[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 14776]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6771]



[[Page 14776]]

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an 
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for a Project Called Windsor 
Estates Subdivision, a Single Family Residence Subdivision, in Brevard 
County, Florida

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Forte Macaulay Development Co., Incorporated, (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 3 
years. The proposed taking is incidental to construction of 205 single 
family homes, including the necessary infrastructure, on approximately 
98 acres (Project). Within the Project, 25 acres are occupied by 
Florida scrub jays and will be permanently altered. The Project is 
called Windsor Estates, and it is located on the mainland of Brevard 
County, north of the city of Melbourne due west of the intersection of 
Pineda Causeway and Wickham Road, Brevard County, Florida.
    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 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 April 19, 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-799977 in such 
comments.
    Regional Permit Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, 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 with a different mitigation strategy focusing on 
management of existing lands surrounding the project area. The proposed 
action alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit. This 
provides for restrictions of construction activity, purchase of offsite 
habitat for the Florida scrub jay, the establishment of an endowment 
fund for the offsite acquired habitat, and donation of additional 
offsite habitat. The HCP provides a funding mechanism for these 
mitigation measures.

    Dated: March 13, 1995.
Noreen K. Clough,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-6771 Filed 3-17-95; 8:45 am]
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