39422 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 123 / Monday, June 26, 2000 / Notices

process by which landowners can

comply with the provisions of the

Endangered Species Act in a more

efficient manner. The Service has

divided the 45 subdivisions into two

categories, those in low/marginal

quality Houston toad habitat, and those

in medium quality Houston toad

habitat. The EA/HCP requires the same

avoidance, minimization, and

mitigation efforts from every lot owner,

within their respective category. This

negates the need and cost in both time

and money to prepare individual HCPs

and go through separate public review

processes. Since this EA/HCP will have

already gone out for public review and

comment (through this Notice in the

Federal Register), and been finalized, it

would cover 8,476 undeveloped lots,

covering a maximum of 4,238 acres of

sub-optimal Houston toad habitat, as

noted in the EA/HCP in the 45 listed

subdivisions, and endangered species

permits could be issued in a matter of

days as opposed to months under the

current permitting process.

The EA/HCP has been assigned

permit number TE–025997–0. The

requested permit issuance, which will

be for a period of 5 years, would

authorize the incidental take of the

endangered Houston toad (Bufo

houstonensis). The proposed take would

occur as a result of the possible

construction and occupation on 8,476

remaining undeveloped lots, covering a

maximum of 4,238 acres of sub-optimal

Houston toad habitat, in 45 subdivisions

in Bastrop County, Texas.

A determination of jeopardy to the

species or a Finding of No Significant

Impact (FONSI) will not be made until

at least 30 days from the date of

publication of this notice. This notice is

provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of

the Act and National Environmental

Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

DATES: Written comments on the

application should be received on or

before July 26, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the EA/HCP may obtain a copy by

contacting: Austin Office of the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet

Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758

(512/490–0057). Documents will be

available for public inspection by

written request, or by appointment only,

during normal business hours (8 to 4:30)

at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Austin, Texas. Written data or

comments concerning the EA/HCP

should be submitted to the Field

Supervisor, Austin Field Office of the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, at the

above address. Please refer to permit

number TE–025997–0 when submitting

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Contact the Austin Office of the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service at the above

address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the Houston

toad. However, the Service, under

limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take endangered wildlife

species incidental to, and not the

purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.

Regulations governing permits for

endangered species are at 50 CFR 17.22.

Applicant

This action will permanently disturb

a maximum of 0.5 acres of Houston toad

habitat within each eligible lot and

result in indirect impacts within the

subdivision. Each applicant will

compensate for this incidental take of

the Houston toad by providing

mitigation funds to the National Fish

and Wildlife Foundation for the specific

purpose of land acquisition, protection,

and management within Houston toad

habitat, as identified by the Service.

Bryan Arroyo,

Acting Regional Director, Region 2,

Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 00–16032 Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–U

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Geological Survey

Technology Transfer Act of 1986;

Cooperative Research and

Development Agreement With Rio

Algom Exploration

AGENCY: Geological Survey, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of proposed cooperative

research and development agreement

(CRADA) negotiations.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Geological Survey

(USGS) is contemplating entering into a

Cooperative Research and Development

Agreement (CRADA) with Rio Algom

Exploration to conduct aerial surveys in

Alaska.

INQUIRIES: If any other parties are

interested in studying other areas with

the USGS, please contact: Fredric

Wilson, USGS-Alaska Section, 4200

University Dr., Anchorage, AK 99508–

4667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice is to meet the USGS requirement

stipulated in the Survey Manual.

Dated: May 23, 2000.

Linda C. Gundersen,

Associate Chief Geologist for Program

Operations.

[FR Doc. 00–15995 Filed 6–23–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–Y7–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[AZ–040–00–1040–AE]

Gila Box Riparian National

Conservation Area Advisory

Committee; Meeting Notice

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Gila Box Riparian National

Conservation Area Advisory Committee

Meeting.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is

to announce the next meeting of the Gila

Box Riparian National Conservation

Area Advisory Committee Meeting. The

purpose of the Advisory Committee is to

provide informed advice to the Safford

Field Office Manager on Management of

public lands in the Gila Box Riparian

National Conservation Area (RNCA).

The committee meets as needed,

generally between two and four times a

year.

The meeting will take place at the

Bureau of Land Management, Safford

Field Office on September 15, 2000

commencing at 9 a.m. and ending at 4

p.m. The meeting’s agenda will consist

of updates on livestock management,

transportation system, public affairs,

monitoring, and Lee Trail Headquarters

relocation within the Gila Box RNCA. In

addition, the meeting will include a

update on the National Landscape

Conservation System as it relates to the

Gila Box RNCA. A public comment

period will be provided from 9:45 a.m.

to 10 a.m. for the public to address the

committee on management of the Gila

Box RNCA.

DATES: Meeting will be held on

September 15, 2000 starting at 9 a.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon

Collins, Gila Box NCA Project

Coordinator, Safford Field Office, 711

14th Avenue, Safford, Arizona 85546;

telephone number (520) 384–4400.

Dated: June 15, 2000.

William T. Civish,

Field Office Manager.

[FR Doc. 00–15996 Filed 6–15–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–32–M