[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 56 (Thursday, March 23, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15303-15304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-7111]
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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 a Project Called
Waterside Down, Phase I, a Mixed-Use Project, in Brevard County,
Florida
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Waterside Down Development Corporation (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 four families
of the threatened Florida scrub jay, Aphelocoma coerulescens
coerulescens in Brevard County, Florida, for a period of 5 years. The
proposed taking is incidental to construction of 211 single family
homes, plus as yet unspecified number of condominium units and
commercial buildings, including the necessary infrastructure, on
approximately 76.5 acres (Project). The entire site is considered
occupied by Florida scrub jays and will be permanently altered. The
Project is called Waterside Down, and it is located on the barrier
island of Brevard County, adjacent to a Wal Mart/Albertson strip mall
and Britanny Apartments to the north, S.R. A1A to the east, Holy Name
of Jesus Church and a residential development to the south, and vacant
land scheduled to be Waterside Down Phase II on the west.
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 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 24, 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-800150 in such
comments.
Regional Permit Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1875
Century Boulevard, Suite 200, 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
[[Page 15304]] of habitat for Aphelocoma coerulescens coerulescens and
exposure of the Applicant under Section 9 of the Act. A second
alternative is the proposed Project that is designed with a different
mitigation strategy focusing on management of existing lands
surrounding the project area. The third alternative, the proposed
action alternative, is issuance of the incidental take permit. This
provides for restrictions of construction activity, purchase of offsite
habitat for the Florida scrub jay, the establishment of an endowment
fund for the offsite acquired habitat, and donation of additional
offsite habitat. The HCP provides a funding mechanism for these
mitigation measures.
Dated: March 16, 1995.
Judy L. Jones,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 95-7111 Filed 3-22-95; 8:45 am]
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