[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 19740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10456]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat
Conservation Plan (EA/HCP) and Receipt of Application for Incidental
Take Permit for Construction and Operation of a Residential and
Commercial Development on Approximately 590 Acres of the 1,277-Acre
Highlands of Lakeway Property, Lakeway, Travis County, Texas
SUMMARY: Lakeway Partners, L.L.C. (applicant) has applied to the 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 PRT-812696. The requested permit, which is
for a period of 30 years, would authorize the incidental take of the
endangered golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia). The proposed
take would occur as result of the construction and operation of a
residential and commercial development on approximately 590 acres of
the 1,277-acre parcel. All construction will occur on the 1,277-acre
Highlands of Lakeway Property located in Austin, Travis County, Texas.
The Service has prepared the 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 the National Environmental
Policy Act regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).
DATES: Written comments on the application should be received on or
before May 21, 1998.
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 Sybil Vosler, Ecological
Services Field Office, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas
78758 (512/490-0063).
Documents will be available for public inspection by appointment
only during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin, Texas office. Written data or
comments concerning the application and EA/HCP should be submitted to
the Field Supervisor, Ecological Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, 10711 Burnet Rd., Austin, Texas 78758. Please refer to permit
number PRT-812696 when submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sybil Vosler at the above Austin
Ecological Services Field Office.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 9 of the Act prohibits the
``taking'' of endangered species such as the golden-cheeked warbler.
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: Lakeway Partners, L.L.C. plans to construct a
residential and commercial development on approximately 590 acres of
the 1,277-acre tract and purchase 321 mitigation credits from the
Lakeway Mitigation Account. The Lakeway Mitigation Account provided
$3.5 million to the City of Austin to enable the purchase of the
approximately 942-acre Ivanhoe tract containing essential, high-quality
golden-cheeked warbler habitat to be included in the Balcones
Canyonlands Preserve in perpetuity. The construction will be located at
the Highlands of Lakeway property located on the south side of Lake
Travis immediately west of the City of Lakeway and approximately 18
miles west-northwest of the downtown City of Austin.
Alternatives to this action were rejected because selling or not
developing the subject property with federally listed species present
was not economically feasible.
Geoffery L. Haskett,
Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 98-10456 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-55-P
