[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8057-8058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-3354]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Availability of an Environmental Assessment and Receipt of an
Application for an Incidental Take Permit for a Project Called Cypress
Creek (Phase I), a Single Family Residence Subdivision, in Brevard
County, FL
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: RNR Properties, Ltd., (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 of 1973 (Act), as
amended. The permit would authorize the take of two families of the
threatened Florida scrub jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens in
Brevard County, Florida, for a period of 10 years. The proposed taking
is incidental to construction of 148 single family homes, including the
necessary infrastructure, on approximately 225 acres (Project). Within
the Project, 28.7 acres are occupied by Florida scrub jays and will be
permanently altered. The Project is called Cypress Creek (Phase I), and
it is located on the mainland of Brevard County, in the Town of Grant.
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. This notice also advises
the public that the Service has made a preliminary determination that
issuing the incidental take permit is not a major [[Page 8058]] 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 March 13, 1995.
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-798698 in such
comments.
Regional Permit Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875
Century Boulevard, Suite 210, Atlanta, Georgia 30345, (telephone 404/
679-7110, fax 404/679-7280).
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 Florida 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 Florida scrub jay population
has been reduced by at least half in the last 100 years. Surveys have
indicated that two families of Florida 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 three
alternatives. The no action alternative may result in loss of habitat
for Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens and exposure of the Applicant
under Section 9 of the Act. A third alternative is the proposed Project
that is designed to reduce the impacts to Aphelocoma coerulescens
coerulescens by restricting the Project's total buildable area. The
proposed action alternative is issuance of the incidental take permit.
This provides for restrictions of construction activity, purchase of
off-site habitat for the Florida scrub jay, the establishment of an
endowment fund for the off-site acquired habitat, and donation of
additional off-site habitat. The HCP provides a funding mechanism for
these mitigation measures.
Dated: February 3, 1995.
Jerome M. Butler,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-3354 Filed 2-9-95; 8:45 am]
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