[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 70049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32457]
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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 an Application for Incidental Take
Permit for Houston Toad (Bufo houstonensis) During Construction of a
Single Family Residence on 5.068 Acres on Lot 13 in the Circle D
Country Estates Subdivision in Bastrop County, Texas
SUMMARY: Shelby Gregory (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 TE-020080-0. The requested permit, which is
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 construction of a single family residence on
Lot 3 of the Circle D Country Estates Subdivision, Bastrop County,
Texas.
The Service has prepared the Environmental Assessment/Habitat
Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) for the incidental take application. 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 January 14, 2000.
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 Scott Rowin, 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 to 4:30) at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin, Texas.
Written data or comments concerning the application and EA/HCP should
be submitted to the Field Supervisor, Ecological Services Field Office,
Austin, Texas at the above address. Please refer to permit number TE-
020080-0 when submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Rowin at the above Austin
Ecological Services Field Office.
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
Shelby Gregory plans to construct a single family residence on
5.068 acres platted as Lot 13 in the Circle D Country Estates
Subdivision, Bastrop County, Texas. This action will eliminate less
than one acre of habitat. The applicant proposes to mitigate for this
incidental take of the Houston toad by donating $1,500 into the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the specific purpose of land
acquisition and management within Houston toad habitat, as identified
by the Service.
Alternatives to this action were rejected because not developing
the subject property with federally listed species present was not
economically feasible and alteration of the project design would not
alter the level of impacts.
Thomas L. Bauer,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 99-32457 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-55-U
