Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 236 / Friday, December 8, 1995 / Notices 63055

about the life history of the species,

including how forest structures affect

population dynamics.

Potential taking incidental to the

Applicant’s proposed land management

activities is largely associated with

forest management in the permit area.

There are, however, a variety of other

potential effects associated with

ownership and management which

could also result in an incidental taking

of the ABB. The following forest and

land management activities are included

for permit coverage: (1) Timber harvest,

logging decks and pushout roads for

access; (2) Site preparation activities; (3)

tree planting; (4) thinning and pruning

of trees; (5) pesticide use and prescribed

burning; (6) food plot creation and other

wildlife management activities; (7)

leasing, exploration, and mining of

minerals, oils, gas, and other natural

resources; (8) right of way, road

easements, and pipelines; (9) livestock

grazing and fencing; (10) pond

construction and maintenance; (11) road

construction and maintenance; (12) fire

lanes and helicopter pads; (13) hunting/

recreational use activities; and, (14)

miscellaneous activities which may

cause minor ground disturbances. To

address the effects of these activities on

the ABB, the Applicant proposes to

initiate a strategy which focuses on

addressing research and management

needs of the ABB on a landscape scale.

This includes a baseline survey of ABB

abundance and distribution, a research

and monitoring program, restrictions on

pesticide use, limiting ground

disturbance activities during certain

periods of the year, and an adaptive

management approach to forest

practices that incorporates new

information on the ABB’s needs and

requirements as elucidated by the

aforementioned research/monitoring

plan. The Applicant will provide

funding for the HCP over its 35-year life.

The EA considers the environmental

consequences of several alternatives;

issue the requested permit as

conditioned by the HCP, issue a permit

predicated on a different mitigation/

minimization strategy for the ABB, or

take no action (deny permit). The

Service finds the greatest conservation

benefits accompany the HCP and

proposed permit. The Service’s

proposed alternative is to issue the

requested incidental take permit, based

upon the submitted HCP. The principal

environmental consequence of permit

issuance, in the Service’s assessment, is

to sustain or enhance the status of the

ABB, via implementation and funding

the mitigation and minimization

measures as outlined above.

Dated: December 1, 1995.

Noreen K. Clough,

Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 95–29942 Filed 12–7–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan

and Receipt of Application for

Incidental Take Permit for

Construction and Operation of a Mixed

Use and Residential Development in

Austin, Travis County, TX

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: P–WB Joint Venture

(Applicant) has applied to the Fish and

Wildlife Service for an incidental take

permit pursuant to Section 10(a) of the

Endangered Species Act. The Applicant

has been assigned permit number PRT–

808694. The requested permit, which is

for a period of 10 years, would authorize

the incidental take of the endangered

golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica

chrysoparia), Tooth Cave ground beetle

(Rhadine persephone), and Bone Cave

harvestman (Texella reyesi). The

proposed take would occur as a result

of the construction and operation of 138

acres of mixed use and residential

development in Austin, Travis County,

Texas.

The Service has prepared the

Environmental Assessment/Habitat

Conservation Plan for the incidental

take applications. A determination of

jeopardy to the species or a Finding of

No Significant Impact 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

January 8, 1996.

ADDRESS: Persons wishing to review the

application or the EA/HCP may obtain

a copy by contacting Joseph E. Johnston

or Sybil Vosler, Ecological Services

Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite

200, Austin, Texas 78758 (512/490–

0063). Documents will be available for

public inspection during normal

business hours (9 to 4:30) U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, Austin, Texas. Written

data or comments concerning the

application(s) and EA/HCPs should be

submitted to the Acting Field

Supervisor, Ecological Field Office,

Texas (see ADDRESS above). Please refer

to permit number PRT–808694 when

submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Joseph E. Johnston or Sybil Vosler at the

above Austin Ecological Service Field

Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9

of the Act prohibits the ‘‘taking’’ of

endangered species such as the goldencheeked warbler and cave invertebrates.

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: P–WB Joint Venture plans to

construct and operate 138 acres of

mixed use and residential development

on 333 acres in Austin, Travis County,

Texas. This action will eliminate the

habitat for 13 pairs of golden-cheeked

warblers. The applicant proposes to

compensate for this incidental take of

golden-cheeked warbler habitat by

preserving 135 acres of golden-cheeked

warbler habitat and the preservation and

maintenance of 52 acres with 5 caves

containing the Tooth Cave ground beetle

and the Bone Cave harvestman for the

conservation of the golden-cheeked

warbler and the cave invertebrates.

Alternatives to this action were

rejected because selling or not

developing the subject property with

federally listed species present was not

economically feasible.

Nancy M. Kaufman,

Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque,

New Mexico.

[FR Doc. 95–29943 Filed 12–7–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510–55–M

Bureau of Land Management

[UT–912–06–0777–52]

Meeting of the Utah Resource Advisory

Council

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Utah.

SUMMARY: The Utah Resource Advisory

Council will meet on January 5–6, 1996

at the Howard Johnson Hotel, Salt Lake

Conference Room, 122 West South

Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah. Council

members will meet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

on Friday, January 5. The entire first day

will be devoted to a training session on

rangeland ecology. The Council will

reconvene at 8 a.m. on Saturday,

January 6. A discussion of the planning

process to develop standards and

guidelines will be the primary topic the

second day. A public comment, period

where members of the public may

address the Council, is scheduled for

12:00 noon on the 6th. The meeting will

conclude at 1 p.m. All sessions of the