[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 15 (Monday, January 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1540]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Finding of No Significant Impact for an Incidental Take Permit 
for the Proposed Lake Pointe Development, Austin, Travis County, TX

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has prepared an 
Environmental Assessment for issuance of a section 10(a)(1)(B) permit 
for the incidental take of the Federally endangered golden-cheeked 
warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia) during construction and operation of a 
496 acre mixed residential and commercial development known as Lake 
Pointe in Austin, Travis County, Texas.

Proposed Action

    The proposed action is the issuance of a permit under section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act to authorize the incidental 
take of the golden-cheeked warbler.
    The Applicant plans to build 850 single-family residences, a 10-
acre commercial site, an elementary school, and associated streets and 
utility corridors in southwest Travis County, Texas. The development 
will occupy approximately 354 acres with the remaining 142 acres for 
open space, conducting golden-cheeked warbler monitoring studies, 
providing $90,000 to fund the acquisition of golden-cheeked warbler 
habitat preserves, and constructing and maintaining a fence between the 
proposed development and the areas of open space set aside for the 
golden-cheeked warbler. Details of the mitigation are provided in the 
Lake Pointe Habitat Conservation Plan. Guarantees for implementation 
are provided in the Agreement and the Management Agreement.
    These conservation plan actions ensure that the criteria 
established for issuance of an incidental take permit will be fully 
satisfied.

Alternatives Considered

    1. No action,
    2. Proposed action,
    3. Alternate project location,
    4. Reduce the proposed project, and
    5. Wait for the completion of the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation 
Plan Section 10(a) permit.

Determination

    Based upon information contained in the Environmental Assessment 
and the Habitat Conservation Plan, the Service has determined that this 
action is not a major Federal action which would significantly affect 
the quality of the human environment within the meaning of section 
102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 
Accordingly, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement on 
the proposed action is not required.
    It is my decision to approve the issuance of the section 
10(a)(1)(B) permit for the construction of the 496 acre mixed 
residential/commercial development known as Lake Pointe Development in 
Austin, Travis County, Texas.


    Dated: January 12, 1994.
John G. Rogers,
Regional Director, Southwest Region (2), U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
[FR Doc. 94-1540 Filed 1-21-94; 10:00 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-55-M