[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20718-20719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5984]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Notice of Availability of an Environmental Assessment/Habitat 
Conservation Plan and Receipt of Application for Incidental Take of the 
Houston toad (Blair Warren--Sac-N-Pac)

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Blair Warren (Applicant) has applied to the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (TE-124123-0) 
pursuant to Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 
1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). The requested permit, which 
is for a period of five years, would authorize incidental take of the 
Houston toad. The proposed take would occur as a result of the 
construction and operation of a convenience store on a 1.43-acre (0.58-
hectare) property on Highway 71 in the Tahitian Village Subdivision, 
Bastrop County, Texas. We invite the public to review and comment on 
the permit application and associated draft

[[Page 20719]]

Environmental Assessment/Habitat Conservation Plan (EA/HCP).

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or 
before June 20, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy 
by writing to the Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
P.O. Box 1306, Room 4102, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Persons 
wishing to review the EA/HCP may obtain a copy by contacting Clayton 
Napier, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, 
Austin, Texas 78758 (512/490-0057). Documents will be available for 
public inspection by written request, by appointment only, during 
normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at the Service's Austin 
office. Written data or comments concerning the application and EA/HCP 
should be submitted to the Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. Please refer to 
permit number TE-124123-0 when submitting comments. All comments 
received, including names and addresses, will become a part of the 
official administrative record and may be made available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clayton Napier at U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758 
(512/490-0057) or by e-mail, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant has applied to the Service for 
a Section 10(a)(1)(B) incidental take permit for a period of five years 
in order to authorize incidental take of the Houston toad.
    Section 9 of the Act prohibits the ``taking'' of endangered species 
such as the Houston toad. However, the Service, under limited 
circumstances, may issue permits to take endangered wildlife species 
incidental to, and not the purpose of, otherwise lawful activities.
    We provide this notice under section 10(c) of the Act, and its 
implementing regulations (50 CFR 17.22), the National Environmental 
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.), and its implementing regulations 
(40 CFR 1506.6).
    Applicant: Blair Warren plans to construct and operate a 
convenience store on a 1.43-acre property on Highway 71 in the Tahitian 
Village Subdivision, Bastrop County, Texas.
    This action will eliminate 1.43-acres of Houston toad habitat and 
result in indirect impacts within the lot. The Applicant proposes to 
compensate for incidental take of the Houston toad by providing 
$4,290.00 to the Houston Toad Conservation Fund at the National Fish 
and Wildlife Foundation for the specific purpose of land acquisition 
and management within Houston toad habitat.

Geoffrey L. Haskett,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
 [FR Doc. E6-5984 Filed 4-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-55-P