[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 53 (Monday, March 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14776-14777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6772]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Endangered and Threatened Species Permit Application

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Re-opening of Comment Period for Availability of a Draft 
Environmental Assessment and Notice of an Application for an Incidental 
Take Permit for La Costa Villages, Carlsbad, California, by the City of 
Carlsbad and Fieldstone/La Costa Associates; Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service) has re-opened the comment period for a draft 
environmental assessment (EA) and application for an incidental take 
permit, pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act 
of 1973, as amended (Act). The permit application includes a Habitat 
Conservation Plan (HCP), two HCP addendums, and an Implementing 
Agreement (IA). The EA package includes an EA, EA addendum, and a draft 
Finding of No Significant Impact for La Costa Villages, a housing and 
road project proposed by the applicants: Fieldstone/La Costa Associates 
and the City of Carlsbad, California (Applicants).
    The Applicants have applied to the Service for an incidental take 
permit and have included a proposed pre-listing Implementation 
Agreement and HCP for a proposed 1,940 acre project (HCP area) in the 
southeastern corner of Carlsbad, California. Completion of the grading 
and construction activities associated with the proposed project would 
result in direct impacts to the federally threatened coastal California 
gnatcatcher (Polioptilla californica californica).
    This notice supplements an earlier notice published on October 28, 
1994 (59 FR 54207). That initial comment period closed November 28, 
1994. The Service re-opened the comment period from January 31, 1995 to 
March 2, 1995 (60 FR 5945) to allow for public comment on the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents and the complete application 
package, as revised. The applicants request that 66 species be covered 
by the HCP and that 1 or more [[Page 14777]] section 10(a) permits be 
issued for those species pursuant to the HCP and IA. In response to 
previous comments, additional conservation, comprised of the 
acquisition of approximately 240 acres under the City of Carlsbad's 
Habitat Management Plan, has been suggested and is being considered. 
The 240 acres would be purchased within the habitat corridor between 
the City of Carlsbad and the San Dieguito River Valley to the southeast 
and will be of value to the gnatcatcher as habitat or as connectivity 
between areas of occupied habitat. In order to provide for further 
consideration of the above, the Service has re-opened the comment 
period for the Fieldstone HCP and associated documents.

DATES: Written comments on the permit application and draft EA should 
be received on or before April 3, 1995.

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, 2730 Loker Avenue West, Carlsbad, California 
92008. Please refer to permit No. PRT-795759 when submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail Kobetich or Ken Corey at the 
above address, or telephone (619) 431-9440. Individuals wishing copies 
of the application or EA should immediately contact Ken Corey. 
Documents also will be available for public inspection, by appointment, 
during normal business hours at the above address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A concern has been raised regarding the 
consistency of the HCP with specific subarea and subregional plans 
under the statewide Natural Community Conservation Program (NCCP) (see 
page 54208 in 59 FR No. 208). All agencies and individuals are urged to 
provide comments on the proposal, draft EA, and the NCCP consistency 
issue. All comments received by the closing date will be considered in 
finalizing NEPA compliance and permit issuance or denial.

    Dated: March 14, 1995.
Don Weathers,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-6772 Filed 3-17-95; 8:45 am]
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