[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]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P
