[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 44 (Monday, March 7, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5132]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Availability of Finding of No Significant Impact and 
Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an Application for an 
Incidental Take Permit for a Residential Development in Baldwin County, 
Alabama

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The owner/developer of a mixed single and multiple family 
residential development known as Caribe, Caribe East and Caribe West 
(Caribe) has applied to the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an 
incidental take permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the 
Endangered Species Act (Act). The proposed permit would authorize for a 
period of 30 years the incidental take of an endangered species, the 
Perdido Key beach mouse, Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis incidental 
to construction of Caribe on suitable habitat located north of Alabama 
Highway 182, at the westernmost end of Perdido Key, Alabama.
    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. The Service is soliciting 
data on Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis in order to assist in the 
requirement of the intra-Service consultation. 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 6, 1994.

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 Jackson Mississippi Field Office. Written data 
or comments concerning the application, EA, or HCP should be submitted 
to the Regional Office. Please reference permit under PRT-787698 in 
such comments:

Assistant Regional Director (ES), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875 
Century Boulevard, suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30345, (telephone 404/679-
7110, FAX 404/679-7081)
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6578 Dogwood View 
Parkway, suite A, Jackson, Mississippi 39213 (telephone 601/965-4900, 
FAX 601/965-4340).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wendell Neal at the above Jackson, 
Mississippi, Field Office, or Rick G. Gooch at the above Atlanta, 
Georgia, Regional Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis is a 
subspecies of the common oldfield mouse Peromyscus polionotus and is 
restricted to the dune systems of the Gulf Coast of Alabama. The known 
current range of Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis is from Perdido 
Key, Alabama, to Pensacola Bay, Florida. The sand dune systems 
inhabited by this species are not uniform; several habitat types are 
distinguishable. The depth of the habitat from the beach inland varies 
depending on the configuration of the sand dune system and the 
vegetation. Generally, these habitat zones are considered as primary 
dune (dunes immediately fronting the beach) supporting sea oats and 
other widely scattered grasses, an interdune area consisting of other 
grasses, and sedges, and a secondary dune zone supporting small trees 
and shrubs. Carribe proposes to construct a mixed single/multiple 
family residential development on  28 acres of land located 
north of Alabama Highway 182, at the westernmost end of Perdido Key, 
Baldwin County, Alabama. Caribe is immediately north of and across the 
highway from Gulf State Park (Perdido Unit), a designated critical 
habitat of Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis. Initial construction of 
roads and utilities and subsequent development of individual homesites 
and community use facilities may result in death of or injury to 
Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis incidental to the carrying out of 
these otherwise lawful activities. Habitat alteration associated with 
property development and secondary impacts to adjacent critical habitat 
(e.g., increased human foot-traffic, and introduction of house cats and 
house mice) may reduce the availability of feeding, shelter, and 
nesting habitat or harass extant Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis 
populations.
    The EA considers the environmental consequences of three 
alternatives. The no action alternative may result in some loss of 
habitat for Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis and exposure of the 
applicant under section 9 of the Act. This action is inconsistent with 
the purposes and intent of Section 10 of the Act. The delisting of the 
Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis as an alternative was rejected as 
biologically unjustifiable. Modification of the HCP as an alternative 
was in part accommodated during the pre-application phase through 
negotiations between the Caribe and the Service. The HCP attached with 
the permit is modified to the maximum extent practicable. The proposed 
action alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit. This 
provides for restrictions of construction activity, placement of berms 
and fences, controls on residential outdoor lighting, storage and 
maintenance of trash and garbage in scavenger proof containers, 
establishment of a Gulf State Park Management Fund to enhancement 
management of the adjacent critical habitat, and distribution of 
educational materials to construction personnel and residents. The HCP 
also provides a funding mechanism for these mitigation measures.

    Dated: February 14, 1994.
Warren T. Olds, Jr.,
Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services.
[FR Doc. 94-5132 Filed 3-4-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M