[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 56166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-15708]



[[Page 56166]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Draft Safe Harbor Agreement With Assurances and Application for 
an Enhancement of Survival Permit for the Houston Toad on the Lower 
Colorado River Authority (LCRA)/Lost Pines Scout Reservation in Bastrop 
County, TX

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

ACTION: Notice of availability; receipt of application.

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SUMMARY: Boy Scouts of America/Capital Area Council (Applicant) has 
applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an 
enhancement of survival permit pursuant to section 10(a)(1)(A) 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 15 years, 
includes a draft Safe Harbor Agreement (SHA) for the endangered Houston 
toad (Bufo houstonensis) in Bastrop County, Texas. We invite public 
comment.

DATES: To ensure consideration, written comments must be received on or 
before October 26, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to review the application may obtain a copy 
by writing to the Regional Director, P.O. Box 1306, Room 4102, 
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87103. Persons wishing to review the draft SHA 
or other related documents may obtain a copy by written or telephone 
request to Paige Najvar, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet 
Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758 (512-490-0057; Fax 512-490-0974). 
The documents will also be available for public inspection, by 
appointment only, during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) at 
the Service's Austin office. Comments concerning the draft SHA or other 
related documents should be submitted in writing to the Field 
Supervisor at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, 
Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758. Please refer to permit number TE-
133115-0 when submitting comments. All comments received will become a 
part of the official administrative record and may be made available to 
the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paige Najvar at the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, 10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200, Austin, Texas 78758 
(512-490-0057; Fax 512-490-0974), or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Applicant has applied to the Service for 
a section 10(a)(1)(A) enhancement of survival permit for the endangered 
Houston toad in Bastrop County, Texas for a period of 15 years.
    The Service has worked with the Applicant to design and implement 
conservation activities that are expected to have a net conservation 
benefit to the Houston toad in Bastrop County, Texas. Conservation 
activities the Applicant will undertake according to the SHA include: 
(1) Prescribed burning in every management area on the LCRA/Lost Pines 
Scout Reservation in order to control invasive woody understory species 
and decrease existing fuel load; (2) brush thinning activities in 
forested areas in the eastern, south, and southeastern areas of the 
property to control invasive woody understory species and to evaluate 
trends in forest floor plant diversity under different brush control 
management approaches; (3) restoring and replanting native vegetation 
in the eastern, south, and southeastern areas of the property to help 
facilitate Houston toad movement; (4) creating shallow, ephemeral ponds 
to facilitate and enhance Houston toad breeding success; and (5) 
treating red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) mounds at newly 
constructed ponds. These conservation activities are expected to (1) 
facilitate the establishment of native, herbaceous vegetation as well 
as expand and enhance potential breeding, foraging, and hibernating 
habitats for the Houston toad currently on adjacent and nearby 
properties; (2) protect and preserve habitat to enhance the movement of 
Houston toads among existing foraging and breeding areas to the south 
and southeast of the LCRA/Lost Pines Scout Reservation; (3) create 
Houston toad breeding habitat through pond creation; and (4) collect 
research data related to the effects of the conservation activities and 
planned enhancements to help design future management strategies for 
the Houston toad.
    The incidental take of Houston toads may occur from (1) habitat 
management actions conducted in accordance with the conservation 
activities in the Agreement, (2) on-going Boy Scout camp activities 
that may have an increased chance of taking the species if toad numbers 
increase, as expected, and (3) cessation of the conservation 
activities, at some point in the future, if the Applicant exercises 
their authorization to do so under the permit.
    We provide this notice pursuant to section 10(c) of the Act, the 
National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C 4371 et seq.), and its 
implementing regulations (40 CFR 1506.6).

Christopher Todd Jones,
Acting Regional Director, Region 2, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
 [FR Doc. E6-15708 Filed 9-25-06; 8:45 am]
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