Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices 8057

Dated: February 7, 1995.

Gary Slagel,

Acting District Manager.

[FR Doc. 95–3505 Filed 2–9–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–DN–P

Fish and Wildlife Service

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment and Receipt of an

Application for an Incidental Take

Permit From Mr. Robert Farr, in

Baldwin County, AL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: Mr. Robert Farr (Applicant),

has applied to the Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) for an incidental take

permit pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of

the Endangered Species Act (Act). The

proposed permit would authorize for a

period of 30 years the incidental take of

an endangered species, the Alabama

beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus

ammobates), known to occupy lands

owned by the Applicant in Baldwin

County, Alabama. The Application

proposed to construct and use a single

family residence on less than 0.5 acres

of privately owned land, which is in the

Cabana Beach subdivision.

The Service also announces the

availability of an environmental

assessment (EA) and habitat

conservation plan (HCP) for the

incidental take application. Copies of

the EA or HCP may be obtained by

making requests to the addresses below.

The Service is soliciting data on

Peromyscus polionotus ammobates in

order to assist in the requirement of the

intra-Service consultation. This notice

also advices the public that the Service

has made a preliminary determination

that issuing the incidental take permit is

not a major Federal action significantly

affecting the quality of the human

environment within the meaning of

Section 102(2)(C) of the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as

amended. The Finding of No Significant

Impact is based on information

contained in the EA and HCP. The final

determination will be made no sooner

than 30 days from the date 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 permit

application, EA and HCP should be

received on or before March 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the application may obtain a copy by

writing the Service’s Southeast Regional

Office, Atlanta, Georgia. Persons

wishing to review the EA or HCP may

obtain a copy by writing the Regional

Office or the Jackson, Mississippi, Field

Office. Documents will also be available

for public inspection, by appointment,

during normal business hours at the

Regional Office, or the Field Office.

Written data or comments concerning

the application, EA, or HCP should be

submitted to the Regional Office. Please

reference permit under PRT–798697 in

such comments.

Regional Permit Coordinator (TE),

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875

Century Boulevard, Suite 210, Atlanta,

Georgia 30345, (telephone 404/679–

7110, FAX 404/679–7280).

Field Supervisor, U.S.Fish and

Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View

Parkway, Suite A, Jackson, Mississippi

39213 (telephone 601/965–4900, FAX

601/965–4340).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Will McDearman at the above Jackson,

Mississippi, Field Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Alabama beach mouse (AMB),

Peromyscus polionotus ammobates, is a

subspecies of the common oldfield

mouse Peromyscus polionotus and is

restricted to the dune systems of the

Gulf Coast of Alabama. The know

current range of ABM extends from Fort

Morgan eastward to the western

terminus of Alabama Highway 182,

including the Perdue Unit on the Bon

Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The

sand dune systems inhabited by this

species are not uniform; several habitat

types are distinguishable. The species

inhabits primary dunes, interdune areas,

secondary dunes, and scrub dunes. The

depth and area of these habitats from

the beach inland varies. Population

surveys indicate that this subspecies is

usually more abundant in primary

dunes than in secondary dunes, and

usually more abundant in secondary

dunes than in scrub dunes. Optimal

habitat consists of dune systems with all

dune types. Though fewer ABM inhabit

scrub dunes, these high dunes can serve

as refugia during devastating hurricanes

that overwash, flood, and destroy or

alter secondary and frontal dunes. ABM

surveys have not been conducted on the

Applicant’s property. Suitable habitat in

the form of secondary and scrub dunes

exist on the Applicant’s property. These

habitats are likely to be occupied by

ABM. The Applicant’s property resides

in designated critical habitat for the

ABM. Construction of the single family

residence on about 0.1–0.2 acres of the

Applicant’s property may result in the

death of, or injury to, ABM. Habitat

alterations due to house placement and

its subsequent use may reduce available

habitat for food, shelter, and

reproduction.

The EA considers the environmental

consequences of three alternatives. The

proposed action alternative is the

issuance of the incidental take permit.

This provided for restrictions that

include house placement landward of

the frontal crest of the scrub dune line,

establishment of a walkover structure

across that scrub dune, a prohibition

against housing or keeping pet cats,

scavenger-proof garbage containers, no

landscaping, and the minimization and

control of outdoor lighting. The HCP

provides a funding source for these

mitigation measures.

Dated: February 3, 1995.

Jerome M. Butler,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 95–3353 Filed 2–9–94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Availability of an Environmental

Assessment and Receipt of an

Application for an Incidental Take

Permit for a Project Called Cypress

Creek (Phase I), a Single Family

Residence Subdivision, in Brevard

County, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: RNR Properties, Ltd.,

(Applicant), is seeking an incidental

take permit from the Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service), pursuant to Section

10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species

Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. The

permit would authorize the take of two

families of the threatened Florida scrub

jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens

coerulescens in Brevard County,

Florida, for a period of 10 years. The

proposed taking is incidental to

construction of 148 single family homes,

including the necessary infrastructure,

on approximately 225 acres (Project).

Within the Project, 28.7 acres are

occupied by Florida scrub jays and will

be permanently altered. The Project is

called Cypress Creek (Phase I), and it is

located on the mainland of Brevard

County, in the Town of Grant.

The Service also announces the

availability of an environmental

assessment (EA) and habitat

conservation plan (HCP) for the

incidental take application. Copies of

the EA or HCP may be obtained by

making a request to the Regional Office

address below. This notice also advises

the public that the Service has made a

preliminary determination that issuing

the incidental take permit is not a major
8058 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 28 / Friday, February 10, 1995 / Notices

Federal action significantly affecting the

quality of the human environment

within the meaning of Section 102(2)(C)

of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969, as amended. The Finding

of No Significant Impact is based on

information contained in the EA and

HCP. The final determination will be

made no sooner than 30 days from the

date 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 permit

application, EA and HCP should be

received on or before March 13, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review

the application, HCP, and EA may

obtain a copy by writing the Service’s

Southeast Regional Office, Atlanta,

Georgia. Documents will also be

available for public inspection by

appointment during normal business

hours at the Regional Office, or the

Jacksonville, Florida, Field Office.

Written data or comments concerning

the application, EA, or HCP should be

submitted to the Regional Office. Please

reference permit under PRT–798698 in

such comments.

Regional Permit Coordinator, U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 Century

Boulevard, Suite 210, Atlanta, Georgia

30345, (telephone 404/679–7110, fax

404/679–7280).

Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint

Drive, South, Suite 310, Jacksonville,

Florida 32216–0912, (telephone 904/

232–2580, fax 904/232–2404).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dawn Zattau at the Jacksonville,

Florida, Field Office, or Rick G. Gooch

at the Atlanta, Georgia, Regional Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens

is geographically isolated from other

subspecies of scrub jays found in

Mexico and the Western United States.

The Florida scrub jay is found almost

exclusively in peninsular Florida and is

restricted to scrub habitat. The total

estimated population is between 7,000

and 11,000 individuals. Due to habitat

loss and degradation throughout the

State of Florida, it has been estimated

that the Florida scrub jay population has

been reduced by at least half in the last

100 years. Surveys have indicated that

two families of Florida scrub jays

inhabit the Project site. Construction of

the Project’s infrastructure and

subsequent construction of the

individual homesites will likely result

in death of, or injury to, Aphelocoma

coerulescens coerulescens incidental to

the carrying out of these otherwise

lawful activities. Habitat alteration

associated with property development

will reduce the availability of feeding,

shelter, and nesting habitat.

The EA considers the environmental

consequences of three alternatives. The

no action alternative may result in loss

of habitat for Aphelocoma coerulescens

coerulescens and exposure of the

Applicant under Section 9 of the Act. A

third alternative is the proposed Project

that is designed to reduce the impacts

to Aphelocoma coerulescens

coerulescens by restricting the Project’s

total buildable area. The proposed

action alternative is issuance of the

incidental take permit. This provides for

restrictions of construction activity,

purchase of off-site habitat for the

Florida scrub jay, the establishment of

an endowment fund for the off-site

acquired habitat, and donation of

additional off-site habitat. The HCP

provides a funding mechanism for these

mitigation measures.

Dated: February 3, 1995.

Jerome M. Butler,

Acting Regional Director.

[FR Doc. 95–3354 Filed 2–9–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

Endangered and Threatened Species

Permit Application

AGENCY: Forest Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

Availability of a Draft Environmental

Impact Statement and Receipt of an

Application for an Incidental Take

Permit for Desert Tortoises in Clark

County, Nevada.

SUMMARY: This notice advises that Clark

County; the cities of Mesquite, Las

Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, and

Boulder City; and Nevada Department of

Transportation (Applicants) have

applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (Service) for an incidental take

permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of

the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended (Act). The proposed permit

would authority the incidental take of

the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus

agassizii). The permit application is

accompanied by a Habitat Conservation

Plan (HCP) entitled the Clark County

Desert Conservation Plan (CCDCP) and

an implementing agreement.

The Service also announces the

availability of a draft Environmental

Impact Statement (EIS) for the

incidental take permit application. This

EIS, the CCDCP, and the implementing

agreement are available for public

review. This notice is provided

pursuant to section 10(c) of the

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as

amended, and National Environmental

Policy Act (NEPA) regulations (40 CFR

1506.6). Comments and suggestions are

requested.

The permitted take would be in

association with various proposed

public and private development

projects. Two alternatives are being

considered. The proposed action would

allow for development to occur on up to

113,900 acres of desert tortoise habitat.

Take would be minimized through a

pick-up and collection service for desert

tortoises encountered in harm’s way,

implementation of a public information

and education program, and specific

measures for Nevada Department of

Transportation to implement during

roadway maintenance and construction.

The Applicants propose to mitigate

impacts to desert tortoise by providing

at least $1 million per year for State and

Federal resource managers to implement

desert tortoise recovery measures

recommended in the Desert Tortoise

(Mojave Population) Recovery Plan),

providing funding to address the needs

of other sensitive plants and animals in

Clark County, and purchasing a

conservation easement for more than

85,000 acres of non-Federal land in

Clark County.

DATES: Written comments are requested

by April 11, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

addressed to: Sheryl L. Barrett, U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service, 4600 Kietzke

Lane, Building C, Room 125, Reno,

Nevada 89502.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sheryl L. Barrett at the above Reno,

Nevada address, telephone (702) 784–

5227. Individuals wishing copies of the

permit application, HCPURPA,

implementing agreement, and draft EIS

for review should immediately contact

the above individual or Dr. Dolores

Savignano at U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, 1500 North Decatur Boulevard,

#01, Las Vegas, Nevada 89108,

telephone (702) 646–3499. Copies of the

above documents have been sent to all

agencies and individuals who

participated in the scoping process and

to all others who have already requested

copies.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April

2, 1990, the Service issued a final rule

that determined the desert tortoise to be

a threatened species (55 FR 12178). This

regulation became effective on the date

of its publication in the Federal

Register. Because of its listing as a

threatened species, the desert tortoise is

protected by the Act’s prohibition

against ‘‘taking.’’ The act defines ‘‘take’’

to mean: to harass, harm, pursue, hunt,

shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or