[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-9466]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 20, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an 
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for Development of a 
Residential Subdivision Called Coconut Pointe, in the City of Melbourne 
Beach, Brevard County, FL

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice

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SUMMARY: Coconut Pointe, Incorporated, (Applicant), is seeking an 
incidental take permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) 
pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act). 
The proposed permit would authorize the incidental take of a threatened 
species, the Florida scrub jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens, 
incidental to construction of a 6.5 acre residential development 
consisting of 17 single family residences and associated 
infrastructure. The subdivision will be known as Coconute Pointe 
(Project), and is located on the west side of State Road A1A, in 
Section 33, Township 28 South, Range 38 East, in the city of Melbourne 
Beach, Brevard County, Florida.
    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 Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens 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 May 20, 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 Jacksonville, Florida, Field Office. Written data or 
comments concerning the application, EA, or HCP should be submitted to 
the Regional Office. Please reference permit under PRT-789192 in such 
comments.

Assistant Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,1875 
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30345, (telephone 404/
679-7110, fax 404/679-7081).
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 6620 Southpoint 
Drive, South, Suite 310, Jacksonville, Florida 32216-0912, (telephone 
904/232-2580, fax 904/232-2404).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dawn Zattau at the Jacksonville, 
Florida, Field Office, or Rick G. Gooch at the Atlanta, Georgia, 
Regional Office.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens is 
geographically isolated from other subspecies of scrub jays found in 
Mexico and the Western United States. The scrub jay is found almost 
exclusively in peninsular Florida and is restricted to scrub habitat. 
The total estimated population is between 7,000 and 11,000 individuals. 
Due to habitat loss and degradation throughout the State of Florida, it 
has been estimated that the scrub jay population has been reduced by at 
least half in the last 100 years. Surveys have indicated that scrub 
jays inhabit the Project site. Construction of the Project's 
infrastructure and subsequent construction of the individual homesites 
will likely result in death of, or injury to, Aphelocoma coerulescens 
coerulescens incidental to the carrying out of these otherwise lawful 
activities. Habitat alteration associated with property development 
will reduce the availability of feeding, shelter, and nesting habitat.
    The EA considers the environmental consequences of four 
alternatives. The no action alternative may result in some loss of 
habitat for Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens and exposure of the 
Applicant under Section 9 of the Act. Another alternative proposes the 
Project with no mitigation strategy which is commensurate with the 
Project's impacts to the scrub jay. A third alternative is the proposed 
Project with management of surrounding county owned lands as mitigation 
for the Project's impacts. The proposed action alternative is issuance 
of the incidental take permit. This provides for restrictions of 
construction activity, purchase of offsite habitat for the scrub jay, 
the establishment of an endowment fund for the offsite acquired 
habitat, and the creation of an annual assessment on lot owners of the 
Project to fund future land management needs of the acquired offsite 
habitat. The HCP provides a funding mechanism for these mitigation 
measures.

    Dated: April 8, 1994.
Nancy C. Coon,
Deputy Assistant Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 94-9466 Filed 4-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P