Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 176 / Thursday, September 11, 1997 / Notices 47829

DM 2, Appendix 2 of the Departmental

Manual, the departmental categorical

exclusions cannot be used. Among the

types of actions available for a

Categorical Exclusion is for a ‘‘low

effect’’ HCP/incidental take permit

application. A ‘‘low effect’’ HCP is

defined as an application that,

individually or cumulatively, has a

minor or negligible effect on the species

covered in the HCP [Section 1.4(C)(2)].

The Service considers the Applicant’s

project and HCP such a Categorical

Exclusion, since the impacts of issuing

the ITP involve only a small area of the

affected species’ range and the

anticipated level of incidental take is

minimal. The Service is soliciting for

public comments on this determination.

Dated: September 4, 1997.

H. Dale Hall,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 97–24114 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Notice of Availability of an

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan and Receipt of

Application for Incidental Take Permit

for Construction and Operation of

Approximately 143.6 Acres of Light

Industrial Development on the

Approximately 440-Acre Schlumberger

Property (PRT–827597), in Austin,

Travis County, TX

SUMMARY: The Schlumberger

Technology Corporation (applicant) has

applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) for an incidental take

permit pursuant to Section 10(a) of the

Endangered Species Act (Act). The

applicant has been assigned permit

number PRT–827597. The requested

permit, which is for a period of 30 years,

would authorize the incidental take of

the endangered golden-cheeked warbler

(Dendroica chrysoparia). The proposed

take on the 440-acre parcel would occur

as a result of 143.6 acres of light

industrial development. A minimum of

approximately 195 acres will be

preserved in its natural state as a

conservation easement. All construction

will occur on the 440-acre Schlumberger

Property located in Austin, Travis

County, Texas.

The Service has prepared the

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the

incidental take application. A

determination of whether jeopardy to

the species will occur, or a Finding of

No Significant Impact (FONSI), will not

be made before 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 by

October 14, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the application may obtain a copy by

writing to the Regional Director, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box

1306, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103.

Persons wishing to review the EA/HCP

may obtain a copy by contacting Sybil

Vosler, Austin Ecological Services Field

Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200,

Austin, Texas 78758 (512/490–0063).

Documents will be available for public

inspection by written request, by

appointment only, during normal

business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m)

at the Austin Ecological Services Field

Office. Written data or comments

concerning the application(s) and EA/

HCPs should be submitted to the Field

Supervisor, Austin Ecological Services

Field Office. Please refer to permit

number PRT-827597 when submitting

comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sybil Vosler at the above Austin

Ecological Services Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the goldencheeked warbler. However, the Service,

under limited circumstances, may issue

permits to take endangered wildlife

species, when such taking is incidental

to, and not the purpose of, otherwise

lawful activities. Regulations governing

permits for endangered species are at 50

CFR 17.22.

APPLICANT: Schlumberger Technology

Corporation plans to construct a light

industrial development on

approximately 143.6 acres and preserve

a minimum of 195 acres within the 440-

acre tract. The construction will be at

the Schlumberger property located east

of R.M. 620, approximately 1 mile north

of RM 2222 on the northwest side of the

City of Austin, roughly 12 miles from

the downtown area. The preserved area

will be maintained in its natural state

and a conservation easement will be

granted in perpetuity and held by a nonprofit conservation organization or

governmental agency approved by the

Service.

Alternatives to this action were

rejected because selling with federallylisted species present or not developing

the subject property were not

economically feasible.

Jerome M. Butler,

Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque,

New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 97–24116 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

Issuance of Permit for Marine

Mammals

On July 10, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 132, Page 37072, that an

application had been filed with the Fish

and Wildlife Service by James Y. Jones,

Dublin, GA, for a permit (PRT–831722)

to import a sport-hunted polar bear for

personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on August

14, 1997, as authorized by the

provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permit subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

On June 26, 1997, a notice was

published in the Federal Register, Vol.

62, No. 123, Page 34482, that

applications had been filed with the

Fish and Wildlife Service by Hossein

Golabchi, Augusta, GA (PRT–830486)

and Dennis Schlegel, Ione, WA (PRT–

830807) for a permit to each applicant

for import of a sport-hunted polar bear

for personal use.

Notice is hereby given that on August

18, 1997, as authorized by the

provisions of the Marine Mammal

Protection Act of 1972, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) the Fish and

Wildlife Service authorized the

requested permits subject to certain

conditions set forth therein.

Documents and other information

submitted for these applications are

available for review by any party who

submits a written request to the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of

Management Authority, 4401 North

Fairfax Drive, Rm 430, Arlington,

Virginia 22203. Phone (703) 358–2104

or Fax (703) 358–2281.

Dated: September 5, 1997.

Mary Ellen Amtower,

Acting Chief, Branch of Permits, Office of

Management Authority.

[FR Doc. 97–24012 Filed 9–10–97; 8:45 am]

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