[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14776-14777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6772]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Application
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Re-opening of Comment Period for Availability of a Draft
Environmental Assessment and Notice of an Application for an Incidental
Take Permit for La Costa Villages, Carlsbad, California, by the City of
Carlsbad and Fieldstone/La Costa Associates; Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (Service) has re-opened the comment period for a draft
environmental assessment (EA) and application for an incidental take
permit, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a Habitat
Conservation Plan (HCP), two HCP addendums, and an Implementing
Agreement (IA). The EA package includes an EA, EA addendum, and a draft
Finding of No Significant Impact for La Costa Villages, a housing and
road project proposed by the applicants: Fieldstone/La Costa Associates
and the City of Carlsbad, California (Applicants).
The Applicants have applied to the Service for an incidental take
permit and have included a proposed pre-listing Implementation
Agreement and HCP for a proposed 1,940 acre project (HCP area) in the
southeastern corner of Carlsbad, California. Completion of the grading
and construction activities associated with the proposed project would
result in direct impacts to the federally threatened coastal California
gnatcatcher (Polioptilla californica californica).
This notice supplements an earlier notice published on October 28,
1994 (59 FR 54207). That initial comment period closed November 28,
1994. The Service re-opened the comment period from January 31, 1995 to
March 2, 1995 (60 FR 5945) to allow for public comment on the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and the complete application
package, as revised. The applicants request that 66 species be covered
by the HCP and that 1 or more [[Page 14777]] section 10(a) permits be
issued for those species pursuant to the HCP and IA. In response to
previous comments, additional conservation, comprised of the
acquisition of approximately 240 acres under the City of Carlsbad's
Habitat Management Plan, has been suggested and is being considered.
The 240 acres would be purchased within the habitat corridor between
the City of Carlsbad and the San Dieguito River Valley to the southeast
and will be of value to the gnatcatcher as habitat or as connectivity
between areas of occupied habitat. In order to provide for further
consideration of the above, the Service has re-opened the comment
period for the Fieldstone HCP and associated documents.
DATES: Written comments on the permit application and draft EA should
be received on or before April 3, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the application or adequacy of the EA
should be addressed to Mr. Gail Kobetich, Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California
92008. Please refer to permit No. PRT-795759 when submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Kobetich or Ken Corey at the
above address, or telephone (619) 431-9440. Individuals wishing copies
of the application or EA should immediately contact Ken Corey.
Documents also will be available for public inspection, by appointment,
during normal business hours at the above address.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A concern has been raised regarding the
consistency of the HCP with specific subarea and subregional plans
under the statewide Natural Community Conservation Program (NCCP) (see
page 54208 in 59 FR No. 208). All agencies and individuals are urged to
provide comments on the proposal, draft EA, and the NCCP consistency
issue. All comments received by the closing date will be considered in
finalizing NEPA compliance and permit issuance or denial.
Dated: March 14, 1995.
Don Weathers,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-6772 Filed 3-17-95; 8:45 am]
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