[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 59 (Monday, March 28, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page ]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-7194]


[Federal Register: March 28, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an 
Application for a Permit To Allow Incidental Take of the Endangered 
Stephens' Kangaroo Rat by Pacific Gateway Homes Ltd., in the City of 
Corona, Riverside County, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The notice advises the public that Pacific Gateway Homes, 
Ltd., Partners (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) for an incidental take permit pursuant to section 
10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). 
The application has been assigned permit number PRT-787915. The 
requested permit would authorize the incidental take of the endangered 
Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi) in the city of Corona, 
Riverside County, California. The proposed incidental take would occur 
as a result of clearing, grading, and construction activities in 
Stephens' kangaroo rat habitat for a single-family home subdivision, 
Tentative Tract Map 27796.
    The Service also announces the availability of an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the proposed issuance of the incidental take 
permit. 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 and EA should be 
received on or before April 27, 1994.

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, Carlsbad Field Office, 2740 Loker Avenue West, 
Carlsbad, California 92008. Please refer to permit No. PRT-787915 when 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. John Bradley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Carlsbad Field 
Office, 2740 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 92008 (619-431-
9440). Individuals wishing copies of the application or EA for review 
should immediately contact the above individual.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Under section 9 of the Act, ``taking'' of Stephens' kangaroo rats, 
an endangered species, is prohibited. However, the Service, under 
limited circumstances, may issue permits to take endangered wildlife 
species if such taking is incidental to, and not the purpose of, 
otherwise lawful activities. Regulations governing permits for 
endangered species are in 50 CFR 17.22.
    The Applicant proposes to implement a Habitat Conservation Plan 
(HCP) for the Stephens' kangaroo rat that will allow clearing, grading, 
and construction of a single-family home subdivision, Tentative Tract 
Map 27796, in the city of Corona, Riverside County, California. The 
permit would authorize the destruction of up to 26.6 acres of occupied 
Stephens' kangaroo rat habitat, which is estimated to included 60 to 
220 Stephens' kangaroo rats. The permit would be in effect for 24 
months. The application includes an HCP and Implementation Agreement.
    The Applicant proposes to mitigate for the incidental take prior to 
site disturbance by: (1) Acquiring 26.6 acres of occupied Stephens' 
kangaroo rat habitat within a Stephens' kangaroo rat Study Area 
administered by the Riverside County Habitat Conservation Agency 
(RCHCA) to be managed in perpetuity to benefit the Stephens' kangaroo 
rat; (2) implementing this requirement by payment of $232,750 to the 
RCHCA for the habitat acquisition; (3) paying $23,275 to the RCHCA for 
the long-term management of the acquired habitat; and (4) providing 
evidence conforming acquisition of the habitat within 180 days of 
payment of the mitigation fee.
    The EA considers the environmental consequences of six 
alternatives, including the proposed action and no-action alternatives. 
The proposed action is the issuance of a permit under section 10(a) of 
the Act that would authorize removal of 26.6 acres of Stephens' 
kangaroo rat habitat during development of the subdivision. The 
proposed action would result in minimizing incidental take by 
limitations on and monitoring of proposed construction activities. 
Mitigation under the proposed action would enhance Stephens' kangaroo 
rat conservation by the acquisition and management of 26.6 acres of 
habitat to be managed for the Stephens' kangaroo rat. Under the no-
action alternative, the project would not occur and the permit would 
not be issued. The present habitat fragmentation and isolation due to 
off-road vehicle use, surrounding development, and other on-site 
disturbances would remain under the no-action alternative, and the 
Stephens' kangaroo rat population on the site likely would disappear in 
time. In addition, proposed funding for acquisition of habitat within 
the RCHCA reserve areas would not be available. The third alternative 
is to completely avoid occupied habitat on the project site. A fourth 
alternative is to redesign the project to reduce the amount of direct 
take on the site. A fifth alternative is to trap and relocate Stephens' 
kangaroo rats as a means of avoiding the killing or serious injury of 
the animals. The sixth alternative is to obtain a take allocation from 
the city of Corona as a co-permittee to the existing RCHCA 10(a) 
incidental take permit and HCP.

    Dated: March 22, 1994.
Don Weathers,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 94-7194 Filed 3-25-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M