written request, Mr.
Nink will also arrange an informational
meeting and/or site visit with interested
entities. In this regard, Reclamation
reserves the right to schedule a single
meeting and/or visit to address the
questions of all entities that have
submitted questions or requested site
visits.
Specific information related to
operations and maintenance of the canal
system may be obtained from Mr. Mike
Britton, Bureau of Reclamation, North
Unit Irrigation District Manager, 2024
Northwest Beech Street, Madras, OR
97741; telephone (541) 475–3625; email
to [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Overview. The North Unit
Irrigation District (NUID) operates and
maintains the NUMC on the Deschutes
Project located in the Deschutes River
Basin, which supplies irrigation water
to nearly 59,000 acres of farmland in
Jefferson County, Oregon. Reclamation
is considering allowing hydroelectric
power development on the NUMC
under a Lease of Power Privilege
(LOPP).
A LOPP is a congressionally
authorized alternative to Federal
hydroelectric power development. It is
SUMMARY:

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a contractual right given to a non-federal
entity to use a Reclamation asset for
electric power generation consistent
with Reclamation project purposes.
Terms of a LOPP shall not exceed 40
years. General authority under
Reclamation law for a LOPP includes,
among others, the Town Sites and
Power Development Act of 1906 (43
U.S.C. 522), the Reclamation Project Act
of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)) (1939 Act),
and the Bureau of Reclamation Small
Conduit Hydropower Development and
Rural Jobs Act of 2013 (Act of August
9, 2013, 127 Stat. 498).
Reclamation will be responsible for
compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
related to any project selected for
consideration pursuant to this Notice of
Intent. Reclamation will also lead
necessary consultation with American
Indian Tribal Governments and
compliance with the National Historic
Preservation Act, Endangered Species
Act, and other related environmental
regulations for all elements of the
proposed project. A LOPP may be
issued only after Reclamation has
determined that NEPA and any other
regulatory compliance requirements are
completed.
Project Definition and Location
On August 7, 2017, Reclamation
received a formal proposal for nonfederal hydroelectric power
development from Kinet Inc. at 12 sites
on the NUMC. Kinet Inc. proposes to
develop these sites utilizing a new
technology called linear Pelton turbines.
This solicitation is exclusive to the
following 12 NUMC sites:
Site Name—Mile 2 South.
Latitude Longitude—44.082201–
121.286401.
Canal Mile Maker—1.78
Head (m)—6.1.
Flow (cms)—20.
Site Name—Mile 2 North.
Latitude Longitude—44.086971–
121.274233.
Canal Mile Marker—2.11.
Head (m)—6.1.
Flow (cms)—20.
Site Name—Mile 3.
Latitude Longitude—44.092839–
121.256296.
Canal Mile Marker—3.52.
Head (m)—6.1.
Flow (cms)—20.
Site Name—Mile 18.
Latitude Longitude—44.251184–
121.128517.
Canal Mile Marker—18.34.
Head (m)—6.71.
Flow (cms)—21.
Site Name—Mile 19.

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